The Best 10 Whitewater Rafting Spots Globally

If you plan to get out in an inflatable this season, you’re probably going to have a greattime regardless of what body of water you’re cruising. But if you’re looking for the biggest

thrills and the most excitement, consider this your go-to list.

Franklin River, Tasmania

And now for a happy conservation story: The Franklin River’s ecosystem environment isone of the most pristine on earth thanks to hawk-like activism and conservation efforts byTasmanian Expeditions, the company that pioneered the first commercial descent back in1978. (Incidentally, for Everest historians, Lincoln Hall was on that first trip.)

Since then, the company has led efforts to prevent a dam in 1983, continues to removenoxious weed infestations along the banks, and manages the nearly invisible,leave-no-trace campsites.

Rio Cotahuasi River, Peru

The Cotahuasi is one of the last old-school river expeditions left on earth, with sheercanyons three times the height of the Grand and ancient Incan ruins accessible only viathe river. From the town of Cotahuasi, it takes a full day just to trek to the put-in.

On the river for seven days, you’ll paddle 100 miles of stunning, intermittent class IV-Vwhitewater and canyons measuring 11,587 feet from river to rim. On some nights breakcamp near Incan ruins with potsherds and old masonry walls that only a handful of peoplehave ever seen. One night you’ll stay in an Andean village adjacent to a local hot springs.

Drigung Chu River, Tibet

Why not acclimatize for Base Camp by rafting a few rivers along the way? This unique20-day itinerary, which starts and ends in Kathmandu, culminates in a visit to EverestBase Camp on the Tibetan side of the world’s highest mountain. But before you top out atthat 16,900-foot barren oasis, you’ll raft the Drigung Chu and Tolung Chu, two rivers thatoffer up Class IV whitewater thrills and a unique riverine view of the surroundingHimalayan landscape. Between rivers you’ll visit the most storied architecture in Tibet,including Norbulingka, the Dalai Llama’s summer palace, the monasteries of Lhasa, andmore.

Colorado River, Arizona

There are more counterintuitive rivers we could have put on this list, but there are veryfew with more geologic and hydrologic superlatives. In the 225 miles from Lees Ferry toDiamond Creek, you’ll charge through 42 major rapids and pass Paleozoic walls that are ahalf-billion years old.

If you’re going to commit to this once-in-a-lifetime trip (and don’t have the skills topaddle your own kayak), float it the way one-armed explorer John Wesley Powell did—ina wooden dory. For 14 to 18 days you’ll float past geologic history, hike to Indian ruinslike the famous Nankoweap granaries, and camp on soft sand.

Zambezi River, Zambia

If this Class IV-V stretch of Africa’s fourth-longest river were in the litigious U.S., it’slikely no outfitter would have enough liability insurance to commercially run it. ButOARS, which financed the first descent of the Zambezi back in 1981, is back in Africawith a brand-new eight-day trip that combines a four-day paddle with a three-dayBotswana Safari.

The ride starts at the base of 360-foot Victoria Falls, passes the sheer rock walls of theBatoka Gorge, and floats class V rapids like Stairway to Heavan, Oblivion, and GnashingJaws of Death, which swallow rafts whole. But at least it’s not a crocodile that’sswallowing the raft.

Futaleufu River, Chile

This Class III-V roiling mass of whitewater is one Patagonian river that hasn’t beendammed—yet. Raft it before Chilean hydroelectric companies run a massive (and ugly)power transmission line through the valley.

This classic ride is singular not only in Patagonian scenery, but the Futaleufu is alsounique in that the guiding company that pioneered it, Earth River Expeditions, has builtpermanent river camps into cliff dwellings with riverside stone hot tubs, hot showers,treehouses, and beds.

While it’s not necessary to portage any of the rapids, a horseback and hiking trail followsthe entire length of the river, so at any point the option to walk is always there. Andwhen you’re not rafting or kayaking, there’s horseback riding, rock climbing, rapelling,and canyoneering.

Paro Chhu River, Bhutan

More and more travelers are paying the $200-$250 per night tariff just to enter theHimalayan kingdom of Bhutan, but it’s still a rare opportunity to raft the country’s sacredrivers. This 11-day trip floats four Class II-III rivers past some of the most sacred Buddhistsites in the world, including the Punakha Dzong, a 17th-century monastery that sits onthe banks of the Mo Chhu (Mother River) and has survived six fires, two floods, and oneearthquake.

You’ll also hike to Tiger’s Nest, a famous monastery chiseled into a cliff 2,000 feet abovethe Paro Valley floor. Forewarning: Don’t be shocked when you visit the Temple of theDivine Madman.

Alsek River, British Columbia

Guides here jokingly refer to the Alsek as a Class V Float Trip. There may be rivers withmore concentrated rapids than the 140-mile-long Alsek, but looks can be deceiving. TheAlsek, which is surrounded by massive glaciers and giant peaks as high as 15,000 feet,drains one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world. This translates to furiously fast,massively voluminous water that rockets out of the mountains at a much steeper gradientthan, say, the Yukon.

The water temperature here averages 33 degrees so if you flip, you freeze—dry suits aremandatory. To amp up the adrenaline factor, the Alsek runs through Kluane NationalPark, home to the highest concentration of grizzlies in North America.

Lochsa River, Idaho

Idaho has the largest contiguous wilderness in the Lower 48 and quite a few riversrunning through it. No matter which pick we make here, one or two classics will be leftout. For pure whitewater terror, however, it’s hard to beat the two-day paddle on thefree-flowing Lochsa. The continuously explosive, 40 class III-IV rapids—with names likeGrim Reaper and Bloody Mary—are the result of both big volume (10-20,000 cfs) andsteep gradient (30 feet per mile). This kind of whitewater is akin to more famous rivers,like the Gauley in West Virginia, but the Lochsa is bigger and longer.

For the full Idaho experience, front-load the Lochsa with a five-day paddle on the SnakeRiver through Hells Canyon.

Tatshenshini River, British Columbia

Never rely on a guide again. On this 24-day full-immersion backpacking and whitewatercourse that starts in Haines, Alaska, students learn state-of-the-art minimum impactcamping skills, practice route-finding, gain technical competence in backcountrywhitewater, and learn how to execute emergency scenarios while in the field. All thiswhile rafting the smaller, more technical tributaries and the giant braided glacialdrainages farther downriver on the Tatshenshini.

Exact logistics are weather dependent, but students start out with a Swift Water Rescuetraining and certification, continue with three days of rafting the Upper TatshenshiniRiver where rapids like Rock Garden and Twin Holes keep students wide-eyed andattentive. The course ends with an overnight on the mostly Class III Tutshi River, with afew sections of Grade IV and V thrown in.

By: Getupandgo.in Team.