THE PERFECT VACATION
TOP FIVE THINGS TO KNOW FOR PLANNING A WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIP
Whitewater rafting is defined as a recreational activity enjoyed
by several passengers in an inflatable rubber boat used for
navigating down a river or other fast-moving body of water. If
you love adventure and want to do something special for your
next vacation, then perhaps a whitewater rafting trip would be
the ideal option. Steered by a professional guide, you will
make your way through raging water, while enjoying the thrill
and adventure of the rapids. The key to a successful whitewater
rafting trip is good planning, which is why we decided to
provide you with the top five things you need to know.
Safety, Expertise, and Certification
The most important aspect of planning any whitewater rafting
trip is to ensure you will be guided down the river by a
professional guide, one who knows not just the water and how to
steer the boat but also one who is certified as a "Whitewater
Rescue" or "Swift-Water Technician". Additionally, your guide
should be certified in CPR, Advanced First Aid, and other common
river rescue techniques.
Unfortunately, only about 5% of whitewater rafting guides meet
these criteria. While this type of activity is generally, safe
and you are required to wear life vests and helmets, sometimes
things happen. In this case, you want to ensure you have the
best possible guide with you if something were to go wrong.
Therefore, as you begin your search, ask questions specific to
safety, expertise, and certification, and make sure every
passenger will undergo a safety orientation prior to heading
down the river.
Special Needs and Children
If you or someone in your group has a special need, make sure
you choose an outfit that can accommodate. Remember, whitewater
rafting does not exclude people who are not able-bodied. In
fact, it is common to see people who normally live in
wheelchairs along with people who have other types of
disabilities enjoying this kind of activity.
For children, again you want to choose the right whitewater
rafting outfitter. However, most gladly welcome children on
this type of adventure, knowing it is an excellent family
experience. However, you will need to research age and size
requirements in that these vary depending on the type of boat,
the outfit company itself, the water level, difficulty of the
trip, and so on.
Single or Multi-Day Excursions
Some people look for a whitewater rafting trip that will start
early in the morning and have them back to their car or campsite
by late afternoon. However, other diehard outdoor enthusiasts
prefer rafting trips that are multiple day excursions. In this
case, you would take your sleeping gear with you down the river
and camp out along the banks at night. This experience is truly
amazing and one that you will never forget. Therefore, check
out all your options to see if a multi-day trip is more to your
liking.
Price
Whitewater rafting trips are not all created equal. Therefore,
rather than just settle on the first outfit you talk to, take
your time to find out about the length of the trip, the
amenities included, level of skill for your guide, price per
person, equipment rental fees, and gratuity. Obviously, price
is just one consideration when booking a whitewater rafting trip
and while it should not be the number one factor, it is
certainly something to consider in the overall planning.
Additionally, ask about group, student, or corporate discounts.
Many times, even the best outfitters will offer a nice discount
if you have over a certain number of people in your party, if
you are a student, or if you are taking the trip as part of a
corporate outing such as a team-building event. In fact, there
are even discounts offered in many cases for wedding parties so
always ask.
When to Go
Finally, you want to take a whitewater rafting trip when it will
be most enjoyable. Obviously, the time of year you choose will
depend greatly on the region or country where you plan to raft.
However, you can do your own homework pertaining to
precipitation, along with dam and reservoir water releases,
snowfall, rainfall, and heat or talk to the outfitter to find
out what time of year they recommend.
Generally, whitewater rafting in the United States and Canada is
best from April to October. However, some rafting outfitters
will supply passengers with wetsuits whereby they can take to
the river with the first snow runoff in the spring and if water
levels permit, later into the year, as late as November.
About the Author
Dion Semeniuk has researched various tips and tricks on planning your next whitewater rafting trip. Learn more about what you need to know for your next whitewater rafting trip at, http://www.whitewater-rafting-directory.com
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