World’s Best River Trips for 2027 – our Top 10!
True to the roots of MT Sobek we are busy gearing up for another amazing year of world-class river trips! MT Sobek is famous for 40 first descents in the world’s most renowned whitewater rafting destinations (see the end of this blog for a list). We’ve utilized the last 50+ years of experience to curate the very best for you—join our team of experts on the World’s 10 Best River Trips for 2027!
Here are our top 10 picks for the 2027 season.
Overview
- Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho, US
- Alsek River, Alaska, US
- Colorado River through Cataract Canyon River Rafting, Utah, US
- Hulahula River Rafting, Alaska, US
- Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Arizona, US
- Zanskar River Rafting Tour – Northern India
- Lower Owyhee River Rafting Tour – Oregon
- Tatshenshini River Rafting, Alaska, US
- Rioni River Rafting Adventure Tour – Republic of Georgia
- Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument
1. Rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River — Idaho, US
We’re biased, but we have to agree with the Whitewater Guidebook. They rank the Middle Fork of the Salmon as the world’s #1 Multi-Day Rafting trip, even topping the Grand Canyon: “the quintessential multi-day rafting trip that has it all: hot springs, world-class trout fishing, jaw-dropping scenery, abundant wildlife, great hiking, and nearly continuous whitewater for its 100 miles. It’s a river trip that has something for everyone.”
A Middle Fork of the Salmon River rafting experience with MT Sobek’s expert guides fosters an incredible team spirit and camaraderie. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, as a family group, with friends, or even co-workers you’ll soon become part of the Middle Fork crew, ready to share the thrills and spills of river rafting together—and there is lots of laughter to be had. Click here to treat yourself for 7-days this summer on the best rafting trip in the world!
2. Rafting Alsek River — Alaska, US
Want to float past icebergs and glaciers through some of the most pristine wilderness in the world? If so, this is the best Alaskan river rafting adventure for you. You’ll tackle Class II-IV rapids as you raft 160 miles from Kluane National Park in Canada’s Yukon to Alaska’s amazing Glacier Bay National Park.
It’s a mesmerizing ride that lets you experience the raw nature of the north. It also includes an exciting helicopter portage over thundering Turnback Canyon. With raw nature on display at every bend, this is a unique river trip for thrill-seekers, through one of the last great frontiers. Read more about our epic Alsek adventure here.
3. Colorado River through Cataract Canyon River Rafting — Utah
This trip is simply amazing and encompasses the wildest part of the Colorado River as it swells to its largest uninterrupted flow through Canyonlands National Park before reaching Lake Powell. An undammed flow means mother nature delivers us diversity, with two distinct rafting seasons in Cataract Canyon. Spring brings long sunny days with blooming cactus flowers and thrill-seekers get to experience North America’s largest rapids.
Our fall trips typically offer the best weather, giant sandbar camps with cozy campfires, and more beginner-friendly water flows. In either season, enjoy guided rafting and sightseeing or self-directed stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking on long, flatwater sections with side hikes to Ancestral Puebloan Ruins and Pictographs. After the confluence with the Green River, hold on as we crest legendary class III-IV (V at high water) desert whitewater. Camp and dine comfortably each night on sandy beaches beneath desert skies and towering red sandstone cliffs. Sunset Magazine gave Cataract Canyon a travel award for West’s best rafting, click here to come see why.
4. Hulahula River Rafting — Alaska, US
The long bush plane flight to the put-in is a bigger adventure than most Alaskan visitors have. There is more, way more in store for you on the Hulahula. You guessed it, MT Sobek pioneered this quintessential arctic river trip which runs through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska.
From its headwaters in the Brooks Range, the river flows through tundra and a breathtaking canyon on its way to the Beaufort Sea. Amazing wildlife viewing opportunities in this vast wilderness include porcupine caribou, musk oxen, grizzlies, and a variety of coastal birds. Experience the wonders of this swift-flowing river as you raft almost 100 miles on thrilling Class III-IV whitewater–perfect for paddling enthusiasts–and enjoy hiking and camping on a pure Arctic wilderness trip.
5. Colorado River through the Grand Canyon — Arizona, US
The Colorado River slices its way through nearly 300 miles of the Grand Canyon, forming one of the world’s legendary rafting journeys. Between stretches of calm water that allow you to relax and gaze up at the towering walls above, you’ll take on famous rapids like Lava, Diamond and Granite, explore hidden side canyons, and camp on sandy beaches beneath the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.
What makes rafting the Grand Canyon truly epic is the length of the trip (up to three-plus week) and level of wilderness immersion that passengers experience. You’ll spend your days deep below the rim, passing through nearly two billion years of exposed geology, exploring waterfalls, oases and slot canyons, and sleeping under spectacularly dark desert skies. With no roads or easy exits for much of the route, a Colorado River rafting trip offers a perspective on the Grand Canyon that simply can’t be experienced from the rim.
6. Zanskar River Rafting Tour — Northern India
‘The Grand Canyon of the Himalayas’ is where a pristine river canyon snakes through towering mountains. Traveling west from Leh (11,483 feet), feel the Tibetan spirit of the Ladakh region. Roam Buddhist monasteries and gompas, bustling markets, ancient palaces, and remote villages in the embrace of the Himalayas.
At the Stod River, you can begin a multi-day river adventure down the remote Zanskar River Gorge. Paddle Class III and IV rapids through narrow passages, flanked by sky-high mountain walls, all the way to the fork of the Indus River. Experience Ladakh’s warm hospitality and rest at riverside camps under starry night skies.
7. Lower Owyhee River Rafting Tour — Oregon
For a magical few weeks each Spring, the right water levels allow you to enter into one of North America’s most spectacular, but lesser-known gorges. When the snowpack looks great early in the year, plan a trip to Oregon’s desert canyon with a perfect blend of exciting whitewater, varied scenery, hiking, hot springs, and relaxation. The Owyhee River’s whitewater is as diverse as the flora and fauna that adorns the remote canyon hillsides.
Its close proximity to the Malheur Bird Refuge lends this trip to some of the most diverse birding, not to mention bighorn sheep and wild mustangs! Raft through dramatic multi-colored canyons, where sheer rock faces, up to 1,000 feet high, tower above the river. Hike to remote hot springs, Pruitt’s Castle, homestead cabins, and the Chalk Basin, and take in views of Native American petroglyphs over 8,000 years old. Explore 65 miles of the pristine Owyhee Canyonlands on this early spring trip.
8. Tatshenshini River Rafting — Alaska, US
Looking for an expedition into the wild, but without the wild whitewater? The Tatshenshini is a true classic that begins in the snow-clad mountains of the Yukon and meanders past sweeping glaciers to the sea. Sobek led the first descent of this 136-mile run where you’ll pass through the largest concentration of grizzly bears in North America, plus bald eagles and wildflower-speckled Alaskan tundra.
Float past large, calving glaciers as the ‘Tat’ joins the Alsek River for its final 50 miles to our take-out in Dry Bay, part of Glacier Bay National Park. Join this epic adventure, on easy rapids navigated by expert guides and day hikes through dazzling wilderness, that gratifies the soul.
9. Rioni River Rafting Adventure Tour — Republic of Georgia
Can’t see yourself camping, no matter how “comfortable”? On the Rioni Rafting trip, you can stay in hotels and guesthouses, and don’t have to camp! Blending the beautiful landscapes and sparkling rivers of the Caucasus Mountains with legendary Georgian hospitality, this special adventure is nothing short of a true quest.
Take in the intriguing history of this crossroads of Europe and Asia, admire the magnificent Orthodox churches and monasteries, and savor the delicious wines and cuisine. Get your adrenaline boost over six days of Class III+ rafting on four different rivers, and visit many attractions in between, from Stalin’s birthplace and Vardzia caves to the old towns of Kutaisi and Tbilisi.
10. Gates of Lodore on the Green River — Colorado & Utah, US
The Gates of Lodore river trip follows one of the most legendary stretches of the mighty Green River, which is a major tributary to the mighty Colorado River. The journey cuts through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument along the northern section of the border between Colorado and Utah. It starts beneath the towering red walls of the Gates of Lodore, where the river enters a deep canyon and quickly bursts to life with Class III+ whitewater. Rapids such as Disaster Falls, Triplet Falls, and Hell’s Half Mile provide great excitement, while extended, flat-water stretches offer time to relax and take in the sheer canyon walls, mysterious side canyons, welcoming beaches, and delicious solitude.
Let’s be clear, this trip is about much more than rafting. Time on the river is broken up by hikes to waterfalls, overlooks, historic sites, and narrow canyons that would be extremely difficult to reach any other way. As the Green winds downstream, the landscape continually changes, from the sheer cliffs of Lodore Canyon to the broader country around Echo Park, where the Green merges with the Yampa River. With thrilling but moderate whitewater, wonderful riverside camping, and a mix of paddling and hiking, Gates of Lodore is a classic multi-day rafting adventures in the American West.
Sobek’s First Descents
Africa: Zambezi River (Zambia/Zimbabwe), Gabba-Birbir-Baro system (Ethiopia), Awash River (Ethiopia), Omo River (Ethiopia), Blue Nile, whitewater section Mahajamba (Madagascar), Betsiboka (Madagascar), Kunene (Angola/Namibia), Tana (Kenya), Kilombero (Tanzania), Ruaha (Tanzania), Luangwa (Zambia), Shira (Malawi), Kafue (Zambia)
Asia: Euphrates (Turkey), Coruh (Turkey), Great Bend of the Yangtze (China), Indus (Pakistan), Alas (Sumatra), Ayung (Bali), Sala Sadang (Sulawesi), Yarkand (China), Hunza-Gilgit (Pakistan), Zanskar (India), Kayan (Borneo), Boh (Borneo), Dar Jung Guo (China), Biritingi (Sumatra), Kunar (Pakistan), Swat (Pakistan), Ghizar (Pakistan), Tons (India), Yamuna (India)
Europe: Reisa Elva (Norway), Alta Elva (Norway/Finland)
North America: Upper Youghiogheny (Pennsylvania), Tatshenshini (Yukon/Alaska), New River Gorge (West Virginia), Kennicott/Nizina/Chitina (Alaska), Kongakut (Alaska), Hulahula (Alaska), Canning (Alaska), Tsirku (Alaska), Tkobe (Alaska), Chilkat (Alaska), Six-Mile (Alaska), Eau Claire (Quebec)
Oceania: Bulolo-Watut-Markham system (Papua New Guinea), Tsau-Jimi-Yuat system (Papua New Guinea), Wahgi-Tua system (Papua New Guinea), Motu (New Zealand), Mohaka (New Zealand), Clarence (New Zealand), Hast (New Zealand), Tasman (New Zealand)
South America & the Caribbean: Manso (Argentina/Chile), Bio-Bio (Chile), Roosevelt (Brazil), Baker (Chile), Toa (Cuba), Quijos (Ecuador), Aguarico (Ecuador), Sereno (Chile), Apurimac (Peru), Tambopata (Peru)
