The 15 Boat Trips That Earn Their Price

1.Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 805 reviews · 5 - 11 hours · from $396Our pick

Walk for about an hour across Perito Moreno Glacier with crampons, guided in English or Spanish by a small team, then cruise beside its ice walls and visit the boardwalks. Expect a long day, strict age limits, a park fee, and excellent glacier guides such as Marcelo, Nicolas, and Mariana.

“I had an amazing time on the Perito Moreno Glacier trekking tour! The weather was beautiful for most of the day, with just a little light rain here and there—nothing that took away from the experience. The glacier itself is absolutely breathtaking, and getting to walk on it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and fun, and the entire staff was warm, organized, and made everyone feel safe and comfortable. From the boat ride to the trek and all the little details in between, everything was well-run and exceeded my expectations. I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting El Calafate. Truly a 10/10…”

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2.Dubai: Private Luxury Everest Yacht Cruise from Dubai Marina

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 518 reviews · 1 - 8 hours

Take a private 42-foot motor yacht from Dubai Marina for one to eight hours. Your skipper guides you past Ain Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm, and Burj Al Arab, with time for photos, music, fishing, swimming, or a barbecue on four-hour trips.

“Wonderful experience. The boat was clean, had adequate space, and the staff attentive.”

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3.Phang Nga Treasures Sunrise Trekking and No-crowd James Bond by longtailed boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 171 reviews · from $132Top rated

Leave Phuket before dawn for a 20 to 30 minute trek to Samet Nangshe viewpoint, then travel by longtail boat and canoe through Phang Nga Bay. You’ll visit James Bond Island, caves, mangroves, and a shell cemetery with a group of no more than eight. Guides such as Kim, Paul, MJ, and Pai are praised for friendly, capable service.

“Thank you Paul for making a spectacular day of adventures relaxing, fun and interesting! The day trip made our trip to Phuket…beautiful scenery with a small group, avoiding the crowds, and ending with a delicious lunch has given us great memories.”

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4.Queenstown: Walter Peak Horse Trek & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 151 reviews · from $134

You’ll cross Lake Whakatipu by TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, then ride 40 to 45 minutes through Walter Peak farmland with an English-speaking guide. Small groups of up to six make this a calm, personal outing for first-time riders, followed by tea, scones, and muffins.

“Ferrie ride was great. We did the Walter Peak Horse Ride. Looked after us as we had not been on a horse many years. The afternoon high tea was delicious.”

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5.Half Day Walter Peak Horse Trek and Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 101 reviews · from $142

Ride from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, enjoy tea at the Colonel’s Homestead, then follow a guide on a gentle 40-minute horse trek. The small group is limited to six, with horses suited to beginners and views toward the Remarkables.

“During this 3-hour booking, we only spent 40 minutes horseback riding. I wish we had known this before making the reservation, as it felt a bit expensive for such a limited amount of riding time. We also didn’t realize that we would need to take a boat across the lake to reach the location, which consumed most of our paid experience.”

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6.Ouzoud Waterfalls Guided Hike and Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 75 reviews · 10 hours · from $9Best value

Travel from Marrakech to Ouzoud Waterfalls with a local guide such as Dakar Marwan, walking through olive groves to the falls, riding a boat at the base, and spotting Barbary monkeys. Transport is included, while lunch costs about €13 in cash. Choose a guided or self-guided option.

“I liked the tour so much. The transport was in time. Dakar Marwan was our tour guide, he was very knowledgeable, he shared a lot of information with us. He was very friendly and also helpful. We had a great time at Ouzoud waterfalls, I recommend this trip.”

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7.Private Luxury Everest Yacht Cruise from Dubai Marina

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews

You’ll cruise Dubai Marina aboard the 42-foot Everest yacht with a skipper and crew, passing Bluewaters, Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis, and Burj Al Arab. Bring your own food, drinks, and music, or request a swim stop. Crew members such as Kumar, Asim, Jasper, and Ritz have earned warm praise, though boat quality and booking communication can vary.

“This yacht ride was for my birthday celebration. They did not disappoint. This charter is highly recommended for the experience of a lifetime.”

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8.1-Day Trekking and Longtail Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 53 reviews · 1 day · from $96

Spend a full day with a small group of up to 10, riding a longtail boat on the Mae Kok River, walking through bamboo, rubber trees, and tea fields, swimming at Huay Kaew Waterfall, and visiting Akha and Lahu villages. Guides such as Thor, June, and Addy lead the trip in English or Thai.

“We had a fantastic time ! Each activity, boat or trek, was perfectly timed and organised. Our guides were not only very nice but also very enthusiasts and knowledgeable of the aera.”

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9.Lake Como: Easy Mountain Trek with Funicular & Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 24 reviews · from $203

Join a small group of up to 10 with an English or Italian guide for a six-hour walk from Brunate to Torno. Ride Como’s funicular, follow an ancient Roman trail, eat at a hillside baita, and return by boat. Guides Mikael and Fiamo have earned special praise.

“It was an amazing new experience for both myself and my husband we have always lived in a city and this trekking was totally new for us, we will blown away and also our Guide Mikael was an excellent tour guide very informative and he really made our experience unforgettable”

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10.Fjallsárlón: Secluded Glacier Hike and Iceberg Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 22 reviews · 4 hours · from $235

Cruise Fjallsárlón by Zodiac, then cross to Fjallsjökull for a two-hour guided glacier hike. With groups capped at 10, certified guides such as Igor, Ola, Martin, Carolina, and Caroline can give the day a personal feel. Gear, parking, restrooms, and Frost restaurant are on site.

“espectacular! ha sido de las mejores actividades del viaje. las explicaciones de Caroline fueron geniales. 100% recomendable”

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11.Pu Luong Amazing Trekking Village,Rafting,Swimming, Lunch on Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $35

Join a small-group Pu Luong morning tour with guides such as Nga or Lila. Visit a Thai silk-weaving home, see ancient waterwheels, walk 4 km through rice fields, then raft along Cham Stream with lunch served on the boat.

“The guide was excellent, knowledgeable, very friendly and speaks English very well so we had nice conversations along the way. You get to mingle a bit with the local people and stroll through the amazing countryside this area has to offer, toRead more”

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12.Ba Be National Park With Boat Trip, Kayaking, Swimming, Trekking And Cycling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $134

Travel from Hanoi to Ba Be National Park for a boat trip on Vietnam’s largest natural freshwater lake, kayaking, swimming, a 15-kilometer trek through Tay villages, and cycling to Hua Ma Cave. The private tour includes transport, meals, a homestay, and two days of outdoor activity.

“Unsere Tour war super. Die Busfahrten waren zwar sehr anstrengend, da es ein öffentlicher Bus ist mit dem auch die Einheimischen fahren, wodurch es oft sehr laut und eng ist. Zudem sind die Straßenbedingungen sehr schlecht.”

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13.8-Days Hanoi, Sapa Trekking And Halong Bay Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $854

Spend 8 days moving from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to a Halong Bay cruise and Sapa’s H’mong and Dzay villages. You’ll visit major sights, kayak among limestone islets, trek 20 kilometers through mountain valleys, and sleep one night with a local family. Ask whether guides such as May are available in Sapa.

“We are a group of 4 with customised tour by Your Vietnam Tour. With the help of Dylan organising our tour we enjoyed it very much. We started with some scepticism and soon find the tour to be well organised. Our local guide in Sapa May did a wonderful job making sure we have a most memorable times there.”

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14.Chiang Rai Trek:Jungle Hike, Bamboo-Cooked Lunch & Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $77

Spend a full day outside Chiang Rai with guides such as Aryu, Arju, or Ayu. Ride a long-tail boat, hike through jungle and tea fields, make bamboo cookware, cook lunch over a fire, swim at a waterfall, visit Karen, Akha, and Lahu villages, then soak in a hot spring.

“If you're looking for an authentic trip out of the tourist areas, I highly recommend this tour. The guide Ayu picked us up from our hotel, we had a really nice boat ride and then a hike through the jungle. The guide could tell us everything about the plants and he made our utensils and pans from the bamboo in the forest. It was raining quite a lot, which makes it more a heavy hike than a moderate hike because of the slippery road. He made our food in the jungle on the fire, which was delicious. We also saw the waterfall and Akha village. Highly recommended!”

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15.Glacier Cruise & Trekking at Estancia Cristina

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 5 reviews · 12 hours · from $342

You’ll cruise Lago Argentino toward Upsala Glacier, walk 30 minutes to the Caterina River and chapel, and visit Estancia Cristina’s former shearing shed museum. An English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide leads the day. Expect an early start, changing weather, lunch, and a possible distant glacier view.

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