International River Rafting Trips

Each River with a Different Flavour

The taste of a desert river, the ice cream headache of a snow fed river, the pure Bombay Gin clarity of a high country river. These are the flavours of the world’s rivers.

1982 and River Valley’s first white water rafting trips made their way down the Rangitikei River.

Since those early days on the Rangitikei River, we have literally seen a lot of water flow in front of the Lodge. But also, we have met many fantastic people, some customers, some raft guides, and some rafting company owners both from within New Zealand, and all over the world.

Generations of Raft Guides

As each generation of raft guides became proficient at home, where ever home was, many would head overseas to experience different rivers, and cultures.

This was no less the case with one of our own children, and many of our guiding staff.

These guides have worked in many countries, and on even more rivers. Countries and Continents including the USA, Chile, Australia, Africa, Morocco, Turkey, Switzerland, Malaysia, Nepal, India and Canada to name just a few. Rivers too many to list here.

A Selection of River Trips For You, That has Taken Decades to Select

We have decided not to list individual trips on particular rivers, rather we want to share the river operators and outfitters that we can, from personal experience, recommend.

All of them run some mainstream trips, while others in addition to mainstream trips, offer specialty departures such as the Classical Music River Journey offered by Dvorak Expeditions on either the Green or Dolores Rivers
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On this trip you need to imagine a rafting trip with great desert canyons, natural amphitheaters millions of years old, and your own unplugged group of musicians playing for you and a select few. Pretty cool wouldn’t you say?

Big Water Zambezi Style

On the other hand, also one of our favorites is the big water style rafting found on the Zambezi River through the Batoka Gorge. This is a bucket list trip, and not to be missed.

This particular multi day trip is offered by our friends at Water By Nature. Unfortunately we may only be able to enjoy this truly special piece of water for a few more years as a dam project will flood much of the Gorge.

International Rivers Trips That We Recommend

First of all we need to tell you that just about every river worth floating a boat on has some good points, so this is not about comparisons.

Second, we are by no means saying that this list is comprehensive. It simply includes rivers that we have personally experienced and can recommend. We have only incuded multi day rafting trips.

With those two points in mind, here goes.

Colorado River through Grand Canyon, USA – who has not heard of boating through the Grand Canyon? This trip has it all, big rapids, great walks and hikes, spectacular scenery. Normally a 14 to 21 day trip.

Middle Fork of the Salmon River, USA – 6 days in The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness – rapids, beautiful camp sites, Ponderosa Pines – special

Main Salmon, USA – again great scenery, wildlife, cool campsites. Not so many rapids as the Middle Fork. 6 days.

The mighty Zambezi, Zambia – wildlife, big rapids, warm water. Looks like we could lose this one to the curse of hydro development, so do it while you can.

Zandskar, Northern India – culture, Himalayas, real adventure. Probably the most off the beaten track river we have personally done.

Upper Colorado through Canyonlands – 12 days on the river and hiking. Fantastic, plus you get to run the big wave style rapids of Westwater and Cataract Canyons.

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

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