White water rafting, canyoning or Hydrospeeding : how to choose?!

Rafting: For Families Seeking Teamwork and Fun 

Rafting in Morzine is an excellent family-friendly option, offering a fun and thrilling way to experience the region’s beautiful rivers. You’ll navigate rapids together in a raft, working as a team to steer through the water, while an experienced guide ensures safety.

When to choose rafting:

  • Ideal for families with younger children: Rafting can be done as a group, and we accommodate children from 8 years and up (so long as they can swim 25ms in a pool without aids). It's a fantastic option for families with kids who want to bond during the adventure.

  • Families who want an experience that’s both exciting and social: If you're looking for an experience where you can interact as a team, rafting is perfect. Everyone gets involved in paddling and working together to navigate the river.

  • For families who want a relatively safe yet thrilling activity: While rafting is exhilarating, it’s typically safer than activities like canyoning or hydrospeeding because you’re in a larger raft with a guide who controls the pace and difficulty.

Key considerations:

  • Rafting may feel less individualistic compared to hydrospeeding or canyoning since you’re part of a team, but it can be equally exciting if you enjoy working together.

  • The intensity of the rapids varies, so you can choose from more relaxed trips or intense experiences depending on your family's preferences and experience level.

Canyoning: For Families Who Love Water and a Challenge

Canyoning involves navigating through rugged gorges, climbing over rocks, rappelling (abseiling) down waterfalls, and swimming through natural pools. It’s an activity that combines hiking, climbing, swimming, and jumping.

When to choose canyoning:

  • Thrill-seekers with a sense of adventure: Canyoning is perfect if your family enjoys a mix of action and problem-solving. It requires agility and the ability to tackle obstacles like waterfalls and cliff jumps.

  • For kids who are comfortable with heights and water: Canyoning can be physically demanding, so it’s ideal for families with children who are 10 years and older.

  • Wanting a more immersive experience in nature: If your family enjoys outdoor exploration and you’re excited about combining physical exertion with incredible scenery, canyoning offers an amazing natural playground.

Key considerations:

  • Some parts of the canyoning routes may involve abseiling (rappelling) down cliffs, which could be intimidating for younger children or those afraid of heights.

  • The activity requires a good level of fitness and a willingness to get wet!

Hydrospeeding: For Adventurous Water-Lovers

Hydrospeeding (also known as riverboarding and white-water sledging) involves navigating rapids riding a thick float, wearing a wetsuit, flippers, a life jacket and helmet. It’s a thrilling activity that gives you an up-close, frogs'-eye-view of the river’s rapids.

When to choose hydrospeeding:

  • Families who want a more active and water-focused adventure: Hydrospeeding is a more personal way to experience the rapids compared to rafting, offering a sense of individual control as you navigate through the river.

  • For children who enjoy swimming and are good swimmers: Kids over 12 are typically allowed to join hydrospeeding, though they must be comfortable in the water and enjoy an adrenaline rush.

  • Looking for a true water adventure: If your family enjoys activities like surfing or bodyboarding, hydrospeeding might feel like a perfect fit.

Key considerations:

  • Hydrospeeding can be physically demanding because you’re navigating the rapids alone (following your instructor). Make sure your family members are confident in water and ready for a challenging experience.  Hydrospeeding is autonomous and independent.

  • It’s less of a "team" activity than rafting, as you’ll each be on your own hydrospeed, so this may not be ideal if you prefer a more social, group-centered experience.

How to Choose?

For a water-centric, challenging and more autonomous experience: Choose canyoning or hydrospeeding.

Canyoning offers more variety and an immersive natural environment, while hydrospeeding is great for those who want to feel the thrill of the rapids up close.

For families with younger children or those who enjoy teamwork: Go for rafting.

It’s a family-friendly, fun way to experience the river while working together.

 

 

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