Trisuli River Rafting

Legend says that high in the Himalaya at Gosainkund the god Shiva drove his Tridint in to the ground to create the springs - the source of the river and hence its name Trisuli.

Not for after this source the Trisuli joins the Bhote kosi that flows from Tibet ; the two rivers joining in some pretty fearsome looking gorges that are visible on the way up to the Langtang Trek. By Betrawati the gradient has eased and after this is becomes a more mature and powerful river which later adds many other major river its flow - the Buri Gandaki, the Marsyangdi and the Seti. When the Kali Gandaki joins it, shortly before the plains, it changes its name to the Narayani. Here, it is a truly mighty river - peak flows in the Monsoon have been measured at 25,700 cumecs (extreme, instantaneous discharge) about 900,000 cubic feet per second or fifty times the typical flow of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon ! Normally the flow on the main rafting section of the Trisuli is about half that of the Grand Canyon, and in many ways the rapids are smaller scale versions of those on the Colorado; they are formed mainly by boulder outwash from tributary streams and are characterised by big green shoots, holes either side, and huge exploding waves down the bottom. The river has carved some truly impressive gorges in its lower part as it cut its way through the 2000-meter high Mahabharat Range . These gorges are also the route followed by the prithvi highway is some way from the river itself. The opposite side to the road is relatively wild and uninhabited and you should see plenty of wildlife, a profusion of colourful birds, including eagles and vultures -especially ture if you continue on down in to Chitwan National Park where you may see crocodiles and rhino by the riverside.

Kali Gandaki River

A big but relatively easy river, with beautful, unspoilt scenery, small gorges, jungle and an abundance of wildlife. Recommended as an easily accessible and relaxing river trip. A good river for small inflatable boats {Duckies} or for kayakers with limited experience. A classic, best-of-its-kind trips that deserves to be more popular.

The River

Below Ramdi, the river flows east in an open velley for approximately 100kms between lines of hills before joining with the Trisuli River at Devghat to become the Narayani and to flow onwards to the Ganges and the Indian Ocean. There are no roads near the river no tourists, and few other river runners; local people are natural, unspoilt and of course friendly. The lower half of the river is relatively sparsely populated, with a jungle corridor and pristine white beach. There is abundant wildlife along the river - including more than 250 species of the bird. There are reports of people seeing the rare fresh water dolphin. Also rare, but occasionally seen, are crocodiles - the Gharial ones, mainly fish eaters, and the Muggers who will eat anything... This section of river has seen all kinds of craft on it from hover craft to jet barges; happily the only craft that you are likely to see are the dug out canoes that are used by the local ferry men.

Seti River Rafting

 A unique river passing through two beautiful and contrasting scenic areas. Relatively small volume blue and warm, we recommend this as a warm - up river for interm ediate kayakers. If started at Damauli, it makes an easy raft or kayak trip.

The River

The Seti Khola rises on the South East slopes of Machapurchare and then flows south as a fairly typical Nepalese mountain river, it is dammed for Hydro Electric Power just above Pokhara and then shortly afterwards it disappears in to a deep and very narrow chasm to reappear again in a wide valley a few kilometres below Pokhara - so be careful where you get in! From the recommended put -in at Dule Gouda it flows through a spectacular almost eerie, board river plain, at times meandering in braided channels at other times incising the plain leaving 100 meter high river cliffs. The rock here is reminiscent of buildrers comglomerate - pebbles and small boulders embedded in a coarse sand matrix but more resistant to erosion than it appears at first glance.

After Khaireni the Seti enters a typical Nepali valley initially passing through some small narrow gorges. It then winds a lot between interlocking spurs of the high green hills, before entering a straighter jungle corridor, with only a sparse local population. This corridor continues all the way to the Trisuli, interrupted only by a short narrow section, which precedes the wide Mardi Khola confluence at Dhaumali. Features to note on the river include quit a range of birds, from many vultures on the upper section to Kingfishers on the lower section. The jungle corridor has lot of hanging, green vegetetion on all sides and has several narrow velleys, which could be explored on foot.

Marshangdi River Rafting

The Marsyangdi rises on the northern slopes of the Annapurna Himal, flows east through an arid valley around Manang, and then swings south to join the Trisuli River at Mugling. Marsyangdi means 'raging river' in local dialect, and this aptly describes it. Some of the river above Ngadi has been kayaked - the 1980 British Expedition started from Tilicho Lake at4920m- but much of the upper river should probably be considered as unrunnable. For most of the trip from Ngadi down to Bimalnagar the river is incised as a winding gorge in to the valley floor about 50 metres deep with sloping well wooded sides. Only a few villages are visible from the river and at times you could almost be on a river in Idaho or British Columbia . As the river turns fresh views unfold behind of the Manasalu and Annapurna rangs - a magnificnt backdrop. There are beautiful campsites. The lower Marsyangdi gorges from Bimal Nager down the Mugling used to be an excellent river trip but a new dam has been built own stream of Bimalnager to generate electricity for Kathmandu and so there is now almost no water left in this section of the river and it can no longer be recommended. Both the dam and the powerhouse are vital to the economy of Nepal and are sensitive security areas. Any incident could badly rebound on other river runners and you will appreciate why we ask you to stay away from this lower section of the river.

Budi Gandaki River Rafting

Combines a pleasent trek and short -river descent - typical Nepali villages, good mountan views and a little - traveled but easy river. There are several days of class 4 & 5 kayaking further up river.

The River

Lots of people know the Trisuli, Marsyangdi, and Kali Gandaki but menting the Buri Gandaki had few people know anything about it, few have trekked the valley and hardly anyone has rafted or kayaked it. Half way between Kathmandu and Pokhara and yet it's a mystery river! Like the Marsyangdi, the Bui Gandaki rises wholly in Nepal and drains the Eastern slopes of Mansluand the Ganesh Himal before flowing south through a steep - sided valley to join the Trisuli River upstream of Mugling. Many people have seen this confluence from the main highway to Kathmandu - they have seen the blue waters of the Buri Gandaki joining the usually more silty waters of the Trisuli and perhaps wondered what lies upstream. In fact, upstream is a river very similar in volume and charactiristic to the Marsyangdi but not as steep or as steep or as difficult in its lower portion. A glance at the river profile will show that the Buri Gandaki has fairly easy gradient from down stream of Arughat Bazar. Upstream of here the gradient is still quite reasonable; it averages 2.3 % {120 ft a mile} from Sirdibas {Setibas on some maps} down the Arughat. This section of the river flows through a gorge -like valley, which gradually opens out above Arughat. The Royal Trek, that used to be the main trail from Kathmandu to Gorkha, crosses the river at Arughat but it not very papular. A few groups do trek up the valley of the Buri Gandaki to Manaslu and Himalchuli but the valley is still relatively unspoilt and a good introduction to Nepal villages and the friendly local People.