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SINGAPORE, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of World Rivers Day on September 25, digital travel platform Agoda unveils a curated list of must-visit river destinations across Asia. These unique waterways offer travelers unforgettable backdrops that transform with the seasons, offering ever-changing vistas and a multitude of Instagrammable photo opportunities.
More than just scenic landscapes, rivers serve as unique gateways to local life and nature. They typically host unique attractions such as night markets, festivals, and riverside cafés, offering an authentic taste of the regional culture and traditions.
Agoda has curated a guide to breathtaking yet lesser-known river destinations sure to sail onto every traveler's bucket list:
- Perfume River, Hue (Vietnam)
The Perfume River streams past Hue's historic monuments and lush green landscapes. Its name comes from the fragrant flowers that drift into its waters, contributing to a peaceful and romantic mood. Visitors can explore the ancient citadel, royal tombs, and pagodas that line the riverbanks, experiencing the rich history and culture of Vietnam. - Pamba River, Alleppey (India):
Dubbed the "Venice of the East," Alleppey is famed for its intricate network of backwaters and houseboat cruises. The landscape is adorned with coconut groves and paddy fields, offering a peaceful escape into nature. Nearby, the town of Kumarakom is home to Vembanad Lake, where travelers can observe diverse birdlife, including many migratory species, making it a haven for bird watchers. - Kali Biru, Raja Ampat (Indonesia)
In the heart of Raja Ampat, Kali Biru, meaning "Blue River," flows through dense rainforests and is distinguished by its remarkably clear, blue waters. The surrounding region is celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity, making it a paradise for nature lovers who can enjoy breathtaking views and unique wildlife encounters. - Kiso River, Gifu (Japan)
Gliding through the scenic landscapes of Gifu, the Kiso River is renowned for its traditional cormorant fishing and picturesque boat rides. The river is bordered by forests and historic towns, including the charming former post town of Magome, part of the Nakasendo Trail. The region offers fascinating cultural immersion and resplendent seasonal displays of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. - Malacca River (Malaysia)
The Malacca River curves through the historic city of Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The river is lined with colorful buildings and lively street art, offering a glimpse into the city's colonial past. Travelers can enjoy a leisurely river cruise, exploring the blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences that define this cultural melting pot. - Nan River, Phitsanulok (Thailand)
The Nan River passes through the heart of Phitsanulok, a city known for its historical and cultural significance. The riverbanks are home to bustling night markets and traditional Thai temples, including the renowned Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, home to the revered golden Phra Buddha Chinnarat—one of Thailand's most exquisite Buddha images.
Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President of Supply at Agoda, said, "Rivers have a way of connecting us to the heart of a destination. From Vietnam's fragrant and romantic Perfume River to Indonesia's brilliantly blue Kali Biru, each river tells its own story of culture, history, and natural beauty. Whether you're seeking adventure or tranquility, Agoda makes it easy to explore Asia's most wonderful river destinations with unbeatable offers."
Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda's mobile app to start planning an unforgettable river escape. Visit Agoda.com for more information.
SINGAPORE, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of World Rivers Day on September 25, digital travel platform Agoda unveils a curated list of must-visit river destinations across Asia. These unique waterways offer travelers unforgettable backdrops that transform with the seasons, offering ever-changing vistas and a multitude of Instagrammable photo opportunities.
More than just scenic landscapes, rivers serve as unique gateways to local life and nature. They typically host unique attractions such as night markets, festivals, and riverside cafés, offering an authentic taste of the regional culture and traditions.
Agoda has curated a guide to breathtaking yet lesser-known river destinations sure to sail onto every traveler's bucket list:
Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President of Supply at Agoda, said, "Rivers have a way of connecting us to the heart of a destination. From Vietnam's fragrant and romantic Perfume River to Indonesia's brilliantly blue Kali Biru, each river tells its own story of culture, history, and natural beauty. Whether you're seeking adventure or tranquility, Agoda makes it easy to explore Asia's most wonderful river destinations with unbeatable offers."
Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda's mobile app to start planning an unforgettable river escape. Visit Agoda.com for more information.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
World Rivers Day: Agoda Highlights Asia's Most Captivating Waterways
ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the official opening of Desert X AlUla 2026, the landmark fourth edition of the international, open-air biennial exhibition. Arts AlUla, in collaboration with Desert X, welcomes visitors to experience a stellar line-up of Saudi and international multi-generational artists whose site-responsive earthworks, sculptures, and installations will engage in a powerful dialogue with the awe-inspiring landscapes and layered heritage of AlUla.
As a premier destination rich in ancient history and breathtaking nature, AlUla, located in Northwest Saudi Arabia, solidifies its position on the global stage as a dynamic, emerging land art destination with Desert X AlUla, the region's first public art biennale, and a key highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival.
The 2026 edition of Desert X AlUla brings together 11 acclaimed artists whose diverse works reflect a wide spectrum of ideas, materials, and traditions. From monumental kinetic sculpture to sound-based explorations above and below ground, each commission is deeply rooted in relationships to AlUla's distinctive environment, further cementing Desert X AlUla's reputation as a globally significant platform for site-responsive land art.
Desert X AlUla runs until February 28, 2026, as a cornerstone of the annual AlUla Arts Festival. Curated by Wejdan Reda, Zoé Whitley, with artistic direction by Neville Wakefield, and Raneem Farsi, its fourth edition explores 'Space Without Measure.' Inspired by Kahlil Gibran, the theme fosters contemplation of imagination within AlUla's natural settings. The exhibition, set in the desert canyons of AlUla, serves as a pre-opening programme for Wadi AlFann, offering a pivotal glimpse into AlUla's plans to create a permanent land art 'Valley of the Arts.'
Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said: "At Desert X AlUla 2026, audiences will engage with art that deeply converses with AlUla's unique landscapes and rich heritage. These compelling commissions highlight AlUla's dynamic transformation into a major global destination, where ancient and contemporary expressions converge. This exhibition is part of our broader revitalisation of AlUla as a culturally rich destination to live, work and visit and integral to positioning AlUla in the global dialogue of contemporary art and as a precursor to monumental projects like Wadi AlFann."
Participating artist/artworks are:
- Sara Abdu, A Kingdom Where No One Dies: Contours of Resonance
- Mohammad Alfaraj, What was the Question Again?
- Mohammed AlSaleem, The Thorn, AlShuruf Unit, The Triangles, Flower Bud, and Al Ahilla (courtesy of Royal Commission for Riyadh City)
- Tarek Atoui, The Water Song
- Bahraini-Danish, Bloom
- Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Imole Red
- Agnes Denes, The Living Pyramid
- Ibrahim El-Salahi, Haraza Tree
- Basmah Felemban, Murmur of Pebbles
- Vibha Galhotra, Future Fables
- Héctor Zamora, Tar HyPar
For further information, please contact:
Sabrine.Shaw@bursonglobal.com
AlUlaArtsFestival@bursonglobal.com
Multimedia gallery:
High-resolution photos of all 11 artists and their artworks can be found here.
About AlUla and Arts AlUla
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages. AlUla Old Town Village, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes was developed from at least the 12th century and has been revitalised as the vibrant hub for visitors and residents.
The creation of Arts AlUla within The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is a commitment to crafting the next chapters in a millennia of artistic creation – celebrating cultural inheritance and shaping a future inspired by artists built be artists. The work of Arts AlUla seeks to preserve this legacy: fuse the old with the new; the local with the international, keeping the arts central to the spirit of AlUla as a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage.
Wadi AlFann, meaning 'Valley of the Arts,' will be a global cultural destination for land art, unveiling from 2028 onwards, where era-defining works by artists from around the world will be permanently sited in the monumental landscape of AlUla, the extraordinary desert region of north-west Saudi Arabia.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Desert X AlUla 2026: monumental land art exhibition opens in the ancient oasis of AlUla
