ADRENALINE ON THE LAO RIVER

Usually, when we think about the rafting, we have in mind American and Alpine canyons. Actually, also in the south of Italy you can have the opportunity to live this exciting experience. For example in the Pollino National Park, on the Lao river.

The Lao is a short but very important river located in the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. It is more than 50 km long and it rises in Basilicata, in the Pollino National Park, at an altitude of about 2.000 meters.

It takes the name from the ancient Greek colony Laüs. In Calabria the river comes into a spectacular gorge and for several kilometers the water flows steep and fast.

The “Laorafting” is a tourist company that proposes intrepid descents among these rapids; it was born in 2000 thanks to a group of young people with the aim to promote the Pollino National Park’s territory and in particular the Lao river.

Many activities are proposed: from trekking in the mountain to trekking in the water, from mountain bike to horse riding, from birdwatching to walks with snowshoes. However, the most important activity is rafting, followed by canyoning and kayaking.

“Laorafting” excels in these river activities thanks to a very prepared and qualified team that during these years knew how to manage this amazing and demanding reality.

This company is part of the “Italian Rafting Federation” and it counts about 20 skilled guides and three national personalities (a federal councilor, a representative of technicians and a representative of athletes). Its motto is: “Quality, Competence and Safety”. 

There are three itineraries made to venture into the Lao rapids:

• Soft Rafting: 4 km track, suitable for everyone, especially families. Costs: 20 euros for adults, 17 euros for children from 5 to 15 years old.

• Canyon Rafting: striking track that crosses the majestic canyon of the Lao, suitable for an adult public (more than 16). The length is 14 km and it cost 55 euro per person. It allows to visit one of the most wonderful and majestic canyon of Europe, with rapids and breathtaking landscapes, immersed in a wild, uncontaminated nature. There are also water springs and falls along the itinerary.

• Full Day Rafting: for those who never have enough. The track is 26 km long, it cost 100 euros per person. Suitable for an adult public, it crosses the entire canyon of the Lao river, with a stop in the middle of the track to enjoy an abundant meal, based on typical local products, along the river banks. For then restart towards adventure.

Is rafting dangerous? Rafting, as canyoning or all the proposed river activities, are suitable for everyone and do not require a particular experience to participants.

For what concerns rafting, before starting the adventure, the guides make a briefing to train beginners and to give general information about the behavior to take on the river and on the rubber boat, and to guarantee a very high safety standard.

Full of pure adrenaline, this particular branch of river activities generated in the last years a great increase both in Italy and abroad, and there are more and more people looking for alternative and stimulating experiences, which combine the healthy principles of sport and nature.

The proof of the pudding…

INFO:

http://laorafting.com/
http://www.parcopollino.gov.it