Rafting
The Çoruh is one of the most spectacular white-water rivers in the world – the backdrop of the majestic Kaçkar Mountains when descending its pristine clear-blue waters is breathtakingly magnificent. The Çoruh River is ideal for those interested in white water sports ranging from rafting to kayaking.
Between the start of the real white water at Ispir and the take-out at Zeytinlik some 140 kms later, the rapids come thick and fast. From Bayburt to Ispir, the Çoruh is both navigable and remote from the intrusion of roads. As the river reaches Ispir, it turns to flow east and searches for a weakness in the Kaçkar range to break through and empty into the Black Sea. Soon after the river passes Ispir, the gradient steepens, the valley narrows into a gorge, and five major rapids greet the paddler in the space of three kilometres. As the river exits this gorge, the valley opens up and the paddler is rewarded with ever-changing scenery: the rocks change color from brown to yellow to red and back again; castles and lookout towers perch on rock outcrops; an ancient bridge survives; and medieval churches are hidden up the side valleys. But it takes several runs to spot all these off-river attractions, as the paddler’s attention is on the rapids – there is never more than seven kilometres between rapids on this helter-skelter ride. Yusufeli appears after 90km, providing a great stopping place to relax. Here the Barhal River joins the Çoruh, providing another great day’s paddling from the town. From Sarıgöl to Yusufeli on the Barhal is an 18km raft-and-kayak run; above Sarıgöl, it is a kayak-only trip. Below Yusufeli another concentrated set of rapids greets the paddler and after the Oltu River joins at Sukavuşumu the rapids have a genuine “big volume” feel to them.
Between May and September the river’s flow drops steadily and so the paddler can choose a level – and hence difficulty – at which to run the river.
In 1993, the 4th World White-Water Rafting Championships were held on the banks of the Çoruh. Some 250 paddlers assembled from around the globe to compete in a week-long festival of events and competitions.
In 2005, the 1st Çoruh Extreme Week was held for white-water kayak paddlers. Thirty-six paddlers from 14 nations competed for 5 days on the rapids on the river from Ispir to Yusufeli.
First time in May 2010 rafting activities has begun in Uzundere.
Practical Information
Most organized trips use 10-person inflatable rafts. It’s easy to arrange day trips in Yusufeli but it’s best to book longer trips in advance. Several international and Turkish agencies offer rafting holidays, sometimes combined with trekking trips. Check that the company supplies wetsuits as well as safety equipment. Some arrange riverbank camping and others stay in village houses or pensions along the route.
The water level in the Çoruh drops dramatically through the season. In the summer, there isn’t much rain on this side of the mountains and by the end of August some parts of the river are almost too shallow for a raft. The most reliable time to enjoy one of the finest multi-day white water trips anywhere in the world is early June. After mid-June it starts to drop so this is the time to come if you’re looking for a more relaxing trip.
