🚣 Summary
This training will take you to the Paiva River in Arouca, Portugal - a region recognized by UNESCO as part of the Arouca Geopark. Over five activity days, you will learn the fundamentals of rafting safety and emergency response, equipment usage, how to handle model situations on water, and the specifics of rafting in Portugal. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you will build skills, confidence, and team spirit on the river.
🎬 Check our past rafting activity
👤 Participant Profile
- Resident or citizen of one of these countries: Portugal, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary.
- Optimal Age range: 18+ years old.
- Likes outdoor activities and seeks new adventures.
- Fully available to participate throughout the duration of the whole program (11-17 May).
- No prior experience is required, but a basic level of physical fitness is necessary.
- Not currently receiving any European Union funding (e.g., participating in an Erasmus university exchange program).
- Willing to actively contribute to group activities and to the well-being of the group throughout the program.
🗓️ Activity Schedule
- 11 May: Arrival Day
The first day is dedicated to traveling. In the afternoon we will meet you at our accomodation - Casa do Burgo, a beautifully restored historic house in Arouca. We will get settled, have dinner together, and get to know each other.
- 12 May: Introduction and Training / Espiunca - Paiva River
The first activity day we will start with training, during which we will learn all the essentials - how to hold the paddle properly, how to work together as a team on the raft, what to do in case of a capsize, and how to handle the river safely. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, we will learn the basics of rafting and immediately try them out in practice on our first trip down the Paiva River. We will also cover equipment usage and fewer opportunities specifics.
- 13 May: Skills Development / Saravigões - Paiva River
We will test the acquired skills on a different section of the river. We will improve team coordination, strengthen technique, and gain confidence on the water. The focus will be on model situations - practicing real scenarios you may encounter while rafting. More challenges, more fun!
- 14 May: Advanced Techniques / Bairros - Paiva River
On the third activity day we will focus on improving our technique - we will learn how to maneuver in more difficult sections, react properly to currents and obstacles. We will also discuss specifics of rafting in Portugal and how conditions differ across countries. There will also be fun water games that will test our skill and team spirit.
- 15 May: Teamwork Challenge / Canelas - Paiva River
This day will be a real test of teamwork. We will have a longer rafting trip with varied terrain and maybe even a few surprises along the way. We will practice emergency and safety procedures in realistic conditions. Let’s show what we’ve got and enjoy it to the fullest!
- 16 May: Farewell Float / Espiunca - Paiva River
We will enjoy it with ease and joy of what we have learned. We will wrap up the training by reflecting on our experiences, sharing feedback, and celebrating the achievements and memories made throughout the week. In the evening we will have a closing ceremony and goodbye dinner.
- 17 May: Departure Day
We pack our things, say goodbye, and in the morning we travel home full of experiences.
🏡 Location and Venue
We will be staying at Casa do Burgo, a restored historic house in Arouca, Portugal, dating back to the early 19th century.
Arouca is a municipality in the Porto Metropolitan Area, about 45 minutes from Porto. Since 2008, the Arouca Geopark has been recognized by UNESCO as a protected natural and geological territory. The region is known for the Paiva Walkways (Passadiços do Paiva), the 516 Arouca suspended pedestrian bridge, and rafting on the Paiva River.
The house accommodates up to 28 people and features shared rooms divided by gender, with an international mix, and 5 shared bathrooms. It also has a dining room, living rooms, gardens, and outdoor terraces.
Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be provided. If you have any dietary preferences or restrictions, please let us know in advance.
- Location: Casa do Burgo, Arouca
🧳 Travel Plan
Slovakia 🇸🇰
Slovak participants will travel by plane to Porto. From Porto, shared car or bus transportation to Casa do Burgo in Arouca (~45 min) will be arranged.
- Plane: Budapest → Porto
- Shared transport: Porto Airport → Casa do Burgo, Arouca
Czechia 🇨🇿
Czech participants will travel by plane to Porto. From Porto, shared car or bus transportation to Casa do Burgo in Arouca (~45 min) will be arranged.
- Plane: Budapest → Porto
- Shared transport: Porto Airport → Casa do Burgo, Arouca
Hungary 🇭🇺
Hungarian participants will travel by plane to Porto. From Porto, shared car or bus transportation to Casa do Burgo in Arouca (~45 min) will be arranged.
- Plane: Budapest → Porto
- Shared transport: Porto Airport → Casa do Burgo, Arouca
- Additional Travel Info
- Once participants are confirmed, activity coordinators will work with national group leaders to finalize the travel itinerary for each group.
- Travel tickets from meeting points to the venue and back will be purchased by our organization. If you live far from any meeting point and need the organization to arrange your ticket, please contact the project coordinator with enough time in advance.
- For flights, we purchase the basic option, which includes one small backpack to be carried under the seat. You may add priority or cargo luggage at your own cost. However, we recommend travelling light and efficiently.
- In some cases, it might be needed for a participant to start travelling one day earlier or to arrive home one day later, namely if there are no viable flight connections in the travel days suitable for the participant. If you are not available to travel on the 10th or the 18th of May, please mention it in your application form in the additional information section.
- All important information regarding travel and other topics will be shared via a dedicated Discord channel and by e-mail.
- Travel plans are preliminary and may change depending on connection availability and prices.
ℹ️ Useful Information
- There are no participation costs: Accommodation and food are co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. However, selected participants will be required to pay a 30€ deposit to confirm their participation. This deposit helps prevent last-minute cancellations and covers any potential damages at the accommodation or extra cleaning services. The deposit will be refunded to participants who attend all sessions, engage respectfully with the group, and complete a dissemination task agreed upon during the closure day (e.g. presenting the results of this activity at a school or to a group of friends, organizing a workshop in a local community, etc.).
- Health & Insurance: We do not organize insurance for participants. If you wish to have coverage, you must arrange it yourself. We ask all participants to bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which can be used if hospital care is needed.
- What to bring:
- Documents & essentials: ID card or passport, pocket money, sunscreen, mosquito spray, personal hygiene products, any medication you may need.
- Clothing: comfortable clothes for outdoor activity suited to the weather forecast - light long-sleeve shirt, shorts or swimsuit, rain jacket, cap or hat, sunglasses. The venue provides bath towels, so you only need to bring a beach towel.
- Footwear: water shoes or sandals (essential for rafting), and a pair of comfortable shoes proper for hike activities.
- Gear: waterproof phone case, waterproof backpack (5-10 l), day backpack (15-20 l), reusable water bottle. A life jacket and helmet will be provided for rafting.
- Terms & Conditions: Refer to www.e29.eu/terms-and-conditions for detailed terms and conditions.
- Q&A: Have questions? Reach us through Instagram.
