Active Ocean & River Cruise Adventures

Enjoy the invigorating experience of traveling with Backroads on small cruise ships that feel more like exclusive retreats. These active adventures are a world away from typical large cruises. On a floating hotel that covers more distance, you’ll see the world while only unpacking once.

22 Trips

Lakes Mountains Ecuador

Bird Blue Galapagos

Cactus Coast Ecuador

Two Blue Boobie Birds

Sandy Beach Sea Lion Ecuador

Multi-Adventure

Couples, Friends & Solos

Galápagos Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Sailing through Ecuador's Enchanted Isles

8 days

Levels 1-2

Casual Plus Ship

From $8,799/person

Line of guests on lakeside, arms above head, large mountain vista behind them.

Three guests walking along lake, mountains, clouds in distance.

Shot of a Soaring Andean Condor.

Three guests on hillside trail, one pointing towards something off-frame.

Two guests sitting on hilltop, overlooking huge lake, ring of mountains, clouds, etc.

Walking & Hiking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Torres del Paine, Tierra del Fuego & Cape Horn

9 days

Levels 1-3

Casual Plus Hotels & Casual Ship

From $11,999/person

Leading Group Up Valley Columbia

Blue Footed Boobies Ecuador

Monkey crouching on tree branch

Worm's eye view of forest canopy

Turtle Ecuador

Walking & Hiking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Galápagos, Andes & Amazon River Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Ecuador's Vibrant Cultures & Wildlife Wonders

11 days

Levels 1-2

Premiere Hotels & Ship

From $10,199/person

Aerial view of the Danube River.

Two bikers riding past lush, green vineyards.

Two people riding their bikes in front of wooden and stone houses

Man riding a bike on an asphalt road, with mountains of trees behind him

Man riding a bike and wearing sunglasses, with a clock tower in the distance

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Danube River Cruise Bike Tour

Prague to Budapest through Five Countries

8 days

Levels 1-4

Small Luxury Ship

From $5,599/person

Ship Under Rhine River Bridge

Windmill in the countryside

River with Rhinelan`d Maus Castle in background

Guests with aperol spritzes raising a glass

Grapes on a vine

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour

Basel to Amsterdam through Switzerland, France, Germany & the Netherlands

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From $7,999/person

Panoramic autumn view of Amsterdam city.

Shot of small river, houses, wooden boat.

Bikers on Backroads Trip

Guests riding past windmills

Three guests cycling past brick housefronts.

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Dutch & Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour

Iconic Canals, Windmills & Bike Paths from Amsterdam to Bruges

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From $7,499/person

Marine Iguanas Photographed Galapagos

Guests Getting Ready Snorkeling Ecuador

Monkey crouching on tree branch

Worm's eye view of forest canopy

Frigatebird Ecuado

Walking & Hiking

Families with Older Teens & 20s

Galápagos, Andes & Amazon River Cruise Family Walking & Hiking Tour

Ecuador's Vibrant Cultures & Wildlife Wonders

11 days

Levels 1-2

Premiere Hotels & Ship

From $10,599/person

Exterior of Ama Vida cruise ship on the water.

View of historic architecture in Portugal.

Two bikers riding on a road along the Douro River.

Biker riding on a road along the Douro River.

People saying cheers with glasses of red wine.

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Portugal's Douro River Cruise Bike Tour

Splendid Salamanca to Historic Porto

8 days

Levels 2-4

Small Luxury Ship

From $6,199/person

Guest/leader cycling down tree-covered road, smiling.

Guest cycling past small French countryside town.

Two guests walking down French alleyway, church spire in front of them.

Grapes in Alsace

Adour River

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour

Vineyards & Châteaux of Garonne, Dordogne & Gironde

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From $7,699/person

Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III at Night

Cruise Ship on Seine River

Five guests cheersing glasses of red wine.

View on the Water

The Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial in France

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Paris Lights, the Land of Monet & Normandy's D-Day Sites

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From $5,999/person

Wide shot of Croatian coastal town, boats, blue water, hills, etc.

Close-up of guest cycling, bushes, clouds to her right.

Shot of Mediterranean grapevines.

Two guests in bike gear on bench, overlooking Dalmatian Coast.

Leader with wine bottles, smiling at camera.

Multi-Adventure

Couples, Friends & Solos

Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Biking, Hiking & Cruising along the Adriatic Coast

8 days

Levels 2-4

Small Luxury Ships

From $9,299/person

novice monks beating a new dry with palm reeds and splashing water

A small town by a mountain

a group of people get splashed with water in a ceremony outside a temple

a person bikes in front of a temple

backroads guests with a dragon headress

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour

Cycle & Sail along the Mighty Mekong

9 days

Levels 1-3

Premiere Hotels & Ship

From $8,999/person

Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour - Ponant Ship

Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour - hikers by lava flow

Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour - Hot Springs

Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour - Waterfall Canyon

Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour - Green Islands

NEW

Walking & Hiking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Passage to the Land of Fire & Ice

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From $9,099/person

View of cottage lined islands in clear blue water

Sunny beach with a cliff in the distance

Person on a beach looking into the sunset

View of Canal surrounded by tall rock walls

Aerial view of stone ruins in a forested area

NEW

Multi-Adventure

Couples, Friends & Solos

Greece & Mediterranean Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

From Athens to Croatia’s Dubrovnik via Albania & Montenegro

8 days

Levels 2-4

Small Luxury Ships

From $8,699/person

Palm trees and white sand beaches in Tahiti

A collection of fresh fruits in Tahiti

Backroads leader in Tahiti with a flower behind his ear

Riding a bike next to a bay in Tahiti

Woman swimming in crystal clear waters in Tahiti

Multi-Adventure

Couples, Friends & Solos

Tahiti Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Sailing Idyllic Isles from Tahiti to Bora Bora

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ships

From $8,699/person

Aerial view of the Amareina cruise ship on the Danube river.

Hillside field overlooking a small town

Biker riding up a hill with lush European countryside landscape in background.

Person taking photo of an illuminated building

Two women and one man holding bottles of wine

NEW

Multi-Adventure

Couples, Friends & Solos

Danube River Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Prague to Budapest through Five Countries

8 days

Levels 1-4

Small Luxury Ship

From $6,499/person

Three bikers walking their bikes on a path along the Danube River.

Two women wearing sunglasses and riding bicycles

Man in red riding a bicycle in an alley of a European town

Two woman clinking their bottles of drinks and smiling

Man and woman in front of a yellow and white building at an outdoor garden

Biking

Families with 20s & Beyond

Danube River Cruise Family Bike Tour

Prague to Budapest through Five Countries

8 days

Levels 1-4

Small Luxury Ship

From $7,299/person

Three bikers posing together.

Scenic view of bridges on the Vltava river and of the historical center of Prague: buildings and landmarks of old town with red rooftops and multi-coloured walls.

Statue of a young person playing the violin.

Plate of apple strudel.

Aerial view of the Danube River.

Biking

Families with Older Teens & 20s

Danube River Cruise Family Bike Tour

Prague to Budapest through Five Countries

8 days

Levels 1-4

Small Luxury Ship

From $7,599/person

View of the Ama Sonata ship on the Danube River.

Person overlooking a ship balcony at rural countryside along the Danube River.

Aerial view of the Danube River.

Young biker walking bike in Germany.

Child being helped on bike ride by adult.

Biking

Families with Teens & Kids

Danube River Cruise Family Bike Tour

Prague to Budapest through Five Countries

8 days

Levels 1-4

Small Luxury Ship

From $5,299/person

River with Rhinelan`d Maus Castle in background

Backroads Guests Biking

Selfie with cows

A plate of treats

Kids posing at fruit stand snack table

Biking

Families with Teens & Kids

Rhine River Cruise Family Bike Tour

Basel to Amsterdam through Switzerland, France, Germany & the Netherlands

8 days

Levels 1-3

Small Luxury Ship

From $5,299/person

Ariel view of town, river, and bridge

Grapes White Wine Platter River Bend

River with Rhinelan`d Maus Castle in background

Two guests biking on forest road, smiling at camera.

Guest biking in park

Biking

Couples, Friends & Solos

Rhine River Cruise Easygoing E-bike Tour

Dolce Tempo Journey from Basel to Amsterdam

8 days

Levels 1-2

Small Luxury Ship

From $7,999/person

Hikers trekking up a snowy hill in Antarctica with a cruise ship anchored in the background

Landscape of Paradise Bay Antarctica

Two penguins on a rocky beach in Antarctica

Person kayaking in the icy waters of Antarctica

Two guests posing with a sign in Ushuaia

Multi-Adventure

Couples, Friends & Solos

Antarctica Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Penguins, Icebergs, Glaciers & Epic Grandeur

11 days

Levels 1-2

Small Luxury Ships

From $16,999/person

Active Ocean & River Cruise Adventures

Led by your expert Trip Leaders, our carefully planned itineraries offer enough flexibility and activity to get you away from the crowds and into the region’s hidden gems. It’s the perfect combination: time onboard to relax and onshore activities that showcase the best of your destination.

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