Water bodies are important parts of human life; In fact, humans would be extinct without these natural water formations. While they act as the lifeblood of human existence, water bodies also present the stage for humans to enjoy fun activities like - swimming, kayaking, and water rafting. Some even present stunning scenery and when this combines with the fun activities available, it creates the right atmosphere for a memorable vacation.
These rivers around the world present both scenery and a fun atmosphere, which means a delightful vacation for travelers.
8 Snake River, Idaho, United States
Originating in Wyoming, the Snake River is a 1,078 miles-long river that flows across several states including Idaho and Oregon. The Snake River Canyon in Idaho offers an excellent opportunity to see and explore the scenic Snake River. At the canyon, vacationers can see the unique snake-like course the river takes and also enjoy exciting activities such as – hiking, fishing, and kayaking. Vacationers can even enjoy base jumping at the Perrine Bridge or hike to the Shoshone waterfalls and the Twin Falls Visitors Center for more spectacular views.
7 Radovna River, Bled Gorge, Slovenia
Located in the Radovna valley, the beautiful emerald Radovna river flows through the valley into the Sava Dolinka river. The river can be seen best from the 1.6 km Vintgar Gorge which was carved out by the river itself. A bridge is positioned by the side of the river where vacationers can walk and catch views of the river and the surrounding mountains. Those who visit this valley will also enjoy fishing and a 13 km biking trail that presents views of a vast landscape and features green vegetation, beautiful flowers, and lots of Spruce trees.
- The Radovna Valley is located in the Triglav National Park.
6 Rio Grande, New Mexico
The fifth longest river in North America starts from Colorado and flows 1,900 miles across New Mexico, and the boundary between Texas and some Mexican states before ending its journey in the Gulf of Mexico.
New Mexico offers an awesome way to see this river from the Rio Grande Valley State Park, or Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and enjoy activities such as - hiking, kayaking, rafting, and canoeing. To get a closer look at the river visit the unique formation at Rio Grande Gorge or set up camp near the river (Some parks might not allow camping near certain areas of the river).
5 Gorges Du Verdon, France
Stunning scenery awaits vacationers at Gorge Du Verdon in France which features beautiful turquoise water. Gorges Du Verdon is 15.5 miles long and forms the largest Canyon in Europe. One of the best ways to explore the incredible river is by kayaking, or canoeing on the waters. Trekkers can also engage their feet at the Blanc-Martel trail and enjoy views of the river as they hike for several hours on the mountain. Adventurous visitors have a lot to satisfy their souls as activities such as - Rock climbing, Bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, cliff jumping, and canyoning can be done within the Canyon. Those who want some more views can head over to the Geletas Bridge for a higher view of the flowing river.
4 Mississippi River, Minnesota, United States
Located in Minnesota, the Mississippi River is the second-longest river in North America. The Itasca State Park is the headquarters of the Mississippi river; thus, it is considered the best place to see the river. From the Itasca State Park, the Mississippi River can be seen originating from Lake Itasca and then traveling 2,340 miles into the Mississippi River Delta.
After seeing the mighty river’s source in the Itasca State Park, vacationers can engage in some activities such as – Kayaking or boating through the river’s difficult routes. During winter, the park even offers an excellent stage for skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and even ice-fishing. Trails suitable for hiking or biking through the park’s forest are also available and most of them even offer sights of the Park’s bird species and tall hardwood trees. Wildlife thrives in the Itasca State Park as well and animals such as – bears, wolves, and deer can often be seen roaming around so vacationers have to take precautions when going through some of the trails.
3 Fjaðrá River, Iceland
The picturesque Fjaðrá river located in Southeast Iceland is a scenic river that flows through the magnificent Fjarðárgljúfur canyon (don’t bother pronouncing that). A visit to this canyon offers views of the unique formation of mountains and the river that flows through it. As always, the mountains are covered in beautiful green vegetation, and the views stretch far and wide. Since Justin Bieber shot the music video for - “I’ll show you” on this canyon, the number of visits to the canyon has skyrocketed as more people discovered the amazing scenery that can be seen here.
2 Amazon River, Brazil
Sometimes the Amazon River claims the title of the longest river in the world; Other times, the Nile takes it and the debate goes on. Even though the title is more frequently awarded to the Nile, the Amazon River still has a title of its own as it is the world’s largest river when it comes to the volume of discharge. A visit to the Amazon River offers vacationers an opportunity to see the largest rainforest in the world - the Amazon Rainforest. This combination is perfect for an amazing exploration of wildlife, plants, trees, a large water body, and marine life.
Cruises are the best ways to see the beauty and wealth of this biodiverse part of the world. An Amazon River cruise offers an exploration of the vast water body and the billions of plants and trees the rainforest hosts. While on the cruise, engage in a marine exploration to see some of the thousands of fish species in the water and also the large Amazon River Dolphin which changes its color with age. Bird lovers can get on with an exploration of the beautiful bird species in the Amazon some of which include – Scarlet macaw, Hyacinth, Toco Toucan, and laughing Falcon.
1 The Nile, Egypt
The longest river in the world is famous for serving as the main source of water for the Egyptians throughout history. Although the Nile stretches across several other African countries, the best place to enjoy a Nile vacation is in Egypt - by taking a Nile River cruise. While offering mesmerizing views, a Nile river cruise also offers a comprehensive exploration of the historic sites of Egypt. Depending on the cruise, vacationers will have destinations such as – The Great Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel, Valley of Kings, Kom Ombo, and more on the cruise’s list of destinations. Getting a thorough river cruise also depends on how long vacationers wish to spend on the vacation. Some cruises such as the popular Luxor to Aswan Cruise last 4 to 5 days, others such as the Cairo to Luxor cruise can last 7 to 9 or more days.