The Val D’Aosta is an incredibly mountainous region of Northern Italy, which starts in the Alps at the base of Mont Blanc and finishes in Ivrea. Famous for its historical castles, ruins and tasty food and aperitifs, the Val d’Aosta is also world-known within the mountain sport community, from skiing to kayaking, rafting and paragliding. While it would be foolish and extremely dangerous to grab a wing and go do this on your own without any experience, we provide you the opportunity to safely get a taste of free, human flight in tandem.

Discover the Val D’Aosta from a totally new perspective: the one of a bird. Soar in the company of our expert tandem instructors, with nothing but the sound of the wind breaking the eternal silence of the sky. Mezmerizing. If you dare, take commands and learn the basics of flying under the direct supervision of your instructor, sitting behind you.

Of course, Mother Nature has the last word when it comes to flying conditions, and we will not guarantee you the possibility to fly off Mont Blanc on any given day. The winds must be right. However, we have access to a multitude of flying sites further down the valley, thus guaranteeing the possibility to fly tandem most days, even when the weather gets capricious near Mont Blanc.

Our tandem flights last about 30 minutes and cost 120 euros, including the way up to the flying site (gondola or shuttle), and an onboard HD video of the flight. The elevation difference between take-off and landing averages 1,000 meters on our various flying sites. To give you an idea of what to expect when flying with us, watch the video below.

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Shortly, clients arrive and the debriefing starts. “Today will be my first whitewater experience” I keep repeating to myself. I’m anxious. I am used to adrenaline sports,  but the river always scared me. A new fluid to navigate through, the fear of the unknown. And the Dora Baltea looks strong. One of the strongest in the Alps, nothing less. Today, we will be going through the fastest rapids starting in Champex. Rated up to Class 4+ I hear. I try not to get ahead of myself and stay in the present, focused on grasping everything I can from the safety briefing given by Miguel and Racchetta, long time rafting guides at Totem Adventure.

Following the safety briefing, we immerse ourselves in the freezing water of the Dora Baltea, which flows naturally from the Mont Blanc Glacier, a few kilometers above. We all grab our positions, breathe deeply one last time and off we go. The fast river stream quickly picks us up, and we soon approach the first rapids. “- Sul Fondo”! screams Miguel, our guide. We oblige. Noone in their own right mind would want to get bucked off the raft in this technical section.

Soon after “Patata” (one of the initial technical rapids), things calm down a little, and my initial river experience becomes less overwhelming. I can start to understand why the guides love it so much. The water, albeit its close to zero temperature doesn’t even feel cold anymore. I’m breathing freely and I can feel my zygomatic muscles pulling on the sides of my face. Must be the adrenaline.

The descent from Champex to the dam lasts about 40 minutes, alternating between rapid sections and calmer parts. A perfect pace, allowing everyone to catch their breath and stare at the incredible surrounding landscape before refocusing on the task. Bliss. I learn that team spirit is essential in Rafting. The guides at Totem Adventure have been guiding on rivers all over the globe and knows this too well. Safety comes from efficient group dynamics and coordinated efforts.

As we approach the final part of the river, I realize that my fear of the whitewater is gone, giving room to a greater appreciation and respect for this powerful medium. Navigation on the river doesn’t come without risks. Just like in any mountain sport, the risk can be reduced by the use of appropriate gear, fitness, group effort and an experienced guide who knows the region well.

Finding the best line in the river is an art that needs to be learned I hear, and the Dora Baltea contains its share of secrets. I look forward to unveiling a few of these secrets myself on my next river experience. For this isn’t my last time going in the whitewater. Who knows, maybe on a tandem kayak next time?

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While most folks with a passion for the mountains know of Chamonix, Courmayeur, Mont Blanc and the Val d’Aosta, few have heard of the village of Pre-Saint-Didier. The Val D’Aosta flocks with tourists over the summer period, but Pre-Saint-Didier remains a place of transit, that few chose to stopover and visit. Yet, this old alpine village, with a direct view over Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses is full of charm. Worth a visit. Or maybe even three. In need of adrenaline? Come here for rafting or a tandem paragliding flight. Got a sore back? Relax peacefully in the pristine Terme of Pre-Saint-Didier, or come here for a Yoga class. With a population lesser than 1,000 residents, all the locals know each other. Many even still drive the iconic Fiat Panda 4×4, legend from another time. Aside of the church bells which ring every 15 minutes, everyone’s clock seem to have stopped ticking a long time ago in this ancient alpine village. Local development has come to a stall, giving greater personality to this remote location. We invite you to discover below some of the local landmarks of Pre-Saint-Didier and the Val d’Aosta.

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Che bello celebrare l’inizio d’estate insieme a voi.

Grazie amici e a dopo sul fiume o a la nostra base!

– David Alemanni & la Squadra di Totem Aventure

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