Rafting

Rafting, Kayaking, Packrafting, Hiking

A New, Unforgettable Program Every Weekend

Rafting on the Rivers of Ridder

Rafting Trips

Rafting is an active recreation and sport that involves traveling down a river on inflatable boats (rafts). This activity is growing more popular every year, as more and more travelers choose real adrenaline over passive relaxation.

You don’t need to travel abroad for this kind of adventure — Ridder’s geography and nature are wonderfully diverse. Tours run mainly along the mountain rivers Ulba and Uba. Each river has its own character, offering a burst of energy for beginners and experienced tourists alike.

Our company has been organizing one-day and multi-day rafting tours for several years. Our guides are experienced athletes, masters of sport in whitewater slalom, who will make your trip as comfortable and safe as possible.

One-Day Rafting Tours

Rafting with family and friends is the perfect way to relax both mentally and physically, while still leaving you a free day for your own plans.
Our motto is #wateringforeveryone, because active recreation should be accessible to all. Not every beginner rafter can raft for several days in a row, so we’ve designed one-day programs just for you.

The program includes:

Shuttle from finish back to start throughout the tour;
A snack on the riverbank;
Professional instructor services;
Rafting gear (helmet, life vest, paddle);

In one day you’ll do 2 runs, one hour each. Each run covers 12 km. We’ve mapped out the best and most active stretch of the river, which you’ll go through twice.

Two-Day Weekend Rafting Tour

We’ll organize a rafting tour for you with comfortable accommodation in a cabin in the middle of a fir forest, plus the best wood-fired Russian bathhouse around. Gather your friends, because rafting with a close-knit team is twice as fun.
The tour lasts 2 days and 2 nights, departing Friday evening. On Sunday we’ll bring you back dry, clean and satisfied.

The program includes:

Transfer camp – launch site – camp throughout the tour;
Meals (breakfast, riverside snack, dinner);
A big, hot wood-fired bathhouse;
Accommodation in a mountain cabin;
Professional instructor services;
Rafting gear (helmet, life vest, paddle);
And of course, a VIP spot on the liner, with an ocean view…

What to Bring on a Rafting Tour, Regardless of the Program

1. Footwear that can get wet but stays firmly on your foot (not flip-flops). Neoprene socks or neoprene water shoes are the best option, though those are more for advanced rafters 🙂
2. Shorts, a t-shirt, and a bandana to wear under your helmet. More advanced rafters may want neoprene shorts or a wetsuit bib. Life hack: you can buy inexpensive neoprene shorts at a pharmacy — yes, the shapewear shorts meant for tucking in a tummy work great for rafting too.
3. A spare set of dry clothes that will feel great to change into after the trip.
4. For a two-day tour – everything for the bathhouse: flip-flops, a towel, a couple of spare pairs of underwear, and personal hygiene items.
5. Warm clothes for the evening – for sitting by the campfire, walking in the forest, etc.

Packraft Tours and Expeditions

So What Exactly Is a Packraft?

A packraft is any lightweight (up to 5 kg) inflatable boat used for expeditions. Its main features are a record-low weight, ease of use, and high reliability. Handling characteristics vary a lot depending on the model.

So what possibilities does this open up for you? First and foremost, combined trips: you can climb a high mountain pass and then raft down into the valley along a mountain river, go fishing on a remote lake tucked among forests and mountains, or strap your backpack to the packraft and paddle across to the far shore of a beautiful, hard-to-reach lake.

In the end, a packraft is a very convenient, very lightweight boat suited both for river trips and for general touring.

2024 Season Packraft Tour Schedule

Evening Tour

Rafting on the Irtysh in Ust-Kamenogorsk

This tour runs in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, on the Irtysh River. Several routes to choose from. Route duration is about 2 hours.

– start time 18:00
– duration 2 hours
– age 15+
– minimum group of 6
– maximum 15 participants
– all gear provided for rental

Every Tuesday and Thursday, from May 1 through August 30.

Evening Tour Calendar

May tours: 8, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

June tours: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 29

July tours: 2, 3, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31

August tours: 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

If you have a ready group of 6-8 people, an evening tour can be arranged on other dates of your choosing.

Price: 10,000 KZT

Day Tour

Weekend Rafting Tour in East Kazakhstan

Tours run along various rivers of East Kazakhstan: the Ulba, Uba, Gornaya Ulbinka, Irtysh, and Kyzyl-Su. It all depends on the date, group size, skill level, and water levels.

– start time 9:00
– duration 8-9 hours
– age 18+
– minimum group of 6
– maximum 15 people

Day Tour Calendar

May tours: 7, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

June tours: on request

July tours: on request

August tours: on request

If you have a ready group of 6-8 people, a day tour can be arranged on other dates of your choosing.

Price: 20,000 – 30,000 KZT

Multi-Day Rafting Tour

Two-Day Overnight Tours in East Kazakhstan

Tours run along the most scenic rivers of East Kazakhstan: the Uba and the Bukhtarma. These rivers are typically navigable almost all summer, right up until September. A multi-day river trip is an unforgettable experience with views you simply can’t see from the shore. Best of all, you don’t have to walk or carry a 30 kg backpack — you travel light, taking in the scenery.

– minimum group of 6 people
– duration 2 or more days
– age 18+
– all-inclusive tour