Adrift Q&A - Everything that you wanted to know about Adrift that someone else has already asked

Everything that you wanted to know about Adrift that someone else has already asked.


No. A typical day begins with a hearty breakfast, followed by a couple of hours rafting. After a leisurely lunch, we generally raft for two or three hours in the afternoon. We take plenty of time to explore points of interest en route, to hike up side canyons or relax in the evenings. Most trips include a layover day, a chance to relax with a book or to fish from the beach.		No. You will receive comprehensive coaching on every aspect of your adventure. Once trained, an oar or paddle crew can work in harmony with their guide to maneuver a raft in the most challenging of rapids. The majority of people who join our expeditions are first time rafters. It is only natural you might have apprehensions about running rivers but our staff are specially trained to address your reservations and prepare you for an experience you will never forget.

We like rafting in the tropical sunshine and so visit countries in their driest and warmest months. Where inclement weather could be encountered, we make this clear in the Adventure Dossier		While there is an inherent element of risk in every adventure, running rivers with our professional guides should not be considered dangerous. The Adrift depth of experience and professionalism is unsurpassed and our safety procedures are second to none. In the unlikely event of an emergency, our guides are comprehensively trained in Wilderness First Aid, CPR and swift water rescue. In conjunction with Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) Adrift has developed a week-long Wilderness Advanced First Aid course for our guides which focuses on managing medical emergencies in very remote locations. We have introduced EPIRBS (emergency distress beacons) on many of our expeditions, which, when activated initiate a full scale evacuation from anywhere we are in the world. We have done the utmost to minimise any risk on all our adventures.

No. The high-buoyancy life-jackets and helmets you wear mean little chance of trouble should you fall overboard. Whilst we recommend some swimming ability, we have taken dozens of non-swimmers.

Yes. Many people, both men and women, come on their own. Our expeditions appeal strongly to those in search of something new and exciting. The very nature of the trip brings people together. You will soon find yourself a part of our team, sharing sunset stories as the adventure unfolds. We do not set any age limit other than that which common sense imposes. Most people on the more physical trips, are aged in their twenties and thirties, but we have taken hardy souls in their seventies on some of the most challenging expeditions.		You do not need to be athletic to participate in one of our expeditions. We encourage a reasonable level of fitness, as it will add to your enjoyment of your adventure, but many people join us from behind a desk.

All our expeditions have a minimal ecological impact and cause little disruption to the patterns of local life. We believe in leaving the magic places we visit as we found them. By rafting in small groups (trip sizes appear on each destination page) we make a minimal impression and better appreciate our surroundings. We gain a greater understanding and awareness of the cultures we encounter as well as enjoying the company of the people we are with. Adrift staff are not included in the group size for each departure.		Our guides understand the importance of hearty, wholesome food as rafting promotes a healthy appetite. The boats carry an abundance of fresh produce - all purchased locally. Juicy tropical fruits, crisp vegetables, free range meat, tasty cheese and exotic spices are packed carefully into cool boxes and water tight barrels. We encourage everyone to learn the art of cooking outdoors, so we all help with the meals and most people enjoy the opportunity to be involved.

All of our trips are self-supported, as we are often miles from the nearest village. We choose spectacular sites to set up camp in the evenings, often sprawling white beaches alongside the river. This is an introduction to the outdoors for many and on most trips the warm weather is ideal for one's first experience of sleeping outside. There is no better place to sleep than beneath the stars on a clear night.

Setting the Standard - our grading system An Adrift river Journey offers so much more than the exhilaration of bursting through whitewater rapids. We have developed a unique grading system that will give you a better understanding of the total experience. Whether it's you first time, or fifth, we have an adventure for you. You may prefer a gentle float in the wilderness where you can relax on the raft all day and watch the Colobus monkeys leap between the tree tops. Others may want to challenge heart-stopping whitewater rivers unrivalled anywhere on the planet. To help you make your choice, we have rated each of the rivers we run from 1 to 6 in seven distinct categories.		International River Grade: This is the world-wide accepted rating that grades the technical difficulty of navigating the most challenging rapids on the river. Grade 1 is gently flowing water and Grade 6 is not considered commercially runnable.
		Isolation and accessibility: We travel to some of the least visited areas on the globe. On rivers rated 5 or above you could be several days walk from the nearest mud hut, let alone road.
		Excitement rating: For towering whitewater and the thrill of a lifetime choose a high graded river. For a quieter ride and less adrenaline, pick a lower grade.
		Frequency of Rapids: Every river we run has some respite between the rapids, but some of these breaks are shorter than others. The higher the grade, the shorter the break.
		Physical Challenge: Choose a river rated 4 or above only if you exercise regularly.
		Sunshine: We like rafting in the sunshine and warm water. Where cool water or inclement weather could be encountered, we have rated the rivers lower.
		Culture and wildlife: On some rivers the encounters we have with local people or wildlife are exceptional. A higher grade river indicates a greater chance of interaction with remote tribes, biting insects or wild animals.

On most rivers we use a combination of paddle and oar-powered rafts. In the more common paddle boats, the guide controls the raft with a series of commands to the crew who paddle in unison to steer the craft. Out guides give you professional instruction on how to paddle effectively to position the raft in the rapids. For the more adventurous, paddle rafting is probably the most exciting thing you will ever do.

The oar-powered rafts we offer as alternatives to the paddle boats are identical rafts but are rigged differently. The guide rows the boat with a set of oars and guests ride as passengers making minimal contribution to the navigation of the raft. The physical demands on passengers in an oar powered raft are minimal.

We have introduced Catarafts as support craft on our most challenging trips. These are rigged in a similar way to the oar-powered rafts.

Paddle Raft

Paddle Raft

Oar-powered cataraft

We encourage experiences whitewater kayakers to join most expeditions. You will need to be an accomplished paddler, competent on grade 4 rivers to join in this capacity and should submit a curriculum vitae detailing your experience.