For many travelers, Bhutan holds a special place on the bucket list—an elusive kingdom where ancient traditions blend with modern life, and time seems to slow down. Since 2010, Northwest Rafting Company has made it a tradition to visit this magical Himalayan country every fall. Road improvements are connecting its rural mountain villages to bustling cities, opening up more opportunities for adventure in this serene, unspoiled land. This year, we decided to take things up a notch and explore something special: a multi-day river trip on… Read More
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Northwest Rafting Company was founded by the two owners of ECHO River Trips, Dick and Joe, along with one of their guides Zach in 2009. The goal was to create an outfitting business for Zach while Dick and Joe slowly sold ECHO and retired. ECHO History ECHO was founded in 1972 with a whopping investment of $5,000, a GMC Suburban and the adventurous spirits of two high school teachers, Joe Daly and Dick Linford. What began as weekend dashes from Berkeley to the American or Stanislaus… Read More
One of my favorite parts of a river trip is the side hikes we take during the day or from camp. These hikes can be up tributary creeks, along the river, or to a stunning viewpoint. This is a list of my favorite hikes on each trip. Aparejo Point | Middle Fork of the Salmon River This hike starts at Trail Camp (mile 64) and goes up the Old Aparejo Trail to a viewpoint at Aparejo Point. To find the trail from Trail Camp, head upstream… Read More
At Northwest Rafting Company, we believe that a great adventure is fueled by great food. Our guides aren’t just exceptional river guides—they’re also talented chefs! We take pride in serving fresh, healthy, and filling meals on all of our trips. One of our most popular meals is our Superfood Lunch Salad, which guests rave about. What we love most about this salad is that it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, making it accessible to many people with dietary restrictions. If you want to give it a try… Read More
Commonly known as a “life jacket,” a PFD is a Personal Flotation Device. Everyone is required to wear one at all times while floating on the river. What type of PFD do you provide? We provide a rafting specific PFD with proper flotation for untrained whitewater swimmers. The amount of floatation in a PFD affects two major things, how high you float in the water, and how fast you come to the surface if you go underwater. The more flotation, the faster you pop-up! Here are… Read More
Being “unplugged” on a river trip doesn’t mean you have to forgo technology fully. I love to unwind before bed by reading a few pages on my Kindle, and to capture memories with my phone camera. Below is my advice for bringing technology on a NWRC river trip. Charging Electronics NWRC does not provide charging capabilities for electronic devices. If you think that you’ll want to charge up your devices during the trip, we recommend bringing an external power bank and charging cords. There are many… Read More
If you’re a first-timer looking for information on the “bathroom situation” or a seasoned professional looking to pass some knowledge along to a hesitant friend or relative we’ve got you covered. What the Heck is a Groover? A “Groover” is the rafting term for a portable toilet used on river trips. Back before the comfortable modern Groovers were made, river users used military surplus ammo cans that would leave two grooves on each cheek of your behind when you sat down. We’ve come a long way… Read More
Managing your menstrual cycle on a river trip can seem daunting, but it can be a breeze with the right pre-trip preparation. Here are some tips and tricks to help you feel prepared for your river adventure! Flow Kit I like to make a “Flow Kit” to keep in my day bag on the days I think I might need it. Here is what it contains: Tampons – A variety of sizes that I know I might need. Hand Sanitizer – In case a hand wash… Read More
Thailand vs Bhutan While not required, we suggest starting your trip in Bangkok, Thailand. Arriving there a day or two before your flight to Bhutan will help you adjust to the time change. The weather will factor into your packing as it is quite different between Thailand and Bhutan. Thailand is hot and humid whereas Bhutan tends to be much cooler and less humid. Consider bringing an outfit just for Thailand that may get sweaty that you don’t need in Bhutan. If you are planning a… Read More
While our Trip Details PDF is a highly refined document that answers most questions about our rowing schools, you may have some more questions on your mind. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we hear about our Class III Rowing School. Can I share a raft with my Friend/Partner/Child? Unfortunately, no. In this course you’ll be rowing your own raft and we don’t allow passengers in that raft while you are learning. My Friend/Partner/Child wants to join the trip, but doesn’t want instruction… Read More