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Sunkoshi
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The SUNKOSHI means River of Gold, so called after the gold that
is sometimes panned from the river gravel or perhaps the silty
orange color it gets in monsoon. It is known by river runners as
the BIG ONE! It rises near Tibet and rushes eastward to form the
watershed of Eastern Nepal. In high water it is not for the
faint hearted. The river is wide and fast with bumpy pressure
waves fed by the monsoon big hones and massive waves are the
order of the day and most rapids have only tow results - flip or
trip - but certainly won't get through without the river letting
you know who is Boss!
The Sunkoshi Thunders through isolated terrain occasionally
coming across Rai and Limbu villages. This is unspoilt rural
Nepal at its best. The banks have broad, sandy beaches ideal for
camping and the river gives us little surprises such as the
occasional waterfall where you can play while the water pummels
your tired limbs. The banks of the lower river heavily forested
with troops of monkeys and exotic birds.
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Trisuli :
The
name of the river is derived from Shiva’s Trident, which is a
weapon know as Trisul. This river originates from the famous
mountain Langtang (7246m). Being the most easily accessible,
this river is the most visited destination by the rafters. Trips
are available from one day to many days. The long trip ends near
the Royal Chitwan National Park, where numerous lodges and
hotels are available for the guests. They all offer jungle
safari excursions and comfortable accommodations. Rafting on
this river is graded 3. If your program is for three days in
this river, the first day on the river is scenic with several
rapids. Over 250 species of birds, including ibis, bills,
scarlet minivets, lapwings and kingfishers are found about the
river. The second is a scenic kaleidoscope, grain fields, and
villages to the surrounding hills, old forest of sal tress. The
third day is in the low and has no rapid.
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Kali Gandaki :
With 60 rapids over 60 kilometers the Kali Gandaki is a thrill a
minute! Named after the goddess of destruction, Kali, this is
Nepal's most holy river. Rising in the mystical region of
Mustang it drops off the roof of the world only to carve out the
world's deepest river gorge. As you roar through turbulent
rapids, dodging huge boulders and sliding down glistening chutes
into churning, frothy whirlpools, your adventure is set against
the backdrop of the Annapurna range, it's surreal snowcapped
peaks suspended in view through 120 km's of wilderness area and
shadowy canyons of stone. As you pass isolated villages
precariously clinging to terraces high above the river, you will
hear the melodic calls of Namaste from the children. Locals and
pilgrims alike worship Kali's holy river, and at every
confluence one can see the fire rings from many cremations.
Pilgrims also make the journey to the Shiva temple at Rubra Beni
and greet us as we float pass. On the last day we meet the
largest rapids, providing a thrilling climax to the journey of a
lifetime! There are no warm up days on this river, you are
straight into the action with bumpy, fast, and medium level
rapids challenging you at every turn. Both experienced and first
time rafters will enjoy the exciting rapids of the Kali Gandaki.
At high water the Kali Gandaki is a Grade 4 river built to
remind you that you are alive!
^TOP
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Marshyangdi:
The MARSHYANGDI is the mother of all rivers. In the local
dialect, it means 'raging one' and rage it does! It is steep,
powerful, and not to be underestimated. It has some of the
wildest commercially run white water in the world. This river
has a reputation amongst rafters as one of the best due to both
the intensity of the rapids and the awe-inspiring mountain
scenery. Unlike some of the lower rivers, the MARSHYANGDI is
usually a clear turquoise blue. The rapids wrap themselves
around weirdly sculptured boulders and flow beneath impossible
undercuts as the river drops down out of the Annapurnas. If you
ever see a group of wizened river rats drowning in a bar you may
hear the MARSHYANGDI described as an Adrenaline overload, Most
beautiful river I have ever done, Orgasmic, a Jewel of a river
or Liquid madness!
It may be a dream whitewater run, but it is a logistical
nightmare. Even still, our guides fight amongst themselves for
the honor of running it. The huge boulders require instinctive
and expert river reading skills to identify the right lines. The
rapids are so continuous and technical that we run the rafts
empty for greater maneuverability. In true Nepali style, we
employ porters to carry our gear.
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Bhotekoshi:
The Bhotekoshi is best described as a liquid rush! As steep as it
gets with constant rapids, this two-day trip is a full body
workout and the skill and determination of the paddle crew is
tested to the limit. The Bhotekoshi, roughly translated as 'river
from Tibet', although little more than a mountain stream, has
one of the steepest gradients of any raftable river in Nepal.
Snow Giants loom over as the clean, fresh water roars and dodges
it's way through narrow canyons and the remnants of a huge,
Giants' boulder-tossing contest! Shooting down glistening shoots
into bubbling, frothing pools, the raft twists, turns and
plunges to the exhilarated shrieks of the crew. The Bhote Koshi
is one of the most technical rivers in Nepal, providing
continuous, challenging rapids from start to finish. It has been
likened to a pinball machine and you're the ball, which is
certainly how it feels, with one intense rapid after another. It
is exhilarating and fun and we just love running it! Full of
nasty drops, pour over and huge bumping boulders; with an
experienced guide it is a great first river for beginners, while
having more than enough to challenge and thrill an experienced
rafter! Our guides know exactly where to put the raft to get the
most out of this river and to avoid spills. Come play with us
here and you will be hooked on rafting for life. The Bhotekoshi
is without a doubt one of the most exciting short rafting trips
in the world! Is It For Me? Ready for action, ready for fun? If
this sounds like you then this river is the one. No experience
necessary but you must be prepared to either throw yourself into
the paddling or get ready for a flip!
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Karnali:
The KARNALI has more tributaries feeding it than any other river
in Nepal thus making it the largest river for commercial
rafting. It is situated in the most remote western region on
Nepal. Often called the "Wild West". Few foreigners every
venture here and it has little development. this is more than
just a rafting trip, it is an expedition. It takes careful
logistical planning to tackle it safely and something is always
bound to come up to remind you of how alone you are. This river
is rated Grade 4 to 5 but it starts off with some 3s to warm up
before hitting the big ones. The Karnali has huge volume of
water restricted by canyon walls. The water bullets down these
canyons in as series of wild rapids. It is so intense that it
can only be tackled at low and medium water. If you want to run
it at high water then you are on your own!
If you dare, then the rewards are big! The banks of the river
are lined with coniferous forest and along the lower reach a
pristine Rudyard Kipling type jungle that has all but
disappeared from most regions in the Himalayas. River runners
have reported sightings of leopard, bears, jackals, mongoose,
pythons, crocodiles and tigers. More elusive than the tiger, are
the mysterious Raute tribe people, a seldom seen nomadic tribe
of whom little is known about and less has been written. Some of
the top kayakers in the business were quoted saying... it is our
unanimous view that this is one of the finest rafting rivers in
the world.
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Tamur:
Rafting the Tamur means a three day trek along a ridge full of
rhododendron forest and sunlit meadows, summating at 3000 meters
with exhilarating views of Makalu, Everest and Kanchenjunga, and
then down through emerald and golden terraced fields of rice and
mustard to Dobhan for six or seven days on the river itself. The
power of three tributaries joining force gives a wild push to
the inflatable rubber raft as you start down this river, giving
a hint of what to expect next. 120 rapids in 120 kilometers
makes rafting the Tamur River more than a thrill a minute.
Stopping at night to enjoy the colorful traditions of the local
tribes, one might try their traditional fermented millet drink,
tungba, the brewing of which they have perfected to a fine art.
The best section is the last few days, when the river turns back
to the west and becomes steep and powerful, with towering waves
leaping skyward and water shooting through canyons like an
Olympic bobsled before cascading out into the Sun Koshi and
eventually onwards to the sea.
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