Karnali River Rafting 10 Days

Trip Facts

  • Duration 10 Days
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
  • Destination Nepal
  • Transportation Private Vehicle/ Tourist Bus/ Jeep
  • Activity White water Rafting and Hiking
  • Best Season Spring & Autumn
  • Group Size Min 1, max 14 People
  • Trip Start/End Dungeswar/Chisapani
  • Max Altitude 1,300m

Karnali River Rafting Overview

The Karnali River is one of the longest and largest rivers in the far west of Nepal. It originates in Tibet's Mt. Kailash and descends gently into the Himalayan landscape of western Nepal. The area through which it flows is full of wilderness with deep forests abundant with flora and fauna and is relatively unpopulated. After the monsoon rains, the rapids become huge and more technical. One highlight of this classic river journey is a 7-km-long gorge “thrill-a-minute roller-coaster ride” with rapids at every bend. Truly though, any season suits the Karnali. The expedition begins with a bus journey into the remote and almost untouched region of western Nepal and crossing through part of the Bardia National Park. If the idea of a two-day bus ride doesn't appeal to you, there is the option of flying to Nepalgunj and catching a five-hour bus to meet the rest of the group in the frontier town of Surkhet. From here, we drive further, for about four hours, to get to KalyaniDanda, the last stop. The river section lasts seven days, including one layover day. By combining this trip with a short trek or a trip to Bardia National Park, Karnali rafting is an ideal choice for those who want to have a truly unique experience in Nepal.

The Karnali River finishes at the famous Bardia National Park – the most jungle in Nepal rich in wildlife. Many consider this spectacular journey one of the finest rafting rivers in the world and is our crew's favorite expedition in Nepal.

Season/MonthsDifficulties/GradeWater volume
September - DecemberivApprox. 300 cumecs
January - Mayiv-Approx. 200 cumecs
June - AugustIv+Approx. 450 cumecs

Itinerary

+ Expand All- Collapse All

You’ll be met at the airport by your guide who will take you to Thamel to your hotel, where you can take the chance to catch up on sleep or go and explore this fascinating town.

    From Kathmandu, we will catch the flight towards the Nepalgunj. The flight will continue for about 1 to 2 hours and after landing at the Nepalgunj, we will drive towards the Surkhet following the main trail of the regions. We will finally reach the Surkhet.

      From Surkhet, we will drive for about 6 hours through the main trail to reach Dhungeshwor. The night will be at the Dhungeshwor resting during the night.

        We will begin our rafting from the Dhungeshwor. We will enter into the exciting flow of the river from where we can enjoy the great rafting in the fast-flowing water. After having the whole day rafting at the river, we will rest the night at the tented camp.

          We will raft at the river for the whole day and the day will be ending with the resting nights at the tented camp. The rafting at the fast flow of the river will be interesting in the river.

            From the tented camp, we will clear the camp and will raft towards the Seti Dovan. The day will be full of action as we can spend the whole day at the river rafting and challenging the flow of the water.

              After having the wonderful rafting, we will enter the beautiful and traditional villages of the regions at Jamuna villages. The visit to the Jamuna villages will be interesting anyways. We will spend a day in the villages to know more about the local people and their local traditions.

                We will spend our day at the Jamuna village visiting around the villages and enjoying the great sight of the villages along with the traditional and cultural aspects of the local people. The visit to the beautiful villages will be based on exploring more about the regions along with their culture and tradition.

                  We will move towards the Bheri confluence for the day and then on another day, we may have the jungle safari at the Bardiya national park. The jungle safari at the Bardiya national park will be interesting as we can view the glorious view of the green forest along with the natural habitat of the various types of wild animals.

                    After visiting at the Bardiya national park, we will move towards the Chisopani. The view of the glorious surroundings will be interesting as well. Thus, our rafting at the Karnali River will end at the Chisopani of the Pokhara. The night will be at one of the sophisticated hotels.

                      Note: Your safety is of the utmost concern whilst you are traveling with Adventure Club Trek. We will make every effort possible to follow the original itinerary but we reserve the right to change that itinerary if a segment of it becomes a safety issue. Certain mountain regions are remote, natural disasters can happen, weather conditions can decline and there can be illnesses or injuries. To avoid dangerous situations we may occasionally have to make changes to the itinerary to ensure everyone’s safety. That having been said, Adventure Club Trek will strive to provide you with the best possible trekking experience and to keep your safety our number one priority. We thank you for your understanding.

                      Cost Details

                      Price Includes

                      • All Rafting equipment including life jacket, helmets, paddle, paddle top, and self-balling raft.
                      •  Ground Transportation bt Tourist Bus/Van 
                      • Experienced Guide and supporter
                      • Tented camps in Riverside pool
                      • Full board meals with hot drinks
                      • Accommodation camping in a tent
                      • All national Park permits
                      • Rafting permit.
                      • Rafting, kitchen, and camping equipment experienced Captain Cook and other staff
                      • Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment, medicine, etc. for guide and cook
                      • Waterproof plastic bag to pack your clothing and equipment while rafting.
                      • All Government Taxes

                      Price Excludes

                      • Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara
                      • Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu  and Pokhara
                      • Travel insurance (must). (See the travel insurance page)
                      • International airfare to and from Nepal. (See the international flights page)
                      • Any other expenses which are not mentioned in the 'Price Includes' section
                      • Alcoholic and cold drinks
                      • Tips for guide, helpers, and driver (Tipping is expected)

                      Useful Info

                      Bring List

                      • T-shirt
                      • swimwear for the river
                      • Warm clothing for the evenings including a fleece or a pullover
                      • Sunscreen and lip protector
                      • Sunglasses (with retaining device) and/or a cap
                      • Towel and Toiletries (environmentally friendly is best)
                      • Personal medication
                      • Flashlight
                      • Footwear 
                      • Reading book

                      Safety measure 

                      Our Team takes safety issues very seriously for every rafting trip and believes every happy outdoor trip is a safe one. Our team members have updated training courses - SRT (Swift Water Rescue Technician), CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and Wilderness First Aid, and Whitewater Rescue Technician conducted by Rescue 3 International. Besides every trip also provides expert safety kayaker for rescue and makes your rafting journey with us more comfortable and enjoyable

                      What to know before Departure 

                      We will organize a pre-departure meeting as it is also a prime concern to introduce our team-Trip Leader, Guides, trip staff, and other guests, complete the official formalities and discuss the trip system, timetable, and other important matters to make your happy journey successful.

                      What we provide

                      Along with our high-quality self-bailing rafts, we provide helmets, plastic paddles, wetsuits, life jackets, and a first aid kit. We provide plentiful, healthy, and hygienically prepared food and drinks. Tents and sleeping mats are also provided. Sleeping bags can be supplied upon request.
                       

                      Similar Trips

                      Ask a Question

                      Sign up for our newsletter

                      Drop Us a Message