13 waterfalls worldwide
White-water rafting at waterfalls
Below a great waterfall there is usually a great gorge, and in that gorge some of the biggest commercially runnable water on earth.
Below a great waterfall there is usually a great gorge, and in that gorge some of the biggest commercially run water on earth. Waterfall rafting ranges from gentle floats above the falls to full-day, grade IV–V runs through the canyon below, where the river is at its most powerful.
Worth knowing before you book
- Rafting windows are set by water level: the biggest runs often close at peak flood and reopen as the river drops.
- Grades run from I (easy) to VI (unrunnable); commercial trips top out at V.
- Gorge trips usually end with a steep walk out, which is harder than the rapids for many people.
Safety
Check the guide certification and the operator's minimum age and swimming requirements, and make sure your travel insurance covers the grade you are running.
From our full guides
What it costs, and who runs it
Advertised 2026 prices at the destinations we cover in depth, converted to US dollars. Open a guide for the season, what's included and how to book.
Where it runs
Waterfalls with white-water rafting
Every destination in our index where white-water rafting genuinely operates at or immediately around the falls. If an operator has closed, we take the entry down rather than leave a dead booking link.
Full guide Victoria Falls
Largest sheet of falling water on Earth
Full guide Gullfoss
Iceland's most iconic waterfall, on the Golden Circle
UNESCO Virginia Falls
One of Canada's most remote major waterfalls
UNESCO Athabasca Falls
Most powerful waterfall in Jasper National Park
Cascata delle Marmore
Tallest man-made waterfall in the world
Upper Whitewater Falls
Upper Whitewater Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on the Whitewater River. As with most of North…
Boka Waterfall
Slovenia's tallest waterfall
Döda fallet
Döda fallet is a former whitewater rapid in of the river Indalsälven in Ragunda Municipality in the eastern…
Alexandra Falls
The Alexandra Falls is a 32 m waterfall located on the Hay River in the Northwest Territories. The falls, the…
Cumberland Falls
One of the few places on Earth with a regular moonbow
Petrohué Falls
Chile's most photographed volcano-and-rapids view
Reversing Falls
The Reversing Falls are a series of rapids on the Saint John River, located in Saint John, New Brunswick…
Corbin Creek Falls
Corbin Creek Falls is a waterfall in North Carolina on Corbin Creek near Upper Whitewater Falls. As with most…
Questions people ask
Where can you go white-water rafting at a waterfall?
Our index lists 13 waterfalls where white-water rafting operates at or right beside the falls, including Victoria Falls, Gullfoss, Virginia Falls, Athabasca Falls, Cascata delle Marmore and Upper Whitewater Falls.
How much does white-water rafting at a waterfall cost?
At the destinations we cover in full, advertised 2026 prices run roughly US$63 to US$181 per person, depending on the operator and what's included. Prices are converted to US dollars from local currencies and change without notice, so check the operator before you book.
When is the best time of year for white-water rafting at waterfalls?
Across the waterfalls in our index, the most are at their best April to June. But each activity has its own window — rafting often stops at peak flood, and ice climbing needs a hard freeze — so check the season on each destination page.
Is white-water rafting at a waterfall safe?
Check the guide certification and the operator's minimum age and swimming requirements, and make sure your travel insurance covers the grade you are running.
Other ways in
