Can you go rafting on the Lao while staying in Scalea or on the Riviera dei Cedri?
By River Tribe Adventure · Updated July 2026
Relevant team expertise: Veronica Ippolito · Rafting and river walking guideYes, and it is one of the most common summer combinations: rafting on the Lao does not happen on the coast but inland, at Laino Borgo, reached by car from the towns of the Riviera dei Cedri. The descent takes half a day, so it fits neatly into a beach holiday: river in the morning, sand in the afternoon, or the other way round. The one thing to plan is the transfer — these are mountain roads, not the seafront, and the driving time has to be counted separately from the activity slot. The meeting point is always the base at Laino Borgo, where kitting up and the briefing take place.
Where the rafting actually happens
The Lao runs down from the Pollino towards the Tyrrhenian, and the navigable stretch lies inland, between Laino Borgo and Papasidero. River Tribe's base is at Laino Borgo: that is where you arrive, change, listen to the briefing and set off. No descent starts from the coast, so anyone staying in Scalea, Praia a Mare, Diamante or the other towns of the Riviera dei Cedri needs to allow for a drive inland.
Planning the day from the coast
The simplest approach is to treat river and beach as two separate half-days. Drive inland with time to spare, do the descent, head back to the coast in the afternoon. The margin matters: the roads up the valley are scenic but slow, and arriving in a rush for a departure time means missing the preparation on land. If you want to stretch the day, stop in one of the valley's villages before heading back.
With children and as a family
For many families on a coastal holiday, rafting is the week's "different" day. The shorter descents are designed for people who have never paddled, but each option has its own minimum age on the card: that is the first thing to check when booking for a group with children. The River Camp has shaded areas to wait in, useful when not everyone in the family is going on the water.
What to bring and what to leave on the beach
You need a swimming costume, a full change of clothes, a towel and shoes that can get wet: beach flip-flops will not do, closed shoes or sandals with a heel strap are better. Wetsuit, helmet, buoyancy aid and paddle are provided. Phones, keys and wallets stay on land: you only take what can get soaked into the raft. Sun cream applied before departure is more use than the bottle left in the car.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the rafting take place in Scalea?
- No. The Lao is run inland: the meeting point is River Tribe's base at Laino Borgo. You drive there from Scalea and the other towns of the Riviera dei Cedri.
- How long does the day take?
- The shortest descent lasts about an hour, plus kitting up, briefing and changing. Allow half a day overall, plus the transfer time to and from the coast.
- Can I go rafting and to the beach on the same day?
- Yes, it is the most requested combination in summer. Choose a morning descent and allow a relaxed drive back to the coast.
- Do I need a car?
- Yes. There is no direct transport link between the coastal towns and the base, so the transfer has to be organised independently.
