If you’re looking for an exciting outdoor activity, you should try rafting. This adrenaline-filled form of active relaxation can be performed in Europe through every season and allows you to improve team-work abilities. Moreover, it costs less than you would expect.
There are many locations in Europe where you can experience rafting. Poland has the Dunajec river, for example. The river’s gorge attracts many tourists from the entirety of Europe due to its beautiful landscapes. It lies in Pieniny National Park, and according to scientists from Pedagogical University of Cracow, it is visited by approximately 1 300 people per day. However, this place is unique when it comes to rafting in Poland. - It’s difficult to find various places suitable for rafting in Poland. One of the best European countries for this activity is Austria. It has rivers such as Inn or Salza, which are perfect for this sport – explains Piotr Sikora of Retendo Rafting and Mountain Canoeing School, which offers rafting through the Dunajec’s gorge.
Basically, rafting is popular in any alpine country (Switzerland, France, Italy). However, it’s also popular in countries which you wouldn’t relate with mountain sports (Croatia, Spain). Therefore, rafting can basically be performed the whole year. - Rafting season in the Noguera Pallaresa river lasts from mid-March until October. However, the best time to perform this sport is when the ice melts, which occurs in May and June. This is because the river level rises – explains Pepa Cecília Gallart of the tourist department of Pallars Sobirà county in Northern Catalonia. This region is known for more than 60 km of waters to navigate with a difficulty range between class 2 and class 5. This means that the Noguera Pallaresa is suitable for the European cup, as well as for a relaxed rafting.
Speaking of difficulty classes, it’s worth emphasizing that experts use a six-grade scale. The “WW” acronym stands for “white water”, which means that the river is white with foam. Class 2 means that there is a possibility of minor obstacles, waves and segments in which the water suddenly accelerates. Class 5 means that the route is very difficult and it is required to become familiar with the river before the start. The Class 5 route may consist of high thresholds and narrow passages. Therefore, a potential accident may have serious consequences. However, an experienced instructor would never take amateurs down this difficult of a route. - Anybody who hasn’t had an opportunity to perform rafting before can raft a river below a class 3. This level of difficulty of rafting with amateurs on board is also easier to control for instructors. Classes 4 and 5 are only for experienced rafters who are aware how difficult and dangerous such routes are – warns Sikora.
You don’t need rowing preparation to be able to start rafting. Instructors from companies and schools that organize rafting events will sufficiently train you directly before your first raft. Reliable companies offer all of the neccessary equipment for safety; such as life jackets, helmets and paddles. The fee should also cover accident insurance.
How much does a rafting expedition cost? A two-hour trip through the gorge of Dunajec for two or three people costs approximately 220 PLN. Rafting through Salzach river, which is located in Taxenbach, Austria is much more exciting according to experts. This is also a two-hour long expedition, which costs 108 euro for two people (465.34 PLN according to currency exchange rate from 14.10.2016, as given by Cinciarz.pl). If you add the approximate cost of flight from Warsaw to Salzburg (973 PLN per person according to the data from Google Flights from 14.10.2016), as well as costs of accommodations for two people in the least expensive lodgings (321 PLN as given by Booking.com on 14.10.2016), it appears that the entire journey would cost more than 3 000 PLN.
Rafting in Catalonia seems like an interesting offer. - An entire weekend of rafting in Pallars Sobirà costs between 80 and 120 euro. The price depends on whether you book accommodations for one or two nights – encourages Pepa Gallart. You can make some savings on currency exchange rates. - If you buy 1 000 euro from Cinkciarz.pl today, you will save more than 214 PLN in comparison to exchange rates offered by banks – explains Piotr Kiciński, Cinkciarz.pl vice-chairman. This amount would cover accommodations for one person during a rafting weekend in Austria.