There is so much wonder waiting to be experienced in the world, and Uniworld’s Extraordinary Destinations contain more than their fair share. From lush jungles to ancient architectural marvels, destinations like Peru, Southeast Asia, India, and Egypt take travelers like you off the beaten path for some of the most memorable and exciting trips you'll ever experience.
Sail the captivatingly beautiful Peruvian Amazon on one of two different itineraries, one of which also takes you to the "Lost City" of Machu Picchu. The ship for this voyage, the Aria Amazon, fits just 32 guests, with floor-to-ceiling windows in every one of its 16 spacious suites, for an intimate immersion in the world’s largest rainforest. Excursions include exploring the Amazon rainforest by skiff, a small riverboat, on the lookout for the abundant wildlife—such as pink dolphins. On the Jungle walk in the San Jose de Sarapanga forest excursion, near the basin of the river, you’ll see giant water lilies, a true Amazon beauty. The lily leaves can grow up to 18 inches and hold close to 300 pounds.
Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong is a 15-day, showstopping journey sailing on the Mekong's most luxurious ship, the Mekong Jewel, and staying at 3 incredible hotels in Cambodia and Vietnam. This all-suite Super Ship includes two dining venues, a swimming pool, spa, sauna and steam room, gym, hair salon, nail bar, two lounges and a library. One featured excursion in Siem Reap is a lavish dinner with an Apsara dance show. Apsara is the traditional Khmer dance form that tells stories and conveys messages using ornate costumes, graceful movements, codified facial expressions, and distinctive hand and foot positions. The many Apsara figures that adorn Angkor and pre-Angkor temples you’ve just visited testify to the dance form’s long and esteemed history. Extend your time in Vietnam with 1 night in Hanoi and 2 nights cruising the majestic Ha Long Bay, famous for the countless rocky islets dotting its waters.
Uniworld’s journeys in India offer a well-rounded experience of this multifaceted country with 2 itinerary options: a river cruise down the Ganges with a land tour through the Golden Triangle, or a grand combo of river cruising, hotel, and overnight train travel. The Ganges Voyager II is a serene sanctuary, with beautiful hand-painted murals and all the comforts of a five-star hotel. A complimentary Wellness Program—led by a certified and resident yogi—celebrates the holistic health benefits of yoga with daily sessions introducing the different types of yoga, group lectures, and classes as well as individualized meetings and is available on every sailing. This itinerary features several MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, chosen for the positive environmental or social impact they have on the guests who experience them, and the people and places they visit, and they support one or more of the United Nation’s Global Goals. One such experience is an excursion to Matiari, a village with a long history of brass craftsmanship. The experience here supports the local artisans who have been making ornamental brass objects—vases, lamps, figurines, platters—in Matiari for more than a century. Scrap metal is melted in the village foundry and pressed into new sheets of brass, which are then turned into various objects. The sound of hammer on brass will fill the air as you stroll from workshop to workshop to see each step of the fascinating process.
Cutting through miles of amber deserts, the Nile is the longest river on Earth. Uniworld’s itinerary here is amplified by expert Egyptologist guides and two luxurious ships to choose from: S.S. Sphinx or River Tosca. Both ships are expertly designed to reflect the warmth and style of Egypt. Guests on this itinerary find themselves immersed in Egyptian culture and history every day, and it's not all pyramids and temples—though there's plenty of that as well, from Giza to the Valley of Kings, all with an expert Egyptologist by your side. You can also sit for afternoon tea at the famed Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie penned Death on the Nile, go birdwatching on traditional felucca sailboats, and join a local family in their home for tea. This itinerary can be paired with a pre-cruise extension to Jordan or a post-cruise extension to the Red Sea or Jerusalem.
Two of these awe-inspiring destinations are featured on Uniworld’s 2024 Rivers of the World cruise. All the excitement surrounding Uniworld’s first-ever Rivers of the World cruise in 2023 this year has us looking forward to what they have in store for 2024 Rivers of the World, which they have designed to be even bigger for what is set to be the farthest-reaching journey in modern river cruising.
The itinerary begins in the Peruvian Amazon and concludes in Southeast Asia, sailing through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and France in between. This 55-day odyssey spans 3 continents, 10 countries, and of 4 of Uniworld’s one-of-a-kind ships.
What better way to get into the travel spirit than with music from around the world? Check out Uniworld’s Spotify account to listen to such playlists as "Life on the Nile" and "Contiga Peru."
