Nepal  - The Karnali River

6 places available for November 2010

The western bend of the Karnali, Nepals largest and mightiest river,  is 190km’s of pristine wilderness and powerful class 4 rapids.  Flowing from Mount Kalais in Tibet, the center of the universe for both Buddhist and Hindu religions, the river plunges south through a series of spectacular gorges, until it reaches the Indian plains.  With out a doubt  one of the worlds best multi day river expeditions.

This is a raft supported trip.  Kayakers need no big water experience, but should be confident class 4 boaters at home and have a solid roll.  All main rapids are inspected, safety set in place, then run or if you are not feeling comfertable, walked.

Itinerary:-

Day 1:  Arrive Kathmandu, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your Hotel.  The day can be spent exploring this wonderful city, before a pre-departure meeting in a local resteraunt in the evening.

Day 2:  Early breakfast, then a 40 minute flight into Nepalgang, where we will meet the road crew and drive north, a thrilling 6 hour ride through the Churia Hills to the put in at Dungeshwar, the confluence of  the Lahore Kola and Karnali Rivers.  Camp.

Days 3-8: Descending , exploring the Karnali river.  Away from the hastles of every day life we start our journey, scouting and running the rapids of the Karnali, with names „Juicer, Gods House, Jail House, Flip & Strip, Freight Train etc“  Nights are spent camping on huge golden beaches, where camp and meals are prepared, and people can relax and take in there surroundings. When we reach the confluence with the Seti River, this marks the end of the white water challanges and its time to enjoy the wildlife and scenary of the lower canyons.  The locals we meet are curious and friendly, the odd village we pass, we explore and drink local „chia“.

Day 9:  Last morning on the river, drifting through the last bed rock canyon into the wild west town of Chisopani.  From here ist a short drive to Nepalganj for our return flight into Kathmandu.

Day 10: After a late breakfast we transport you back to the airport for your return flight home.

Cost:   Call us for 2010 costs

Whats Included:-

Transfers to and from Kathmandu Airport to the hotel. If you provide us with your arrival details we will be happy to meet you at the airport and ease that transition into Asian chaos! 

Accommodation as per your expedition itinerary before and the night after the river trip in a tourist hotel. This will be on a share twin basis with somebody else on the trip. Should you require a single room then advise us in advance so we can arrange this. A single supplement will apply.

• All transfers to the river and internal flights as indicated in your itinerary.

• Tasty and carefully prepared meals, tea, coffee, and snacks on your river journey.

• All river gear (except clothing and personal items) such as lifejackets, helmets, dry bags, camera barrels, tents, and comprehensive first aid kits. You'll be amazed at what we can take on a river thanks to gravity.

• Tented accommodation while on the river.

• All camping and cooking equipment.

• Qualified and experienced guides and safety kayakers.

• All necessary permits and licenses.

Whats Not Included:-

• Kayak and personel kayak equipment (kayaks can be rented ).

• All meals in Kathmandu (we have found people prefer to have time and opportunity to explore in towns on their own)

• Bottled and alcoholic beverages of any kind (including bottled water! We boil and iodize our drinking water)

• Any kind of insurance, inoculations, visa costs, airport departure taxes (both International and Domestic)

• Axpenses of a personal nature or any personal equipment.

Examples of what we can put together for groups.

Beginner Kayakers. 

• Option 1. 4 day Seti Kayak Clinic including one day on the lake here in Pokhara followed by 3 days on the Seti River which ends near the Trisuli confluence and Chitwan National Park.

• Option 2. 4 day Seti Kayak Clinc with an extra 3 days of more challenging water on the Trisuli.

Both of the above options can be run for intermediate paddlers who are out of practice or who want to fine tune their fundamental skills. We can also add a Chitwan National Park Jungle Safari on the way back to Kathmandu.

Beginner Rafting & Kayaking Combo

• 1 week option with beginners rafting for 3 days on the Kali Gandaki (intermediate and advance could kayak this part) and then the classic 4 day Kayak Clinic.  This gives a great variety of paddling.  Again this option is convenient to add on a Chitwan National Park Jungle Safari on the way back to Kathmandu. 

Intermediate – Advanced Paddlers

• For a good collection of white water convenient to Pokhara, start with Trisuli for 2 days, and then Kali Gandaki for 3 days, 1 day Upper Seti and then, if you are up to it, a further 2 days on the Marshyangdi, depending on your skill level.  This starts out moderate and becomes more challenging and gives a good variety of short trips.

Longer Expedition

• 10 days on the wild western Karnali River is for advanced paddlers only, although beginners to intermediate people can raft the first 4 days and then have some paddling during the flat sections at the end.  This is a great trip.

   

Prices are quite flexible and dependant on number of people per group. 

The larger the group the better price we can offer you. All prices include tourist (sometimes private) bus transportation both ways, kayaks & rafts and necessary kit, camping & related gear, food & equipment, qualified & experienced English speaking guides/instructors. 

Bhutan - kayaking in the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'

Bhutan, described as the last Shangri La in the Himalaya!!  A small country the size of Switzerland, with a Buddhist culture, clean, unspoilt wilderness , huge monasteries and amazing white water rivers.  This is a tour for paddlers who want to experience something special and unique.  Kayakers need to be confident on class 3-4, with a good roll.

Day1:  Depart Kathmandu, for a short but spectacular flight (great views, weather permitting, of Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga!!!!), arrive in Paro, transfer to Hotel, team briefing, sort kit out, kit boats out.  Overnight in Hotel.

Day 2: Morning paddling the small volume, technical Paro Chu, then head to the capital Thimpu.  Time for sight seeing, shopping, overnight in Hotel.

Day 3: Early morning departure to Punahka, over the Darchu la pass (great views of the Himalaya.)  Arrive midday in Punahka, lunch, then the afternoon paddling the lower Mo Chu river( Class 3-4).  Camping by the river at a fixed camp.

Day 4: Early morning start, an easy hike up the Po Chu river, lunch, then descend the Po Chu river (Class 3) down to the confluence with the Mo Chu.  Overnight at the fixed camp.

Day 5: Paddling on the Mo Chu, depending on the groups ability, either the same section as day 3, or a harder section further up the valley, depending on the groups ability.  Late afternoon exploring Punahka Dzong (a huge buddhist monastry). Overnight at the fixed camp.

Day 6: Early morning departure, for the days drive over the Pele La  pass to Trongsa, and the Mangdi Chu valley.  Plenty of oppertunity for photos!!!!  Overnight in Hotel.

Day7:  Hike or drive up the upper Mangdi Chu river(Class 3), then paddle down to just above Trongsa.  Afternoon exploring the Trongsa Dzong before heading down the valley to our fixed camp at Entscholling.  Overnight camp.

Day 8: Paddling the Mangdi Chu gorge(Class 4), great white water in a spectacular and scenic gorge.  Return to Entscholling, for an evening of traditional Bhutanese dance.  Over night camp.

Day 9: Paddle the Mangdi Chu again (cus ist so good), then transfer to Trongsa, overnight Hotel.

Day 10: Early morning start, driving back towards Wangdi.  Afternoon paddling the Dong Chu river (Technical Class 4).  Overnight Hotel.

Day 11: Drive down the Puna Tsang Chu, and paddle the lower section (Big Class 3 &4).  Overnight Camp.

Day 12: Paddling on the Puna Tsang Chu, then mid day return to Thimpu.  Overnight in Hotel.

Day 13: Early morning departure to Paro, return flight to Kathmandu.

Whats Included:-

• Accommodation as per your expedition itinerary in a tourist hotel, or in tents.    

• This will be on a twin share basis with somebody else on the trip. 

• Should you require a single room or tent then advise us. 

• All meals whilst in Bhutan.

• Qualified and experienced guides and safety kayakers.

• All the necessary permits and licenses.

• Kayaks

Whats Not Included:-

• International Flights, to and from Kathmandu.

• Sleeping Bag

• Personel kayak equipment.

• Bottled and alcoholic beverages of any kind (including bottled water! We boil and iodize our drinking water)

• Any kind of insurance, inoculations, visa costs, airport departure taxes (both International and Domestic), expenses of a personal nature or any personal equipment .

Date and Price : Dates to be announced and prices depend on group size.

Zanskar Expedition

“Kayaking through Asia’s Grand Canyon”   

This expedition in Ladakh, also known as “Little Tibet” in the far north of India, leaves the monsoon plains behind, crosses stunning high altitude passes, before descending into the depths of the Zanskar Gorge, and finishing on the huge flows of the Indus river. This is a raft supported trip.  Kayakers need no big water experience, but should be confident class 4 boaters at home and have a solid roll.  All main rapids are inspected, safety set in place, then run or if you are not feeling comfertable, walked.

Day 1: Fly Delhi / Leh (11, 000 ft. ). Check in at a comfortable hotel in Leh. Relax, don’t exert yourself, your body needs to acclimatise to the altitude.

Day 2: Light activity and short walks around Leh. The quaint Leh market is a great place to start exploring as are the numerous bakeries selling mouth - watering gourmet delights. For the more energetic a visit to a few monasteries such as Spituk , Thikse and Hemis will be arranged . Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: We drive a 180 kms. from Leh to Mulbek/ Kargil, through a spectacular ‘lunar’ landscape. Crossing the high mountain pass, Fotu La (14,000 ft), from the Indus valley into the Suru Valley. We visit the Lamayuru monastery enroute, known to be one of the oldest monasteries amongst the ‘Red Hat’ sect. Overnight hotel in Kargil.

Day 4: The most spectacular drive filled with natural wonders. We drive to Ringdum Gompa (12,000 ft.) . Few mountain drives get you this close to the Great Himalaya. The awesome mass of the Nun Kun massif over 7000m high with its hanging glacier across the road from us, dominating today’s journey. Overnight in rest house at Ringdum.

Day 5: We drive for approx. 06 hrs to Remala which is the put - in point for the trip. The drive is across the Pensi La at 14,500 ft. at the top of which , we stop for lunch surrounded by an awe inspiring arena of the Zanskar peaks at the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Zanskar river, 40 kms below. Overnight tented camp.

Day 6: Expedition commences from Remala to Karsha Gompa, near Padum. We cover approx. 30 kms. which includes a break for lunch and hot beverages. We are surrounded by 6000 m Himalayan and Zanskar peaks. Rapids encountered today are all Class II, a good introduction to high altitude paddling. After settling into camp, we can take a short walk to Kharsha Gompa for the evening incantations by the monks.

Day 7: After breakfast trip starts in the late morning from Kharsha uptil Pidmu. This stretch is approximately 30 kms. with Class II & III rapids . After settling into the camp by mid afternoon, we visit the nearby villages of Pidmu and Hanomil.

Day 8: 20 kms to Nyerak, through Class III rapids and the canyon closes in on us through this I gorge section and the views are akin to the Grand Canyon. We make a camp in a steep gorge below Nyerak village.

Day 9: 35 kms from Nyerak to Lamaguru. This is the heart of Zanskar. Awe inspiring rock formations with indescribable colours . A wicked white water day with continuous Class III +IV rapids , boils, the narrows, waterfalls cascading into the gorge.  We camp at  the confluence of Markha river with Zanskar.

Day 10: Hiking day today. We hike up the Markha valley to Skiu village to partake of the local culture and colour. Picnic lunch enroute . Overnight in Lamaguru camp.

Day 11: Lamaguru to Nimu,. 40 kms. on the water through class III / IV white water. The Zanskar joins the Indus river near Nimu. We camp short of the confluence of the two rivers.

Day 12: Raft approx. 25 kms. from Nimu to finish the trip at Alchi through class III / IV rapids . After taking out at Alchi, we walk up to the centuries old monastery to view the beautiful frescos and wood carvings. Drive back 60 kms. to Leh and check in to hotel in Leh.

Day 13: In Leh - Rest and relaxation and time to catch up with any last minute shopping.

Day 14: Fly Leh / Delhi.

COST: CAll us for 2010 costs

Whats Included:

• Internal Airfare Delhi / Leh / Delhi.

• Hotel Accomodation on twin share basis in Leh and Kargil.

• Tented and Rest house accommodation on twin share basis, enroute through the trip.

• Meals throughout the trip.

• 4.08% Govt. Service Tax

Whats Not Included:

• Kayak and kayak equipment

• Site-seeing in Leh

• Any expenditure of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls,etc.

• Alcoholic beverages

• Medical and/or Travel Insurance

• Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as landslides, bad weather and road conditions and any other circumstances beyond our control.