Top 10 Whitewater Rafting Destinations

Source: Cheapflights.com

Boston, MA – June 1, 2011 - Looking for the ultimate travel adventure this summer? With the temperatures warming up, Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, suggests grabbing a paddle and life jacket and check out the thrills of whitewater rafting. Adventure enthusiasts and novices alike revel in this extreme sport, dodging boulders and navigating swelling rapids while perched atop an inflatable boat. Cheapflights.com has located what whitewater rivers to visit for the ultimate in adventure travel with its list of Top Whitewater Rafting Destinations featuring some of the world’s premier rafting sites.

While the best time of year to go rafting varies around the world, the five sites highlighted below are popular summer spots where the whitewater rafting season is at its peak over the next few months.

Grand Canyon National Park, United States - Sign up for a single- or multi-day excursion on rivers that wind through America’s most astounding natural wonder – the Grand Canyon. Spend hours, days – even weeks – on a professionally guided tour of waterways that range from placid to downright wild. Start at Glen Canyon Dam at the northeast part of the gorge and, from there, let your tour director – or your own paddle, should you choose – be your guide.

Ottawa River, Canada - The Ottawa River does a lot more than distinguish the border between Quebec and Ontario. The behemoth waterway is also Canada’s most popular destination for rafting and kayaking. Luke warm waters attract families and die-hard rafters each summer to steer through a valley found to be more than 175 million years old. Take the kids for a leisurely paddle, or put on helmets with more competitive friends and race down the wondrous archipelago at top speed.

Glacier National Park, United States - Travelers aiming to combine whitewater rafting with other outdoor excursions need look no further than Flathead River in Montana’s Glacier National Park. More than a million acres of preserved ecosystem and 700 miles of walkable trails make this nature lover’s paradise an ideal spot for hiking and, of course, rafting. Pilot your inflatable vessel along the 158 miles of pure, unadulterated water, sourced directly from the Rocky Mountains.

Magpie River, Canada - It’ll take you eight days to steer the escalating rapids of Quebec’s Magpie River. Pitch a tent along the scenic stretch of Canada’s majesty and savor its splendor, including the northern lights, in between day-long floats. Grade V rapids – the toughest classification recommended to raft – will greet you at the end of your week-long journey at Magpie Falls, a 125-foot vision of cascading water.

Apurimac River, Peru - Earning bragging rights for rafting part of the world’s largest river is reason enough to fly to southern Peru for a rafting trip this year. The Apurimac River sources the Amazon, providing kayakers and whitewater rafters a chance to see South America’s magnificent wilderness up close. Grade IV rapids – and a four-day commitment – attract skilled rafters with an appreciation for camping and the great outdoors.

If your summer holidays have already been booked, the remaining destinations to make Cheapflights.com’s list of Top Whitewater Rafting Destinations offer rafting adventures at various times throughout the year. Now’s your chance to plan ahead with an adrenaline adventure to one our other rafting picks: Pacuare River, Costa Rica (all year round); Futaleufu River, Chile (from late December through February); Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia (August to January); White Nile, Uganda (all year round) and North Johnstone River, Australia (April through June).