Rafting in Armenia

Have you ever experienced uplifting and dynamic emotions on the boat?  If not yet, rafting Armenia is what you are looking for.

Rafting is one of the most extreme and cheerful types of water sport. Though it is considered to be a sport activity, it can also be practiced for fun. The name itself tells a lot about the activity: by definition raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. In this case rafting is a sailing on the river on special rafts which are inflatable boats. Those special boats can carry from 4 to 20 people depending on their sizes and structures. They have special paddles which are used to move and control the direction. As rafting is a sport activity, it is usually competitive. It means several groups can have a race together on the river. Hence, competition in this activity is not mandatory.

History of Rafting

Rafting form of water transportation, just like SUP boarding, is fairly recent. It started as a way to explore unknown rivers and their surroundings. However, today people participate in rafting for fun. According to many sources the first rafting trip was made in 1811 on the Snake River. But as they were not trained properly the expedition did not get very far. The first rubber raft was made in 1840 by Lt. John Fremont and Horace H. Day. Then, Lt. John Fremont first introduced rafting expedition on the Platte River in 1842.

Approximately 100 years later rafting started to become a commercial activity. The exact date of opening of rafting companies is not clear, but in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, rafting was included for the first time. Today rafting has become a growing and developing sport and hobby.

Rafting Armenia

Being a mountainous country Armenia is a very proper place for rafting. However, this type of extreme sport is quite new in our country. It started about 3 years ago and now it’s growing and becoming more popular. The main rivers for rafting in Armenia are Dzoraget, Kasagh, Tartar and Debed. It should be mentioned, though, that the best destination for rafting lovers, is Debed. The Armenian Geographic is organizing rafting trips mainly on river Debed because it is both safe and proper for non-professionals. During the rafting trips we also usually have small hiking and water jumping. Life jackets and helmets are provided by the company.

Why to do Rafting

This type of sport is not so popular but it is one of the best ways of relieving stress and anxiety. Many people do rafting to become more energized and happier. Some professionals think that it also can have a very positive effect on your health. They insist on the fact that rafting is a very good way to lose weight and train your muscles. We can also add that this type of sport is one of the best ways to feel closer to the nature while having fun.

What You Should Know Before Doing Rafting?

However, before taking your chance to have this exciting experience consider all the risks and difficulties you can have as a beginner. So, it is highly recommended to do it with professionals and on calm places. Gradually, as you become more experienced you can try to do it on mountainous and difficult places again not forgetting about safety. Of course, more dangerous the place is, more adrenaline you get, but never take a risk if you are not sure that you can handle the obstacles.  

Hiking in Armenia