Karnali River Rafting

The Karnali is Nepal’s longest and largest river and with its tributaries, it drains most of the Far West of Nepal – the ‘Wild West’ as many people call it. This bottom section of the river definitely lives up to that name – the area that it flows through is wild and relatively unpopulated with some of the most pristine jungle scenery in Nepal, and abundant wildlife.

The rapids are also pretty wild, with the river building to its climax in these lower canyons. Shortly after the sharp bend in the river speeds up, and there are big rapids, one leading into another, almost continuously down to the Seti River. From the ‘Elbow” down it the Seti the gradient is 3m/km (15 ft a mile), but after here, the gradient eases, as the river winds through some magnificent unspoilt scenery, eventually emerging onto the plains and flowing through the Bardia National Park to joing the Ganges.

Difficulty in Nov: 4 (5)
From: Sauli (Alt. 560m)
To: Chisapani (Alt. 195m)
Distance: 180 km (113 miles)
River Days: 7
From Kathmandu: 2 Days
Av. Gradient: 4 m/km (20 ft a mile)
Volume in Nov.: 300 cms (10,500 cfs)
Best Season: Nov-Dec, Mar-Apr

Itinerary

Day 01 : Departure from Kathmandu by private bus to Butwal or Fly to Surkhet.
Day 02 : Drive to Sauli and overnight camping.
Day 03 : Rafting and overnight camping.

Day 04 : Rafting and overnight camping.

Day 05 : Rafting and overnight camping.

Day 06 : Rafting and overnight camping.

Day 07 : Rafting and overnight camping.
Day 08 : Rafting and camping.

Day 09 : Rafting up to Chisapani and have lunch there and after Drive/Fly back to Kathmandu.

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