When a country has a giant red dragon on its flag, you know that you’re in for adventure! Welsh people are famously strong and spirited, and Wales has a landscape to match. Mountains, rivers and rocky coastlines are the backdrop to a multitude of extreme excursions and nowadays you can even find white knuckle rides in the capital city. The activity that we’ve got in mind is usually associated with fast flowing rivers - and there are several of those within easy reach of Cardiff - but you don’t have to leave the city limits to enjoy the fantastic sport of white water rafting. There’s an artificial rapid run on the edge of Cardiff Bay where you can enjoy the thrills of rafting in controlled conditions, and you won’t need to spend time and money getting to a natural white water site.

Where can you go white water rafting in Cardiff?

• Cardiff International White Water: Built as part of the Cardiff Bay regeneration project, this is an Olympic standard white water rafting centre. Water is pumped around a circuit where drops, funnels and other obstacles on the artificial riverbed churn it up into a seething course of rapids, eddies and plunges. You’ll need the courage of a Welsh dragon if you’re going to make it to the end of the circuit, where you’ll find the rafting shuttle, a giant conveyor belt, that takes you up to the start to go down again! The facility uses water from the River Ely and the intake is controlled to change the intensity of the course. It’s also a reliable water source meaning that rafting can take place year round, unlike on some river rafting rides which are dependent on seasonal conditions.

• Rafting Excursions: If an “urban” adventure wasn’t quite what you had in mind, we have a white water rafting experience that takes you from Cardiff into the great Welsh outdoors. Less than two hours away, the River Teifi at Pontwelly was the scene of the British White Water Rafting Wales Championships in December 2008. This river is famous for the traditional practice of salmon fishing from small wooden boats known as coracles, but in recent years it’s become more and more popular for rafting. There’s a 10 kilometre route that takes in rocks, curves and, of course, rapids that’s guaranteed to leave you soaking wet, but laughing your head off from the adrenaline rush.

What kinds of experiences can you have?

- At Cardiff International White Water you can enjoy a number of rafting activities. The classic vessel is an inflatable, 6 seater raft where a team of adventurers face the course armed with paddles to navigate the rapids. It’s a great way to have fun with friends and family, but if you want to get up close and personal with this watery slalom, we recommend one of a number of smaller craft. First up is the mini raft, which can take 2-3 people on a hair raising ride, even bumpier than you get in a larger raft. Another alternative is an inflatable kayak called a hot dog . where you and one companion are the sausage between the buns of inflated sides of the kayak! The advantage of this option is that you use a double ended kayaking paddle which can give you more control around the course, or let you build up more speed if you’re brave enough. Finally, the most personalised experience is tubing - riding down the rapids in a rubber ring. You’ll feel every twist, turn and splash in one of these, and come out at the other end dripping wet.

- If you go on a rafting trip to the River Teifi from Cardiff, you’ll face the forces of nature in a 4 seater raft. In order to make it down the river in one of these, there needs to be a certain water level - too low and you’ll run aground on the river bed. But that’s no reason to cancel the excursion, as you can switch to an open top kayak and whizz down the narrow channels whilst racing your friends!

Requirements to do this activity

Cardiff International White Water is designed to put professionals through their paces, but that doesn’t mean it’s reserved for seasoned rafting enthusiasts. The difficulty of the course depends on the configuration of the pumps, and the centre runs special sessions for families and groups with children. On these lower settings, even 6 year olds can have a go at the course in a 6 seater raft, and anyone older than 10 years old can go tubing. Under normal conditions, the minimum ages are a little higher. You need to be at least 12 years old to go in a 6 seater raft or a hot dog, and 14 years old to try tubing or a mini raft. Whatever you choose, you need to be confident in the water if you’re going to enjoy this sport.

Outside Cardiff, rafting isn’t suitable for the youngest children, because anyone who takes a trip down the river Teifi needs to be able to swim 20 metres comfortably. But it’s a great way to see some of the Welsh countryside from a different perspective, and all you need to do is find four friends to come with so that you can crew the raft.

How long does the experience last?

If you head Cardiff International White Water, you’ll be in for 2 hours of fun. You’ll start on the practice pool, where you’ll get to grips with your vessel of choice with the help of an instructor before going to the rapids course. Your first attempt at the course is likely to send you spinning, and give you a mouthful or two of water, but once you’ve completed it you’re taken back to the beginning to go again. By the end of your session you’ll know every twist and turn of the course and you’ll handle it like an expert.

The experience of white water rafting on a river is very different to the controlled conditions of Cardiff’s rapids. Your journey will last 2.5 hours, during which you’ll travel 10 kilometres down river and tackle the constantly changing conditions of the river. In between the rapids there are calmer sections to catch your breath, but you never know what’s waiting for you around the next corner!

Are you up for the challenge? Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll make it happen!