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 sport.
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
Rivers and canals of Europe
- Göta kanal. Used to be the country's most important transportation route. It is still popular with leisure boats.
- Kiel canal. One of the world's busiest waterways.
- Saimaa Canal, 60.9647°, 28.5390°. Connecting the Finnish Lakeland to the seas, by a short visa-free visit to Russia, the canal is important both for the industry of the Lakeland and for tourists taking a cruise or going to explore the inland archipelagos by own yacht.
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
- Main-Danube Canal. The two great rivers of the Rhine and Danube, which have influenced many events throughout history and the development of many cities, are connected via a canal between the Daube and the Main River, a major tributary of the Rhine. This makes it possible to travel by boat or cruise ship between the North Sea and the Black Sea. The route also provides an ideal landscape for hiking and cycling trails.
- Hiking trails : Rheinsteig, Rheinburgenweg, Rheinhöhenweg, Rheintaler Höhenweg, Donausteig, Sultans Trail.
- Cycling trails: EV15 The Rhine Cycle Route, the Danube Cycleway
UK Canals
See also: Inland waterways in the United Kingdom
Hiring a narrow boat and travelling part of the extensive canals of England, Scotland and Wales is a great way to see the British country side and discover hidden gems in the towns and cities.
Rivers and Canals of North America
The New York State Canal System
Over 500 miles of waterways, the Hudson river and the Erie Canal allowing 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.
Others
Rivers and Canals of South America
Rivers and Canals of Africa
- Nile. Africa's longest river.
- Felucca cruise on the Nile
- Suez route. Including the Suez Canal and the Red Sea
Rivers and Canals of Asia
- Along the Yellow River. The Yellow River, Huang He, is the dominant river of northern China.
- Along the Yangtze River
- Along the Salween River
- Yarlong River National Park
Lakes of Europe
- Lake Balaton. One of Central Europe's largest lakes.
- Lake Constance (Bodensee)
- Boating in Finland#The Finnish lakes
- Saimaa (Saimen)
Lakes of North America
- Great Lakes.
- Lake Tahoe. On the border between California and Nevada
The open seas and coastlines
- Atlantic Ocean
- Baltic Sea
- Indian Ocean
- Islands of the Indian Ocean
- Persian Gulf
- Arabian Sea (Asia)
- Mediterranean Sea
- Pacific Ocean