What to wear rafting (and what to leave in the van)

The short answer is in the title: swimwear, something on your feet, and nothing you would mind losing. Here is the long answer, because it is the question we are asked most and the one that makes the biggest difference to how your day feels.

What we give you

Everything technical is ours and is included in the price. At base camp in Përmet you are fitted with:

• A neoprene wetsuit - the water is twelve degrees in spring and you will be glad of it
• A helmet and a life jacket, worn the whole time you are on the water
• Neoprene shoes, so you can walk on the gravel and swim without losing them

The gear is modern, it is checked, and it is fitted to you rather than handed out in one size. If something does not feel right, say so before the briefing ends.

What to wear under it

A swimsuit. That is the whole list. Over it, on the way to the river, wear quick-dry clothes - a sports top and shorts are ideal - because you will be taking them off at the put-in and putting them back on wet at the other end. Cotton is the one thing to avoid: it soaks, it stays cold, and it takes the rest of the day to dry.

In high summer, when the water is warm, some guests raft in swimwear and the life jacket alone. Your guide will tell you on the day whether the wetsuit is needed.

What to bring for afterwards

Something warm and dry to change into, and a towel. Even in August the canyon is shaded and the drive back is cool once you are wet. A hat and sunscreen for the bank, water shoes or sandals if you plan to walk the canyon or sit in the thermal pools afterwards, and a little cash - entry to Bënja is a couple of euros paid on site.

If you wear glasses, bring a strap or leave them in the van and go without; contact lenses are fine with your eyes shut through the rapids. Tie long hair back under the helmet.

What to leave in the van

Your phone, your wallet, your watch, your jewellery. The van is locked and stays with the team, and we take the photos for you - they arrive the same evening. If you really want a camera on the water, tell us and we will find it a dry bag, but the honest advice is to keep your hands on the paddle.

Nothing you take on the river should be something you would be sad to see at the bottom of it.

For the kayaking day

Same rules, lighter kit. The kayaking runs the calm stretches, so the wetsuit is often optional and a dry bag for your phone is included if you want it. Trainers or light boots you do not mind soaking are better than sandals for the walks in and out.

For the canyon and the baths

The Langarica canyon is a walk, a wade and a swim, so you want shoes that grip when wet and clothes that dry. For the baths, a swimsuit, a towel, and flip-flops for the stone between the pools. There is nowhere formal to change, so arrive wearing what you will swim in.

Still not sure? Ask us on WhatsApp before you come. It is easier to answer a question the day before than to find you a jumper on the gravel bank.