9 Top Destinations for Thrilling Rafting Adventures
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush while exploring the great outdoors, thrilling rafting adventures are an excellent choice. Beyond getting your heart beat up, they allow you to deeply connect with nature. Last but not least, using a raft is a smart way to get to remote places that are otherwise hard to access.
Every continent has its fair share of scenic rivers, well appointed for whitewater rafting explorations. To help you chose, we’ve pulled together 9 exceptional destinations from around the world. They represent the rivers we recommend for those eager to experience the ride of a lifetime.
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Zambezi River, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
The mighty Zambezi River is at the top of our list of recommended destinations for adrenaline-seeking adventurers. Experts consider Africa’s most famous big water river to be the best for thrilling rafting adventures in the world. After all, the river winds its way through breathtaking East African countryside. In addition, rafters get to observe exotic wildlife close up. Last but not least, trips start out right below Victoria Falls shown above. The waterfall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a thundering curtain of water plunging 107 meters to the gorge below. From there, rafters up for the challenge of a lifetime ride high volumes of water over gigantic boulders through the Batoka Gorge. For all those reasons, the Zambezi never fails to deliver excitement as well as delight.
Tatshenshini River, Canada 🇨🇦
Bound by two towering mountain ranges, the Tatshenshini is another river flowing through one of the world’s remaining pristine wildernesses. In fact, rafting along its course takes you on a journey back to the ice age. After all, the river cuts through the Earth’s largest non-polar ice cap past some of its most active glaciers. Thus, you get to watch icebergs calving right in front of your eyes while rafting along the water’s edge. In the background, grizzlies tend to frolic while eagles keep watch from high above. Fortunately, this intensely dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful river is protected as it flows through five U.S. and Canadian national parks. In addition, it is part of a 25-million acre UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Futaleufú River, Chile 🇨🇱
The Río Futaleufú, located in the northern part of Chile, offers one of the world’s most challenging whitewater. In fact, riding the spine of the whitewater powerhouse with its turquoise, champagne-like water, is both highly demanding and thrilling. Rafters enjoy a thundering ride through rarely seen granite canyons while condors watch from high above. Further down, the pristine river connects magical lakes, as it flows through the breathtaking portion of the glaciated Chilean Andes. Its exhilarating rhythms and dramatic scenery enthral those who make it down its rapids. The river’s name is derived from a local Tehuelche Indian word meaning “big big river.” Certainly, the Río Futaleufú lives up to its name.
North Johnstone River, Australia 🇦🇺
The North Johnstone is a river system located along Far North– and North Queensland, Australia. There, it flows through a canyon characterised by dense rainforest, thundering waterfalls, and challenging rapids. Thus, it offers one of the most thrilling whitewater adventures in Australia. The river originates in the World Heritage rainforests of Palmerston National Park. Rafting trips put in further down at Mulgalli Falls, close to Cairns. For a bonus thrill, rafters and equipment are helicoptered in. Right in the heart of the rainforest, the trip starts among some of the oldest trees on earth. Further down, greenery gives way to rock. Basaltic cliffs emerge and waterfalls spill hundreds of feet into the river. Wildlife sightings include saltwater crocodiles, pythons, egrets and eagles.
Çoruh River, Turkey 🇹🇷
The Çoruh River is another location for thrilling rafting adventures. In fact, the Çoruh may be Turkey’s last remaining truly wild river. As such, it attracts adventurous kayakers and rafters from all over the world. Class V rapids reward those who come to get an adrenaline rush going through the gorges. In addition, the river is a great place to see the wildlife of Eastern Anatolia. In fact, it’s common to spot mountain goats, wild boars, griffon vultures, and sometimes even brown bears fishing for salmon. Along the way, rafters have the opportunity to visit the Kaçkar Mouintains National Park along with some amazing historical ruins. In all those ways, the Çoruh makes the trip to Turkey exceptionally memorable.
Colorado River, USA 🇺🇸
The Colorado River winds for 226 miles through Colorado, Utah and Arizona. It is a sought after destination, offering the grandest of all whitewater rafting adventures in the United States. After all, by carving out the Grand Canyon over time, it has opened up the oldest rock formations available for inspection from the river down below. Of course, one highlight of this river are the hair-raising class IV–V rapids in the world’s deepest gorge. But taking this quintessential trip should not just be about the whitewater. In between tackling rapids, visitors enjoy pausing to take in the canyon’s mesmerising colours. Additionally, it is fun to explore ancient Navajo ruins and side grottos, as well as hikes to spectacular waterfalls in side canyons along the way.
Noce River, Italy 🇮🇹
The Noce River is recognized by National Geographic as the best river for rafting in Europe. After all, astounding views of sheer cliffs backed by the distant snowcapped mountains of the Dolomites of northern Italy abound. Furhtermore, the melting glaciers of the Brenta Dolomites provide so much water the river churns out Grade III–V rapids throughout the summer. As a result, rafters get to enjoy thrilling rafting adventures as the river thunders through the gorges of Mostizzolo and across the remote Val di Sole (Sun Valley). The navigable 28km of the river can be done in one adrenalin-pumping day. As rafters float through the current and surpass the diverse rapids, the beautiful landscapes and spectacular surrounding intrigue. The exciting excursions are crowned by the delicious food of Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region.
Sunkoshi River, Nepal 🇳🇵
Rising near the border with Tibet, the Sunkoshi River invites to a breathtaking trip of Himalayan majesty among the world’s highest peaks in Nepal. On its way to join the Ganges on the plains below, it offers up Class V rapids thundering through narrow gorges and forested canyons. The ever changing scenery helps to ensure that every day on the river presents different yet thrilling rafting adventures. The beginning of the trip presents you with high mountains, lush valleys and small remote villages. The final stretch takes you through dense tropical jungle down all the way to the open plains. Along the way, thick vegetation harbours rich wildlife including many mountainous birds and monkeys. Even leopards can be seen during the exhilarating rafting trip.
Rio Upano, Ecuador 🇪🇨
Last but not least, we decided to include a lesser known river among our destinations for great whitewater rafting adventures. The Upano River of Ecuador delivers great whitewater from the sierra all the way to the depths of the Amazon. Starting in the remote town of Macas on the far western Amazon Basin, you get to embark on an epic journey. At first, the river is surrounded by lush rain forest, where toucans and iridescent butterflies abound. Then, the pace varies from gentle rapids to tumultuous rides through narrow canyons. In addition, there are numerous river overlooks including one a block from the central park of Logroño. The highlight is the Namangosa Gorge, crowned by Class IV rapids and the sight of countless waterfalls plunging down the gorge’s sides.
Jane Austen aptly wrote that “none of us wants to stay in calm water for all life.” Whitewater rafting certainly allows us to break out and indulge our sense of adventure. Flowing down rushing waters while enjoying spectacular scenery full of intriguing flora and fauna opens up the soul and resets the mind. We hope to have inspired you to go rafting and perhaps check out one of the above destinations as well.