Incase you don’t know, I love getting out and being active. Just take a look at my Jalco Expediciones video and you’ll realise I love trying out adventurous activities. And whitewater rafting has to be one of my favourite activities, it’s one I keep doing. I love being out on the water. In this guest post Daniel tells us how to make the most of a whitewater rafting trip.
When the perfect seasons to travel finally get here, it’s your turn to make the most of it! Especially if you’re a lover of outdoor adventures and travel that includes a lot of fun trysts with nature, then there are quite a few options to choose from. Ideally, if you’re traveling with a group of friends or with family (or both), there’s one activity that we recommend: Whitewater rafting.
Whitewater rafting isn’t just extremely fun, but also adds in an element of exploration and challenge along the way. If you’re looking for the best rafting trips around Colorado, remember to check out the Echo Canyon river Expeditions’ Colorado Springs whitewater rafting trips. They are professional whitewater outfitters and can make sure you have a safe and fun rafting holiday.
When you plan your exciting rafting trip, it’s important to get all the details right and, most of all, make sure that you make the most of this adventure. Below we’ve listed 5 important elements that can make this happen for you:
1. Customise It
It’s a myth that there is only a certain way that a rafting trip, or any other outdoor trip for that matter, has to be planned. Not true. You can very well customise your experience, right from the itinerary to how each element falls into place. You can choose to make it a purely rafting trip, or you can add in a lot of other fun elements too. In fact, when you get in touch with a rafting expedition company to sort your trip out, you can inquire about the different packages available and choose the one that best suits the requirement of your travel group. This also means that you can choose whether you want to raft through rapids of a higher category with more drops and waterfalls, or if you’re just beginners, you could opt for calmer waters with category 2 or 3 rapids.
2. Book In Advance
Believe it or not, whitewater rafting trips are quite popular, especially during the optimal seasons. This means that you might just miss out on the opportunity to experience it if you fail to book your trip beforehand. The smartest way to go about this is to do your research (if this is your first time), note down all the items that you want to add onto your itinerary, contact your preferred professional rafting company and make your reservation. Also, clear any and every doubt you might have about the trip before you finalise the reservation. Remember to make the most of it by including other adventures into your plan too. And if you’re not sure of what we’re talking about, let’s sail into the next point.
3. More Than Just Rafting
A Whitewater Rafting Trip Can Be So Much More
Rafting trips typically occur near forested areas, trails, mountains, and beautiful landscapes. This means that there’s a lot more that you can do than just rafting. Mountain biking, hiking, wildlife photography, bird watching, and so much more can be explored on your rafting trip. The best way to do this is to find a camping site or set up camp at the site that is being organised by your rafting company. This way you can truly enjoy living in nature and exploring all its nooks and corners. When you pick your river for rafting, you can find out what else is famous around the area and explore that when you’re not swishing through the rapids.
4. Packing Right
Now, rafting isn’t your regular vacation where you can throw in your favourite holiday clothes and pack sunscreen and aloe gel. Rafting is a hardcore outdoor activity, and you need to pack accordingly. Ideally, since you’re in a forested area, it’s important to keep yourself covered to avoid injuries. Also, carry a first aid kit, because there won’t be medical assistance very easily available.
It’s Important To Pack Right For A Rafting Trip
Another important thing to pack is ample food and water. While most rafting trips booked as packages also come with food and beverages, it’s smart to carry your own stash, just in case. Next, ensure that any and every type of safety gear is being carried. Whether you have to carry it yourself or it’s being provided to you, safety is of utmost importance. Even your footwear needs to be protective and appropriate so that you can enjoy your trip and come back unharmed as well. You could always draw up a checklist for packing and circulate it within your group. Also, it never hurts to carry a few extras.
5. Stay In Sync
Travelling in a group can be a challenge because getting everyone to stay coordinated isn’t easy. Whether your group has a designated leader or not, it’s important for each of you to know the itinerary, the overall plan, and always stick together. Even the planning needs to be done with all of you seated together so that no one forgets or misses out on any details. There will be a guide who will take you through the rafting and ensure that you’re all okay, but the entirety of the trip’s success depends on how well all of you work as a group.
If you’re a group of beginners, planning for a first-time rafting trip can be very exciting. There are so many different factors you need to keep in mind while planning because you will want to make the most of it. With the guidance and help of professionals, planning a fun-filled adventure in the rivers shouldn’t be too difficult. You can always watch videos, read up more about whitewater rafting and also take advice from anyone you know who’s done this before.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this article on getting all the basics right has helped you understand how a rafting trip can be made even more exciting! Remember, enjoy the rapids, but also stay safe and protected.
