As the wants and needs of your average river cruiser continue to evolve, cruise lines are starting to take note of the desire to enjoy active pursuits during a holiday, and have added these to many of their itineraries. Providing more exercise and stimulation than a simple walking tour of a city (although these are a great way to see the highlights in a short time), hiking excursions are a great way to combine keeping fit with sightseeing.

Here are some examples of river cruise lines offering compelling activities that enable you to explore more on foot.

CroisiEurope

As part of their themed cruises offering, CroisiEurope regularly operates a number of hiking cruises that provide daily excursions for those who love to discover their surroundings via the power of their own two feet. For 2018, there are currently two of these hiking cruises available, both of which will take you to France. If you’re not a fan of walking but are travelling with someone who is, there is also a more leisurely program for non-hikers.

The two options are hiking through the Rhône Valley and hiking through the south of France. The former is a round-trip from Lyon departing on 2nd April 2018, whilst the latter sails on 3rd August 2018 from, and back to, Bordeaux. Depending on which you choose, your hiking adventures could see you walking through the Pilat Mountain Range, the Ardèche Gorges, the slopes of Saint-Emilion or the Médoc region.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways were one of the first river cruise lines to begin adding more active excursions to their itineraries, many of which were in partnership with Backroads Touring. As well as biking tours offered with the help of a fleet of onboard cycles, the cruise line has a whole host of hiking tours across its 2018 program.

These active activities tend to focus on taking you away from the main tourist routes to marvel at nature or enjoy a spectacular view from a hidden vantage point. Examples include hiking to the Veste Oberhaus museum fortress to look down over Passau and following in the footsteps of famous thinkers along the Philosophers’ Walk in Heidelberg. This scenic path takes you over the River Neckar and up to the breathtaking castle.

Avalon Waterways

The hiking tours that are offered by Avalon Waterways come as part of their Active Discovery cruises, of which there are four sailing in 2018. The initiative was first started in 2017 when the itineraries were just limited to Danube River cruises, but they have now been expanded to include the Rhine River too. The journeys available are Budapest to Linz (and reverse), Amsterdam to Wiesbaden and Frankfurt to Amsterdam.

Along with bike tours and canoeing, guided hikes are offered in many different ports. These include the chance to spot eagles, falcons and terrapins in the Danube-Ipoly National Park; explore the forests around Duisburg; and learn about the Jewish heritage of Cologne. Plus, if you want to increase the pace, there are even jogging tours available in Vienna and Amsterdam – the perfect way to see the city whilst burning off the calories.

If you are interested in river cruises that feature active excursions, our team is always available to answer your questions or help you find the right itinerary. Call us on 0800 954 0064 or fill out our online contact form.