Rafting in Basilicata

The watercourse rises on the Lucanian side of the Pollino and is called Mercure for as long as it stays in Basilicata. Once past the administrative boundary it takes the name Lao and continues through the province of Cosenza to the Tyrrhenian. These are not two different rivers: it is the same water, and the double naming is one reason why searches about rafting and Basilicata often return results that seem to contradict each other.

The Pollino National Park, recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, includes both sides. Speaking of the Lucanian or Calabrian Pollino therefore describes two portions of the same protected area, not two separate destinations.

Paddling a raft requires a stretch with sufficient flow, adequate gradient and roads that allow vehicles and equipment to reach the put-in and take-out points. Those conditions occur in the sector where the river has already carved the limestone gorge, downstream of the regional boundary.

On the Lucanian stretch the course is narrower and less consistent, and does not offer the same access. That is why the rafting experiences associated with the Pollino, including those booked by guests staying in Basilicata, depart from the Laino Borgo base.

Rotonda, seat of the Park Authority, together with Viggianello, San Severino Lucano and Castelluccio Superiore and Inferiore, all lie within a short radius of the Lao valley. The transfer to Laino Borgo usually takes under an hour and allows a same-day return even with the longer formats.

Many guests combine a descent with trekking on the Lucanian side, where the Loricato pines and the main summits of the massif are found. The day on the river and the day at altitude tell two sides of the same park.

The water of the Mercure-Lao stays cold even at the height of summer: it rises at altitude and runs largely in the shade of the gorge. A wetsuit is provided and a technical briefing always precedes departure, whichever format you choose.

In spring the flow is stronger and the rapids more demanding; in summer conditions are more stable and the short formats become accessible to families too. The operating stretch is confirmed by the guides on the day, assessing flow and weather.