Whitewater Rafting

If you've never tried the thrill and exhilaration of whitewater rafting, this is one adventure you need to add to your bucket list. Uncontrolled waves of water crashing over the bow of your inflatable boat as you paddle madly to maintain control while the current takes you wherever it feels is enough to pump the adrenaline for a thrill ride to remember for a long, long time.

Wilderness Tours - Ottawa River, Canada

On our recent family vacation we decided to take a day for whitewater rafting on one of Canada's top whitewater rivers - the Ottawa River, with Wilderness Tours as the outfitter. My two teenagers and Ms. GoGirlfriend and I joined up with some family and friends to fill a boat of 12 for an adventurous day on the Ottawa River.

Take a look at our Google link to see where in the world Wilderness Tours raft trips happen. 

Despite the impending rain of the day, we donned wetsuits and 8 boats set out to tackle the Class III-V rapids. After cliff-jumping, body-surfing, a huge lunch and five hours of paddling into raging rapids, we ended the day exhilarated and exhausted.

rafting and kayak day trips, weekend and multi-day adventures both high whitewater adventure and gentler family channels for younger family members (talk to a live resort agent about water conditions for young children if you have concerns). They offer camping facilities, cabin rentals and B&B accommodations - all in the picturesque Ottawa Valley deep in the Laurentian Mountains.

The Guide makes any adventure

What makes any adventure great while travelling is the guide and the stories they weave into the experience. Our guide (Nelson) on this recent adventure was a mix of all the elements needed for a great adventure.

• Story-teller discussing his great-grandfathers logging exploits as a youngster,
• Geographer able to describe water levels, current patterns and rock structures, and
• Drill sergeant when the water turned frothy yelling "Get Down" and "Paddle harder", or "Water Fight" when another boat got too close during the paddle stretches.

Nelson helped make the days adventure come alive. Thanks!

Great Whitewater Rivers

Many rivers host family rafting experiences in all areas of the country, but if you want to experience the great rivers known for their extreme adventures, here are a few to check out and add to your bucket list:

• Rio Futaleufu - Argentina          Class II-V rapids
• Coruh River- Turkey                      Class II-V
• Sun Kosi River - Nepal                  Class III-IV
• The Franklin River - Tasmania       Class III-V
• Ottawa River - Canada                  Class III-V
• The Grand Canyon - US                Class III-VI
• The Mighty Zambezi - Africa          Class IV-V+

Although the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon may be next on my list leading up to the Mighty Zambezi in Africa, you can check out a few more of our photo's on our Facebook  page or contact us on Twitter - let's here about your whitewater favorites!