Whitewater Rafting on a Smooth River

For most people white water rafting is a once in a lifetime experience

So don’t worry if you’ve never been rafting before. You don’t need any previous experience.

White water Rafting is a sport for the young at heart. Many people in their later years do go rafting, but they are in good physical conditions. Equally, most companies are reluctant to take anyone younger than 15 years old. However, there are a number of less demanding options that would be suitable for younger and older rafters alike.

Crucially, make sure you have a high quality and experienced guide that pays good attention to safety. This should be their first priority so you can relax (huh!) and enjoy the ride.

Lastly check out our recommendations on whitewater rafting age safety and river grading.

It is important to be in good shape for white water rafting. Often, the most exhilarating routes will be deep in a gorge or canyon. So you’ll need to walk down and up again after the trip. This can be the most tiring part. Check out our advice on building fitness and minimise the exertion

Rafting needn’t be just exertion, it is possible to incorporate longer more relaxed runs with stops over night including excellent food and comfortable surroundings.

Many people with minor disabilities like a fear of water, can and do fall in love with white water rafting. Also, people with more severe disabilities can still raft (albeit under controlled conditions).

You don’t need to own a raft to go White Water Rafting. The costs consist largely of travel costs and the costs to the tour operator. If you can reach a local rafting centre, then you can pay per day from about £50 or $75. Alternatively, a week rafting in Nepal with a further week trekking might set you back over £1,000 or $1,500.

So what do I need to be able to do?

Well, you need to:

1. You need to get yourself to the canyon/gorge
2. You need to be able to swim
3. A good bit of courage too!

We recommend that you book in advance especially during peak periods. The Colorado trips tend to be booked months in advance. The Zambezi can be a turn up and go affair - but remember this is only a one-day trip. Basically trips more than 2 days you should book in advance. However, if you decide to go at short notice - do still try - as often companies have last minute cancellations.

Now you’ve got this far, you just need to decide who are you going with, what kind of river experience you want, for how long and where are you going? Then go ahead and book an experience of a lifetime.

I want a holiday with the family

Parent/Child Adventures - fun-filled river trips enable parents to share a valuable wilderness experience with their children. Check out options under Austria (children from 6 years) and North America.

Solo or with a group?

It very easy to join a group as a solo traveller and you quickly get to know people on a white water adventure. Equally, if you are part of a group, then operators will put together special itinerary and you may get a discount.

What kind of experience do I want?

Check out our grading of rivers. Decide whether you want to go for the big one day hit on a major experience or do you want a long trip? Also, you’ll find operators will combine with say, safari and canoeing on the Zambezi to glacier walking and mountaineering in the Austrian Alps.

Make sure that your companions feel the same about the additional activities.

When to go

For a challenge, run the early-season high water. Others prefer lazy, late-season floats serving up phenomenal fishing. And some just want to escape with your family, friends or a group of colleagues.

Many trips in the Grand Canyon sell out up to a year in advance. If you can’t find space on the section you’re looking for, consider an adventure on the Upper Colorado River through Cataract Canyon. It features some world-renowned rapids that, during May and June, can be even bigger than those of the Grand Canyon.

It might be a half-day’s adventure through the Nantahala Gorge or a whole weeks adventure. Typically, you will be amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

The “low water” run occurs when the Zambezi River is at its low level generally between July and mid-February. This is the most exciting time to do rafting. Day trips are conducted between rapids 1 and 18. The “high water” run follows after fresh inflow from the catchment areas in Angola and Zambia. The water rises and flows more rapidly and the day trips move downstream from rapids 11 to 23.