Whitewater Rafting on the Sesia at Varallo

Whitewater rafting on the Sesia is a guided river descent through the Valsesia in the Vercelli province of Piedmont, north-west Italy, on a river widely rated among the finest in the Alps and a former World Rafting Championship venue. Fed by the glaciers of Monte Rosa, the Sesia runs cold, clear and lively through forested gorges between Varallo, Vocca, Balmuccia and Scopa, offering everything from gentle family floats to demanding grade IV rapids. Rafting here is run by established Valsesia outfitters such as Monrosa Rafting, Sesia Rafting and Eddyline, whose guides hold AIRES or international rafting qualifications and brief every crew before launch. The activity suits beginners and families on the easier sections, with most operators setting a minimum age of around 8 to 10 for the calmer descents and 14 or more for the bigger rapids; participants must be able to swim and be comfortable in cold water. A wetsuit, neoprene boots, buoyancy aid, helmet and paddle are provided; participants bring swimwear, and dry clothes for afterwards. A typical descent covers six to twelve kilometres and lasts two to three hours on the water, with a safety briefing on paddling commands, what to do if thrown from the raft, and how to float feet-first through rapids. Guides carry throw lines and steer each raft, and safety kayakers often accompany the harder runs. The season runs from spring snowmelt in April, when the river is at its biggest and most powerful, through to September, with water levels easing as summer goes on; the upper grade IV sections are reserved for experienced rafters and high-water days. The combination of glacier-clear water, dramatic Valsesia gorges and the backdrop of Monte Rosa makes the Sesia the headline adventure of Piedmont's mountains.