Is Booking Required for traveling to Yangshou

Hello!

We are spending 5 days in YS to do all the fun things such as River Rafting, Hot Air Ballooning, White Water Riding ETC! We are not with a Tour company and am travelling Yangshuo with 3 friends in Jan 1 - 8 2014. Do we need to make bookings, if so; how do we make these bookings and how early do we need to do it?

Are these things Tour only or can we line up on the day / book a couple days before? Any and all information would be of great help!