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White Water Rafting
By arrna Published: 07/29/2010
Nepal is a river runner’s paradise because no other country has such a choice of multi-day trips away from roads with magnificent mountain surroundings, warm rivers, a semi-tropical climate, impressive geography, exotic cultures, wildlife and hospitable people.
Rafting in Nepal is usually a ‘wilderness’ experience in that most rivers don’t have highway alongside them –but it’s a soft, tamed, wilderness with white beaches for camping, clean blue rivers, friendly locals. We have many kinds of rafting trips from short to long and the important thing is to choose the right trips for you.
Note that it is not necessary to be able to swim, but swimmers are probably more relaxed, comfortable, and safer in this alien watery environment.
The rivers of Nepal take you away from the busy trekking routes and penetrate the heart of rural, road less, unspoiled Nepal.
Rafting offers an attractive alternative to trekking, something to note if you don’t enjoy walking. It also complements trekking, in that you see the country from a different viewpoint like locality, custom and culture with the traditional way of lifestyle.
White water or Flat water rafting?
Rafting has this image of crashing through horrendous rapids and monstrous waves, and yes at the time of high flow (monsoon), this may be justified, but at most flows there are many class 3 and class 4 rivers of moderate difficulty. There are also many class 2 rivers where you can float along admiring the scenery and running a few very small rapids. Rafting in Nepal is a superb experience in its own right- the thrill of running white water rapids is the icing on the cake for those who enjoy it!
Many people are naturally a little bit fearful if they haven’t been on white water before, but after the first rapid ‘hit’ – as long as people are physically fit and not scared of water they can safely go on water of class 2 to 3. Remember that we grade a river on the hardest section – most rivers have days of easier water and long stretches in between the rapid in which to relax. For more difficult and exciting class 4 rivers people should be active, confident in water and preferably have some previous rafting experience.
Rivers opened for Rafting
1. Bhotae Koshi River
2. Sun Koshi River
3. Trishuli River
4. Kali Gandaki River
5. Seti River
6. Marshangdi River
7. Tamur River
8. Tama Koshi River
9. Karnali River
10. Arun River
11. Bheri River
12. Dudh Koshi River
13. Bhalepi River
14. Budhi Gandaki River
Top Rafting Zones
• Karnali River - ‘Wild West’
The river lies on the far west from Kathmandu. The rafters run through narrow gorges having challenging rapids. The biggest river in Far West Nepal, starting and ending at Kathmandu, 3 to +4 graded Moderate River.
The Karnali, Nepal's mightiest river, descends through the Himalayas in the series of magnificent gorges. It drains most of the far west of Nepal. It is called "Wild West". The area it flows through is wild and unspoiled with some of the pristine jungle scenery in Nepal and abundant wildlife. The Karnali is a gem, combining lowland trek.
Exceptional big volume rafting through tropical jungle deserted beaches and small villages. The rapids are also petty wilds, with the river building to its climax in these lower canyons in a matter of hours, as the river rises the difficulty increase exponentially.
Distance: 210 km approx.
• Sun Koshi - ‘River of gold’
Sunkoshi rafting starts from Baseri (dolalghat) and end at Chatara, requiring 08 to 09 days. Baseri is 3 hours drive from Kathmandu to the east. Among many advantages of a long river trip, one is a pleasant diversity of things within a short span of time with a chance to see 250 different species of orchids and 400 species of birds available around the basin. 4-5 graded Wild River in east Nepal. Challenging one!!! Tour not recommended in the months February to April
The warm water of Sun Koshi surges for 270 kms, there are dozens of adrenaline pumping big rapids and miles of calm water to reflect on this beautiful area with scenery. There is not any road and town between starting and ending point. Sun Koshi means "River of gold" perhaps named after the gold, that is found from the river gravel or alternatively it refers to the orange color of the water in the monsoon when it is thick with flood.
• Marshyangdi River – ‘Raging River’
5 days tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara. 4+ graded river in Middle West Nepal for steep blows expedition. Narrow and a rocky river, it is a four days run through uninterrupted water, which lies to the western part of Nepal.
"Steep and challenging" Marshyangdi means "Raging River" in the local dialect and this aptly describes one of the best white water running in the world through continuous, exhilarating white water and Great Mountain scenery. .Trek through charming Gurung village and arid valley for one day to reach Ngadi. Where we put in. Few rivers rival this for exhilarating white water and sustained sections of steep technical rafting test our teamwork. Rapids are steep, technical and consecutive making Marshyangdi a serious undertaking.
Distance: 50 Km. Aprox.
• Bhote Koshi - The Harmony of Tibet and the Himalayas
Bhote Koshi lies to the east of Kathmandu where the rafters experience rafting through a veritable maze of canyons and boulders. 2 days tour from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. One of the wildest rafting river, Steep blows. Starting near from the Nepal-Tibet border.
A beautiful mountain river, Nepal's shortest and wild river for your limited time or desire of white water running. A few hours drive from Kathmandu offers a relaxed day rafting.
Bhote Koshi means "river from Tibet". This river offers quite a lot of steep, technical and challenging sections. Distance: 17 Km. approx.
• Kali Gandaki - River of God
Starting and ending at Pokhara, west Nepal. 3-5 hours rafting every day. 4 graded river. Classic and moderate rafting tour.
Nepal's medium length river trip, turbulent rapids, slow drifting, white water, world's deepest gorges, rich wildlife, historical and feeling of remoteness.
River of Kali rises in Mustang, an enclave of Nepal poking in to Tibet on the other side of Himalaya. Then flows between world's deepest gorge and in an arid open valley. Where drifting through technical, challenging streams.
Distance: 43 Kms. (Approximately)
• Trishuli - The Holy River
It is one of the most popular rivers for the rafters having easy access by road along its major part. It runs between Kathmandu and Pokhara. It is about 3 hours drive to the west from Kathmandu where the rafting can be easily managed to end at a place where a wildlife tour begins in Chitwan. Over 250 species of birds are found around the river. The river flows through grain fields and villages to the surrounding hills. 1-2 days tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara or Chitwan. Normal graded river. It ends near Royal Chitwan National Park.
Trishuli river is most popular with impressive gorges, exciting rapids some easier sections and easily accessible from Kathmandu. Recommended for intermediate rafter and those who have limited time and would like to have a family trip.
• Seti - Warm and beautiful
2 days tour. Starting from Kathmandu or Pokhara and ending at Chitwan. Normal graded river good for beginners. Less crowded by tourists.
The Seti is an excellent 2 days trip in an isolated area. Where beautiful jungle, plenty of easy rapids and fantastic Himalayan scenery. The river is an excellent for beginners, intermediate, learners and family trips.
• Tamur river
The Tamur and its tributaries drain the snows of Kanchenjunga third highest peak in the world. The river is the sixth largest river in Nepal and seems to have a feeling of thrusting power and of being constrained by its valley sides.
Tamur and its tributaries have a steep gradient and are probably only of interest to expedition kayakers. Downstream from Dobhan the gradient is more reasonable, but the river profile is unusual in that the river is steeper in the last 30km before its confluence with the Sun Koshi.White Water RaftingWhite Water Rafting
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