Thurgau Travel celebrates 25 years of river cruises, marking a quarter-century since its 2001 launch in Weinfelden. The company now employs roughly 40 staff, operates 17 vessels and runs about 350 departures each season across 35 waterways in 22 nations.
Milestones in a quarter-century
Founder Hans Kaufmann entered the market with more than 28 years of river-cruise experience, aiming to offer personalized journeys away from mainstream routes.
Just three years after its start, the firm became the first to guide passengers on the lower Mekong in 2004. In 2010 it launched its own Myanmar vessel, RV Thurgau Exotic 1, and a year later reached Kaliningrad, a first for a Western river-cruise operator.
The 2022 addition of RV Thurgau Ganga Vilas opened Indian waters, while a German office opened in Berlin the same year. In 2023 the same ship completed a 54-day, 3 200-km trek from Varanasi to Assam, crossing 27 river systems and billed as the world’s longest river cruise.
Leadership and values
In 2019, Daniel Pauli-Kaufmann succeeded his step-father Hans as chief executive. The founder stepped down from the board in 2024, and in July 2025 Pia Pauli-Kaufmann assumed the chairmanship.
“The 25 years of Thurgau Travel represent a quarter-century of experience, embodied values and a pioneering spirit,” Daniel said, emphasizing the blend of tradition and innovation that drives future growth.
Fleet and future voyages
Four new ships have joined the fleet recently: RV Thurgau Ganga Vilas (2022), MS Thurgau Gold (2023), RV Mekong Discovery (2024) and RV Mekong Star (2025). Two more are slated, MS Thurgau Avanti in May 2027 and MS Thurgau Arva in summer 2028, bringing the total to six vessels built within six years.
To mark the anniversary, the company unveiled seven special itineraries, ranging from a three-day Alsace escape to a 25-day “five-river” grand cruise. Additional routes feature the Rhine and its tributaries, as well as the Danube, each paired with year-long commemorative programs and souvenirs.
Sustainability and community
Operations in Myanmar remain suspended, yet three vessels and local crews stay on-site. The firm raised more than 100 000 Swiss Francs for emergency relief and reconstruction after the 2025 earthquake.
It collaborates with Myclimate, The Ocean Cleanup and Fair Cruise Work.
“We want to keep the pioneering spirit while preserving what our guests value: personalized service, reliability and a family-like atmosphere,” Daniel added.
Thurgau Travel is a Swiss independent family firm that intends to continue charting its own course along the world’s rivers, having expanded its global presence to 22 nations.