Nepal
Travels :: Adventure
of Nepal
Rafting
Nepal has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in the world
for white water rafting. Nepal's thundering waters, coming from the glaciers
of the mighty Himalaya, provide unmatched thrills for rafting and immersing
oneself in the landscape.
Rivers are graded on a scale of one to six, with one being a swimming
pool and six a one-way ticket to your maker. Four is considered to be
quite challenging without being exceedingly dangerous to the novice rafter.
Five requires some previous river experience. Here are some of the popular
rafting trips:
The Trisuli River (grade 3+) is one of the most popular, if not the
favorite, of Nepal's raftable rivers. Due to its proximity to Kathmandu
and the easy road access which accompanies it, most rafting companies offer
trips on the Trisuli. For first time rafters it offers plenty of excitement.
Many choose to incorporate a ride down the Trisuli with, either a trip to
Pokhara or to the Royal Chitwan National Park.
The Kali Gandaki (4 - 4+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges
for five days of intense rapids among gorgeous wilderness and mountain views.
The run flows 120 km and its challenges are continuous. Trips on the Kali
Gandaki begin and end in Pokhara and offer an exciting alternative to the
Trisuli.
The Bhote Koshi (4 - 5) is worth special mention. It is a two-day
run of pure adrenaline located only three hours from Kathmandu. Twenty-six
km of continuous white water soaks rafters as`they shoot through a veritable
maze of canyons and boulders. Little more than a swimsuit is needed for
Chis one.
The raging Marshyangdi (4 - 5) is a relative newcomer in this group.
The Marshyangdi run is four days of uninterrupted white water. Flowing through
the gorges of the Annapurnas, it runs sandwiched between 52 km of boiling
foam and towering peaks. Trips on the Marshyangdi start from Pokhara.
The Karnali River (4 - 5) in the far west is the longest and largest
river in Nepal. To arrive at its banks requires a two-day trek from Surkhet
in the Terai. The next 90 km are spent flying through spectacular landscapes
and narrow gorges and down some of the most challenging rapids in the world.
For the remaining 90 km, the scenery and wildlife are the main attraction,
as is the abundance of fish. During most of this trip, the wilderness is
uninterrupted by human habitations.
The Sun Koshi (4 - 5) is Nepal's second offering for expedition rafting.
With a put-in only three hours from Kathmandu, it is more easily accessible
than the Karnali while nevertheless offering an incredible stretch of exhilarating
white water. The run is 270 km and requires 8-10 days to complete with road
access only at the beginning and end. On the third day rapids reach the
upper 4 classifications and the remainder of the trip is consistently intense
- the white water stays white until the very end.
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