Let the River Guide You / Rafting

“ …You feel like a winner”. Laura’s first experience of rafting on her birthday

 

“There were places where the raft was going up and down and we had an impression that we were about to fall into the water: every time people had a feeling of fear they were shouting and singing “Happy Birthday to you””,- talking about her one of the most incredible birthdays said Laura Hovhannisyan.

Rafting with Armenian Geographic on Debed River was Laura’s first experience of water sport as she doesn’t know how to swim and had a fear of water. Laura is an extreme lover and has always been fond of nature. She did hiking for many times before and she was going to celebrate her birthday again in the mountains. But at the last moment she changed her plans and decided to challenge herself and overcome her fears.

“I decided that my birthday is the best time to overcome my fear of water. And I did it. Now I feel more self-confident and I’m no longer afraid of water. Besides, who knows maybe one day we will face the flood, we need to know how to paddle”,- says Laura.

She was expecting to get adrenaline and pleasure on that day but now Laura finds it difficult to describe her emotions and feelings: “It’s really difficult to describe my feelings with words. I never thought about going with the direction of the water flow. It’s like you are constantly struggling for running parallel with water and not falling into it. Then you reach to the place where the waterflow is stopped. And I think it has also something in common with our life: we are also usually moving and struggling, and sometimes we are just standing in peace.  After handling 11 kilometers you feel like a winner”.

Laura recommends everyone to do rafting. She is sure that water trips are completely different from hiking. “Just wear a comfortable swimming outfit and a good mood. I was so happy to get a gift card for my birthday from organizers. So, I’m going to do it again, but this time I will wear more comfortable clothing and will follow the instructions without tension. I already know the rules and I will paddle with confidence”.

Laura is very happy that she celebrated her birthday on Debed River, but she is also glad that her birthday is on the same day with birthday of “ArmWater”. This is the name they gave to the Armenian Geographic’s new initiative of water sport. The company now is organizing also SUP boarding and rafting trips in Armenia.

Tours in Armenia