6 Famous Canyoning Destinations Around the World

Canyoning means travelling down a river gorge on foot, by swimming, sliding, jumping and abseiling. The sport grew in the Alps and the Pyrenees in the late twentieth century and today attracts adventurers to gorges on every continent. Did you know that some of the most famous routes are only a few hundred metres long, yet take a whole day to complete?

Where Canyoning Is World-Famous

1. Sierra de Guara, Spain

Often called the birthplace of modern European canyoning, this limestone range in Aragon has dozens of gorges with clear pools, natural slides and short abseils. Summer water levels make many routes suitable for guided beginners.

2. Ticino, Switzerland

The granite valleys of southern Switzerland offer polished rock, deep green pools and powerful waterfalls. Routes here are generally more technical and cold, so a thick wetsuit is essential.

3. Interlaken region, Switzerland

Surrounded by the Bernese Alps, Interlaken is a popular base for half-day canyoning trips with jumps and slides into glacial water.

4. Zion National Park, USA

In Utah the sport is known as canyoneering. Slot canyons such as The Subway are so narrow that daylight barely reaches the floor, and many routes require a permit from the park service.

5. Blue Mountains, Australia

West of Sydney, sandstone slot canyons covered in ferns provide a cooler, shaded experience, with routes for every level.

6. Réunion Island

This volcanic French island in the Indian Ocean has dramatic waterfalls and tropical gorges, making it one of the most photogenic canyoning destinations in the world.

Canyoning in Türkiye and Antalya

You do not have to fly to another continent to try canyoning. The Taurus Mountains above Antalya are cut by limestone gorges with cold, clear water. Around Köprülü Canyon, guided canyoning trips combine a walk through a narrow gorge with swimming and small jumps, and many guests add a rafting session on the same day.

What beginners should know

Choose a guided tour, follow the guide's instructions and wear the helmet and wetsuit provided. Shoes with good grip are more important than strength. On the combined canyoning and rafting trip from Antalya, participants must be at least 8 years old.