Sungai Kampar Whitewater Rafting And Kayaking

"Wild Thrills and Spills in the Jungle"

Spend a day riding the rapids on a Sungai Kampar whitewater rafting trip for an exhilarating, heart-stopping and fun rainforest romp. Admit it. You've always wanted to grab a paddle and test your mettle against a wild river.

With good guides and gear, proper instructions and some grit, anyone can handle the rough waters and rocky hazards of these wild places.

Let's alleviate a few concerns so you can make a safe and sound decision:

• Fitness ... Challenging, yes ... but you work as a team to overcome inexperience and rafting guides lead the way.
• Weight ... Everyone is lighter in or on water, so ask the adventure company if any difficulties might arise.
• Swim ... Not mandatory if you wear a secure Personal Floatation Device and are comfortable floating downstream.
• Skill ... With proper gear and guides even beginners can handle the rapids of Sungai Kampar under normal conditions.
• Stamina ... Strenuous but not exhausting, there are plenty of riverside pit stops and flatwater stretches to regain your energy.
• Safety ... Always the primary concern, make sure instructions are solid, guides are experienced, equipment is topnotch and rescue plans are in place.

Sungai Kampar Whitewater Rafting: Safety Tips

Despite the hazards of tropical jungles (toxic snakes, stinging insects, leeches) people still enjoy trekking. So how do you get over your apprehensions about flinging yourself in a rubber raft sliding down a wild forest river?

Well here are a few cautionary safety tips to keep you and your spirits afloat on Malaysia's tropical rivers.

Not to shock or scare you away from a river endeavour, but it's always good to know what dangers lay around the next bend. So let's cover a few behaviour tips to get your feet wet before heading downstream.

Cautionary Point #1

If you don't respect the river, it will spit you out like a soggy rag or snag you in its underwater clutches.

• Whitewater safety begins when you decide on which outfitter to use on your journey
• Choosing a professional service with trained guides and good equipment should be your first and best choice.
• An outfitter should be river savvy and confident to tackle the job.
• Outfitters must know their own limitations and exercise extreme caution in assessing river conditions and client potential.

Cautionary Point #2

If your outfitter or guide is not paying attention to details and taking charge, choose another.

• Most outfitters are serious about safety, but mishaps happen like injuries from flying paddles, broken glasses, or hand and facial cuts.

• Good outfitters deal with both river circumstances and antics of novice customers. Good river riders listen and follow instructions and keep watch on fellow rafters.
• Most beginners make the mistake of holding the paddle by the neck instead of at the top of the T-grip, leading to paddle flinging and power loss.
• Keep your floatation vest tight and your helmet secure. If you go overboard, a loose vest will shift up and choke you and remember to float downstream feet first with your head up.
• If you feel uncomfortable during any section of the river, just say so. It's a lot easier to stop and walk around the rapids than to fish you out of the water in a panic.
• Just follow orders. Respect your guide's expertise and follow instructions. Whitewater rafting requires teamwork, so know who's in charge and know who's not.

Cautionary Point #3

Hotshots endanger the endeavour, keep your ego in check to ensure a smooth and safe ride for everyone.

• The worst type of river rider is the one who only knows a little but assumes he knows it all. Being arrogant only gets the entire flotilla in trouble.
• Whitewater adventure is all about safety first. Outfitters are trained for rescue operations but they prefer prevention.
• Rivers are wild habitats just like their adjacent jungles, so be aware of your surroundings.
• Soak in all the lessons of a rafting excursion and learn how to navigate rapids, read water currents and observe nature's signs.

Cautionary Point #4

Whitewater rafting is a blast.

• Sometimes you need to just give it a try and take the plunge and appreciate the beautiful nature scenes of Malaysia's wild rivers.

Whitewater Classification System:

Sungai Kampar whitewater rafting is rated as a Class I to III river activity.

• Class I: (Easy) Moving water with small disturbances on the surface and a few small waves. There is little to no danger to swimmers.
• Class II: (Novice/Beginner) Faster moving water with easily avoided rocks, holes, and waves. Danger to swimmers is still slight but care must be taken.
• Class III: (Intermediate) Fast moving water containing various rocks, holes, currents, and waves that require skillful maneuvering to avoid. Swimmers could be at risk and may require help.
• Class IV-V-VI: All for advanced kayakers and rafters.

Sungai Kampar Whitewater Rafting: Operators and Outfitters

There are many travel agents and others providing whitewater rafting and kayaking services. The main concern when choosing an outfitter is safety. Ensure that the quality of rafting equipment is high and that rafting guides have proper training and experience to handle emergency situations.

The following outfitters are only suggestions due to some familiarity with their practices. Please ask these, or any, operator about their safety record and staff training to be comfortable with your choice.

Nomad Adventures
525, Jalan 17/13,
Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: 603-7958-5152
Fax: 603-7958-1710
E-mail: info@nomadadventure.com

Khersonese Expedition
No.41, Lorong Rahim Kajai 13,
Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : 603-772 23511 / 772 23516
Fax : 603-772 23554
Mobile No : 016-6902425 (Safiq) , 012 9066074 (Chik)
Email: info@thepaddlerz.com

Tracks Adventures
Lot 11, Jln Lengal, Off Jalan Tembak,
Kuala Kubu Bahru. 44100 Selangor
Tel: 603-6065-1767
Fax: 603-6065-2722
Email: tracks@tm.net.my

Sungai Kampar Whitewater Rafting: General Itinerary

Rafting participants usually meet at the Gopeng toll exit or at a locale in town. From Kuala Lumpur take the North-South Expressway towards Ipoh and expect to reach the Gopeng exit within 1.5 to 2 hours.

Sungai Kampar Whitewater Rafting - Morning Trips

Sungai Kampar Whitewater Rafting - Afternoon Trips