Watch a sunset from the water

Watching a sunset from the water means being out on a boat, a ferry or a sailboat as the sun goes down, with nothing between you and the horizon. Water doubles the color and quiets the conversation, which is why it's an evening best shared.

Where to do it

Aswan, Egypt

On the Nile at Aswan, feluccas, wooden sailboats, drift past Elephantine Island as the sun sets behind the desert of the west bank. Agree the length and price before you board. If the wind drops at dusk you drift, which is half the charm of Egypt's slowest boat ride.

Upper Zambezi, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Above Victoria Falls, sunset cruises leave from Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe, passing hippos, crocodiles and sometimes elephants on the islands. Boats keep their distance from hippos for good reason. This is a malaria area, so ask a travel clinic about prevention.

Santorini, Greece

Catamaran trips sail the caldera and anchor below Oia for sunset, away from the famous crush on the clifftop. Book early in summer, when the sea in Greece can get choppy on windy days.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Watching the limestone islands turn to silhouettes from the deck of an overnight boat is the classic way to see this World Heritage bay in Vietnam. It's busy with boats; neighboring Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays are quieter.

The Bosphorus, Turkey

No cruise needed: Istanbul's commuter ferries between Asia and Europe cost a transit fare. An evening crossing from Kadıköy to Eminönü heads toward the old city's skyline as the sun sets behind it, one of the cheapest great views in Turkey.

Sydney Harbour, Australia

Ride the ferry from Manly back to Circular Quay at dusk, past the Opera House and under the lights of the Harbour Bridge. It's an ordinary commuter ride in Australia, paid with a normal transit card.

Key West, United States

At the bottom of the Florida Keys, sunset sails leave the harbor every evening, the water-borne version of the nightly gathering at Mallory Square, one of the best-known sunset rituals in the United States.

Maafushi, Maldives

From the local islands near Malé, guesthouses run sunset trips in a dhoni, the traditional wooden boat, often looking for dolphins. In the Maldives the sun drops fast, so be on board before it starts.

When to go

Check the sunset time for your date and be on the water 30 to 45 minutes before it. The best colors often come just after the sun disappears, so don't head in too soon. Dry seasons bring clearer skies and calmer seas.

How to make it happen

• Face west. Choose a boat or ferry route that points toward the sunset, not away from it.
• Use public ferries to do it cheaply: Istanbul, Sydney and the Staten Island Ferry in New York all work.
• Go with a licensed operator on small boats, and wear the life jacket offered.
• Bring a layer. Wind on the water turns cold as soon as the sun goes.
• Prevent seasickness: sit low and in the middle, watch the horizon, and take any medicine before you board.
• For the photo, expose for the sky and let the boat become a silhouette.

Get up for a sunrise the next morning, or follow it with dinner on a rooftop.