SPORTS FANS

The Austrian region ofEast Tyrol really is a paradise for “extreme” water sports fans, perfect for everything from kayaking through rafting to canyoning, because its torrents and rivers are always plentiful in water thanks to the snow from the glaciers. Kayaking enthusiasts in particular will find a large variety of routes of various difficulty levels: beginners and the less experienced can choose from a range of easy routes, accompanied by expert guides, while the more skilled can practise on the rodeo wave at the Schlaiten Bridge at Ainet [1], created to make shapes in the water, jumps and other acrobatic moves. For those who prefer a less risky way to discover the thrill of rushing water, rafting is ideal: you can take an exciting, fun ride accompanied by a trained guide in a dinghy atop the waves along the Isel, on what is reputed to be one of the finest rafting routes in Central Europe .

Or of course you could choose canyoning, which involves racing down the watercourses which flow inside narrow  gorges carved out by the water in the rock. Although there are a wealth of torrents and rivers, and plenty of opportunities to try rafting and kayaking, in the province of Belluno the descents are less exhilarating. You will find many kayaks and canoes on the tranquil lakes of the province, as they are an ideal, relaxing way to travel across them, and on the Boite, Caorame and Cordevole torrents you can also go rafting in excellent water conditions.  At Caorera [2], in the south of the Feltrino area, you can also go rafting down the Piave, if the conditions of the river are right. There are superb canyoning routes in the Maè Valley (at Longarone and Forno di Zoldo), and in the Rimonta [3] and Maor [4] valleys, in the municipalities of  Lentiai and  Mel respectively. These two routes, set in a splendid landscape, offer different levels of difficulty: the Val Maor route is less challenging than the Val Rimonta one, which requires a 60 m rappel.