Canyoning for beginners

Canyoning is walking down a river that happens to have drops in it. Where the drop is short you climb or slide. Where it is high you go down on a rope. That is the entire sport. Nothing about it assumes climbing experience, and nothing about it requires you to be strong.

What the day looks like

• You arrive at a tavern above the canyon and get changed into neoprene. Fifteen minutes.
• A short walk in, then the guide explains the harness and the descender on flat ground, not on a cliff.
• The first abseil is small on purpose. It exists so you learn what the rope feels like.
• Two hours of moving downstream: wading, sliding, jumping if you want to, three or four abseils.
• A twenty minute hike back up, a shower under a waterfall, one drink and your photos.

Do I need to be fit?

You need to walk uphill for twenty minutes without stopping every two. That is the bar. There is no climbing, no swimming distance and no upper-body strength involved — the rope does the work and gravity does the rest.

What people are actually nervous about

Almost always the first abseil, and almost always for thirty seconds. Once you feel that the rope holds you without any effort on your part, the fear stops being interesting. The second most common worry is cold water, which the 5 mm neoprene handles better than people expect.

You do not need to buy anything. Suit, socks, shoes, helmet, harness and rope equipment are all included. Bring a swimsuit and a towel.

Which route to pick first

If you are unsure, take the standard route anyway. It is the full canyon and it is still beginner-level. The short route exists for tight schedules and for guests who would rather sample it than commit to two hours in the water.