Registrations for the 2026 NSAC Canyoning will open on the 1st of January 2026!
Newschool Canyoning!
Following the success of previous years, NSAC is organizing canyoning weeks again this year! Canyoning is a mountain sport where you follow the course of a river through a gorge, or “canyon.” Walking, swimming, sliding, jumping, and rappelling, you make your way through the canyon. It’s a challenging sport that requires a lot of knowledge and experience before you can descend independently. With climate change canyoning is a sport that is more future proof than alpinism, and with the current summer tempratures the cool water is very nice to be around. Canyoning is also less weather dependent than climbing or alpinism, when it rains it is usually still fine to descent a canyon, you are wet anyway!
Course Content
These canyoning courses are intensive weeks where you’ll learn a lot about the sport while embarking on fantastic adventures every day. If your goal is to eventually explore canyons independently, this is the right starting point. But even for those who simply want an awesome outdoor sports week in the Alps, focused more on experience than on learning, this is a great program.
During this week, you’ll naturally learn walking, swimming, sliding, jumping, and specific rappelling techniques. You’ll learn to assess risks in canyons (terrain, conditions, human factors, using the well-known 3×3 method) and make your own trip plans. Rope techniques will be practiced on dry rock walls but will mainly be applied in the canyons. Additionally, there will be a component on whitewater swimming, which is essential in more water-rich “aquatic” canyons.
There are courses at different levels as well as a Canyon Touring Week, where it is possible to use your knowledge to descent canyons together with other Saccers.
Since NSAC participants usually already have climbing and mountaineering experience, we can offer a tailored program. The material aligns with international standards and practices. Many techniques originate from France, the birthplace of canyoning, but international perspectives are also incorporated!
Canyon module 1+2 (Beginner)
Course Date: July 11-17 2025 (arrival Saturday evening)
Location: to be determined
No previous experience is required (except being able to walk, being in good physical condition and being able to swim of course…)
In this course, you will learn:
- How to move through a canyon (walking, climbing, swimming, jumping, sliding, rappelling)
- How to secure yourself in a rappel and lock your belay device while rappelling
- Rope techniques for setting up a rappel and handline
- How to analyze situations
After this, you can head out with more experienced canyoneers, for example during the touring week, to gain further experience in different canyons
Canyon module 3 and/or 4 (Advanced)
Course Date: July 4-11 2026 (arrival Saturday evening)
Location: to be determined
To participate in this course, you must have completed a prior canyoning course or have similar experience. In this course it is the goal to work towards self sufficient canyoneer (module 3) or andvanced canyoneer (module 4). As a self sufficient canyoneer you have enough experience to safely descent canyons up to V3A3III, as an advanced cayoneer canyons up to V6A6VI.
you will learn:
- Review of techniques from module 1+2 (or 3)
- Various rescue techniques
- How to solve unforeseen problems
- Advanced abseiling techniques, such as fractioned rappels and complex handrails
After this, you’ll be able to independently explore canyons up to V3A3III or V6A6VI.
Canyon Touring Week
Date: July 18-25 2026
Location: Ticino/Aosta
For (almost) independent canyoneers, it’s fun to tackle beautiful and challenging canyons together. The summer is perfect for this!
So join in and head out together. This is not a course week, but there will be guidance from NSAC to help you further develop your canyoning ambitions.
It is possible to join this week after having followed at least one course week, in order to gain more experience!
Location
We are still working on a location, more information will follow soon!
Accommodation
Also the campsite is still work in progress
Guidance
The program is led by Corné Brouwer (WSAC Ibex). Corné comes from the climbing world and has been active in rope work for years, whether on rock, snow, ice, or in industrial settings. He teaches courses in rock climbing, ice climbing, alpinism, rescue techniques, and is also a canyoning guide. Corné has been guiding the NSAC canyoning course for years, Starting in 2025, Martijn Poot and Marlize Kramer (TSAC) will assist during the courses, both of them are active as climbing instructors at the TSAC, and the canyoning sport they have practised for many years.
Prior Knowledge
A standard part of the course is the introductory and training day in the Netherlands. This day will take place on 29 march 2025 at a to be determined location. During this day, some basic canyoning principles will be covered/repeated. This day is both for the beginners course as well as the advanced course. By practicing here in the Netherlands we can optimally use our time in the alps.
Participation Requirements:
- Good physical condition
- Good swimming skills
- No fear of heights
- Mandatory NKBV membership
- Travel insurance that covers canyoning (NKBV recommended)
Although there is no selection process like for alpine courses, the same level of commitment and practice with rope techniques is expected for participation.
Attitude
Participants are expected to stay organized and proactively help with all tasks to keep the camp running smoothly. During the week we will do groceries and cook together. The canyoning course is not a vacation but, like all other alpine courses, a week where a high level of dedication is required.
Costs
Course price: € 589 p.p.
The price includes:
- 7 days, of which 5.5 are guided by a canyoning instructor (Wednesday is a half-day rest, with options for rafting or cultural activities on your own)
- Use of all canyoning equipment, possible option to buy certain equipment after the course for a reduced fee.
- Training day in the Netherlands
- Advice on purchasing canyoning equipment
The price excludes:
- Travel insurance (NKBV insurance covers canyoning!)
- Local transportation: On the introductory day, we’ll arrange local transport. It’s practical to bring a few vehicles.
- Sleeping gear (tent, mat, sleeping bag, etc.)
- Meals (€15 per day, depending on inflation; we’ll cook together). Do bring your own plate/cup/cutlery
- 7 nights’ accommodation, including tourist tax and use of cooking utensils
- Travel to and from the alps
Payment
To finalize your registration, you must first transfer a deposit of €150 to NSAC, account NL43 SNSB 0339 8155 07, stating: deposit (course name), (full name). For example: “Deposit Canyoning Course # First Name Last Name.” Your registration is only valid once the deposit is paid.
(See here for the general terms and conditions.)
Registration
The registrations for the Canyoning courses will open the 31st of January 2026.