Rafting in Sjoa | Explore Sjoa

Explore Sjoa has rafting for everybody, from the 7 year old to the 70 year old. With a broad variety of different rafting trips we are able to deliver the one that suits you. Rafting is a fun, exiting activity that also is safe, and with 24 years experiece we give you the best trip ever.

"Our rafting trips range from calm family trips to some of the most extreme experience you can enjoy in European rivers. In one raft there is room for 4 – 6 people and a professional guide. You will be attired in a Neoprene wetsuit and jacket, wet shoes, a helmet and a lifejacket. Instruction about rafting will be given to all the participants, and we specially focus on the obligatory safety talk, enabling you to be as safe as possible, before each trip. After that you are ready for an experience of a lifetime!
Season: May - October

Daytrip Rafting in Sjoa through Heidal:
This is the trip that made rafting popular and known throughout Norway. A normal trip that suits almost everybody, we travel approximately 16 km along the middle part of Sjoa. The trip varies according to the water level, with great surfs on higher water and more technical rafting on lower water. Our experienced guides take you safely down the different rapids with lots of fun and excitement along the way. You will experience all the well known rapids like; The micro-surf, Golf stream, Haystacks, Chocolate canyon, ByeByeBaby and the Faukstad-drop. Halfway down the river we stop for a break where there will be served a hot lunch plate at our camp site right alongside the river. There is also time for a cup of coffee/tea or juice next to the fire before we take on the last part of the river.
After the trip and a warm shower we gather at the barbecue area for some coffee and a nice chat about today’s experiences. Our photographer will be there and show you some great photos from the trip, which you will have the opportunity to purchase if you want to.

Afternoon rafting trip in Sjoa through Heidal:
This is a shorter version of the daytrip on the middle part of the Sjoa river, but it still is “Wet, Wild and Wonderful”. You will experience the more popular rapids and the trip varies according to the water level, great surfs on high water and more technical rafting on lower water. With lower water conditions we end the trip after “The washing machine”. Our professional and experienced guides take you safely through the different rapids and the trip is suitable for almost everyone.

After the trip and a warm shower there will be served coffee/tea and juice at the barbeque area at the base. Our photographer will be there and show you some great photos from the trip, witch you will have the opportunity to purchase if you want to.

Daytrip rafting in Sjoa through the Åseng-canyon:
This is an even bigger challenge and nature experience than the trip through Heidal. The trip goes through the upper part of the Sjoa river , where we sometimes early on the trip take a swimming test on the participants. After that the trip continues down the river. You get to experience an amazing scenery through the canyons, where the mountainsides literally rises straight up from the riverbanks. Halfway down the stream we stop for lunch and a nice warm cup of coffee/tea. This is the trip for the adventurous person who’s in good shape and a good swimmer.
After the trip and a warm shower there will be served coffee/tea and juice in the barbeque area back at the base. Our photographer will be there and show you some great photos from the trip, which you will have the opportunity to purchase if you want to.

Family Rafting on the river Otta:
This is a guided rafting trip where the whole family can participate and experience something exciting together! This is a cosy trip, with different activities along the way. Besides rafting you will have the opportunity to jump from cliffs and swim in the river, have a “watersplash war” and maybe even try to guide the raft for a while? You will be equipped in a full-bodied wetsuit, lifejacket and helmet and go through a safety talk with instructions and training, before our experienced guides take you safely down the river in controlled circumstances. This is a great introduction to a thrilling activity.
Afterwards we gather at the barbeque area back at the base, were there will be served coffee/tea, juice and cake, and talk about all the wonderful experiences of the day. Our photographer will be there and show you some great photos from the trip, which you will have the opportunity to purchase if you want to.

Riverboard:
Riverboard is a physically more challenging activity than rafting. Riverboard is an individual activity where you lay on a body board with mounted handlebars. Dressed in a complete wetsuit with flippers and special gloves, a lifejacket and helmet you make your way down the river. Under professional guidance and instructions from your guide you learn all the techniques in riverboarding and get a wild experience on the river.
Riverboard is best suited for people who have been rafting a couple of times and seeks new challenges.

Canyoning in Sjoa:
If you want to experience nature in a new and challenging way, then canyoning highly recommended. For some canyoning feels like a journey in a fairytale, like some unknown world. It's hard not to be impressed by Sjoas magnificent setting where the forces of the water will be experienced in a new and intense way. Canyoning is therefore the perfect option for those who have wandered over the mountains before, but who now seek more excitement with hiking. Canyoning combines different things such as hiking, rappelling, swimming in rapids, wading, climbing mountains and jumping into deep pools, making this a very versatile activity that will appeal to most. You will be given all necessary equipment such as full wetsuit, harness, gloves, helmet and on some trips also lifejacket. Bring your own lunch,we provide what is needed to keep the body hydrated on the trip. Heidal Rafting has always safety in focus and uses a minimum of 2 guides on every trip.

Bridgeswing:
Adrenalin-kick under safe circumstances! Ledged on to a climbing rope and a harness, you throw yourself of the bridge and go hurdling down towards the surface until it goes upwards again and everything switches. Here you get several great gusts in your stomach before it all calms down and you are pulled up on the bridge again.
Bridgeswinging is a groundbreaking activity, were you will have grown as a person and feel a sense of great accomplishment afterwards.
Excellent as an additional activity after rafting."