Gondolas, Cable Cars, and Boats: How DHL delivers packages in hard-to-reach locations worldwide

  • DHL Group operates in more than 220 countries and territories

  • Five unconventional solutions for shipments under special conditions

Delivering parcels to different regions of the world often requires creative and customized solutions. Whether it's navigating the narrow canals of Venice, Italy by gondola, climbing Germany's highest mountain by cable car or crossing the vast Niger Delta by boat - deliveries to hard-to-reach areas require methods tailored to the specifics of each location.

Gondolas in Venice

Delivery by car or bicycle is almost impossible in the historic city of Venice. Instead of streets, the city has a complex network of canals. DHL uses this network to deliver parcels by gondola. These gondolas, which are slightly wider than the tourist ones, are an integral part of the traffic on the Canale Grande. Apart from Venice, DHL only uses a delivery gondola in one other city in the world: on the canals (Grachten) in Amsterdam.

Gondola to the highest postal location in Germany

DHL Group operates from the highest post office in Germany - located on the Zugspitze in the Alps, at an altitude of about 2,600 meters. Postman Andreas Oberauer delivers letters and parcels daily to one of the most remote locations in the country. Whether it's sunny or blizzard, he carries the mail to the restaurants and belvedere platform. "The view is unbeatable, even if sometimes the weather is capricious," says Oberauer.

Boats in Africa's river region

For shipments from Lagos, Nigeria, DHL uses two boats. They operate daily between the city's mainland and the southern suburb of Victoria Island. The water crossing takes about 18 minutes - significantly shorter than the land crossing, which can take up to three hours due to heavy traffic and difficult road infrastructure.

Special snow shoes in Norway

Approximately 50 cm long and 20 cm wide, the snow shoes used by DHL couriers in Norway's snow-prone regions allow them to reach customers in hard-to-reach areas. These special shoes are fastened with Velcro straps, and their large, flat surface provides stability and prevents them from sinking into the snow.

DHL sunbed in Berlin

In Berlin, DHL couriers also act as captains of a solar boat sailing on the river Spree. "The customers were amused to see me delivering to them by boat," says captain Dirk Braumann. "Everyone is friendly and I've never dropped a parcel in the water!" The boat runs on solar power, which makes it not only practical but also environmentally friendly - a concrete example of DHL's commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Media Contact:

DHL Express Romania

Media Relations

Luana Dumitrescu

E-mail: luana.dumitrescu@dhl.com

DHL - The worldwide logistics company

DHL is the global leader in logistics. DHL's divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services, from domestic and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipments and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transportation, to industrial supply chain management. With around 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories around the world, DHL connects people and business securely and reliably, ensuring sustainable trade flows globally. DHL clearly positions itself as "The logistics company of the word", with specialized solutions for growth markets and industries such as technology, biotech and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing and energy, automotive mobility and retail.

DHL is part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than €84.2 billion in 2024.Based on sustainable business principles and commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution worldwide. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero emissions by 2050.