Whitewater rafting - questions answered

We run whitewater rafting tours where an inflatable raft is paddled through rapids. These rapids have large (bigger than the boat) waves that could swap or overturn the raft as well as rocks and other hazards. For this reason everyone must paddle so that the raft can avoid the bad spots and crash through the nice waves. We all get wet! Easier tours have more sections with less waves which means that you have a chance to get you breath back after the stress of each rapid. This also means that you have more time to get things re-organized if something went wrong in the rapid.

What about Safety?

The safest raft trips have a minimum of two boats on the river on every trip. Either two rafts or one raft and a safety kayak. Every boat has a qualified raft guide and safety equipment on board. This is internationally considered the safest way to raft rivers. That and the fact that all guides have years of rafting experience makes a very safe rafting company.

All guests are supplied with suitable personal protective equipment consisting of a wet suit, lifejacket, whitewater helmet and shoes.

Is there a best time in the year to go rafting?

The amount of water flowing in the river changes almost every day. At the start of the season in May, as soon as the hot weather starts the water levels rise. High water generally means bigger waves and more action. As soon as most of the snow has melted off the mountains the river level will slowly drop. Evening thunder storms can cause the river level to rise quite dramatically. Rafting companies reserve the right to postpone or cancel a rafting tour if they feel that it is necessary due to high or low water, extreme weather or not enough rafting participants for the difficultly of the river to be rafted.

Who can go Rafting?

Every rafting guest needs to be in general good health and be able to take part in sporting activity as well as having a good swimming ability. Customers who are under the influence of alcohol or who are unable to fit into the supplied personal protective equipment can not take part in a rafting tour. Personal protective equipment is available up to size 58 (XXL). Children under the age of 14 should only raft on easy river sections.

How difficult are the rapids?

We run our rafting tours up to grade 4 whitewater which means that the hardest rapids are grade 4 and the bits in between are not as hard. Here in Tirol however the rivers are continuous and cold which means that they are more dangerous than pool-drop rivers where there is no current for sometime after each rapid, or on rivers where the water is warm.

>

River Grades overview...