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Nepal » River Rafting in Nepal » Karnali River Rafting
Karnali River Rafting
Karnali River is one of the finest big volume rafting and kayaking trips in Nepal-spectacular, remote, jungle-clad canyons, Big white and abundant wildlife. The Karnali is Nepal's longest and largest river and with its tributaries it drains most of the far west of Nepal-the 'wild west' as many people call it, rising in the vicinity of Tibet's holy Mount Kailash and glacier of Kanziroba Himal, other small peaks, as well as Rara lake rapid encountered on this river is 1 to 5 class. This bottom section of the river definitely lives up to that name-the area that it flows through is wild and relatively unpopulated with some of the most pristine jungle scenery in Nepal abundant wildlife.
From the frontier town of Surkhet there is an unique and lovely two-day trek through lowland Sal forest to the village of Saul in the seldom seen area of far West Nepal. From Sauli it's 180 km to the nest road access at Chisopani, on the northern border of the Royal Bardia National Park. The river section takes about seven days, giving plenty of time to explore some of the side canyons and waterfalls, which comes in to the river valley. For 180 kilometers we won't see a single sign of the modern world. It's one of the last places in Nepal that you can see old growth forest and have a real chance of seeing Nepal's wildlife.
The rapids are also pretty wild, with the river building to its climax in these lower canyons shortly after the sharp bend in the river 'the elbow' by the Lohore Khola, the valley narrows into a series of canyons, the river speeds up, and there are big rapids, one leading into another, almost continuously down to the Seti river from the 'Elbow' down to the Seti the gradient is 3m/km (15ft a mile), but after here, the gradient eases, as the river winds through some magnificent un-spoilt scenery, eventually emerging onto the plains and flowing through the Royal Bardia National Park to join the Ganges. Finally leaving you close to Bardia National Park, where you can combine your rafting adventure with a safari trip and maybe spot some of the parks one-horned rhinos and elusive tigers or you can either drive back or fly back to Kathmandu.
Karnali River Rafting Itinerary
Day 01 Fly Kathmandu>Nepalgunj and drive to Surkhet. Meet at meeting point as per our scheduled programs. Transfer to Kathmandu Airport, check in and 1hour fly to Nepalgunj. As soon as we reach to Nepalgunj Airport our private transport will waiting us, ready to leave for Surkhet. We traveling through southwestern plain of the Terai till the Kolpur (one of the larger city of Bardia and road head from right to surkhet hill 3½ hours. Meet with logistics and other river staffs and it will be organized for following nights. Surkhet is central principal town of Birendra Nagar, locating District Hospital, Post office and Bank (but you can’t use any credit Cards) accepts cash to cash. There is a small rural Airstrip but very rare to get direct flights.
Day 02 Surkhet/Sauli. After breakfast, we will be riding gears loaded truck as far as the dot road goes, perhaps until the syauli village and lunch en route (it’s depend on availability…be flexible). Truck ride is quite interesting passing through forest, villages and spectacular sceneries. After lunch we will be hiking down to rafting put-in point. It’s depends with how we timing, if we are still in time we will start same day, otherwise we pitch the camp here.
Day 03 after this point we have no names for the camping places. However the river gives teams 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 grade IV rapid in and camp. Get an exciting for tomorrow.
Day 04 rises with nice and hot cup of tea or coffee and pack up, have breakfast then get set. This is the type of day people imagine, when they think of Himalayan white-water it is BIG and continuous. The team building is put into full practice and when your raft captain shouts “all forward” he really means it! Enjoy the rowing all the time and camp in this sensational setting.
Day 05 Daily routines are as usual, rise with cup of tea or coffee, pack up, have breakfast and get ready to move on. Day is more of 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 is not over yet! Keep paddling hard! You are really experiencing the best of the “wild west” and yet another great day with full action packed and breath taking sceneriesDay 07 this is the day almost on holiday for you, as we have set on program a rest day, so you can take time to enjoy your surroundings e.g. fishing if we have rots, a short hiking, playing, relaxing or seating and writing on a great sandy beach.
Day 08-09 we have seen the rapids dying off as we came out of the gorge. We come across the west Seti confluence where the river is broadens. From here next two and half days you have chances to enjoy your journey admiring the country and villages as you come across. You will have seen the safety kayakers in action and will no doubt be inspired, so here you can ask with your guide to for some supervised instructions, or stay on the raft and learn more about the river. Now here we are at Karnali Chisopani Bridge the final conclusion camping. You see there is more to a rafting expedition than just rafting.
Day 10 as we have programmed, after last breakfast of rafting at chisopani see up the rafting staffs, Rhino Lodge Bardia’s staff will pick up us and transfer to Lodge …Km and Lunch. In the afternoon 1 or 2 activities according to programmed by lodge and dinner at lodge.
Day 11 full day Jungle activities, at evening, Tharu cultural dance with B/B Q dinner.
Day 12 Dolphin Excursion, Packed lunch, dinner at lodge.
Day 13 Light Breakfast, short Tharu village walk, Lunch and transfer to Nepalgunj and fly back to KTM.
