River cruising is more diverse and far-reaching than you might imagine. While Europe tends to be the focal point for the river cruise industry, a number of players have begun offering counterpoints to the larger river cruise ships that, in comparison with oceangoing cruise ships, seem positively minuscule.

Toronto-based G Adventures wants to take river cruising down to an even smaller scale. To that end, the company – which has operated land tours since 1990, and oceangoing cruise adventures for nearly as long – has launched a program of small-group, small-ship river cruises that ply the waters of the Amazon, India’s Ganges river, France’s Burgundy region, and the Mekong River that runs between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Rather than accommodating hundreds of guests, G Adventures’ river fleet takes just dozens; no more than 30 guests per voyage, in fact. The company believes that smaller is better, and that certainly seems to be the case in terms of fostering friendly relationships amongst the company’s loyal guests.

If you’re prone to taking land-based adventure holidays, that’s very much how G Adventures has structured its river cruise itineraries. Expect a high level of engagement with locals and full cultural immersion, coupled with plenty of time to relax. This is, after all, a river cruise – and sometimes the best moments come from simply sitting back and admiring the scenery as it drifts past your ship.

Learn more about G Adventures by reading our full company profile here.