River Grade

Grade 1-2
Easy flat water, little current and mild waves.

Grade 3
Moderate waves, swift current and narrow channels. Paddling is mostly physical.

Grade 4-5
Difficult powerful water, constricted channels, steep drops and the possibility of overturning a raft. Paddling is challenging and at times strenuous.

Grade 6
Very Difficult and most challenging!

FAQ

What is a river journey all about?
River running is virtually as old as civilization itself, but rafting and kayaking as recreational activities are relatively new. A river journey in an exotic foreign country is one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to experience rural areas, observe different ways of life, cultures and natural environments a conventional traveler may not. These pleasures are complemented by an even greater thrill; running through powerful fast flowing rapids.

We rise at dawn with the sun, and after a hearty breakfast and loading the rafts, we start rafting. You paddle hard through the rapids and cruise in between. The day's rafting is punctuated with a leisurely lunch break around midday, as well as stops to scout the more challenging rapids, explore temples and each day depends on our choice of spectacular campsites. Typically we are on the water for 4-6 hours. Camping on isolated sweeping white sandy beaches and sleeping in tents under the stars and open sky is an ideal introduction to the great outdoors.

Teamwork is crucial to the success of any true adventure. The guidance and instruction of our staff enables you to play an active role in paddling your raft successfully through exhilarating whitewater and you are totally involved in the adventure. Most trips include a layover day when people can wander to nearby villages, explore, learn to kayak, play volleyball, or just relax on a sunny beach with a book, a chance to do as much or as little as you wish. The pace of the trips is very relaxed; we have plenty of time for rest, exploration and discovery.

We put a lot of time and effort into preparing superb, hygienically prepared, wholesome and abundant food, as rafting promotes a healthy appetite. We encourage everyone to learn the art of camp cooking and most people enjoy the opportunity to be involved. We always offer a vegetarian option and can cater to special diets.

State Of the Art:
Self-bailing rafts, new lifejackets, helmets, dry bags for gear, mountaineering tents, and camera barrels make dealing with an expedition the experience it should be. On most trips we have a variety of craft including paddle rafts, oar rafts, kayaks and if requested additional inflatable craft. People on the trip have the option of experiencing an even more intimate relationship with river in these agile, amazingly stable fun craft.

Paddle rafts are our boat of choice: the guide controls the raft with a series of commands to the crew who paddle in unison to steer the craft. The exhilaration and teamwork are truly rewarding. Of course, on most rivers we also have oar rafts for anyone who doesn't want to paddle, but prefers instead to relax as a passenger. The guide rows the boats with a set of oars and the physical demands on passengers are minimal.

When to go?
Best times of the year for river running in Nepal are September through early December, and March through May. In September, early October and May the rivers are running high with the monsoon runoff. From the middle of October, the weather is settled, and this is one of the most popular times for rafting and kayaking in Nepal due to warm water and long hot days, perfect for the river. The spring season has lower flows to begin with, which generally means the rapids are more technical and not quite as pushy - a good time for trying some of the steeper runs. From June till August the monsoon rains arrive and the rivers hold 10 times their low flows, and can flood with 60 - 80 times these flows. We are always keen to get out in the Monsoon as the rivers are huge and if any group is looking for something outrageous we can provide you with a definitely unforgettable experience.

We choose our departures to coincide with optimum river levels and climate, as we like warm water and sunshine. Almost all the rivers we run are free flowing, and river levels can fluctuate dramatically over the season. High water provides the exhilaration of greater speed, bigger waves, and challenging rafting. Lower flows require tight teamwork and more precise maneuvering. The river grades mentioned with each river are based on the flows we normally run, but feel free to contact us and we can give a pretty good estimate of flows on any river in relation to the actual time you plan to be on the water. Actual water levels during your trip may be higher and the river more demanding, it all depends on the River Gods.

What is the weather like?
One of the most fascinating things about Nepal is that in the space of a hundred miles you can go from the coldest and most bitter conditions on earth to the sweltering heat of the North Indian Plain. In general it's best to plan for subtropical to temperate conditions on the rivers. Temperatures in the daytime range from 25-32 degrees Celsius, with evenings being 8 to 10 degrees cooler. Expect typical northern hemisphere seasons, with the monsoon thrown in. Most people are surprised to find that Nepal is actually the same latitude as Florida or Egypt and the extremes in temperature and climate are all do to altitude variations.

What river do you recommend?
Before you decide what river you'll do, you need to decide what it is you want out of the river trip to begin with. There are trips available from two to 12 days on different rivers, all offering dramatically different experiences. If you are looking for something short we offer the Bhote Kosi, Trisuli, Seti and the Kayak clinics. All are very different trips with different water flows.

Longer trips such as the Karnali, Sun Kosi and Tamur have the advantages of offering some real heart-thumping white water with the incredible journeying aspect of a long river trip.

There are other rivers in Nepal. Ask yourself how daring are you? Do you want to rough it? Do you want to trek? How much time do you have? What can you afford. Whatever the combination, we are bound to have a trip to suit you. Just browse our web site and you will see, and feel free to e-mail us and our staff will be happy to help you put together an ultimate experience.

What equipment will I need for the river?
The best idea would be to keep it light. Most anything you can dream of can be found in Kathmandu. Once you know what trip you will be on, we will send you all the information you need on what to bring and more importantly what not to bring. Bringing only what you need will leave plenty of space for retail therapy.

What will I need kayaking?
Kayakers should bring their own personal paddling gear, basically everything except the kayak. Contact us directly for information on what kayaks will be available. We recommend paddling a kayak with more volume if you are not experienced in big volume water in the post monsoon season. Being keen kayakers get in touch and we'll give you the lowdown on whatever you need to know.

How safe are the trips?
We take safety very, very seriously. It is our first and never-forgotten priority, and it shows. We employ some of the best rafting guides in the world. These men and women are whitewater professionals, trained in CPR, emergency wilderness first aid and swift-water rescue. They are highly experienced, and levelheaded in the most demanding and stressful situations. Many have rafted all over the world, and some have been involved in pioneering first descents of rivers in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. They have devoted their lives to the navigation and understanding of whitewater rivers. They even know how to safely use a Nepali can-opener, which is no mean feat in itself.

All our expeditions have professional safety kayakers accompanying the expedition who can get to a person in trouble faster than anyone else. Far from just another kayaker, these are people who will run anything blind, with a rescued person hanging off the back of their boat, and all the while smiling like they just discovered teeth. Our dedication to safety shows in our equipment as well. All of our equipment is state of the art. We use specially designed Avon Mark XI self-bailing rafts, the best flotation devices, helmets, and paddles available. We carry an extensive medical and rescue kit on all expeditions, and are absolutely fanatical about hygiene in camp. In fact, one of the most dangerous things you can do on a rafting expedition is getting caught coming back from the loo without washing your hand.

We rely on the experience, capability and expertise of our guides, state-of-the-art river gear, as well as pre-planned and thoroughly thought-out rescue plans to keep things together in the unlikely event that something should go astray. It is imperative, however, that the prospective clients realize that they are entering an environment where the rules and realities of life are much different from the West. It's a big part of what makes Nepal magical, and in our opinion, more than offset by the brilliance of being able to journey through one of the world's last true frontiers.

Do I need to know how to swim?
The high-buoyancy lifejackets and helmets you wear will keep you afloat like a buoy at sea. However it would be good to know how to doggie paddle and it is definitely worth considering the time of year and flows. If you are very apprehensive then consider easier flows.

Do I need to be very fit?
The strength of a weekend warrior will more than suffice for what is needed muscle wise. But keep in mind that there will be moments going through a class IV rapid that you will wish you did more than 12 once curls as your workout routine.

Should I see a doctor before coming to Nepal?
The most important and simple thing you can do to prevent serious illness in Nepal is to arrive properly immunized. You should be immunized against Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Meningitis and Polio. Some of these immunizations take some weeks or months to do correctly, so don't leave it to the last minute. Check with your local health department for more detailed information. Make sure that your tetanus shots are current, and a thorough dental checkup is strongly recommended. Malaria has not been completely eradicated in Nepal, though it is present only on the Terai so it is a good idea to take malaria prophylactics, but without a doubt the most effective deterrent against malaria is to protect against mosquito bites with long, tightly-woven clothing and mosquito repellent. If you have any relevant medical conditions please make sure they are listed on your booking form. Also make them known to your guide and the trip leader when you meet them in Kathmandu. On all journeys we carry a very comprehensive first aid kit, which is the product of 20 years running rivers here, but if you want to bring your own personal basic first aid kit by all means do.

Typical Day on The River

Normally the first day of a river trip begins early in the morning around 7 a.m. You are driven to put-in point of the river. Depending upon the distance between Kathmandu and the put-in point, the river can take from a couple of hours. This is a situation if you choose between the Trishuli and the Sunkoshi. A river trip on any other river requires a longer drive or a flight plus drive and even a trek in some cases.
 
If you start at 7 a.m. and the drive drops you at the put-in point exactly after three hours, rafting is likely to begin around 11 a.m. After you reach the put-in point, a safety talk takes place along with the inflating of the rubber rafts and organizing other river equipment by river crew.
 
The talk includes delivering of know how about measures to be taken in case of an emergency need. The participant should listen to the river guide very carefully. Questions can be raised to make things clearer.
 
The life-vest must be worn all the time while on the river, irrespective of weather you are hitting a major rapid or running a flat water section. A protective helmet is suggested if you are running a high class rapid.
 
Frequently the river outfitter provides the option between an oar boat or a paddle boat. Kayaking is another option. Normally the Kayakers bring their own Kayaks. There are outfitters who provide with a Kayak. If your option is the paddle boat, then you are instructed to properly use the paddle either during the safety talk or before sailing off. If you are of participate nature, then your choice would be paddling. Paddling is more challenging and thrilling. The paddle boat requires well coordinated team effort between the paddlers and river guide who stays at the back and plays his paddle in the role of the steering wheel of a car. The responsibility of the participants is to follow his instruction in a proper manner. The thrilling moment for a paddle is while hitting a rapid.
 
It is usual that you get wet whether you hit rapid or not within half an hour after sailing starts. In an oar boat, the river guide alone rows lightly and slowly on the flat wear and penetrated and boldly while hitting a rapid. The oar boat gives you an opportunity to observe the surroundings.
 
As for meals, the river outfitter normally provides all meals during the trip days.