F.A.Q / Frequently Asked Questions
faq rafting kayak
You will find below questions you may have about how to perform whitewater activities. Rafting, Kayaking, air-boat, hydrospeed : do you want to learn more ? Do you want answers to your questions before striking out ? You will find all the information you need. We remain available to answer any questions you may have :
APACHE RAFTING CONTACT
info@apacherafting.com
QUESTIONS ABOUT RAFTING, KAYAKING, AND HYDROSPEED ACTIVITIES
Where are you located ?
15 MINUTES WALK FROM BARCELONNETTE / UBAYE / 04 / SOUTHERN FRENCH ALPS.
Apache Rafting is located at the gates of Barcelonnette, after the airfield (there is a plane on your left). The Ubaye Valley is 1 hour drive from Gap, at the A51 highway exit : after Tallard junction, follow the D900 road. Apache Rafting is 2 hours drive from Aix-en-Provence and 2H30 from Marseille.
Which activities do you offer ?
RAFTING , KAYAKING , FULL PACK ACTIVITIES
Apache Rafting offers guided whitewater activities on the Ubaye river. You can perform rafting, which is a team sport, kayaking and inflatable canoe activity. Each activity is supervised by a river guide instructor.
How many people can enjoy the activity at the same time ?
EACH GUIDE CAN USHER GROUPS OF 7 PERSONS MAXIMUM.
The Law and Insurance companies make it very clear. Each instructor can be responsible for 6 persons maximum in a raw if the river level is classified at rank 4 and more. Eanch instructor can be responsible for 7 persons maximum in a raw if the river level is classified at rank 3 and less. The Apache Rafting team is composed of several instructors and guides, therefore you will be able to enjoy Ubayan rafting runs with your whole family or with all your friends.
What is the meaning of river ranks and difficulties ?
DIFFICULTIES
To guarantee the comfort of the clients and the quality of rafting and kayaking runs, the Apache Rafting guides do their best to choose the appropriate section according to the level and the expectation of every member of the group. Making every run a special time is the principal objective. Three elements define the classification scheme of the river : the slope, the clutter, and the water volume. Those elements may change according to the season and the rainfall.
What do we need for the activity ?
BATHING SUIT , OLD TRAINERS , TOWEL
You will need your bathing suit, old trainers and a towel. The rest of the equipment will be provided (helmet ; life jacket;dry clean and disinfected watersuit).
How long does the activity last ?
2H30
It depends on the activity you chose ; 2h30 is the time we need to welcome you, to outfit you, to enjoy the activity and go back to the base.
Do we need to know how to swim ?
YES
You need to be able to swim meters back and forth and plunge. You also need to be aware of the risks of the activity.
How can we pay ?
WE DO ACCEPT GOLD NUGGETS
You can pay with cheques, bank tranfers, vacation coupons, or cash. You can find cash machines in the city center of Barcelonnette, only minutes walk from the base.
Do we offer the same routes as the other companies ?
YES , BUT BETTER ONES !
Seven routes are markatable on the Ubaye river and all the providers in the valley use them. The particularity is that Apache Rafting chooses to work flexible hours . You will indeed avoid waves of peak hours, and the river will be all yours !
Are the departure and the final lines at the same place ?
YES THANKS TO OUR DEAR SHUTTLE BUS
Our shuttle bus drives us to the departure of the run and meets us at the arrival of every route. Our shuttle bus goes back and forth the base in Barcelonnette. This can be a 5 minutes drive up to a 30 minutes drive, according to the route you chose.
Is Apache Rafting open 365 days a year ?
WHITEWATER ACTIVITIES CAN BE PERFORMED FROM MAY TO OCTOBER
Our base is open from the 1st of May to the 30th os September. During winter times, the different ski stations of the Ubaye Valley offer snowy activities ( Saint Jean Montclar , Sauze Super Sauze , Praloup and La Condamine).
Can you go rafting by night ?
NO
The local authorities allow to navigate on the Ubaye river from 9a.m to 6p.m only, regarding to respect other river fellows such as fishermen, fishes, and beavers (!)
Are the wetsuits clean and disinfected ?
THE WETSUITS ARE CLEAN AND DISINFECTED, THANKS COMBICLEAN
Wetsuits are 100% clean and disinfected. We use COMBICLEAN, the best reference known for hygiene. With Apache Rafting, you can make sure to have a dry , clean and disinfected wetsuit.
Is there any risk of death in whitewater activities ?
NOT WITH APACHE RAFTING
Whitewater activities subprime and performed in a very hostile environment. This is the rerason why , in France , every guide has to take a degree acknowledged by the Sports Department. Please be reassured : Apache Rafting guides have quired no less than 10 years of experience minimum in every rank of river difficulty, in France and throughout the world. You are in good hands !
How warm is the water ?
AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
The Ubaye river temperature goes to 10° during the spring and up to 14° in the summer. With th Apach Rafting equipment, you won't feel any cold.
Titre moyen
YES HE IS
All the members of the Apache Rafting team will do their best to be nice to you . On the other hand, Apache Rafting demands a full cooperation regarding security : all the instructions and safety directives must be respected.
