Today, I want to tell you the story of my personal rafting adventure in Austria. What I learned from it and what you should definitely avoid – you'll find out in this story.

ChatGPT: Have you ever thought about what it would be like to race down a raging river in an inflatable boat? That must have been what the inventor of rafting had in mind. In 1842, U.S. soldiers Lt. John Fremont and inventor Horace H. Day built a primitive raft made of four rubber tubes and a surrounding floor, which they used to explore the Platte River – a river in the USA.

What was originally designed for expedition purposes is now mainly used for recreational fun. Since the 1980s, it has become a popular sport in Europe as well, appealing to both water lovers and adrenaline junkies alike.

Arrival at the Rafting Camp – Adventure Rafting in Austria

Time rewinds a little here. More than 10 years ago – I had just turned twelve – I set off on an adventure. The journey began by train, and then we took a bus to our accommodation in Salzburg. It was located about a ten-minute drive from the Salzach River, the largest river in Salzburg.

Once we arrived, we were brought to our quarters. It was a large, somewhat older cabin. The attic had been converted into a dormitory. The beds were arranged in two rows, with the feet pointing toward the central aisle. In the end, there were 20 young people in this accommodation.

Rafting: Preparation Is Half the Battle

ChatGPT: The next morning finally arrives: We are all woken up by the (beautiful) sounds of the supervisor’s guitar (like every day from now on). After breakfast in the adjacent building and then putting on swimwear back at the accommodation, we head down to the ground floor. To a room that seems to be full of surprises. There, you find wetsuits, paddles, and canoes. Life jackets and ropes, as well as inflatable boats, were also present.

I’m already excited about my own wetsuit and pick one in my size. Until the moment I realize that these things are completely wet and cold. Since it’s still quite chilly in this area in the morning, I’m naturally excited to slip into it accordingly.

Strangely, we have to put the suits on before the bus ride to our destination, but whatever – I can think of better ways to relax, like in my article Relaxed Day on the Weekend: 5 Ideas for Your Well-Being.

The First Time Rafting: The Leap into Cold Water

The boats stored in the support vehicles, we head to the Salzach. Now the adventure rafting in Austria can begin. Get out, put on the life jacket (which will prove very useful to me), and then the helmet. Next comes an instruction on how to behave. Guess who cared about that the most... Not me.

After this test of patience, the time has finally come. Into the boats and into the fun. Everyone’s there, the boat guide steers the raft into the middle of the river – here we go!

Whitewater Rafting Packs a Punch

Barely five minutes later, things really start to get intense. Our small but sturdy, about six-meter-long inflatable boat is carried away by the current. We’re floating down the river, held up by nothing but the air the rubber of the raft traps in its chambers. That’s how we try to stay afloat.

The river grows increasingly wild and we speed up, bouncing over rocks and stones (literally). Through gorges and cliffs, we paddle our way. There’s shouting and laughter, and everyone is full of adrenaline. We can hardly put into words what we’re doing right now.

It will be like this for the next few days as well, with each day bringing new adventures.

Adventure Rafting in Austria: My Highlights

Alright, what follows my boat guide better never reads. On the last day of rafting, almost at the end of the tour, I wanted to test myself. We were told to hold onto the boat and avoid falling into the water at all costs. Guess what I did.

It was really incredibly funny – I mean dumb – to do that. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the people in the boat when I just took off at a huge wave – priceless. Well, a little later, I was (soaking wet) back among the living again.

My second highlight of those days involved a roll, a rope, and some climbing gear. So here I am, about 10 meters above the river. I clip in with my carabiner, get checked once more, and off I go. Now I’m rushing across the river at full speed. After a short time, my feet touch the cold water, and I’m hanging there in the middle of the Salzach. Thank God a raft is already waiting for me there. I’m pulled aboard and have solid ground under my feet again – what an experience!

All in all, a really great experience that I can recommend to everyone! I hope you enjoyed this post. I would be happy if you left a comment and shared this article with your friends!

Sincerely, Fabian