Top 10: the best cruise destinations for adventure

Looking for adventure? Some of the best and most remote places that cruise makes surprisingly accessible

Cruise makes remote destinations remarkably accessible. Here we round up 10 of the best cruise calls for those looking for expedition and adventure.

1. Galapagos Islands. Celebrated for its biodiversity, this volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean is arguably the greatest destination in the world for wildlife lovers.

2. Antarctica. There’s no other way to truly explore the world’s greatest expedition destination than by cruise ship. Forty-eight different operators now sail there.

3. Myanmar. Since opening up its borders, this Southeast Asian nation, formerly Burma, has seen its tourism industry boom. Sailing the Irrawaddy is the best way to explore the country, with the likes of Pandaw and Avalon offering itineraries.

4. Vietnam. The Mekong, which also flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia is the best way to explore.

5. Alaska. Dozens of cruise lines sail to Alaska and how you experience it depends very much on the operator you choose. Regardless, this is a destination best explored by ship.

6. Amazon. River vessels and some smaller ocean-going ships traverse the Amazon, home to more species than any other ecosystem on earth.

7. Patagonia. This sparsely populated and mountainous region at the tip of South America is home to the magnificent Beagle Channel.

8. Egypt. Riviera Travel is the latest operator to announce Nile cruises, once a favourite of British holidaymakers. Despite the troubles, the river remains one of the greatest.

9. Svalbard. Found between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the Arctic archipelago has become a cruise favourite thanks to the aurora borealis and resident polar bears.

10. Botswana. The Chobe National Park – home to elephants, buffalo, lions, antelopes and hippos – is divided by the Chobe river. It might be one of the lesser known cruise destinations, but it beats a Jeep holiday.

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