River Rapids & Family Fun: Banff Whitewater Rafting Adventure Packages
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Are you looking for an epic adventure for your family this summer? Have you ever tried white water rafting? If not, you're in for a treat. The Kicking Horse River is, hands down, the best whitewater rafting experience in the Canadian Rockies!
Banff Adventures has curated the best rafting activity packages for explorers of all experience levels. Please keep reading to discover our favourite family-friendly packages for the 2024 summer season!
Whitewater Rafting for Families
Let's start with the family-friendly package to kick our list off! Our Family Friendly Whitewater Trip is the gentlest rafting package offered by Banff Adventures. This trip is the perfect introduction to rafting for families with little adventurers ages 8-11. Enjoy a serene float down the gentle areas of the Kicking Horse River, take in the mountain scenery, watch for wildlife and soak up the sunshine!
The family friend trip starts gently before leading into whitewater rapids! The course you'll float through has class 1-3 waves, ideal for families with little thrill seekers! Don't worry about packing wetsuits or life jackets; Banff Adventures will ensure you're properly equipped to stay safe on the rapids. All you need to bring is yourselves, bathing suits, towels, and bags for any personal belongings.
Banff rafting trips include:
The tour includes:
- Qualified instructors.
- All the necessary equipment and river gear like helmets and life jackets.
- A riverside BBQ lunch with refreshments.
All children must be over eight and weigh over 50 lbs— we don't want them flying out of the raft after a big wave!
Raft the Kicking Horse River
Calling all thrill seekers! Banff Adventures' Raft the Kicking Horse River trip is an epic rafting adventure best suited for ages 12 and up! This trip starts similarly with gentle waters through the serene upper canyon. Once the canyon narrows, that's where the fun begins!
Your experienced guide will coach your group through the continuous rapids such as the Shot Gun, Man Eater and Roller Coaster. Don't let the names scare you— rafting through those famous rapids is a badge of honour your kids will wear proudly.
Once your group has conquered the rapids and arrived 20 km downstream, a shuttle will be waiting to take you back to Hydra River Base. This trip is a fan favourite out of all the Banff rafting packages! We often see a lot of repeat adventurers on Kicking Horse River.
Bonus Package: Horse Play
The Horse Play package combines the thrills of the classic Kicking Horse rafting adventure, paired with tickets to ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. If your family is taking a trip to Banff for the first time, riding the Banff Gondola is a must-do!
The eight-minute ride up to the peak of Sulphur Mountain is a breathtaking experience. The gondola has 360° views of the Banff National Park mountain range. The best part? Each gondola has a camera so you can collect family photos with the Rockies in the background to cherish for a lifetime.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
Banff rafting is a fantastic adventure for any group of friends, families or even bachelorette parties. Please note that transportation to the Hydra Rafting is not included, and the Rafting River Base is 1.5 hours away from Banff near Golden, BC.
Ready to hit the rapids? Get in touch with Banff Adventures today to plan your next adventure.