Avalon Waterways Beyond Europe: The Nile, Mekong & Amazon Rivers

If a European river cruise has left you curious about what else is out there, Avalon Waterways has three answers: the Nile in Egypt, the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia and the Amazon in Peru. Each river has its own pace, its own landscape and its own ship, and each suits a different kind of traveler.

Below, we break down what to expect on each so you can choose where to go first.

Avalon Waterways Beyond Europe at a Glance

Itineraries, ships and inclusions can change, and Avalon may adjust programs for water levels, weather or operational reasons. This post is accurate as of its publication date. For the latest details or any questions, contact our Cruise Experts.

What to Know About Avalon's Ships Outside Europe

Outside of Europe, Avalon Waterways pairs each river with a ship chosen for its waters. On the Mekong, that's Avalon Saigon, one of Avalon's Suite Ships®. On the Nile and the Amazon, Avalon selects existing vessels that meet its standards for quality, comfort and amenities: MS Farah in Egypt and Delfin III in Peru.

Some things stay the same from river to river. Expert local guides and naturalists lead the excursions, and the itineraries weave in cultural experiences, from local music and dance to cooking classes.

What changes is the balance between river and shore. The Mekong trip is almost entirely on the water. The Nile and Amazon programs pair a shorter cruise with days in places like Cairo, Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Because vessels outside Europe can change, this guide puts the rivers first and the ships second.

The Nile in Egypt: Pharaohs, Temples & Time on the River

Avalon Waterways' Taste of Egypt itinerary begins in Cairo, then flies to Luxor to board a ship for a cruise south to Aswan. The Nile has anchored Egyptian life for thousands of years, and the temples, tombs and villages along its banks show why.

What to Expect Along the Nile

The trip starts on land. You'll stand before the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, see Tutankhamun's treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum and explore Old Cairo, from Saladin's citadel to the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo. A felucca ride gives you your first look at the city from the Nile itself.

Then you fly to Luxor and board your ship. From there, the river sets the pace:

• Luxor brings Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, followed by the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun's tomb was found, and the Valley of the Queens.
• In Edfu, you visit the Temple of Horus and its black stone falcon statue.
• At Kom Ombo, a bluff-top temple is shared by two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god.
• Aswan offers a motorboat ride to Elephantine Island and the ancient Nilometer, plus the granite quarries where an unfinished obelisk still lies and the Temple of Isis, moved from Philae.
• Between stops, an Egyptologist-led lecture and an Egyptian cooking class fill the sailing time.

An optional excursion to Abu Simbel is available from Aswan at additional cost.

View Avalon River Cruises Along the Nile

Your Ship on the Nile: MS Farah

Avalon sails the Nile aboard MS Farah, a vessel it charters and selects to meet its standards for quality, comfort and amenities. Her name means happiness and joy in Arabic, and she carries 112 guests in 55 staterooms and suites: 51 Deluxe Staterooms and four Royal Suites, each with oversized French balconies that frame the riverbank.

Onboard, a welcome drink and refreshing towels greet you on arrival, and a pillow menu lets you choose from soft, water, orthopedic and sponge options. You'll find a sun deck with a telescope, a lounge bar, a pool bar and a gym with a sauna and steam room, along with free Wi-Fi throughout. A library dedicated to author Paulo Coelho gives you a quiet place to settle in with a book. Barbecue lunches and dinners are served on the sun deck when the weather allows. Dinner includes a complimentary glass of wine or one beer, and vegetarian options are offered at lunch and dinner.

Upcoming Avalon Waterways Cruises Aboard the MS Farah

The Mekong in Vietnam & Cambodia: Sampans, Villages & Phnom Penh

On the Mekong, nearly the entire trip is spent on the water. Avalon's Mekong Discovery cruise sails between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, crossing from Vietnam into Cambodia aboard the ship, with shore visits most days.

What to Expect Along the Mekong

The days follow the river's rhythm of small boats, markets and villages:

• In Vietnam, sampans carry you into Vinh Long to see how rice paper, rice wine and traditional candies are made. On Cu Lao Gieng Island, you visit families who handcraft sampans and conical hats.
• At Chau Doc, you walk through the morning market and explore the Mekong's backwaters past floating homes. A cotton-weaving demonstration in Long Khanh A follows before the ship crosses into Cambodia.
• In Phnom Penh, a cyclo ride takes you to the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, and children from a local village perform traditional song and dance. Another morning offers a choice between the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and a Killing Fields site, which document the Khmer Rouge era, or the Art Deco Central Market by tuk-tuk.
• Upriver, Wat Hanchey is a hilltop temple dating to the 8th century, where monks give a traditional water blessing. In Angkor Ban, you visit a Khmer home and meet schoolchildren.
• A silversmith village, an ox cart ride through rice paddy country and scenic cruising on the Tonle River round out the final days.

Adding Angkor Wat, Hanoi & Ha Long Bay

Angkor Wat is not on the river itinerary. Avalon's longer Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River itineraries add land time around the cruise: Hanoi's Old Quarter and a water puppet show, a boat tour among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay and the Angkor temples near Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei. Some versions continue to Bangkok. These itineraries run from 13 to 19 days.

Browse Avalon Waterways Asian River Cruises

Your Ship on the Mekong: Avalon Saigon

Avalon Saigon is one of Avalon's Suite Ships, and her design draws on the classic colonial charm of Vietnam and Cambodia. She carries 36 guests in 18 Panorama Suites, each 245 square feet with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that create an Open-Air Balcony® and a bed that faces a beautiful view.

Onboard, the river is never far from view. Settle into the air-conditioned Panorama Lounge or step out to the open-air observation lounge, where the shade system keeps you comfortable. When you want a change of pace, she has a library, a spa treatment room and a fitness room. Dinners are four-course à la carte, with wine complimentary at lunch and dinner. Local beer, spirits, coffee, tea and soft drinks are complimentary with meals and at the bar, and specialty coffees, including espresso and cappuccino, are available throughout the day. Headsets make guided shore excursions easy to follow, and a behind-the-scenes galley tour takes you into the kitchen. Then comes the daily happy hour, when a cocktail of the day pairs well with a Mekong sunset.

Upcoming Avalon Waterways Cruises Aboard the Avalon Saigon

The Amazon in Peru: From the Andes to the Rainforest

Avalon's From the Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon itinerary begins high in the Andes and finishes on the Amazon. The river cruise is the final chapter of a longer trip that visits Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu first, so you reach the rainforest having already seen the highlands.

If you'd like more time in Peru, Avalon also offers a longer version of this itinerary that adds the mysterious Nazca Lines. Our Cruise Experts can walk you through what the longer version would look like.

What to Expect on the Amazon

The Andes come first. In Lima, a guided walking tour and the Larco Herrera Museum introduce Peru's colonial and pre-Columbian history. From Cusco, you descend into the Sacred Valley, where Pisaq's market and the Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo lead to a PeruRail Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. An overnight stay at the foot of the mountain allows two guided visits, including one at sunrise.

Then you fly to Iquitos, travel to Nauta and board Delfin III. Onboard, you see the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, the two tributaries that converge to form the Peruvian Amazon. From there, the days belong to the rainforest:

• Guided panga rides along tributaries let your naturalist point out monkeys, sloths, iguanas and birdlife, with a chance to encounter pink river dolphins.
• A visit to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve brings macaws, parrots, trogons and other birds, and you can take a swim in the river.
• A walk beneath the canopy reveals orchids and other jungle plants, and a night safari searches for caiman, frogs, bats and boa constrictors.
• In the Amazon community of San Francisco, no relation to the California city, you meet villagers whose families have lived along the river for generations.
• Back onboard, a cooking class explores native fruits, vegetables and fish, and a mixology lesson teaches the Pisco Sour.

The cruise ends in Iquitos with a visit to the Amazon Tropical Aquarium before your flight to Lima. The Andes portion reaches elevations up to 12,200 feet, which Avalon notes in its traveler information.

View Avalon River Cruises to South America

Your Ship on the Amazon: Delfin III

Avalon personally selected Delfin III for the Peruvian Amazon. She carries 44 guests in 22 suites, starting at 237 square feet, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Multilingual naturalists lead outings by skiff into small tributaries and flooded forests, and the skiffs come stocked with cold towels, fresh fruit and refreshments.

Onboard, you'll find a plunge pool on the open-air deck, a Panorama Lounge & Bar with a dance floor, a Rainforest Spa and a small gym. In the evening, the indoor lounge hosts nightly entertainment, and multimedia natural history lectures build on what you've seen along the river. Menus feature Peruvian specialties and Western favorites, with free-flowing house wine at dinner. Coffee, tea, mineral water, select soft drinks, local beer and Pisco-based cocktails are complimentary throughout the day.

Upcoming Avalon Waterways Cruises Aboard the Delfin III

Which Avalon River Fits Your Travel Style

Each of Avalon's rivers outside Europe suits a different pace and a different kind of curiosity. If you're deciding where to start, think about what you want to come home with: a deeper sense of history, a window into everyday life or an up-close look at the rainforest.

Choose the Nile if ancient history is the draw. The Taste of Egypt itinerary pairs days in Cairo with a river cruise from Luxor to Aswan, and an Egyptologist-led lecture helps put the temples and tombs along the way in context.

Choose the Mekong if you'd rather spend your time on the water and among people. Nearly the entire Mekong Discovery itinerary is spent aboard, with sampan rides, village visits and markets filling the days, and Avalon Saigon's 36-guest capacity keeps the trip intimate.

Choose the Amazon if you're drawn to wildlife and landscapes. The Peru itinerary begins in the Andes with Machu Picchu, then turns to the rainforest, where naturalist-led panga rides and a night safari bring you close to monkeys, birdlife and more. Because the trip reaches elevations up to 12,200 feet, it suits travelers who are comfortable with stairs and uneven paths.

Features and amenities vary by ship outside Europe, so each ship section above lists what you'll find onboard. For a closer look at what Avalon includes on its river cruises in general, here is everything included on an Avalon Waterways river cruise.

Plan Your Avalon Waterways Cruise

Three rivers, three very different journeys. The only question left is which river calls to you first. When you're ready, The Cruise Web's Cruise Experts are here to help.

Here is why travelers book with us:

• Exclusive perks you will not find when booking direct
• Inside industry knowledge on every Avalon itinerary
• 24/7 assistance from dedicated Cruise Experts

Call us at 1-800-377-9383 or contact us online. Our vacation planning service is always free.

Note: Itineraries, ships and inclusions can change, and Avalon may adjust programs for water levels, weather or operational reasons. This post is accurate as of its publication date. For the latest details or any questions, contact our Cruise Experts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can The Cruise Web help me plan an Avalon Waterways cruise?

Avalon's cruises beyond Europe often pair time on the river with days on land, so there are more choices to make. A Cruise Expert can talk you through which itinerary suits your pace, whether to add Siem Reap to a Mekong trip or Jordan to a Nile cruise and how the ships differ. You'll also have access to exclusive perks you will not find when booking direct. Our vacation planning service is always free. Call 1-800-377-9383 or visit CruiseWeb.com.

Does Avalon Waterways sail outside Europe?

Yes. Avalon Waterways sails the Nile in Egypt aboard MS Farah, the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia aboard Avalon Saigon and the Amazon in Peru aboard Delfin III. Together they cover Africa, Asia and South America.

Are Avalon's ships outside Europe the same as its European ships?

Not always. On the Mekong, Avalon Saigon is one of Avalon's Suite Ships, with Panorama Suites and an Open-Air Balcony. On the Nile and the Amazon, Avalon uses existing vessels it selects to meet its standards for quality, comfort and amenities: MS Farah, which it charters, and Delfin III. Layouts, features and inclusions differ from ship to ship.

How much of each trip is spent on the ship?

It depends on the itinerary. The Mekong Discovery itinerary is almost entirely aboard, with seven nights on Avalon Saigon in an eight-day trip. Taste of Egypt spends four nights aboard MS Farah in a 10-day trip, with the rest in Cairo. The Peru itinerary spends three nights aboard Delfin III in an 11-day trip, after the first days in Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Does the Mekong cruise visit Angkor Wat?

Not on the Mekong Discovery itinerary, which sails between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. Avalon's longer Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River itineraries add land time in Siem Reap, where you explore the Angkor temples, including Angkor Wat. Depending on the version, they can also include Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Bangkok.

Can I add Jordan to a Nile cruise?

Yes. Avalon offers Taste of Egypt with Jordan, a 14-day itinerary that adds Jordan to the Taste of Egypt journey and runs from Cairo to the Dead Sea.

What's included with dining and drinks on each ship?

On MS Farah, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, along with a complimentary glass of wine or one beer at dinner and tea and coffee at lunch and dinner.

On Avalon Saigon, wine is complimentary with all lunches and dinners, and local beer, spirits, coffee, tea and soft drinks are complimentary with meals and at the bar.

On Delfin III, free-flowing house wine is included at dinner, and coffee, tea, mineral water, select soft drinks, local beer and Pisco-based cocktails are complimentary throughout the day.

Inclusions can vary by sailing, so check the current details for your departure.

Are there physical considerations on the Peru itinerary?

Yes. The Andes portion reaches elevations of up to 12,200 feet, and Avalon notes that high elevations can make even modest exertion challenging. Sightseeing also involves cobblestone streets, uneven paths and stairs. Travelers with concerns about altitude may want to check with a doctor before booking.

What happens if water levels change the itinerary?

Avalon notes that itineraries can vary. On the Nile, technical or water level issues may mean part of the program is operated by motorcoach or adjusted, including a hotel overnight when necessary. On the Peruvian Amazon, the itinerary may vary with water levels, regional policies, weather and seasonal changes.