Rafting, canyoning, via ferrata in Austria
There are plenty of ways to spend your free time. Some will opt for a lazy “all inclusive” holiday, with everything served up for them, while others prefer to take matters into their own hands and create their own holiday experiences. Taking on the power of water yourself, tackling the rapids of Austria's mountain rivers and the waterfalls of its streams leaves unforgettable memories.
Rafting, canyoning and via ferrata routes are becoming increasingly popular. Once considered extreme sports, today, thanks to better equipment and better-qualified instructors, they are becoming more accessible. One of Austria's centres for outdoor and adventure programmes is Gesäuse National Park in Styria. Its buffer zone, especially the municipality of Landl, is also used by specialised companies from the region.
AOS and getting to Landl
Local activity providers focus on rafting and kayaking on the Salza and Enns rivers, canyoning and other “Alpine sports adventures” for individuals and groups, as well as “incentive” programmes.
Some of these companies have been operating for almost 40 years, have their own rope park, via ferrata and guesthouse, and work from several bases in the region. One example is the family-run company AOS, which has two 50-seater coaches for local transport and several minibuses. Its guides, around 30 of them, lead groups in German, English or bilingually. Guests can book individually or as couples; for groups, the minimum number is 6 and the maximum 120. On some days the company looks after as many as 500 guests across all its activities. Some of the attractions are available to children from the age of 8 (and 125 cm in height). You can find more details here: http://rafting.at
The municipality of Landl lies in the centre of Austria and can be reached from as many as three airports. From Vienna, Linz or Graz it takes about 1.5 hours to get there. From Katowice, you can drive there in under 6 hours.
Canyoning in the Ötscher river gorge
One of AOS's offers is a canyoning expedition, with no shortage of jumps, natural slides down rock chutes and abseiling, on a safety rope, into the churning white water of waterfalls. The meeting point is Basecamp Salza in Großreifling, where you meet your guide and receive all the necessary equipment, including professional Adidas Canyoning shoes. From there a bus takes you about 40 minutes to the starting point, and a 30-minute walk then brings you to the entrance of the Ötscher river gorge. Soon after the guide has given you all the important safety information, the adventure begins.
One of the biggest highlights is a 10-metre “corkscrew waterfall”, down which you abseil into a narrow part of the canyon. After that, the rest of the route still has plenty of jumps and slides in store, until you finally reach the end of the gorge.
Rafting on the Salza and Enns rivers
Another adventure is rafting, and Styria's Salza is, after all, one of the most beautiful rafting rivers in Europe. Crystal-clear water, stunning scenery, spots for jumping and a moderate level of difficulty are the hallmarks of this fascinating river.
As with canyoning, after meeting the guides at the base you receive all the equipment you need to spend the whole day safely and without getting cold. This consists of a neoprene wetsuit, a neoprene jacket, neoprene boots, a life jacket, a helmet and a paddle. During a stop, you can make an expedition into the Bruckgraben canyon, where narrow, vertical rock walls close in to the width of your outstretched arms. The most difficult sections are secured with ladders and ropes.
Another rafting option is the Enns river in Gesäuse National Park. Here, during a break from rafting, you can try the highest jumps into the water. There are two spots, both about 7 metres above the surface: one is a specially built platform, the other a rock overhang in the narrowest part of the canyon.
Water activities in Styria, especially around Gesäuse National Park and the municipality of Landl, are a great option for an active holiday in the mountains. If you decide on mountain hiking, these activities make an interesting change. You can also come for a 2-3 day stay and devote yourself entirely to the fast-flowing mountain water. Thanks to the well-developed infrastructure, the organisers' many years of experience and the range of difficulty levels, rafting and canyoning are accessible both to beginners and to those looking for more demanding activities. What matters most here is professional technical back-up, standardised safety procedures and qualified guides.
