Every time I come back from a kayaking trip, I get the same message: “I’d love to go on a trip like that but I wouldn’t know where to start.” After my recent adventures in Valsesia, those messages followed, so I decided to put everything I’ve learned into one clear, friendly guide to planning your first white water kayaking trip to the Alps.
At a glance: Quick planning checklist
I will be going through a ‘checklist’ of things to consider, each split into their own section. If you think I have missed anything – do add it in the comments below. You can skip to each section if you wish to.
- 1. Choose your paddling crew
- 2. Pick dates and research locations
- 3. Set expectations as a group
- 4. Decide whether to drive or fly
- 5. Book accommodation
- 6. Pack for variable weather
- 7. Plan your paddling days
1. Choose your paddling crew
This might sound really obvious but you need somebody to go kayaking with! Some paddlers might be able to turn up in a new location and be a tag along to a group… but unless you are exceptionally good at kayaking and have a phenomenal personality to boot… I’d recommend finding some friends before you go out there!
It is important you find people who are on the same wavelength as you. The Alps are incredible for kayaking but it is also committing to be paddling every day, potentially paddling quite a different style of river to what everyone is used to and sorting out the daily logistics of a trip.
A lot of people paddle within canoe clubs and so this is your likely crew of people you would be going with. Some people (myself included) float between groups of friends but you still need to ask and get those friends to commit to a trip away!
A good group doesn’t mean identical skill levels but instead it means shared expectations, kindness, and the ability to work as a team for the week. The bottom line is you will be spending a lot of time together and so need people you get along with.
Ask yourself:
- Who paddles at a similar level to you? And would want a similar trip experience?
- Who do you trust to make good decisions when they are tired and potentially struggling a bit with being hot and overly sunned!
- Who’s happy to be a team player for the week and share the driving, cooking and decision making?
I choose people to go on longer kayaking trips with based on the kind of people they are, not necessarily the quality of their paddling skills. I would always rather go kayaking with nice people over anything else!
2. Pick dates and research locations
The Alps aren’t just one place – they are a whole playground stretching across France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and more. Not to mention the countless other incredible kayaking destinations across Europe including Norway and Iceland. Each destination has its own character, water levels, and best seasons for paddling.
Alpine kayaking depends heavily on snow melt. If it has been a good winter for skiing, it is likely to be a good summer for kayaking. Rivers will always spike with rain but it is worth knowing in advance how different areas will be affected by snow melt over the course of the summer months. For example, the classic Valsesia (Italy) time to paddle would be earlier on in the season such as in May whereas places like Austria can still provide reliable levels all the way into August and September.
I would suggest picking rough dates when everyone is available and then researching what your options are for those dates. If possible, being flexible around where you are based (by camping for example) will help you to pivot if necessary. It may be that your original choice of area has no water or even too much water whereas other places are better for your wants.
3. Set expectations as a group
Once you have found your people and are discussing where to go – it is worth setting expectations of the trip in advance. Having these conversations before hand reduces potential frustrations and can save friendships.
Be honest about what it is that you would like to get from the trip but also be willing to compromise! Points to consider include:
- What rivers or type of rivers are you hoping to paddle during the trip? Are you looking for more leisurely gentle white water or are you hoping for a harder trip to push yourself on?
- If it is a mixed group, is everyone happy to paddle the same things or are people happy if there are some rivers where only some members of the group paddle?
- What does your daily plan look like? Is this a holiday and therefore a mix of kayaking, later mornings and plenty of chance for ice cream and cafe stops? Or is the expectation for early starts and full days of boating?
- Are you happy to stay in one place or is the expectation that you will be flexible and move to chase the water?
This is not a full list of considerations but a few example points. Setting expectations early is always better. This way no one is surprised if half the group want to lap the Lower Öetz all day whilst the other half wants a single lap followed by coffee and Austrian pastries!
4. Decide whether to drive or fly
There are two main options to get to another country: drive or fly.
Flying: What to consider
Considering that a kayaking trip will require you to have access to a vehicle, and have your kayaks and gear with you – I have always preferred driving. You can fly but you then need to ensure you pick an airline which will take your kayak (or rent a kayak once you are out there), rent a vehicle on the other side which has roof bars for transporting the kayak and more. You might save time but with the price of flights these days, I am not sure how much money you save on it! If you do need to rent a kayak, I’d recommend sourcing a kayak before you commit to that option… just in case you can’t!
Driving: the flexible option
Driving on the other hand gives you flexibility. You can take your own kayak, gear and belongings with ease. Four people in a car for an Alps trip does require some careful packing of the car but it is quite workable.
Driving will require you to book either a ferry (cheaper but slower) or a space on LeShuttle (faster but more expensive). I have booked this before the day before going on it, but it is probably worth getting it booked in once you are decided on your trip.
It is a long trip out there, with some locations being further than others but driving through Europe is pretty chilled compared to driving in the UK. 6 hours on the French highways feels a lot easier than 6 hours on the UK motorways.
tolls and making the journey fun
Something to note if you drive is there will be a lot of tolls to pay. In some countries (France), they are numerous but easy to pay because they are almost all pay at the booth tolls. Other countries require you to stop at a services and get special stickers. Researching before hand is a good idea.
It may sound obvious but different countries also have different driving rules. Check them before you leave of you would like to avoid unexpected fines!
It will always feel like a long journey but with snacks, good music playlists, good company and a front seat passenger who can work the toll booth machines it’s surprisingly fun. If you are not driving on your own, you can add your passengers to the insurance too and therefore share the driving which helps spread the load.
I have always enjoyed being on these car trips but I do very much like talking and organised fun (games). It’s a lovely way to bond with your friends and I do think some of my best conversations with people have been on the road to a kayaking trip. Take it as an opportunity to connect with your friends and enjoy the journey together!
5. Book accommodation
Your options for accommodation range from:
- Campsites (cheap, sociable, occasionally chaotic in a charming way)
- Rental houses (great for drying kit and having a proper base for the week. Showers and beds feel luxurious too!)
- Hostels (budget‑friendly and often full of paddlers if it is the paddlers hostel in a kayaking area. This means it is a good way to meet people!)
Personally I prefer to have a base to be in for a trip. I value a bed and am not a massive fan of camping. It reduces flexibility for moving if the water levels are not ideal but that’s never been a problem for me. In the Summer, all of the accommodation options which are rented out during the ski season tend to be pretty cheap. Quite often it is actually the same price to rent a house as it is to camp which for me makes it an easy decision!
When deciding on where to stay, consider:
- Proximity to the rivers you want to paddle?
- Is there space to dry gear at the end of each day?
- Whether you want to cook or eat out each day and what are the local options for that? If the nearest shop is 45 minutes away, then you need to plan your week well!
- How much is this trip a holiday vs a paddling trip? If it is a holiday, perhaps booking a house so you can cook and eat as a group and enjoy the summer evenings together is worth it. You are not always guaranteed good weather and camping in the rain is a lot less social than if you have a house!
6. Pack for variable weather
weather and temperature swings
Once the accommodation and transport are booked in, you can start to get excited! You will obviously need to pack for your trip and it is worth considering have you got everything you need prior to the day that you leave in case you need to purchase anything ahead of the trip. The Alps can often be quite variable. In the same week in France, I have got on at a river where it has been 6 degrees at the start of the day, then later in the week it was 32 degrees at the get on. That difference is huge!
In the Alps, I have worn my drysuit and multiple thermals, as well as shorty cags and shorts. Having options is ideal. The water is pretty cold so a cag is recommended but you also want to be able to strip off quickly if it is hot! Dress for the swim as they always say but I would also advise being able to dress for the shuttle wait after!
Essential paddling kit & spare items
When you are out there, it will probably be difficult to source missing items so having spare paddles and double checking your key items is a good idea. You might already want to take multiple kayak options with you but I would recommend taking an extra boat if you have room… just in case!
When it comes to packing, I tend to put bulky items (BAs for example) into my kayak to save a bit of car room. I am notoriously bad at packing unless it is very last minute.
travel admin: Check you have your passport!
Do double check for passports just before you leave. Everything else you can probably work out… not that one!
Other things to consider is making sure that you have travel insurance (that covers kayaking), European breakdown cover for the car, a phone plan whilst you are away and don’t forget to pack an adaptor!
7. Plan your paddling days
This is the good bit! The reason you have driven for 1-2 days – to go kayaking! Enjoy it!
A different style of kayaking
Kayaking in the Alps is very different from most UK rivers and each area and even each river in that area can feel very different to each other as well. It can take a little bit of getting used to.
My first trip to Austria was my first real taste of paddling on big volume water where you need to really consider how to move yourself around the river and use the water features to help you with that goal. It felt like a steep learning curve but now it is probably my favourite kind of kayaking.
Paddling in France for the first time, I was super surprised by just how fast the water flows. There are many French rivers which feel like absolute boulder garden heaven but the water has so much speed! This means that you have less time to think and less time to react which can take some getting used to.
Even in Valsesia (Italy) last month – I felt I needed a little time to get used to the gradient. It felt like it had features of French Alpine rivers but steeper! The slides there are also very distinctively different from other parts of the Alps.
start gentle and build up
On each trip, it is worth starting off on something friendly and gentle to warm up on. You will be tired from the travelling and it is worth having a gentle day or two to ease into the paddling. You can then build it up throughout the week.
consider hiring a guide
Knowing what to paddle can feel like a big decision if you have never been somewhere. If you and your entire group are new to the area, it might be worth considering booking a couple of days with a guide. Many providers will offer guided or coached trips in the Alps. Spending time with someone who knows the area and can give advise on what would be suitable for your group is very sensible!
Check water levels and know how the weather will change those
Whether you choose to go it alone or with a guide, it is worth keeping an eye on weather and water levels. Apps such as Whitewater.guide are a good place to start. It is worth noting daily trends as well as what the weather is doing. If the river is dependent on snow melt , a hot sunny day will obviously cause more of a spike than a cooler cloudy day. Chatting to other paddlers you meet along the way is also a great way to learn about the local area and it’s rivers.
if it is fun – do more of that!
I would recommend lapping the fun stuff! Alpine boulder gardens are so different from UK style rivers and they are excellent for learning on! A class 2-3 boulder garden has so much potential for developing your skillset and that is fun. The beautiful 6ft drop that is easy to lap? Perfect for practising your boof stroke! The section you just all love – do it again and again! It doesn’t matter if you ‘did it’ earlier in the week, if you are having fun on it – then you should go back to it!
rest if you need to and enjoy the trip!
Take breaks if you need to. It is a lot to paddle every day if you are not used to it and tiredness can make you worse at paddling. Lots of groups will take a rest day mid week or rest in the afternoons. The Alps is a beautiful place – it is okay to enjoy it not from a kayak sometimes!
Finally, remember that kayaking in the Alps is very different from kayaking in the UK. The water is surprisingly cold and the environment different. Enjoy it but remember to respect it!
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this has given you a little insight into considerations if you wish to go on an Alpine kayaking adventure. This is obviously quite a broad article and aimed at people who perhaps have no idea where to start on planning a kayaking trip to the Alps.
If you’ve done an Alps trip and have tips of your own, drop them in the comments, it helps other paddlers so much. And if you’re planning your first adventure, feel free to ask questions. I love helping people get started.
Anyone reading this – I hope you have a very happy future Alpine kayaking adventure!
One reply on “How to Plan a White Water Kayaking Trip to the Alps”
That’s a really common feeling, it can seem overwhelming at first. Valsesia sounds amazing, I’ve heard great things about the rivers there.