Waterways

Waterways are a key focal point for travelers, whether it is just a way to get from A to B or to take in the scenery along a river or around a lake or to enjoy activities such as boating and sailing.

Understand
Inland waterways can be a good theme to base a holiday around. For example visiting castles in the Loire Valley, the Rhine Valley or taking a cruise to interesting cities on the Danube or boating along the Erie Canal. They also define routes for popular hiking and cycling trails.

Lakes, as well as often offering beautiful scenery, provide opportunities for sailing and other water sports.

The seas offer possibilities for the more adventurous sailors and for diving and surfing or to relax on a cruise ship. While the coastline can be the focal point for coastal hiking trails or other beach activities.

Prepare

 * Packing for a cruise
 * Tour cycling
 * Hiking, Packing for a week of hiking

Rivers and canals of Europe




Loire Valley
The Loire Valley, between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, is listed World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The Loire, the longest and the last wild river in France, goes through 2 French regions and is one of the main tourist destinations in France. Three villages are listed as "most beautiful villages of France".

Rhine-Main-Danube

 * Hiking trails : Rheinsteig, Rheinburgenweg, Rheinhöhenweg, Rheintaler Höhenweg, Donausteig, Sultans Trail.
 * Cycling trails: EV15 The Rhine Cycle Route, the Danube Cycleway
 * Cycling trails: EV15 The Rhine Cycle Route, the Danube Cycleway

UK canals


Hiring a narrow boat and travelling part of the extensive canals of England, Scotland and Wales is a great way to see the British countryside and discover hidden gems in the towns and cities.

The New York State Canal System
Over 500 miles of waterways, the Hudson River and the Erie Canal allow you to travel from New York City to the Great Lakes.

Mississippi River
North-South connection, with canals connecting the Mississippi River with the Great Lakes as well as the Missouri and Ohio Rivers.
 * Floating the Missouri River

Others

 * Platte River Valley
 * Canoeing the San Marcos River
 * Rideau Canal

Rivers and canals of South America

 * Amazon
 * Along the Paraguay River

Rivers and canals of Africa

 * Felucca cruise on the Nile
 * Felucca cruise on the Nile

Rivers and canals of Asia

 * Along the Grand Canal
 * Along the Yangtze River
 * Yarlong River National Park
 * Yarlong River National Park

Finnish lakes
Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes, which is a gross understatement. While there are lakes everywhere, the inland of southern Finland is covered by labyrinthine waterways, with a myriad of interconnected lakes, with hundreds of islands. The Saimaa waterways – Saimaa itself the fifth largest lake of Europe – are connected to the sea by the Saimaa Canal. Other significant lakes include Inarinjärvi (by Inari, in Lapland), Päijänne (by Jyväskylä, in Central Finland), Kallavesi (by Kuopio, in Savonia, connected to Saimaa), Pielinen (by Lieksa and Koli, in North Karelia, connected to Saimaa), Oulujärvi (by Kajaani, in Kainuu) and Längelmävesi and Näsijärvi (by Tampere, in Pirkanmaa). All of these lakes are good boating and canoeing destinations, and cruises are arranged at least on Saimaa, Päijänne and Näsijärvi.



The open seas and coastlines

 * Atlantic Ocean
 * British coast
 * Islands of the Arctic Ocean
 * Islands of the Atlantic Ocean
 * Islands of the Caribbean
 * North Sea
 * Wales Coast Path
 * Baltic Sea
 * Baltic Sea ferries
 * Boating on the Baltic Sea
 * Cruising the Baltic Sea
 * Indian Ocean
 * Arabian Sea (Asia)
 * Bay of Bengal
 * Islands of the Indian Ocean
 * Persian Gulf
 * Mediterranean Sea
 * Ferries in the Mediterranean
 * Aegean Sea
 * Black Sea
 * Pacific Ocean
 * Oceania
 * Sea of Japan (East Asia)
 * South China Sea (Asia)