Long before Space Mountain or Coney Island, nature was supplying an elite group of adventurers with a rollercoaster of its own, a ride designed millions of years ago by a master craftsman. Today, thousands of people each year head to rivers around the world to engage in the sport of rafting.

If you are considering a rafting vacation, this guide will help introduce you to the issues you should engage during the planning stage. Even if you are an experienced rafter, there are a few new considerations to be undertaken when you travel a great distance with companions for your active vacation. A bit of foresight will help you make good decisions in your choice of location and guides and ensure a well planned vacation. Whether any experienced rafter or a novice, you are a rafting vacation offers you the ride of your life all while sitting down!

For purposes of this activity guide, we are speaking only about rafting and not sister paddling sports such as canoeing and kayaking.

Few active vacations provide the fast paced action that is yours when rafting. You and your companions will find yourselves surrounded by landscape sometimes only seen by those who take the river, as stretches of many river runs are inaccessible by any other mode of travel. Rafting vacations provide a unique opportunity to engage in a physical activity for the entirety of a vacation experience. If you already enjoy rafting, you know what you are looking for in a trip and need to consider your choice of outfitter.

If you are a first timer, or not an experienced rafter, then a rafting vacation is for you if:

• You enjoy active vacations;
• You want to spend your vacation time out of doors;
• You enjoy both personal accomplishment and cooperative activities while vacationing;
• You enjoy camping and roughing it;
• You want to experience a very "different" type of vacation.

The three variables that make up the matrix from which a traveler looking for a rafting vacation may choose are destination, degree of difficulty and companions. A good travel consultant is a key component to choosing the right vacation from the right tour operator or guides. There are many possible guide companies and options from which to choose, and each has a different story to tell regarding its own history and experience with rafting. Work with your travel consultant to choose the rafting trip that is right for you and your traveling companions.

Tour operators provide local knowledge of your river, logistical support, routes, itineraries, equipment, food, portage, accommodations and emergency aid when necessary. It is important during the planning stage to select a tour operator that offers an experience that matches your own preferences, and those of your companions.

Ask your tour operator about their cancellation policies and their "bad weather" policies. Typically, bad weather does not mean rain (hey, getting wet is part of the experience), but severe lightening or torrential rains that raise river levels are factors that must be considered.

Find out about accommodations during your trip down river, what type of camping equipment is provided and provisions for privacy. Ask about food quality and meal preparation. Typically the guides prepare all meals. Finally, ask your tour company about the size of the boats. When traveling with a group, you will want to know in advance whether you will be riding together or split between boats.

The traveler considering a rafting vacation should objectively understand his or her skill level and the degree of difficulty of the destination river. The difference between Class Two rapids and Class Five is nothing short of monumental, and no one should find themselves "over their head"! Remember to take into consideration the difficulty factor as it might affect every traveler in your group. If one of your party is less experienced than others, the trip is likely to be a very different experience for individual members unless the river guide company is somehow prepared to accommodate disparities in ability.

Many guides and tour operators impose age limits on rafters for difficult stretches of river. If you are traveling with riders under the age of 18, inquire as to the company's policies for children and families. Likewise, if you do not want to travel with children in your companion group, investigate the same issues with your tour operator.

Companies providing rafting experiences typically segregate participants by experience and sometimes age. Many offer several different river runs or routes involving how much time is spent on the river, the difficulty of the rapids along the route, and the distance to be covered during a given day. It is important that the traveler be comfortable with the available options, so ask your tour operator.

The classifications below are based on international standards for degrees of difficulty in whitewater sports, with gradients from Class I, the easiest to Class VI, the most difficult. If you are an experienced paddle enthusiast, these categories are no doubt familiar to you. If you are new to the sport, it is very important to stay within the limits of your comfort zone.

• Class I- Easy. Calm, flat water with few obstructions; fast moving water with small ripples; risk is slight if the participant knows how to swim.
• Class II- Novice. Some maneuvering required; obstacles such as rocks and medium-sized waves are easy to avoid with minimal paddle instruction; low risk elements.
• Class III- Intermediate. This is where the real fun, and the risks, begins! Class III rapids are more technical in nature, meaning moderate to large whitewater which is capable of swamping a raft. Some large waves, holes and hydraulics may be present but can be avoided with a moderate amount of paddle training; the current is stronger and advance visual scouting of water patterns a useful practice and skill. Swimmers practicing good river technique are unlikely to be injured.
• Class IV- Advanced. Powerful currents with large rapids. The water will be turbulent and powerful with long stretches of rapids to run. Many waves and obstacles may be difficult to avoid. The route may require fast maneuvers and quick decisions and skill in gauging and scouting the best possible route through a set up rapids is important. There will be a risk of injury to swimmers and rescue skills among the group are important.
• Class V- Expert. Powerful and intense rapids with long runs and unavoidable waves and obstacles. Steep drops, dangerous hydraulics and holes may be present as may be narrow chutes. Is it is essential that all team members be experienced and that rescue skills be practiced and well rehearsed.
• Class VI- Very difficult to impossible without injury. High risk suitable for only the most experienced and willing to accept serious risk.

In all instances, the experience level of your guide is an essential factor. Ask whether your outfitter uses a paddleboat or an oar boat for your river experience. Paddleboats require more skill of the crew as they power the boat with their paddles. Typically, the guide in a paddleboat acts as the rudder in the back of the craft. In an oar boat set-up, the guide is forward and uses his oars to navigate with the crew providing less assistance.

Do your research! No only do you need to determine your ultimate destination, but you will need to choose between the many river rafting companies servicing your river of choice, and doing so can sometimes be challenging as many rafting companies are small operations with little financial depth.

Review the website and/or brochures of each company. How well trained are the guides? Do they know CPR? Pay attention to the experience of the company on the river. Make sure that the company works with rafters that match your degree of experience and that of your traveling companions. Pay attention to the type of equipment provided, and the description of overnight accommodations and meals..

Fully understand what is and is not included in your trip costs. Packages typically include well-trained and knowledgeable guides, good rafts, safety equipment and transportation to and from the river. Meals and beverages suitable for either single day or multi-day trips are typically included as are any fees for camping arrangements..

Using a good travel consultant experienced in dealing with tour operators and travel insurance will make this part of your trip preparation much less stressful and more confident.

While it is by no means necessary for you to be an athlete to enjoy rafting, you should be prepared for moderately rigorous activity. Because rafters wear personal flotation devices (PDFs), it is not necessary that you know how to swim. However, you will feel much more confident in the boat, and out of it, if you can swim. If you are extremely large, ask your tour operator about the maximum sizes of the PDFs available to participants. If you have any other physical restrictions, make sure your tour operator knows about them in advance. Many tour operators do not permit pregnant women to raft.

It is worthwhile to take time prior to your trip familiarizing your self with your river routes. Although it is likely that your tour operator will provide you with a daily briefing, your own mental preparation and physical training will be easier to supplement if you know in advance the general course of rapids of your daily schedule while on the trip. Ask your tour operator to provide daily schedules with route guidelines in advance, if possible.

Finally, discuss with your personal traveling companions the various options on the trip and make sure that each is comfortable with the varying degrees of skill, fitness and desired pace represented by each member. Discussing such matters before you arrive at your destination will make your rafting vacation much more pleasant on yourself and on the other participants.

Your river guide company will no doubt provide you with a list of equipment that you should bring. If you own some of your own personal rafting equipment you might want to bring wetsuits, wetsuit boots, and paddle jackets. For multi-day trips, sleeping bags, tents, and sleeping pads may or may not be supplied by your guide company, so make sure to check. It is usually wise to reserve any necessary rental gear well in advance.

The climate of the destination will determine your clothing selection. To the extent possible, pack lightly. River shoes or other appropriate footwear such as Tevas are not essentials but once you have used them, you never go back. Bring appropriate changes of clothing for multi-day trips, including changes of socks and shoes, much appreciated after a day in the water. Be sure to take clothing that dries quickly, avoiding cotton except for after hours. Some of the most important gear you can take are sunglasses (with a strap!) and a hat and sunscreen.

Waterproof containers for money, matches and other essentials are important (most guides will take charge of car keys for you).

Your destination and comfort zone will largely determine when the best time to go rafting might be. Rafting is not only a fair weather sport, and many enthusiasts will raft in late fall and even into winter. Domestically, Arizona tends to have the earliest spring rafting in North America. Because snow melts and rainfall often determine how fast a river is running, temperatures and comfort do not always coincide with warmer seasons. Many rivers have their peak water opportunities in early spring.

Your personal budget will comprise the other half of the "when" question and answer. In general, your best values are in the shoulder season: that period between the highest, peak travel months in your destination and the lowest, off season. Typical shoulder season weather is a bit cooler than peak seasons yet much more affordable. Low seasons, while very inexpensive, tend to be uncomfortable...too hot, too cold, or too wet. Balance off the cost of the trip with your comfort and you will find value!

Rafting vacations are available the world over, from a river not far from your home to the most far off reaches of the planet. The list of possible river trips is extensive but your travel agent can assist you in finding the destination most suitable to your skill level and budget. In the United States, the Colorado River in Colorado and Arizona are well known and much appreciated destinations. Likewise in the West, Utah, Washington, California and Idaho all have excellent rafting. On the east coast, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia take top honors. However many other states have excellent white water opportunities.

Internationally, destinations as far flung as Canada, Austria, Nepal, Norway, Costa Rica, Chile and New Zealand are well known for their rafting river experiences. The choice is yours and the possibilities many. When traveling internationally, many more logistical elements are involved, so plan further ahead and make use of as many planning resources as possible, including a good travel agent.

Not all tour operators will offer all destinations during all seasons. Likewise many tour companies will have policies about cancelled departures resulting from too few participants. Be sure to check on, and be comfortable with, the tour operator's right to cancel a departure.

Are rafting vacations safe? Any travel entails some degree of risk, but the excitement and adrenalin of rapids is an inherent part of the rafting experience. Some risk is inevitable, even on Class I water. Most river guide companies will ask you to sign a waiver in recognition of the danger, however minimal. Rafting companies are very much aware of the inherent risks of being on the water, in rapids, with less than experienced rafters and seek to minimize the probabilities.

Here are a few tips that can help you ensure that you enjoy your rafting vacation with the maximum value and minimum risk:

• Prepare for the trip by making sure that you can physically handle the river's degree of difficulty. Your guide will ultimately indicate that you are responsible for your choices, so be objective in your estimation of your conditioning. Stay within your limits of difficulty.
• Learn to swim! No, you do not have to know how to swim as PFDs keep you afloat if you find yourself in the water. But let's face it: you are in the water, in rapids with sharp paddles and whirling hydraulics. Dog paddle anyone?
• Know how to swim in a river. If you fall out of the boat, keep your feet off the bottom of the river! Your guide will no doubt cover proper swimming technique, but one of the greatest risks comes from an underwater rock or branch trapping the swimmer's foot while the current pushes the swimmer under the surface. If you are not familiar with river swimming technique, ask.
• Rapids and drugs or alcohol do not mix. If you drink at night, be moderate in your consumption so that you are not detoxing while trying to negotiate a set of Class IV rapids.
• Listen to your guides. They know the river, where the tough spots are and how to negotiate each set of rapids.
• Work with the group. Rafting is a team endeavor.
• As always, stay hydrated.
• As with any active vacation, travel insurance covering trip cancellation, trip interruption and medical emergencies is a good idea.

Grab a raft, put on your helmet, and find yourself up the creek with a paddle on your next vacation!