Danube Dreams with 2 Nights in Prague (Westbound)

Phnom Penh rises from the confluence of the Mekong, Tonlé Sap, and Bassac rivers with a resilience that makes it one of Southeast Asia's most affecting capitals — a city that endured the Khmer Rouge's "Year Zero" and has re-emerged as a place of broad riverfront boulevards, excellent Khmer cuisine, and a cultural energy that feels earned rather than manufactured. The Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda, housing a life-size gold Buddha studded with 9,584 diamonds, is the city's architectural centrepiece; the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school converted to a prison by the Khmer Rouge, is sobering but essential history. November through February offers the most comfortable climate for extended exploration.

Angkor Ban is a riverside Mekong village in Cambodia's Kampong Cham Province where unvarnished authenticity awaits the discerning river cruise traveler — a world away from tourist infrastructure, offering a rare glimpse into rural Khmer life unchanged by modernity. Ancient laterite temple ruins hide among the trees, while local craftspeople practice traditional silk weaving and pottery in family compounds that welcome visitors with quiet warmth. The dry season from November through April offers the most comfortable conditions for exploring the village lanes and surrounding countryside on foot or by bicycle. Phnom Penh is a half-day's river journey downstream.

Kampong Tralach, Cambodia is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by AmaWaterways. Must-do experiences include exploring the vibrant local markets for regional specialties and fresh seafood, and discovering the waterfront quarter where maritime heritage meets contemporary energy. The optimal time to visit is November through April, when dry season brings clear skies and calm seas.

Phnom Penh rises from the confluence of the Mekong, Tonlé Sap, and Bassac rivers with a resilience that makes it one of Southeast Asia's most affecting capitals — a city that endured the Khmer Rouge's "Year Zero" and has re-emerged as a place of broad riverfront boulevards, excellent Khmer cuisine, and a cultural energy that feels earned rather than manufactured. The Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda, housing a life-size gold Buddha studded with 9,584 diamonds, is the city's architectural centrepiece; the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school converted to a prison by the Khmer Rouge, is sobering but essential history. November through February offers the most comfortable climate for extended exploration.

Sitting directly across the Rhine from Strasbourg, Kehl offers Rhine river cruise guests the remarkable experience of crossing from Germany into France in five minutes on foot — arriving at a medieval Alsatian cathedral quarter whose tarte flambée, Riesling estates, and half-timbered Petite France canals represent some of Europe's most enduring pleasures. The surrounding Black Forest and Alsatian Wine Route extend the discovery. Spring blossoms and autumn harvest are the most atmospheric times to visit this Franco-German frontier town.

Long Khánh is southern Vietnam's tropical fruit capital, set in volcanic red-earth highlands known for durian, rambutan, and mangosteen orchards. Essential experiences include visiting pick-your-own fruit farms, tasting bún riêu noodle soup, and excursions to Cát Tiên National Park's ancient forests. May through August is peak fruit season for the most spectacular tastings.

Rüdesheim am Rhein, a jewel of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, is where Germany's most storied wine river cuts through vine-terraced slopes and medieval castle ruins. The pedestrianised Drosselgasse laneway — beloved since the Romantic era — hums with wine taverns pouring the region's celebrated Rieslings, crisp and mineral from the slate soils. The Niederwald Monument surveys the river from the heights, reached by cable car above the vineyards. Day trips by boat unlock Bacharach, Boppard, and the legendary Lorelei rock. September's harvest festivals transform the entire valley into a convivial celebration of the vintage.

Vinh Long is a river town at the heart of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, renowned for its bustling Cai Be floating market, lush fruit orchards on river islands, and the delta's distinctive cuisine. Must-dos include a dawn sampan visit to the floating market, tasting crispy elephant ear fish wrapped in rice paper, and visiting island orchards and coconut candy workshops. November through April's dry season offers the best weather for delta exploration.

Vilshofen an der Donau is a handsome Bavarian river town where three streams converge with the Danube, its medieval market charter and Gothic Stadtturm bearing witness to eight centuries of river trade prosperity — though its most joyful claim to fame is the boisterous Vilshofen Volksfest, Bavaria's second-largest folk festival after Oktoberfest, held each June. The pastel-painted baroque townhouses and arcaded courtyards of the compact old town make for an idyllic Danube-side stroll, while the surrounding farmland and rolling hills of Lower Bavaria offer cycling routes of pastoral serenity. Summer brings the festival season; spring and autumn lend the Danube Valley its most golden and peaceful character.

Still whispered as Saigon by its ten million residents, Ho Chi Minh City pulses with an energy that outlasted every empire and every war. The French colonial grandeur of Notre-Dame Cathedral and Gustave Eiffel's Central Post Office stands in vivid counterpoint to the city's kinetic street life — an endless river of motorbikes, fragrant with pho broth and charcoal-grilled meats. Do not miss the Reunification Palace, a time capsule of Cold War modernism, or a dawn bowl of bánh mì from a sidewalk vendor. The dry season, November through April, offers the most comfortable conditions for exploration.

Cologne's twin-spired Gothic cathedral, six hundred years in the building and still the city's defining monument, is the inevitable starting point — but this ancient Rhine city rewards exploration well beyond its iconic silhouette. The Romano-Germanic Museum reveals the city's Roman foundations, while the Chocolate Museum on the riverbank offers a distinctly sweeter history lesson. Cologne's famed Kölsch beer culture thrives in the old town's traditional brew-houses, where one round follows another in centuries-old wooden halls. The city is welcoming year-round, though the legendary Christmas markets (November–December) attract visitors from across Europe.