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Kali Gandaki River Rafting

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  • Jyatha, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal

Overview

Kali Gandaki is a sacred river named after Kali, a Hindu goddess. This rafting trip is an excellent way to take advantage of Nepal's post-monsoon rivers. Leaving from the popular lakeside town of Pokhara, you'll brave class III and IV rapids with an expert guide, camp and dine under the stars on riverside beaches, and kayak on smooth sections of the Kali Gandaki.

Passing in wild areas through narrow gorges and witnessing waterfalls, dense jungles, and traditional Magar villages are truly rewarding for rafters. Moreover, this is such a trip it offers you the chance to view a few wonderful mountains of the Annapurna Region including some species of wild animals and reptiles.

Kali Gandaki river begins from Mustang and flows through various places of Tibet and Nepal. While flowing down from the high Himalayas in between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri it creates the deepest gorge of the world at Dana. Rafting in Kali Gandaki trip starts and ends in the popular city Pokhara. It is beautiful rafting with lots of rapids and technical odds. It is for experienced as well as novice rafters.

It has Nepal’s most challenging river runs making it the largest untapped whitewater potential in the world. There are many cremation sites and burial mounds on its river bank.

Trip highlights

  • The best all-round river in Nepal
  • An adrenaline-pumping on class III and IV rapids
  • Big and bouncy rapids with exciting wave trains
  • Majestic mountain views of Annapurna ranges
  • Challenging rapids with calm white waters, sandy beaches, and remote villages

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara

We board a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. During the flight, we can savor the most outstanding views of majestic Himalayan peaks. After arriving in Pokhara, we are escorted to our hotel.

Day 02: Drive to Nayapul & Overnight Camping at Riverside

After having delicious breakfast, we take an early morning 2 hours’ drive to Nayapul. Completely outfitted with apt rafting equipments and internalizing a thorough safety briefing, we begin our rafting journey from Nayapul. As we maneuver along the deepest gorge of the world, we navigate with our professional river guide a bumpy section of Class III rapids amidst a natural showcase of deep-wooded canyons, warm waters, sparkling side creeks and spectacular glimpses of wildlife. As we approach Modi Dovan, we rest the trip to a halt for camping. We embrace the most pleasurable moments while camping under an open sky of sparkling stars with a camp fire lulls us to sleep as we dream of the second day on the Gorge section.

Day 03: Raft Up To Mirmighat

The trip further proceeds towards Mirmighat. Paddling along the majestic waves and rapids, we raft past surreal vistas of snow-capped peaks, lush forests, unique bird life and exotic animal species. Finally, the trip ends with our arrangement for overnight camping by the riverside.

Day 04: Raft Up To Ramdighat and fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu

On this day, we resume our rafting journey along the challenging and demanding river. Basking in the grandeur of nature, we cross boulder-strewn whitewaters followed by calm pools, interspersed with frothing pulse-quickening rapid. Eventually, after rafting for two hours, we drive to Pokhara from where we fly back to Kathmandu.

  • Trip facts

  • Rafting Distance: 75 km
  • Grade : Easy/Beginners
  • Put in Point : Nayapul
  • Put out Point : Ramdighat
  • Water Volume: September to December - Approx. 550 cumecs / January to May - Approx. 200 cumecs / June to August - Approx. 1000 cumecs
  • Max Altitude : 2550 m
  • Best Time: Throughout the year

Cost Includes

  • All land transportation by private vehicle
  • Rafting permit
  • Meals
  • Rafting equipments
  • Guide and other supporters
  • Safety Kayak

Cost Excludes

  • Personal nature expenses
  • Hard drinks, beverages, etc.
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips

Gallery

Extension Tours

Paragliding
Jungle Safari
Pokhara Tour
Rafting

Necessary Information

1. Rafting Guide

We have a team of highly experienced English speaking rafting guides professionally trained and thoroughly versed in topography and nature of river. They have absolute expertise on white water rafting, swift water rescue and emergency wilderness first aid.

2. Team Formation

We operate Nepal rafting trips for private team of your friends and family so you can enjoy your private trip without having to deal and confront with others people with different interests and attitude. Normally, we put 6-8 people including rafting guide in a raft.

3. Transportation to / from put-in / put-out point

We have a fleet of mostly Japanese made Toyota vehicles of all types and sizes, from small two-seater luxury cars to large capacity luxury tourist coaches. 4WD Land cruisers are used in difficult and muddy road trips. Size and type of vehicle depend on size of your group. We use two-seater car for 1-2 persons, micro luxury 6-seater van for 3-5 persons, 10-seater van for 6-9 persons and tourist coach or coaster for group size above 10 persons. Our drivers are specially trained to serve in the hospitability industry. The vehicles are checked carefully before assigning to your service.

4. Best month for rafting and kayaking

Best time for rafting is from March to May and from September to November. Temperature can get colder in January and February ranging from 7° to 20° C. For rest of the month, temperature remains minimum 18° to maximum 30° C. Monsoon rafting can be arranged on Trishuli river.

5. Classification of Rivers

Maintaining the highest standard of safety and service, river trips have been classified in accordance to status of water flow, rapids & remoteness.

CLASS I: Easy. Small rapids, fast moving water with riffles and small waves, few obstructions, minimal risk to swimmers and possibility of self-rescue.

CLASS II: Novice. Gentle straightforward rapids with wide and clear channels and slight manoeuvring required.

CLASS III: Moderate. Exciting rapids with irregular waves and hazards, strong eddies and current and skilled manoeuvring required.

CLASS IV: Very difficult. Raging rapids, powerful manoeuvring required and turbulent water flow.

CLASS V: Extremely difficult. Long and very violent rapids with several hazards, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex demanding routes, high degree of danger to swimmers, expertise and reliable high quality equipments required for safe passage.

CLASS VI: Unrunnable. Extremely difficult rapids, high chances of death and destruction of equipments and very slim chances of rescue.

6. Name of Rivers Class
  • Trishuli: II+ to IV
  • Karnali: III to V
  • Seti: III
  • Bheri: III+
  • Arun: IV
  • Sunkoshi: IV+
  • Tamor: IV to IV+
  • Kali Gandaki: IV to V
  • Marshyangdi: IV+ to V
  • Bhotekoshi: V
  • Tamakoshi: V TO V+
7. Duration of rafting

Generally, rafting hours is 4-5 hours a day. In case, rafting trip is extended for more than a day, the rafting hours will automatically be more. Durations and rafting highlights are mentioned in all our detailed itineraries. Relevant tips/information will be briefed to you before you embark on any of our trips.

8. A typical day on the river

We usually start our day after thorough briefings on the safety measures by river guide. Generally, we raft for 4-5 hours a day. Around mid day after we have our share of glorious rafting experience with the challenging rapids, we stop for lunch at sandy beach. In a multiday trip, we set up a camp by riverside. Once we arrive at camping site, we can wander around nearby locality or simply relax basking in the splendor of nature. Camping overnight by riverside gives us time and opportunity to share our views, feeling and experiences under an open sky of sparking stars.

9. Meals & drinking water during rafting

For a river trip exceeding more than a day, breakfast, dinner and lunch will be served at a campsite including tea, coffee and snacks. A team of cook and kitchen staff prepare healthy and nutritious meals under strict hygienic procedure. Boiled and treated water shall be supplied to you before you board the raft.

10. Clothing & equipment

You are required to bring some shirts, T-shirts, socks, hat, suntan lotion, sunglasses with string, river shoes or flip-flop, flashlight, personal medication, couple of shorts and pants for the evening and morning, a sweeter or a jacket. Company provides raft (number of raft depends on size of group), safety devices, sleeping bags, mattress tents & kitchenettes.

11. Safety

We, Raj Bala Treks & Expedition always regard safety of rafters as utmost priority. Prior to venturing into a rafting trip, rafters are thoroughly briefed about the safety measures and rafting guidelines.

A rafting trip is piloted by a river guide professionally trained in emergency wilderness first aid and swift-water rescue. Rafters venture into a river trip with safety jackets, flotation devices, helmets and river-friendly clothes. We use high quality inflatable rubber raft capable of giving extraordinary performance, agility, stability and maneuverability. Our rafts can swift through the wildest and strongest of waves and guarantee hundred percent safety.

12. Meals & accommodation in Kathmandu

We have specially negotiated rates of a range of hotels. We can offer the best deal to suit your budget and preference. If you book your hotel with us in Kathmandu, breakfast is usually included in our package cost. In Kathmandu plenty of best and quality restaurants serve Nepali, oriental and continental dishes. We are able to recommend good one depending on your taste preference. A good continental lunch or dinner at a good restaurant approximately costs USD 10-15.

13. Meeting/airport transfers

In all our packaged trips featured in this site, airport pick up and drop are included. You have to mention your flight detail (Airlines name and arrival time in Kathmandu) while booking any trip with us. One of our tour officers and driver meet and greet you at airport; escort you to your hotel and brief you about your further activities in detail, collect your flight tickets for reconfirmation and deliver back them later. After your trip is over you will be transferred back to the airport in time to catch your flight back home.