Raft Trip: Upano River

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER 20: Visit Ecuador and raft the Upano River

WHEN: November to January. However from May to August, water levels fluctuate due to rain and it can change Upano's usual class III rapids into IV or V.

HOW LONG: 5 days, including put in and take out.

WITH WHO: there are many rafting agencies who will provide all raft and safety equipment. 1 backpack is allowed per person.

HIGHLIGHTS:

"On its swift-flowing path from the Andes to the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Upano River becomes broad jungle waterway spun with thrilling rapids. Occasional clearings in the dense forest on its banks are home to the indigenous Shuar people, whose frail balsa rafts are the only river traffic. The descending river powers through canyons trialed with vines and foliage, then twists into a narrow gorge chocked by massive boulders. A dozen waterfalls crash hundreds of feet from the high canyon walls, adding their sparkle to the drenching spume of contorted water. It's spectacular, ecstatic, breathtaking -- one of the best white-water rafting adventures in the whole world.



Everything about the legendary five-day Upano raft trip is perfect. You join the river at the frontier town of Macas, where it runs broad, , a flight path for egrets, parrots, raptors and the darting brightness of songbirds galore. Shuar guides share their knowledge of the forest and of culture in the headwaters of the Amazon. After the Patuca Bridge, the Upano enters a series of rocky gorges, culminating in the Canyon of Sacred Waterfalls. These are grade IV and V rapids, and all the more exciting because you have been well prepared for them. Better still, there are lots of them, they come in groups, so you won't get completely battered or exhausted. By the time you leave the river at Santiago, 65 miles downstream, you fell exhilarated not jut by the speed thrills of distance rafting, but by the the feeling of having learned a bit about the Shuar and the Amazon rain forest from the amazing side-trips and the evenings in camp."
*501 Must-Take Journeys. London: Octopus Publishing Group Lmtd, 2008.

Also quickly found this website for trips on the river and it's relatively cheap at a little over $600 a person.

http://www.detourdestinations.com/products/The_Upano_River_Expedition__6_Days_16248.html

greatest raft adventure in the USA!

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER 17: Raft the Grand Canyon


Endless in scenic wonder, rich in Native American history and loaded with fun and adventure, Western River Expeditions' Grand Canyon rafting tours are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Exploring the Grand Canyon by river is an experience unlike any other. Discover hidden waterfalls and paradisiacal side canyons - areas of Grand Canyon National Park that are accessible only by river. Listen to the sound of the mighty Colorado River as you lie down under a blanket of innumerable stars each night after your Grand Canyon rafting experience. Watch the morning sun cast its warm glow through towering canyon walls. Discover the rush of excitement from legendary Colorado River whitewater. Escape completely on a worry-free vacation with no schedules and no stress - where time stands still. -Western River Expeditions


Plus a photo gallery from Western River Expeditions that only adds to the already burning desire to raft the Grand Canyon.



A couple sample iteneraries from OARS.com:

Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek

Lees Ferry to Whitmore Wash

Side Canyon Hikes
Each day varies, but on an average you'll spend 3-5 hours per day on the boats, with the rest of the time hiking and exploring side canyons, eating, or just relaxing in camp. The easiest hikes are no more difficult than negotiating a few yards of beach sand or stepping over a few rocks. Others may go for several miles over a rough trail, climb steeply up a hot hillside, require the use of both hands over awkward boulders and demand caution as you totter on a narrow trail above a steep cliff. Our guides are happy to help novices with hand and footholds and reassurance. Many times their helpfulness enables the timid and inexperienced to get to special places that many other groups pass by. All hikes are optional. The side hikes take you into the true heart of the canyon that can only be reached by hiking from the river and shouldn’t be missed. -OARS.com

I've read the spring and fall are the best time to partake on this rafting adventure.

-Video from OARS.com

Zambezi River/Victoria Falls

DREAM ADVENTURE 16: Raft the Mighty Zambezi River!!

"White water rafting on the Zambezi River. This is an absolute gem of a trip - featuring big white water, spectacular African scenery and warm sunny weather! One of the many highlights is bobbing around at the base of the magnificent Victoria Falls - definitely one of the more dramatic places on this planet to begin a 7 day river adventure. Your following days are spent challenging some of the most awesome rapids with names like 'Oblivion' and 'Stairway to Heaven' while your nights involve camping on expansive beaches of white sand, gin and tonic in hand listening to the noises of wild Africa. And after completing one of the most exhilarating adventures in the world, you can head off to sample the wildlife viewing that this region is famous for."
*WaterByNature.com

WHEN: August through November



Itinerary posted from WaterByNature.com:

DAY 1: Arrive Livingstone, sample the beauty of the Victoria Falls and then a chance of doing a sunset cruise on the gorgeous Upper Zambezi, before returning to our hotel.

DAY 2: We start the trip beneath one of the Seven Natural Wonders Of The World, Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) and take on some of the best rapids on the planet. Stairway to Heaven, Devils Toilet Bowl and Star Trek... are just a few!



DAY 3: We load the rafts with all our food and equipment for the rest of the trip and take on exhilerating rapids such as Creamy White Buttocks, the Mother and OBLIVION!

DAY 4: Amazing sights of Fish Eagles amidst other great rapids, Open Season, the Narrows and one of our favourites, Upper Moemba! This is a great adrenaline rush to end the day.

 DAY 5: We portage the rafts around Lower Moemba and the Chabango Falls, then load up again and run the amazing rapid, Ghostrider!

DAY 6: Yay! Its layover day! On a stunning remote sandy beach a chance to relax, swim or try your hand at kayaking!

DAY 7: A great mellow day to relax on more gentle water, take in a few waves and lie back and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

DAY 8: A gorgeous overnight camp gives rise to the gorge opening out and us rafting amongst hippos and crocs! We pack up the gear and take a spectacular 40 minute helicopter flight through part of the gorge and over the spectacular Victoria Falls arriving back to our lodge on the banks of the Zambezi. You have done one of the best river trips in the world.

DAY 9: A chance for some last minute shopping before your flight home.



Dude, aren't these the most epic rapid names you've ever heard of?!?!




DREAM ADVENTURE 16 1/2: VICTORIA FALLS

Plus isn't Victoria Falls absolutely jaw-dropping?!?!!?!?
No wonder it's a World Heritage site. While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) and height of 108 meters (360 ft), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world.

Sun Kosi River/Buddhist Retreat at Kopan

DREAM ADVENTURE 13: Raft the Sun Kosi River in Nepal

"Rising near the border with Tibet, among the world’s highest peaks, the Sun Kosi offers a trip of Himalayan majesty on its way to join the Ganges on the plains below. Class V rapids abound as it thunders through narrow gorges and forested canyons. The final stretch takes you through dense tropical jungle where monkeys chatter from the trees."
*National Geographic Top 10 Whitewater Rafting



Itineraryfound here: http://www.waterbynature.com/nepal/sun-kosi-whitewater-rafting.html

TIME: 12 days
WHEN: September and October
HIGHLIGHTS: Chitwan National Park and Kathmandu




DREAM ADVENTURE 13 1/2: Buddhist Retreat

While in Nepal, one of the musts on my list would be to attend a Buddhist retreat. I don't know where yet but I'm sure I'd be able to find one around the time I'd raft the Sun Kosi. There are a couple large monasteries in Kathmandu but I think it'd be really nice to head up to the mountains. But I'd also love to stay at Kopan Monastery. They have a wonderful 30 Day to Enlightenment retreat including everyone from newcomers to the enlightened or if I couldn't stay for the whole 30 days, they have wonderful 10 day intro to meditation courses. he courses give an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, teach meditation skills and include a two day analytical and single pointed meditation retreat. The courses are led by Western sangha, with daily teachings from a Tibetan Lama and the course only costs $110. They even offer Reiki courses.

Kopan Monastery website

Heli-rafting trip: North Johnstone River

Making it into the top ten wilderness adventures in the world...


DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER 10: Raft the North Johnstone River

"This stunning trip in the tropical far north of Queensland offers Class IV and V white water amidst volcanic gorges and the ancient rain forests of Palmerston National Park. At night luminous fungi glow surreally on the rocks and fireflies dance shimmering arabesques through the forest canopy. A bonus thrill is the helicopter ride taking you to the start of the course, which is accessible only by air."
*National Geographic Top 10 Whitewater Rafting

TIME: 5 days
COST: about $1500
WHERE: Palmerston National Park in Australia
HIGHLIGHTS: helicopter ride there, camping in riverside rainforest clearings, unique geological formations, freshwater turtles, platypus, Breccia Falls and many amazing rapids through virgin World Heritage tropical rainforest.



Check out the website: http://www.raft.com.au/nj.html

While there, it'd definitely be worthwhile spending a couple days exploring the North Queensland’s World Heritage Listed Rainforests.

The Rio Futaleufu/La Sebastiana

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER 8: Raft the Rio Futaleufu

I've always wanted to travel to Chile because I am a huge fan of Pablo Neruda and he paints the most gorgeous images in my head about the Chilean landscapes with his poetic words. I bet it's just a breathtaking place.

The best time to partake in this river journey is from December to March.


I can't get over how blue the water is! The crystal blue water that flows down the Futaleufu is from the glacier-fed lakes in the high Andes of Patagonia.

"The Rio Futaleufu is no ordinary river. Born in the Los Alerces National Park in Argentina it flows west into Chile, through landscapes dominated by snow capped volcanoes and rich rain forest before arriving at the coastal town of Chaiten. Meaning 'Great River' in the local Mapuche dialect, the astonishingly clear waters of the 'Fu' flows through deep canyons and pristine wilderness to create explosive and untamed white water, unparalleled anywhere in the world. This trip is designed to immerse you in the beauty, magic and culture of Patagonia. Half a world away from the cold northern winter you will find yourself sitting on the porch of your cabana, sipping on a glass of Chilean red wine and basking in the splendour of the Chilean summer with the distant rumble of your next exciting rapid just within earshot. Described by the locals as "a place so lovely it must have been painted by God", this is an experience not to be missed."
*WaterByNature.com

The itinerary can be found here: http://www.waterbynature.com/chile/rio-futaleufu-rafting.html




DREAM ADVENTURE 8 1/2:

since I'll be in Chile, another must is visit La Sebastiana -- Pablo Neruda's house. My dream house; it's so breathtakingly beautiful!

http://www.fundacionneruda.org/ing/historia_sebastiana_ingles.htm

"You Will Remember"

by Pablo Neruda

You will remember that leaping stream

where sweet aromas rose and trembled,

and sometimes a bird, wearing water

and slowness, its winter feathers.

You will remember those gifts from the earth:

indelible scents, gold clay,

weeds in the thicket and crazy roots,

magical thorns like swords.

You'll remember the bouquet you picked,

shadows and silent water,

bouquet like a foam-covered stone.

That time was like never, and like always.

So we go there, where nothing is waiting;
we find everything waiting there.

the Noguera Pallaresa River

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER SEVEN: raft the rapids of the Noguera Pallaresa River

WHEN: May through June
DURATION: 4 to 8 hours
HOW: by raft or kayak
WHAT YOU'LL SEE: Romanesque churches, Castle of Gilareny, medieval bridges.
LENGTH: 90 miles

The Noguera Pallaresa River is the most powerful river in the Pyrenees. Along the ride down, you'll see ancient stone houses and villages, churches and Roman ruins. Pallars Sobira has almost no international tourism and is mainly a local holiday spot with many options for rafting, kayaking, trekking, camping, mountain climbing and biking.

Nahanni River

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER SIX: raft the Nahanni River



Why is the Nahanni River so Famous?

* Perhaps the most visually diverse river on the planet.
* The world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
* Fabled in 1908 by the disappearance of two prospecting brothers and the subsequent finding of their headless bodies. Headless Creek, Deadmen Valley, Funeral Range, Somber Range and Thundercloud Range were resulting place names and the presence of hot springs encouraged a legend of tropical banana growth.
* Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau paddled the river in 1970, a time when Heads of State were not known for river expeditions while in Office.
* One of Canada’s most famous National Parks and soon to be enlarged. It will become one of the largest Parks in the world, nearly the size of Switzerland.
* Virginia Falls is nearly twice the height of Niagara, the canyons are Canada’s deepest. The area was not glaciated during the last ice age and the resulting refugeum has retained an ancient antecedent river, pre-dating the surrounding mountain landscape.
* The small First Nations village at the mouth of the river is not accessible by road and is one of the few remaining as such.
* “Greatest river trip in the world” – Bill Mason, film maker, naturalist and environmentalist, author of Path of the Paddle and the film series of the same name.
* Subject of the eloquent 1950 account by Englishman, Raymond Patterson entitled “Dangerous River”, which went on to sell thousands of copies in many languages.

Nahanni River Info

Departing from Virgina Falls (twice as high as Niagara Falls!), this rafting trip is the experience of a lifetime. The best times to go are June through August and the whole trip takes about 1 week.

"Over the course of this 150 mile journey from Virgina Falls to Blackstone Landing, this fast flowing river drops a heart pumping 1300 feet. Each section of this epic voyage takes you through canyons, over rapids and past some of the most stunning scenery on Earth.

Even the names conjure up images of danger and excitement as you tumble through Hell's Gate, pass Headless Creek and camp out in Deadmen Valley. So remote is this region of North-Western Canada that the only practical way to arrive is by air. This start to the voyage could not be more spectacular, as you land alongside the towering Virgina Falls [pictured above].

...Towards the end of this epic voyage you pass Kraus' Hotsprings where you can soothe your aching limbs, rejoice in nature and congratulate yourself on nearly completing this most exhilarating of journeys..."
*501 Must-Take Journeys. London: Octopus Publishing Group Lmtd, 2008.

The pictures show such a remote place in wilderness that would be amazing to witness the nature at it's untouched best. I can only dream about being hurtled down a river for hours a day and stopping to get a well needed rest each night; camping out under the stars.