BIG SIZES
RAFTING EXPEDITIONS IN THE PYRENEES
The diversity of sporting activities offered in the different regions of France is also a way to discover them from another angle, particularly during rafting expeditions
in the PYRENEES which will be an opportunity for thrills for you and adrenaline
rushes against a backdrop of radiant and sumptuous landscapes.
Located along the Spanish border in 2 regions of Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie and spread over territories called
Atlantic, Oriental and Central, the Pyrenees are an ideal place for enthusiasts of nature and rafting which includes,in
addition to an attractive cultural and heritage wealth, numerous natural spaces sites found notably along the Garonne
as well as at Gave d'Ossau in the heart of the Western Pyrenees in the same way as in the departments of Aude,Ariège
and Pyrénées Atlantiques as a whole integrating majestic and imposing mountains complemented by deep gorges,
rivers with accentauted courses and lakes decorated with turquoise waters complemented by magical fauna and flora that we never tire of seeing.Traveling through these places is a unique experience to get off the beaten track and enjoy
invigorating getaways to experience intense emotions, particularly with family, for example at Gave De Pau which is a
river of 182 kilometers comprising a classification between 2 and 5 which originates at the French-Spanish border near
Luz Saint Sauveur in the Gavarnie cirque and which is very popular with rafting enthusiasts as in the Gorges de
the La Nive Valley in the heart of the Basque Country which combine roads and sports navigation suitable for the greatest number. Initiated on the Colorado River in the United States in the 1950s and developing in France since the
80 as an active and great sport , rafting is a practice which consists of descending rivers in white water on inflatable
boats accommodating between 4 and 8 people, accompanied by an experienced guide with a perfect knowledge of the
shipping locations with their risk levels and classifications adapted for fans,whether experienced or amateurs of this
active and invigorating sport that is rafting that we practice mainly for around forty years in the Pyrénées or in the Alps
and which offers the advantage of experiencing both sporting and ecological adventures on marked trails well adapted to the particularities of the places and natural spaces of the departments concerned.
Courses full of thrills
Much more accessible than Canoe Kayak, rafting, which is also practiced with families, including children from the age of 7 and which requires knowing how to swim, has for several years attracted a public interested in active sports and
playful embellished with attractive sensations mornings of strong doses of adrenaline rushes in a environment where,
very often, wild life reigns supreme. Practiced mainly over months spanning from April to September each year,rafting
includes basic equipment integrating the raft which is a PVC or Hypalon boat equipped with footstaps to support the
paddler, supplemented with a lifeline for attachment in the event of a fall into the water, a paddle whose solidity and
rigidity are adapted to the movements of the paddler, a life jacket corresponding to high river standards, a protective
helmet and more or less thick suit depending on the season and sufficient shoes such as a pair of sneakers with
particularities well suited for hiking or active sports. Outdoor leisure, rafting is practiced in "White Water" on water
having significant movements linked either to the slope or to rocks in a river or a torrent and as are generally all aquatic
activities,the practice of rafting is not dangerous when you respect the instructions of the accompanying instructor who
steers the boat while giving propulsion instructions. During expeditions, each participant on board must primarily
paddle,whether in front or behind the boat so that the raft accelerates its speed to navigate the rapids while taking into
account the levels of difficulty of the rivers of the Pyrenees which are listed in 6 classifications which go from small calm
currents without major difficulties to large currents including powerful water movements and important obstacles to
cross which have been marked out by competent teams and base instructors and this according to the seasons in
parallel with stops and escapades along the rivers which allow you to admire places enchanting and to observe the local
fauna represented in particular by golden eagles, brown bears or even ibexes.Travelling through THE PYRENEES during
rafting expeditions is an original way to discover them and contemplating the diversity of its landscapes and this type
of sporting expedition which continues to develop is also a fantastic way to discover in an attractive setting the assets of our beautiful country that is France.
Report: Gabriel PAGE
Photos credit: Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images
