Top Rivers & Seas Luxury Hiking Trips & Packages 2025/2026

Our 85 most popular Rivers & Seas Luxury Hiking Trips & Packages trips. Compare tour itineraries from 35 tour companies. 32 reviews.

85 Trips match your criteria (1 - 22 shown)

King Penguins of the Falklands and South Georgia - Expedition
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They travel to places beyond the typical tourist locations and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Britain, Falklands Islands, Georgia, Montevideo, Shetland Islands, South Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • An epic Antarctic adventure - in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton
  • View large colonies of iconic king penguins - on South Georgia
  • Variety of penguins - stand amid magellanic, macaroni and rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands
  • Get close to the marine wildlife - see whales and cavorting seals from your Zodiac
  • Montevideo - explore the delights of this vibrant city

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Hiking & Walking, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"Great trip covering highlights of Kerala. Fabulous tour leader and support team. The rides started easy and flat, and became progressively harder with increasingly longer hills as we headed into the mountains. The slow pace suited my ability. The spinning classes I did as preparation definitely paid off. The heat and humidity were challenging! Road conditions were better than expected. The bikes could have been in better condition- the mechanic was great in sorting out issues on the way. Most of the participants missed their various connecting flights arranged by Explore, including us! Arriving at 5am and having to be prepared to cycle at 8.30am wasn’t fun! Explore really need to consider this as I think it’s a regular occurrence!"

Trip dates & details
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Antarctic Awakening: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Why we love them
Their ice-breaking cruise liners take travelers truly off of the beaten path and into the very heart of the polar realms.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • The greatest concentrations of seabirds and marine mammals on the planet.
  • The astounding abundance of penguins at huge breeding colonies
  • A rare view of albatross family life
  • Fearless marine wildlife and scenery beyond belief on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Die geplante Route: ab Ushuaia nach Antarktische Halbinsel, Südgeordgien, Falklands nach Buenos Aires. Wetterbedingt (aufziehender Hurrikan) Zwischenstopp in Southorkneys und Umfahrung des Unwetters. Dank Wetterglück, flexibler Plananpassung, hervorragender Expeditionsleitung sowie Crew ein einmaliges und unvergessliches Erlebnis in dieser vom Menschen (noch) weniger beeinflussten Welt. Die Reise ist ihr Geld auf jeden Fall wert!"

Trip dates & details
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Antarctica Christmas Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
81 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Why we love them
They’ve been recognized by major travel publications for their pioneering adventure travel expertise that spans back to their founding in 1979.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Visit Punta Arenas
  • Visit very historic location of Elephant Island
  • Have a chance to view to the north of Mount Shackleton and Mount Scott is impressive
  • Visit to Half Moon Island
  • Antarctic expedition include glacier climbing, penguin viewing, whale watching, camping out under the stars and more.

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Family Friendly, Hiking & Walking, Sailing, Education / Learning, Photography, National Parks, Festivals & Special Events, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I have travelled with ROW numerous times, including four trips on the Rogue River. Every trip has been wonderful and every person associated with ROW has been nice, knowledgeable, professional and fun. The Rogue is a great river and the trip is an excellent one for two people or a large group—and I have done both. I’ve taken both of my kids, one time each, and have organized groups of colleagues twice; most recently in 2019 when 14 of us gathered. The guides at ROW are great and help to make the trip very enjoyable. The scenery, lodging and the wonderful outdoors including warm air and refreshing water, make for a wonderful escape from the everyday routine. The fact that this trip offers beds and indoor plumbing is a nice benefit and allows those who have an aversion to camping a chance to see the wilderness. I have recommended ROW and the Rogue trip more times than I can count and my group has already reserved our trip for 2021. What are you waiting for?"

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Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
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Venezuela - Journey to Angel Falls
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By ElderTreks
preferred
4.2/5 Great
15 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • Travel to Venezuela's Andes Mountains
  • Spectacular wildlife viewing on the Llanos grasslands
  • Search for wildlife in the Orinoco Delta
  • Visit Pemon villages
  • Explore Canaima Lagoon
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, National Parks, Climbing & Mountaineering, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I paid for the Nepal trip then saw news of monsoon rain, flooding, landslides, 200+ dead. I was told by Elder Treks that they would not cancel the trip. However I did not feel comfortable going especially when weather reports were for more rain. They would not credit me or even allow me to switch to another tour. Because they wouldn't even allow me to switch tours when my concerns were valid, I would not recommend, nor use Elder Treks again."

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Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Witness and explore the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula;
  • Be aboard one of Quark’s specially designed ice strengthened vessels;
  • Learn about the environment and wildlife from onboard lecturers and specialists;
  • Witness the abundant wildlife - penguins, seals, whales and more!

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Sailing, National Parks, High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Zodiac trips are fantastic. The whale watching is amazing."

Trip dates & details
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Columbia and Snake Rivers Journey
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2/5 Disappointing
30 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Follow the path of Lewis and Clark’s expedition through what are today the states of Washington and Oregon.
  • Cruise through the towering canyons of the Columbia River Gorge, and explore the coastline by kayak or motorized landing craft.
  • Hike or bike along breathtaking vistas, and take an exhilarating jet boat ride up the Snake River to Hell’s Canyon.
  • Enjoy locally sourced, sustainable cuisine and nightly beer and wine tastings on board. Also visit a winery for a tasting and tour.
  • Learn about the history of the Nez Perce and other Native American tribes of the area.
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Culinary & Wine, 50 Plus, Hiking & Walking, Education / Learning, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

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East Greenland: Northern Lights
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Experience Greenland’s vast landscapes
  • Explore the world’s largest fjord system
  • Visit the largest and most remote national park on the planet
  • Possibly catch sightings of muskoxen and whales
  • Cruise in a Zodiac
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Zodiac trips are fantastic. The whale watching is amazing."

Trip dates & details
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A Circumnavigation of Iceland
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Explore Iceland’s wild western coast
  • Siglutjörout in the north
  • The rarely- visited rugged east coast
  • And the Westman islands, one of the planet’s youngest archipelagos
  • Europe's largest icecap

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Small Ship Cruise, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

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Rivers & Seas Luxury Hiking Trips & Packages Reviews

A

Amanda

Mar 2022

Written on

Company is a scam

This company cancelled our trip 3 times due to COVID. The most recent cancellation was less than 10 days notice. When we tried to re-book this time for a later date ...

B

Beware of False Published Itinerary

Feb 2022

Best Part of Trip was Cancelled

signed up to travel the Columbia-Snake River to visit Hell's Canyon. That part of the trip was cancelled by Nat Geo without notifying the passengers. Instead we vi...

M

Mari

Dec 2024

Written on

Wilderness Travel is the BEST company to choose for the Galapagos Islands!

Wilderness Travel is the BEST company to choose for the Galapagos Islands! We went as a family of 7 and every expectation was blown out of the water. Their team in t...

K

Kelsey

Jul 2017

Written on

Our trip to Peru was planned perfectly, thanks to our travel agent! 

Our trip to Peru was planned perfectly, thanks to our travel agent! He was quick to respond to all of my needs & was very flexible. The hotels and the guides h...

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