Adventures on the water: Wreck diving, rafting and canyoning
Choose from a variety of activities and discovery trips to experience the magic of Austria’s stunning rivers and lakes.
Swimming is by no means the one and only way to cool yourself off in Austria. In fact, there are a lot of unexpected aquatic adventures to be experienced at our rivers and lakes. Thrill-seekers may want to master their rafting and canoeing skills in Tirol’s holiday hotspots such as Zillertal and St. Johann. Scuba divers can explore underwater prehistoric pile dwellings in Lake Attersee, Upper Austria, while kite surfers will certainly enjoy Burgenland’s perfect weather and wind conditions at Lake Neusiedler See.
RAFTING, CANYONING AND RIVER BUGGING IN ZILLERTAL
No matter if you are looking for a thrilling water adventure or travel with kids in tow, Tirol's Zillertal has you covered.
Zillertal valley is a popular summer hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts, including those drawn to the water. And rafting proofs especially popular. Together with an experienced guide, beginners and pros paddle through rapids and master the stately waters of the Ziller and Inn River. Seeking more of thrills adventure? Try the extreme version power rafting.
Canyoning guides take adventurers to gorges, waterfalls and natural whirlpools, with both family-friendly and more adrenaline-focused tours available. Fans of the later will also love river bugging, a fun white-water activity where guests navigate a stretch of river in individual small inflatable crafts with an inflatable tube at each side.
WILD WATER TUBING AND RAFTING IN ST. JOHANN IN TIROL
Explore the Alps from the water – tubing and rafting adventures are the perfect way to see the magnificent landscapes on a hot day.
St. Johann in Tirol and its neighbouring villages Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf are a fun hub for the whole family, adrenaline activities included. One of the most popular summer sports is tubing, also known as wild water swimming, a thrilling combination of climbing, swimming and cliff jumping. Experienced guides take guests to the Klobenstein gorge, referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Tirol” by the locals.
River and wild water rafting are equally popular, with the raft ride from Kirchdorf in Tirol through the wild and romantic Klobenstein gorge to Schleching in Bavaria a long time favourite. High waves and currents challenge both body and mind.
WRECK DIVING AT LAKE ATTERSEE IN UPPER AUSTRIA
Ever thought about exploring sunken cars, submarines, and remains of the locals’ homes under water? Make Lake Attersee your next destination.
Imagine going diving, but instead of finding corals, you come across a wooden outhouse with a heart door, a bathtub, and an Austrian car from the 1930s. At Lake Attersee, those who don an oxygen tank can marvel at prehistoric lake dwellings (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!) - complete with underwater information boards just like in a museum – as well as all kinds of curiosities. There’s even a submarine to explore. It doesn’t date back to wartime, however, but was built in the 1990s by a private inventor and later sank after its owner left it swimming in the lake.
For those a little less adventurous, SUPs, water skis and boats can be rented all around the lake. Alternatively, just enjoy a swim in one of Austria’s most popular lakes.
Diving Adventures at Lake Attersee
Water Sports at Lake Attersee
Lake Attersee Tourism
KITESURFING AT LAKE NEUSIEDLER SEE IN BURGENLAND
Lake Neusiedler See is one of the best locations in Austria for soon-to-be and experienced kitesurfers.
The combination of surfing and sailing looks spectacular. Kitesurfers stand on a board and let the "kite," a sail, pull them, or they steer with the help of the kite. When there is a lot of wind, it can happen that the surfers really take off and fly for a short distance. Scenes like these can often be witnessed at Lake Neusiedler See. With an average water depth of just 1,5 m, the lake is an ideal training location. Beginners can stand in the water throughout the entire lake, making it way easier to practice, while experienced surfers appreciate the perfect wind conditions.
To everyone’s delight, the region has around 300 sunny days per year. If you want to just try or really want to learn how to kitesurf, contact one of the numerous kitesurfing schools at Lake Neusiedller See. The offer ranges from a three-hour taster course to training that lasts several days.
Kitesurfing at Lake Neusiedler See
Burgenland Tourism
RAFTING ON WILD WATERS IN SALZBURGERLAND
Paddle on a mountain river in an inflatable raft – for beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts.
In Lofer, SalzburgerLand, the Saalach River is wild and impetuous, just right for rafting trips. Beginners get an introduction about all things paddling before getting into the boat and out onto the waters. Equipped with a neoprene suit, neoprene shoes, helmet and life jacket everyone then climbs aboard the big inflatable boat, riding the waves on the Saalach, through rapids and past boulders. With a paddle and physical effort each and every person in the boat contributes to staying on course.
There are various rafting tours to choose from, all starting in Lofer. For the beginner tours, children from the age of six are also welcome on board, provided they can swim. The packages include return transfers to the the starting point.
Rafting in Lofer
Lofer Tourism
ADRENALINE WATER ADVENTURES IN TIROL'S IMST
The Outdoor Community Card combines eight different outdoor activities in Imst, Tirol, including water adventures.
Imst is a real hub for adventures sports. The Lechtal Alps rise in the north and the Ötztal Alps in the south, while the Inn River flows very close by. Steep cliffs and spectacular gorges abound. If you are looking for some extraordinary experiences in this magnificent landscape and bring along nerves and courage, the Outdoor Community Card might be just what you are looking for. It is a great deal financially and includes eight adrenaline adventures, each of them supervised by experienced outdoor guides: Wakeboarding in the nearby "Area 47" leisure park, bungee jumping from a height of 94 metres, a tandem paragliding flight, a canyoning tour, rafting through the Imst Gorge, a via ferrata tour, a sunrise hike with Alpine breakfast and an "Alpine Coaster" ride.
The Outdoor Community Card is 498 Euro and is available at the Imst Tourismus office.
As always, we are happy to assist you in planning your research trip. Please get in touch at pressuk@austria.info.
