General Info

WILL I ENJOY RAFTING/Kayaking?

If you have taken the trouble to visit this page, then the answer to this has to be YES! There are many kinds of rafting trips and the important thing is to choose the right trip for you. Of course, there are people who don't enjoy rafting or kayaking - if you hate water activities and the outdoors, then stop right here!

Note that it is not necessary to be able to swim, but swimmers are probably more relaxed and comfortable in this alien watery environment.

WHY GO RAFTING/KAYAKING?

- The rivers of Nepal take you away from the busy trekking routes and penetrate the heart of the rural, roadless, unspoiled Nepal.
- Rafting/Kayaking offers an attractive alternative to trekking, something to note if you don't enjoy walking. It also complements trekking, in that you see the country from a different viewpoint.
- Rafting/Kayaking 'leaves no footprints', has minimal ecological effect, and causes little disruption to the social patterns of local life.
- Rafting/Kayaking gives you the unique and enjoyable experience of river travel and if you wish the exhilaration of running white water.
- There can be few better ways of viewing wildlife, than from a boat.

WHITE WATER OR FLAT WATER?

Rafting has this image of crashing through horrendous rapids and monstrous waves and, yes at times of high flow, in the monsoon, this may be justified. But, at most flows there are many class 3 and class 4 rivers of moderate difficulty and also many rivers of class 1 and 2 where you can float along admiring scenery and running a few very small rapids. Rafting in Nepal is a superb experience in it's own right - the thrill of running white water rapids is the cream of the cake for those who enjoy it.

Most people are naturally a little bit apprehensive if they haven't been on white water before, but after the first rapid are 'hooked' ' as long as people are physically fit and not scared of water they can safely go on water of class 1 to 4. Remember that we grade a river on the hardest section - most rivers have days of easier water and long stretches in between the rapids in which to relax. For more difficult and exciting class 4 - 5 rivers people should be active, confident in water and preferably have some previous rafting experience.

WHEN TO GO?

Nepal's climate is dictated by the monsoon, which arrives in June and usually finishes in late September. The monsoon brings torrential rains that flood the rivers so most people wouldn't want to be kayaking or rafting at this time (but it can be a great time for the expert big water kayaker). Peak season for tourists and for rafting is October through November: the monsoon is over, everything is very green, rivers are moderately high but dropping, temperatures are warm and skies are clear with fine mountain views. The only disadvantage with this time of year are that it is the peak season and airline reservations are harder to get; also you cannot be sure when the monsoon will finish; it can be a month late and this can throw your plans into chaos if you are planning on running a river where water levels are critical - as they are on many of Nepal's rivers. Please contact us before you make a decision.

The winter months from late December through to early February are cold, but skies are still clear and river levels will be low. Lots of river running groups come out over Christmas and have a great time, but you certainly should expect cold water and cold nights.

From late February through to early May is also a good time for river running - river levels are reliable low, air temperatures warm, rivers warm and blue. The disadvantage is that the air is often hazy: you cannot be assured of stunning mountain views and there may be an occasional shower of rain.

Pokhara, because of its altitude of 800 meters, probably gives a fair indication of the average temperatures that most river runners may encounter:

Deg. Cent. Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Minimum 19 17 12 7 5 8 11 15 18 20 21 21
Maximum 27 26 23 20 19 21 25 30 30 29 29 29

WHAT TO BRING

Expedition elements include professional guides and leadership, private ground transportation, porters and permits. Tasty and carefully prepared western meals, rum punch, tea, coffee and snacks. We always offer a vegetarian option and can cater to special diets.

State-of-the-art Equipment: self-bailing rafts, life jackets, helmets, wetsuits on certain rivers, dry bags for gear, tents, and camera barrels.

Personal Equipment:
The less luggage you have to carry around the more you will enjoy yourself. Clothing should ideally be light weight, dry quickly, and provide insulation even when wet. Synthetic fibers are preferable to cotton on the river for this reason. Here is a fairly extensive list to serve as a guide.

For Camping and Traveling
A sleeping bag and pad. Your sleeping bag should be a two to three season bag, either down or synthetic filled. A foam pad or Thermarest sleeping mattress is mandatory for a good nights sleep. For those who do not have a sleeping bag and pad, they can be rented easily in Kathmandu or Pokhara for about fifty cents a day. Lightweight pants. Cotton underwear. Light weight long sleeved shirt or T-shirt. We use these as sunscreen in camp....don't worry about getting enough sun, you will. A fleece style jacket. Polypropylene or wool is preferable.

Toiletries: keep it to a minimum, and forget the cosmetics...., you won't have a chance to use them. Bring plenty of moisturizing lotion. Spare glasses or contact lenses if you wear them. Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries. Water-bottle

River Wear
River sandals like Tevas, Chacos or Alps are the preferred footwear on the river. It is essential that all rafters have footwear that they can wear in the raft which will not come off in the event of a swim , as this is considered standard safety equipment. Old running shoes will also do. Shorts or a swimming costume. A sarong for women (a long piece of cloth wrapped around your waist) is another good option, and can be purchased cheaply in Nepal. This is invaluable for visiting villages and respecting local custom for dress. A baseball style cap and good sunglasses are absolutely essential. Sunglasses should be equipped with a retaining device to keep them on your face where they belong. Sunscreen (spf 15 or or greater and waterproof) is essential DON'T FORGET LIP BALM, SPF 15 MINIMUM!

For Trekking (Karnali, Marsyangdi and Tamur Expeditions)
A day pack for the trek to the river. Long sleeved thermal top and bottoms (long underwear). Light and medium weight weaves are the handiest. Walking shoes or light weight hiking boots are a must. People who are used to walking long distances over uneven terrain will do fine with light hiking shoes or even running shoes. Some of the guides will do the trip in Tevas, but if you saw their feet, you'd opt for better footwear. Heavy mountaineering boots are more of a burden than a blessing. Toilet paper and a lighter- nice to have a spare.

Optional Items
Small binoculars for wildlife viewing in the national parks. Camera and film. Also bring a good cleaning kit, as field conditions are harsher than in towns. Spare batteries are also handy. Fishing equipment. Walk/Discman and tunes. Reading and writing material. Personal first aid kit. Perhaps the most important thing you can bring is a good mental attitude...

Personal Spending
There is not a lot you can buy on a river in Nepal, bearing that in mind you will not need to take much in the way of money, say 500-1000 rupees (US$15). We'll fill you in on the beer kitty when you get here. Chocolate, sweets and cigarettes are seldom available anywhere on the rivers; so bring a few treats for yourself, they can be great bargaining chips for that massage you may need on the layover day...

A day on the River

There are no rules to running rivers other than those dictated by common sense. To enjoy and learn, the participants need to be flexible and adaptive in changing situations. With this in mind here's what we normally plan on any river journey...

We rise at dawn with the sun and wander to the campfire where a huge pot of coffee is waiting. After a hearty breakfast and loading the rafts, we start rafting. We try to get on the water by around 9am. On the river you'll paddle hard through the rapids and cruise in between. On any of the larger volume rivers you could safely say about 30 percent of the time is spent running rapids and 70 percent cruising.

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 villages, waterfalls and other interesting sights. The length of time spent rafting is directly related to our choice of spectacular campsites. Typically we are on the water 4-6 hours each day. We get into camp around 3-4pm in the afternoon and there is plenty of time to explore and relax. On longer trips there is always a layover day built into the itinerary, a chance to do as little or as much as you wish. These areas are also difficult to get to... it would be a shame to end up rushing. Evenings are spent around the campfire, drinking hot spiced rum and getting to know the people on the trip. Food is communally prepared, every day a different raft crew helps with the simple preparation of vegetables. The kitchen becomes one of the main social points on the trip, and without a doubt the best place to catch up on the latest gossip or get to know someone better..."Gut that chicken for you, mam?"

After a few days on the river, time has little meaning, river times takes over. Having played hard all day, it's often a surprise to look at your watch before going to bed to find it's only 8pm, whereas you were sure it was closer to 10. The next day we begin all over. Longer expeditions have the advantages of offering some real heart thumping whitewater with the incredible journeying aspect of a long river trip. With more time on the river, things are more relaxed, relationship progress at a more natural pace, and memories become firmly entrenched for a lifetime. Long after the whitewater has blurred into one long white-knuckled thrilled ride, the memories of a moonrise over the river and the friends you inevitably make will remain.

SAFETY

Most people's image of white water rafting is one portrayed by films and the media and almost everyone who hasn't done it imagine it as a horrendously dangerous sport. The truth is the reverse: accidents, even minor ones, are rare and rafting has a much safer accident record than say mountain biking or skiing.

For something like twenty years Nepal had an enviable record where no western client had died rafting, but in recent years there have been a few fatalities and it's probably no coincidence that these involve low-budget operators.

BASIC SAFETY GUIDELINES

At the time of writing there were no minimum safety conditions recommended by any official body in Nepal. We run the rivers according to international guidelines and regulations in other countries.

- Minimum of two rafts per trip
- The person in charge of the raft is a qualified, trained guide with a minimum of 2 years (200 days) rafting experience.
- Our Raft guides have done the river at least 10 times
- Our Trip Leader will have a minimum of 20 previous trips on the river
- All our guides have a current First Aid certificate and are trained in Resuscitation (CPR) as well as SRT and WRT certifications.


SEASONS......

The trekking season extends from September until the end of May. During monsoon, which runs from June to the end of August, our activities are limited but some personalized programs can be recommended.

Tibet, Bhutan and India can be visited from mid-March till late November, except for Kailash and the Western region, which are only open in early summer.

INSURANCE....

We strongly recommend you purchase in insurance that covers your specific needs, such as trip cancellation, short-term baggage accident, illness, and evacuation by air or land.

GENERAL HEALTH......

Anyone who is in good health and mentally prepared can take part in our trips. Some trips, however, are more strenuous and entail many days at higher altitudes, no mountaineering experience is needed, except on treks that involve some climbing.

If you are planning to join one of our treks that would need altitude acclimatization we advise everyone to consult a physician before signing up.