Description:
Karnali River :
Rapids: Captivity, Flip and Strip, God?s House, Elbow
Class: III to V
Rising in the vicinity of Tibet, Nepal?s largest and the longest river, Karnali springs from the base of Mt. Kailash, popularly known as the centre of universe by Hindus and Buddhists. This mightiest river with its graceful class III to awe-inspiring class V rapids offers a classic expedition with its finest big volume of whitewater combined with short trekking, fishing and wildlife exploration or jungle safari activities toned with its remote and unexploited features.
The Karnali carves the Himalayan landscape into a series of magnificent gorges and canyons as it descends slowly into the forests of western Nepal. Seasonal snow melts and storms can cause the river levels to swell drastically and create the extremes of whitewater rafting. It is one of the best trips offered anywhere.
We don?t see a single sign of modern world more... for next eight days we hit the river. Life seems so isolated and demanding, yet so rewarding with the wonderful experience on the Wild West. Karnali is one of the last places in Nepal where we could see old growth forest swarmed with Nepal?s wildlife. Many expeditions have encountered the sights of Langur and Rhesus Monkeys, leopards, bear, martins, deer, crocodiles and gharials and sometimes the surreal sights of the elusive Royal Bengal tigers. Karnali apart from being one of the best whitewater rivers, supports the life of West Nepal with its major watersource and also ropes in the finest fish habitat in Nepal, with giant catfish and Golden Masheer prowling the depths.
Karnali river during high water with its huge rapids is a serious undertaking and even at lower levels is still a thrilling ride with the rapids becoming more constricted and the gradient even steeper. One highlight of this classic river journey is a 7 km roller-coaster ride through the gorge where you encounter rapids at every bend. However, rafting on the Karnali suits any season.
Adventure in the Wild West?.
Day 1: Kathmandu ? Surkhet
After a very long drive, we arrive at Surkhet nearly towards the dawn in the morning and we call it a night.
Day 2:
After breakfast, we head towards our put-in-point Sauli half way through driving and the other half taking a beautiful trek. It is an unique and lovely trek through lowland Sal forest to the village of Sauli in the seldom seen area of far West Nepal passing local villages and spectacular scenery.
Day 3 : Sauli ? First Inquiry
After having scrumptious breakfast, we are all set to hit the wild bend ? Karnali. From Sauli it's 180 km to the next road access at Chisopani, on the northern border of Bardia National Park. First day on the river and we encounter wild rapids that continues to take our breathe for all day long. After lunch enroute, we continue our descent on Karnali and arrive at First Inquiry, our pristine camping site for our first night on the river.
Day 4 : First Inquiry ? God?s House
It seems so unreal to see the huge waves gushing on us and we scouting the tumbling whitewater striking our paddles forward and backward as the guide instructs. As we encounter the continuous churns of enormous waves beyond our imagination, the Himalayan whitewater rafting seems truly wild with lots of adventure down the line. Today is the day!
Negotiating through the wild torrents, we then enter into the ?Jungle Corridor?. This is a narrowing jungle clad gorge and it is all ours. The skills practiced on the first day would be now fully utilized and when the guide shouts "all forward " he really means it. It is d-day we were looking forward to on Karnali and after a long day roller-coaster ride on the whitewater, we camp at the sensational setting at God?s House.
Day 5 : God?s House ? Seti Dovan
Yet another action-packed day filled with more fun, more adventure welcomed by the tricky waves of God?s house followed by more intricate rapids till we reach our campsite at Seti Dovan.
Day 6 : Seti Dovan ? Jamuna village
Our guide shouts, ?Keep paddling hard?, yes, the adventure is yet not over! Today we experience the best of the west filled with great action combined with breathtaking scenery. After a hard day?s action, we arrive at Jamuna village to camp. Certainly, with three days of first class adventure in hand, the fresh and exciting memories form into thrilling sagas over dinner.
Day 7 : Jamuna Village
Today, we take a worthy break to visit the local villages surrounded with lush green pristine jungle scenery clinging high on the hills with abundant wildlife. Camp at the beach.
Day 8 - 9 :
We see the rapids dying off as we come out of the gorge. We pass the confluence with the Seti River where the river broadens and the gradient eases, as the river winds through some magnificent un-spoilt scenery, eventually emerging onto the plains and flowing through the Bardia National Park to join the Ganges.
Today, the next day and a half offers us with wonderful chances to enjoy our journey admiring the countryside, rare and unique beauty of Nepal. Absolutely, rafting is certainly more than just whitewaters and adventurous bumps on the raft.
Day 10 : Chisopani
Today is our last day on Karnali. We end our trip in the early afternoon at Chisopani
Bridge and have our lunch for the last time with the Karnali next to us curving its way through the valleys, canyons and beautiful gorges.
After a long week on the river, we head to our next destination ? Karnali Jungle Lodge at Bardia National Park for a tranquil jungle safari experience in the deep woods of Bardia.
Himalayan River Exploration welcomes you to its adventure world.
Website:
www.tigermountain.com
Telephone:
+977 (01) 4361 500
