It flows through 10 countries and inspired Johann Strauss’s most famous waltz, yet many of the 2850-kilometre Danube River’s gems remain under the radar. On Tauck’s 12-day The Blue Danube itinerary from Budapest to Prague, 130 guests will discover the region’s lesser-known towns, such as Engelhartszell in Austria, and be treated to exclusive experiences, including a private dinner at 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle.

The moment

On day eight, you might head to Salzburg to pay a visit to the Mozart museum, located in the composer’s birthplace, Hagenauer Haus. But while the Austrian city may be better known (it appears throughout The Sound of Music), the alternative excursion to a medieval town in the Czech Republic feels like stepping into the pages of a children’s storybook. Tucked within the folds of the Vltava River, Český Krumlov’s cobbled streets, namesake castle and colourful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Your included tour takes in the castle complex, where you can scale the 162 steps to the top of the tower. The climb is optional but the chance to gaze out at the magical town and the countryside beyond makes it unmissable.

Golden pastel de nata, Port wine direct from the source and every type of tinned fish you can imagine. The delicious delights of Portugal and Spain await during Viking’s 10-day Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary. Enjoy two days in Lisbon before you board with a maximum of 106 passengers in Porto and meander along the Douro, lined with vineyards, quintas (farm estates) and riverside towns. Stops include Pinhão and Régua – where you can try paio, the local spicy pork loin sausage – and Salamanca in Spain.

The moment

There are excursions to a historic fortress town by the Spanish border or a traditional bakery in the Douro Valley but seeing how Portugal’s famous sardines get tucked into their tins is a unique treat. Seafood has long been the lifeblood of Matosinhos, a coastal city just 10 minutes’ drive north of Porto, and Conservas Pinhais has been canning the small, silvery fish for more than 100 years. On day nine, a tour of the factory lets you watch as staff sort, pack and wrap the delicacy by hand. You’ll get the chance to taste the wares – in oil, tomato sauce or spiked with chilli – and, yes, there is a gift shop.

APT’s Spiritual Cambodia and The Mekong voyage lives up to its name, immersing you in the culture of the South-East Asian country and its neighbour, Vietnam, over 11 days. Start in Ho Chi Minh City (or take the reverse route from Siem Reap), where you’ll board the Mekong Serenity and settle into your suite, one of just 44. Then submit to languid days on the river, with a front-row seat for sunrise and sunset, stopping to explore a Cao Dai temple, Catholic churches, quiet villages and the busy Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

The moment

There’s ample opportunity to learn about the craft of local artisans, from silk workers in Oknha Tey to rattan weavers in Tan Chau. On day seven, after a Buddhist blessing at a monastery in Oudong – an APT signature experience – you’ll make another memorable stop: Koh Chen. Also known as “Silversmith Island”, this small community is home to silver- and coppersmiths who use traditional methods to create plates, vases, figurines and jewellery, the sound of their tools clinking against metal filling the air. Visit family-owned workshops, where skills are passed down through the generations, and head back to the ship with your own piece of Cambodian artistry.

Escape to These Incredible Unknown Mediterranean Islands