River Rafting or Paddling

This is a group sport where teamwork is essential, and the goal to keep the raft pointing downstream and not taking in too much water.

The turbulence of waterfalls, eddies and rough waters are all part of the excitement in this sport, which is not like rowing a boat on a quiet lake, though slow, quiet rivers are as available in Greece (appropriate for beginners) as well as swift moving streams with rapids.

The sport is one of the most popular sports worldwide and began attracting interest in Greece during the early 1990s.

Greek rivers are generally not among the wildest, hence suitable for rafters with middle level skills, though there are some that do push the limits for whitewater enthusiasts.

The Greek rafting season is roughly from January to June, in accord with the heavier rainfall that fills rivers and makes the sport possible. In some places, weather is warm enough late in this period for swimming in the rivers as well as transiting them in the raft.

Some of the travel agencies that specialize in outdoor recreational activities now organize rafting trips, providing all needed equipment and offering basic training, though nothing equals actual practice, keeping in mind the need to progress gradually from an easy starting point.