While Switzerland's pleasant village of Scuol is best known for it fabulous skiing and hiking opportunities, there are plenty of other incredible outdoor activities that you won't want to miss during your vacation. One of the best is the exciting whitewater rafting adventures that are available on the Inn River. The trusted local company of Engadin Adventure offers a safe way to enjoy the river to the fullest during your Scuol stay, and you may choose from a tour that is perfect for families traveling with children as young as age eight or one that suits the needs of those who are looking for a fast-paced thrill of a lifetime.
About Engadin Adventure
While providing a day of fun and excitement is of the utmost importance, Engadin Adventure is proud to also offer the highest safety standards in the country. The company passes a safety audit each year, and each rafting guide on the team is licensed and boasts a background of no less than five years of rafting experience with qualifications in both first aid and whitewater rescue.
Top-of-the-line Incept whitewater rafts are used for each trip, and these seat eight including the guide. Each guest is outfitted with their own personal equipment, which includes neoprene jackets, long johns and shoes, a well-fitting helmet and a life jacket. You'll also learn basic safety and rafting tips before you head out. These are a few of the raft trips that are regularly available, and it's important to note that each participant should bring along a towel and swimwear regardless of which trip is chosen.
Day Trip
Morning coffee awaits those who choose this option that begins around 10 a.m. and lasts a full six to seven hours. You'll meet at the bottom of the Scuol ski lift right next to the train station, and your day will be spent rafting on both the Scuol gorge and the Giarsun gorge. You'll have a rest and be treated to a delicious barbecue lunch of pork steak, potato and salad between these two adventures.
At the end of the day, you'll enjoy a warm shower, cold beer or mineral water and snacks. The Scuol run is 5.5 miles long, and the Giarsun run is some 7.5 miles. Both of these provide a thrilling ride on the rapids, and the whitewater grade ranges from 3 to 4. Children must be at least 14 years of age to participate.
Family Rafting Trip
Those traveling with children as young as eight years of age who are right at the 4-foot-tall mark may enjoy a day of fun on the river with this excellent option. For the safety of the younger members of your family, this adventure takes place on the quieter and more scenic middle section of the Scuol gorge. Not to worry though because you and your littlest thrill seekers are sure to have a blast on the small rapids that are found in this section of the Inn River.
There will also be time to take a swim in the calmest part of the river and take turns leaping off the small jumping rock. This special activity is normally available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Expect to spend around three hours enjoying this activity that normally begins around 10 a.m., and you'll be provided with drinks upon arrival and drinks and snacks at the end of the tour.
Morning or Afternoon Rafting
Most mornings, you may enjoy a three-hour whitewater rafting trip along the Scuol gorge, or you may choose to catch a four-hour wild ride along the Giarsun gorge in the afternoon. Both are open to those 14 and up and include drinks and snacks.
National Park Rafting
If you'd like more time on the rapids, then you'll want to choose this option that includes nearly nine miles of rafting along the Giarsun gorge. Meetup time is at 9:30 a.m. at the Swiss National Park gateway village of Zernez, which is located about 18 miles from Scuol, and your adventure will last a full four hours. This is one of the most scenic portions of the river, and the whitewater grade ranges from 2 to 3. Children must be at least eight years old and four feet tall to participate.
Go Home With Great Photos
Once upon a time, you couldn't risk the life of your phone or camera to take some good pictures of your time on the water, but you don't have to worry about that now. Engadin Adventure offers each guest the opportunity to rent a waterproof camera with an SD card before the start of the raft trip. Feel free to take pictures or make a movie, and your footage will be transferred to a memory stick at the end of your rafting trip.
