Rafting on the Garonne, from Les to Pont de Rei

The Garonne rises in Aran and leaves for France through Les. Its last Spanish stretch, from the foot of Les to the Pont de Rei reservoir, beside the border, is ten kilometres of medium level that the company offers to families with children from age 6, with a guide in each raft.

Which stretch to choose

Altisport, in Vielha, runs three stretches of the Garonne. The one from Les to Pont de Rei, medium level, is the family one: from age 6, €42. The one from Les Bordes to Bossòst, nine kilometres of high level, is only run in spring and requires age 12: €47. The third is already in France, from Saint-Béat to Fronsac, the calmest, also at €42. You are on the water for about an hour and a quarter on all three.

What the morning is like

Departures are at 10:30 and 15:30, and the whole activity, with changing and the transfer to the river, takes about three hours. You change at the centre in Vielha, where they give you a wetsuit, booties, helmet, life jacket and paddle. Bring swimwear and a towel, and bear in mind that you must be able to swim. In July and August the times are confirmed when booking. In low season the departure needs at least three people; if there are one or two of you, a supplement is paid.

Combining it

If you want to do more in a day, rafting on the Les stretch plus a beginner canyon or the Arties via ferrata costs €75 as a pack, paying half in cash on the same day. In the afternoon, in Les, you can visit the Caviar Nacarii fish farm, and in Bossòst, 5 km away, eat at Er Occitan.