KARNALI – THE WILD WEST

The Karnali is Nepal’s longest and largest river which drains most of the far west of Nepal. The Karnali is the perfect expedition for those people who really want to escape civilization. The area of Nepal that the river flows through is Wild and uninhabited. During the trip you will raft through some of the most pristine and un-spoilt jungle scenery in Nepal.

Photos from our Karnali trips can be viewed in our gallery here!

River Grade: IV/IV+

Departs from: Kathmandu or Pokhara

Put In: Dungeswar (16hrs by private bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara – optional flights)

Take Out: Chisopani (16hrs by private bus to Kathmandu or Pokhara – optional flights)

Returns to: Kathmandu or Pokhara

Accommodation: River beach camps

Meals: 10 x lunch, 9 x dinner, 9 x breakfast

Baggage: Take only what you need, we can securely store the rest for you in our office.

Included: Raft Guides, Safety Kayakers, Support Staff, Rafting equipment, inc. CE rated helmet and buoyancy aid, Spray Jacket, Wetsuits if required, Meals, Transportation to and from the river, Waterproof ‘Pelican’ boxes, Dry Bags, Camping Equipment

Excluded: Insurance, Sleeping Bag, Additional snacks, Alcoholic drinks, Optional tips for guides

Trip Details

Our expedition starts from either Kathmandu or Pokhara, where we take a bus to Nepalgunj, and then on to our put in on river at Dungeswar. We will be confined to the river for the next six and a half days, our journey downstream will lead us through jungle clad canyons full of class 4 rapids.

We will take out at Chisapani where will will have the option of adding on a trip to Bardia Park, one of the best kept nature reserves in Nepal, an opportunity to combine our rafting experience with a true safari experience.

The Karnali is one of the finest big-volume rafting runs in Nepal, in all honesty, it can only be considered as World class!

Our Programme:

Day 1:- We can start this trip from Kathmandu or Pokhara and fly to Nepalgunj where a private bus will be waiting to take us to the put-in point on the river. (If your budget does not allow a flight or you would prefer to start from Pokhara then you are welcome to join our staff on the 16-hour bus journey

Days 2-9 – For the next 8 days we are on the river the whole time and will pack in some awesome wild whitewater, incredible scenery, beautiful beaches, idyllic villages, and quiet wildlife spotting opportunities not to mention the entertainment from our team of world-class rafting and kayak guides…. you will not be disappointed. We will have one rest day along the river which gives us a good chance to rest and relax before enjoying an evening BBQ and beach party! Our camps are built each night on the river beaches and always take advantage of the beautiful environment of the river. At night you can camp inside our 2 man dome tents or sleep out under a raft shelter and enjoy Nepal’s only million-star hotel!! After 6 days of adrenaline-pumping whitewater, during the last couple of days, the river flattens out, allowing us to relax and enjoy the scenery and reflect on our adventure.

Day 10 – On our final day as we get ready to rejoin the rest of the world as we come to the town of Chisopani, and our take out point. We have a last lunch on the banks of the river before waving goodbye to the mighty Karnali. From the endpoint we can either bus or fly back to Kathmandu or if you fancy a bit more adventure (and a chance to see a Bengal Tiger) you can go on a safari in the Stunningly beautiful Bhardia National Park.

The team is trained to international standards in Safety and First Aid and holds current Wilderness First Aid, CPR and WRT qualifications!