Itinerary Detail

Day 01 We meet at the office at 7am with your bags ready to go. This is a long bus journey, so be prepared with water etc. We travel to the far west and arrive in Surkhet very late/early hours of the morning. You are able to have a sleep here.

Day 02 After breakfast, we will take a truck as far as the road goes until about lunch time (this all depends on availability...be flexible). After lunch we walk all afternoon to the put-in point at Sauli. A great walk which highlights just how "out there" you really are. You pass local villages and spectacular scenery, then.......you hear the river! 

Day 03 The river gives the team time to build and there is enough challenging rapids and water flow to allow for learning errors. We still manage to get at least one great class iv rapid in. We camp and get excited about tomorrow.

Day 04 This is the type of day that people imagine when they think of Himalayan water. It is BIG and it is continuous. We enter into the Jungle Corridor. This is a narrowing jungle clad gorge and it is all ours. The team building is put into full practice and when your guide shouts "all forward" he really means it! Enjoy the ride all day and camp in this sensational setting.

Day 05 More of the same including the notorious GOD’S HOUSE rapid. Don't forget to take in the bird life which is equally as abundant as the lush vegetation. Camp and relax.

Day 06 It isn’t over yet! Keep paddling hard ! You really are experiencing the best of the west on yet another day of great action and breath taking scenery.

Day 07 This is a holiday after all, so we have programmed a rest day so you can take time to enjoy your surroundings and relax on a great sandy beach.

Day 08-09 We see the rapids dying off as we come out of the gorge. We pass the confluence with the Seti river where the river broadens. Today and the next day and a half are a chance to enjoy your journey admiring the country and villages you pass. You will have seen the safety kayakers in action and will no doubt be inspired, so ask the guides for some supervised instruction, or take over the raft and learn about the river.  You see there is more to a rafting expedition than just rafting.

Day 10 We come to the end of our journey at about lunch time where our bus will be waiting to collect us. Those who have booked to go to Bardia National Park (highly recommended!), will be collected from here as well. 

Day 11 We arrive back at Kathmandu/Pokhara, in the early morning of the eleventh day.

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes

Karnali River Rafting Photographs

Essential Information

Nepal River Grades are International river classification of difficulty. 

Grade 1, 
Easy: Moving water with occasional small rapids. Few or no obstacles.

Grade 2,
Moderate: Small rapids with regular waves. Some maneuvering required but easy to navigate.

Grade 3
Difficult: Rapids with irregular waves and hazards that need avoiding. More difficult manicuring required but routes are normally obvious. Scouting from the shore is occasionally necessary.

Grade 4
Very difficult: Large rapids that require careful manicuring. Dangerous hazard. Scouting from the shore is often necessary and rescue is usually difficult. Kayakers should be able to roll. Turbulent water and large irregular waves may flip rafts. In the event of a mishap there is significant risk of loss, damage and/ or injury.

Grade 5
Extremely difficult: Long and very violent rapids with several hazards. Continuous, powerful, confused water makes route finding difficult and caution from the shore is essential. Rescue is very difficult or impossible and in the event of a mishap there is a significant hazard to life.

Seasons

Winter - early December to mid- March
The Nepal whitewater experience is still a warmer and sunnier one than in many parts of the world but there are longer shadows in the deep river valleys and a warmer sleeping bag is advised. Wetsuits may be needed.

Spring/Summer - late March to early June
The clear, still powerful rivers driven by spring snow melt are, on average, reduced by one grade less than their high-water maximum. The Karnali and Kali Gandaki, perfectly suited to this season, are great all comers' rivers.

Monsoon - mid-June to early September
The Rivers are full and the few raft trips that are operated are limited to overnight programs on the Trishuli and Seti.