Let us more closely get acquainted with the main water tourist routes. But at first, a few words about equipment, without which you could not do anything on rafting.

Floating is certainly the main means.
Modern tourist vessels are divided into some different categories, each of which corresponds to a forthcoming route.

As the practice of the last decades has shown the most popular and universal are 2-3 seat - folding frame kayaks. They are mobile, steady, per running day even an inexperienced crew is able to overcome 30-40 kms on it.

The kayak is able to carry a cargo during a 10-day - independent travel. Now assortment of kayaks is very wide.

Rafts are very popular.

In the 50^s of the last century an American firm began to make rafts for commercial rafting, which differed from usual rubber boats in application of the strengthened gummed fabric, cylinders which were pumped up under high pressure, enabling rafts with necessary rigidity and inflatable tied bottom, allowing the raft to get rid of superfluous water. Rafts are basically applied to commercial rafting, as they have high reliability, that allows to make up for mistakes of an inexperienced crew. However rafts have a low maneuverability and speed.

Catamarans structurally consist of 2-3 longitudinal gondolas of durable gummed fabric with an internal inflatable cylinder and duralumin skeleton. 2-4-6 seat and even 8 seat catamarans are in production. They have high stability and maneuverability. Skilled crew is able to overcome thresholds of any complexity on sports catamarans. The catamarans are basically applied to sports campaigns, for conquest of the most dangerous and interesting thresholds and also to insure commercial groups.

Single kayaks have become popular all over the world last years. Kayak, made from polythene, is a vessel for the master of water acrobatics. For them they jump from high waterfalls, overcome hardest thresholds and arrange an original game rodeo, when a sportsman makes every possible figures on powerful river shaft.

And in conclusion of the review of floating means it is necessary to mention an old, good self-made raft. On such rafts, consisting of wooden flooring and inflated auto chambers under it, thousands of tourists have joined water travels catching ill of its romanticism.

To obligatory equipment of the aquatic tourist belong a saving waistcoat, helmet and hydro-suit for cold water. Nowadays it is very simple to choose a standard tourist equipment: a tent, a sleeping-bag, clothes etc.

The under mentioned description of routes, rivers and their characteristic is recommended to use as a basic one. Depending on your experience and opportunities it is possible freely to pick up a suitable route, various distance, duration, way of arrival and departure.

Joint project of OrexCA.com and KTA & KAGIR. Information is taken from CD "All about tourism in Kazakhstan"