White water rafting is a challenging sport that involves paddling a raft along or across open water or rivers and navigating the raft to calmer areas. The degree of roughness of the water varies greatly and the sole purpose of the sport is only for the adrenaline rush that rafters experience. If you are new to white water rafting, it is best to participate in an organized tour. The leader will instruct you on how to handle yourself and the raft in the water, and will advise you on safety measures that must be taken.

There are several different companies throughout the country that offer white water rafting tours for a reasonable amount of money. They will not only take you out for your day of white water rafting, they often also provide lunch and sometimes dinner for your group. These guides will advise you on what level rafting to begin with, this is described in terms of “class”. The higher the class rapids, the more difficult the trip will be. When you are starting out, you will want to stick with one of the lower class. In this type of rafting, the water will be less tumultuous and there will be a lesser chance of you being injured.

There are a few things that you can do in order to stay safe in the water. The first is to always wear a life jacket. You may think that because you are in the raft, you are safe and will never end up in the water. This is not necessarily true. The water you will be rafting in is extremely rough and can toss you around your raft like a rag doll. It is not uncommon for a white water rafter to be thrown out of the boat, in which case, a life jacket will come in handy. Don’t panic if you end up in the water, just stay calm and point your feet downstream while you wait for your buddies to get you back into the raft. This will protect your head from hitting rocks as the flow of water propels you downstream.

On the off chance that you or one of your friends is injured, you should have a first aid kit with you in the raft. When choosing a first aid kit, look for one that can float. Your first aid kit should have plenty of anti-bacterial ointment and bandages in case you cut yourself on one of the jagged rocks.

Book a white water rafting trip in Colorado with Arkansas Valley Adventures. Colorado river rafting trips from mild to wild on the Arkansas, Colorado, Clear Creek and Eagle Rivers, all ages and abilities. They have river rafting trips for all ages and abilities, so make your white water rafting plans today.

To have a successful adventure trip, adventure-junkies need to make more thorough travel plans than normal tourists.

Most of the time, adventure-travelers will be self-sufficient and should be ready for whatever human, natural or wildlife challenge they may encounter. At first, it may seem trivial but they need to know where they are going to find camp-fuel, bear spray or even a shower. Here are a few points to consider before you head out on your journey:

* Know when you would like to go. – Adventure tours are seasonal in nature. Winter is great for skiing while those same areas offer great hiking in the summer. Know what you want to do and time your trip appropriately. Even temperate and tropical regions have two seasons – the dry or wet season.
* What do you want to see & do? – A good starting point is to have an idea of what you want to experience on an adventure tour. As you investigate further, stay open-minded to other possibilities as well. For instance, whale watching is a popular sport on the coast but scuba-diving with them is even more exciting! Be open and flexible with your plans as tours can be customized for personal needs and interests.
* How are you going to get around? – While flying from place to place is relatively straight-forward, ground transportation can be quite stressful. Transportation logistics are different in every location (i.e. different public transportation systems, car-rental policies). Plan ahead to avoid delays, confusion and frustration.
* Purchase local supplies? – Some supplies will have to be purchased locally since travelling with them is illegal or not practical (i.e. kerosene, large batteries, and perishable foods). Time your arrival appropriately so you can find a local store to stock up on provisions.
* Research the area. – Each area is unique so try to get some insider information before arriving. For instance, check the schedule of public buses (some don’t run every day); find out if shops close early (especially in small towns); learn if public showers may only be available at recreational centers ($$$). These small nuances can affect how smooth your journey will be.