Highlights

  • Epic whitewater rapids combined with relaxed float
  • Dramatic variety of intensely remote and pristine scenery
  • Awesome whitewater in combination with a gentle float trip
  • One of the most remote river expeditions in Nepal
  • Taking out at Bardia National Park, Nepal's largest jungle park
  • A 7 km gorge - basically one really long rapid!

About Karnali River Rafting

For multi-day rafting Regulus Suggests its guests Karnali River Rafting. It is rafting in the wilderness where you get the opportunity to spend life in some of the remote destinations of Nepal. Karnali River is the longest and largest river in Nepal.  The dense jungles, rich in biodiversity, villages with unique traditions and cultures, and sharing experiences with the ethnic group in a remote area are some of the highlights of Karnali River Rafting.

Karnali River Location

Karnali is located in the Far Western Development Region of Nepal. It (Karnali Zone) is also known as Wild West in Nepal. The government of Nepal recently gave permission for rafting in the Karnali River. So, from this perspective, it is regarded as a virgin site for rafting where there are lots of things to explore.

Karnali is one of the popular rivers of Nepal that flows from Tibet. Mount Kailash is the source of the Karnali River. It is regarded as a sacred river in Tibet. The river cuts Himalayan landscapes and flows at rapid speed through various gorges and canyons before reaching the Western Part of Nepal.

Best Season For Rafting Karnali River 

Among experienced rafters and kayakers, Karnali is the much-preferred destination. Adventurers after experiencing Karnali Rafting simply agree that it is authentic river rafting where you fight against all the odds to enjoy the ultimate thrill and excitement. Rafting here also gives you an opportunity of fishing where you will get big fish.

The best time to enjoy the rafting in Karnali river is mid of the month October to the end of November and from the month of April to June.

Some facts about Karnali River Rafting 

Put-In        Dungeswar (17 hours drive from Kathmandu)

Take-Out  Chisapani (13 hours drive back to Pokhara)

One can catch a flight from Kathmandu to Nepaljung, where you will meet your rafting crew at the airport. It is mostly preferred to make the trip shorter with a 5-hour drive to the put-in.

The other side of Karnali river rafting is that after the adventure you can enjoy Jungle Safari in Bardia National Park where one can witness one of the endangered species of wild animals—the Royal Bengal Tiger.

For Karnali rafting price do contact us because the price depends on the number of rafters, duration of time, and which way to go to Karnali.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival Day

Welcome to Nepal, a representative from Regulus Nepal will be there at the Tribhuvan International airport to meet & greet you and transfer you to the hotel by private vehicle. You will be given a short briefing about the tour programs on the following day. In your free time, you can either take a rest or can walk around the local market & explore the Thamel area (the main tourist hub of Nepal). Overnight at the hotel.
  • 3 star hotel
  • dinner
  • 1400 m

We will drive to Surkhet from Kathmandu, which takes about 16 hours. We will spend the night there.

  • 3 star basic hotel/lodge
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, we will head towards Dhugeshwor, which is a 6 to 7 hours drive from Surkhet.

  • Tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

Preparations for the rafting will begin on the 4th day, where we have to through the rapid called “1st Inquiry”. You will be guided by the professionals for safety and paddling instructions. We will camp on the river bank this day.

  • Tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

After all the preparation and fulfilling breakfast, we’ll start our journey. We will come across big rapids like Jailhouse today.

  • Tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

The adventure of rafting in Karnali will begin on the 6th day. We will hit some rapids of God House, Juicer, Flip and Strip. After rafting further down the river we will reach the conference of Seti Beni, which will be our campsite for the day.

  • tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

This is our Layover day. We will remain un raft at SetiBeni for this day.

  • tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

We will raft almost the entire day today. You will get to witness some enchanting sceneries and hit a few small rapids which will be like relaxing after two days of a thrilling experience. After paddling down further we will reach Jamuna village; the campsite for day 8. 

  • tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

Our rafting trip will continue from Jamuna village and we will camp and relax at an unspoiled beach today.

  • tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

We will continue to raft this day while enjoying the beautiful sceneries and relaxing throughout the journey as the frequency of the rapids starts to decrease. We will set our camp at some instant distance above Bheri Confluence.

  • tent
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

On the final day of our rafting trip, we will reach Chisapani. You can either drive back to Kathmandu or Bardiya National Park for a jungle safari of 2 days, or you can fly back to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj.

  • 3 star hotel
  • breakfast, lunch & dinner

What to Expect

  • Rafting fees and river permit.
  • Meals (L, D, F) during your rafting trip 
  • Accommodation in a tented camp (2 in 1) with a campfire
  • Required rafting equipment & gears.
  • Two-way private transportation.
  • Necessary staff & their expenses during a rafting trip
  • An English-speaking experienced and certified licensed holder rafting guide
  • Professionally trained and certified safety kayakers.
  • All government taxes, official expenses & service charges
  • First aid kits for emergencies
  • Entry Visa fee and any kinds of immigration charges in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Nepal.
  • International Flight Fare to/from Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Extra Night meals and accommodation on your early arrival or late departure also any domestic flight delays.
  • Extra luggage charges.
  • Personal expenses like Laundry, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, hot showers, phone calls, charging, boiled water/bottled waters, etc Rescue in emergency services.
  • Individual buying and souvenirs.
  • Rent or Purchase any type of equipment or gear.
  • Purchase special medicines and kits.
  • Tips for rafting guide & rafting crews

PRICES & DATES

Useful Information

What To Bring For Karnali River Rafting 

  • Shorts pants, trimmed Pants, Fleece trousers
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses & Sun Hat
  • T-shirt
  • Sport sandals
  • Towel & Toiletries
  • Water bottles
  • Camera & spare batteries
  • Soap & Shampoo
  • Flashlight

 

FAQs

What is White Water Rafting?

An adventure sport where you cruise down and navigate a river aboard an inflatable rubber raft. White Water refers to rivers that have a lot of rapids, so White Water Rafting means running across rough rivers like these.

Do I have to be able to swim?

There are no situations on our trips when you are required to swim in the river. However, river sports present some risks and you may fall into the water accidentally during the trip. On all our trips you will be wearing a buoyancy aid (floatation jacket) which will hold your head above the water in the event that you fall out of the raft, ducky, or kayak. However, some confidence in the water is required as you will still need to be able to help the guide and move towards the raft or safety kayaker.

What happens on a typical rafting trip in Nepal?

Our goal, since 2000, has been to help people enjoy "the best outdoor experience of their lives." Every day on the river brings a new experience, whether it’s spending a ½ day experiencing your first rapids, spotting wildlife, hiking to ancient petroglyphs, or staying up late to watch shooting stars.  However, there are certain things you can count on. A Day with Regulus Nepal.–What to Expect on your Regulus Nepal. Whitewater Vacation details everything from breakfast to bathrooms.

Do I need previous experience?

No, but you should be ready to spend a few hours to a full day participating in an outdoor activity. Prior rafting experience is required to raft the Trishuli River.

I have never been before. Which trips are best for me?

Start off with a class III, or an easier class IV trip. An alternative is to ride along on an oar boat, which many companies offer on different rivers. If you are confident in the water, healthy, and feel adventurous, you can drop right into a class IV river without prior experience. Guides will make sure you are trained in safety and paddle techniques. For class V Rivers, you must have prior class IV experience.

What if I wear glasses?

No problem, many people raft with glasses. We suggest you buy a cord to attach them firmly to your head, so should they slip you will not lose them. If you prefer to raft without them, then we have a strong box to keep them safe while rafting.

Do I need insurance for this trip?

We recommend that our clients have proper medical insurance before choosing to raft with us. This allows us to make necessary arrangements in case of emergencies.

What equipment do I need for the trip and what equipment do you provide?

What we provide: Rafts, life-jackets, helmets, oars, other accessories, First Aid Kit (tapes, bandages, general drugs, etc).
What you need to bring: Clothing and footwear, toiletries, cameras, batteries, and other personal items.

What is the best season for White Water Rafting in Nepal?

September to early December and March to early June are commercial rafting months in Nepal. The more adventurous and experienced, however, choose to run the rivers from early September to early October and from May to June when there is a high flow in the river stream.

How many people are in a raft?

The rafts are large enough to carry six people (plus cargo on expedition trips) and your rafting guide. If you’re traveling with friends or in a group, we can generally organize it so that you are together in the same raft.

How far is the rafting from Pokhara / Kathmandu?

The details of travel to each river can be found on the River Trips page. The closest rafting to Pokhara is the Upper Seti, only a 1/2 hour drive from Lakeside. The closest rafting to Kathmandu is the Trisuli River, 3 hour drive away.

How are the White Water Rivers in Nepal classified?

The rivers of Nepal are graded on Class 1 to 6 international scale:

  • Class I Easy
  • Class II Medium
  • Class III Difficult
  • Class IV Very Difficult
  • Class V Extremely Difficult
  • Class VI Unrunnable

What is the possibility of falling out of the boat?

That often depends on the river levels but there is always a chance that participants may fall out of the raft.  You will be instructed by your guide on how to brace yourself in the raft to minimize the chance of falling out, but if you do our guides are trained to deal with this and every river trip has a safety kayaker (1 per paddle raft). There is a full safety briefing before you commence your rafting trip explaining what to do if you fall out of the raft.

How do I book a trip with you?

You can book a trip with us using the booking form on our website or if you’re already in Nepal you can come to visit us in our office at Lazimpat.

What happens if it is raining or bad weather?

White water rafting will still go ahead if it is raining or bad weather, you are going to get wet anyway and the river is normally at its’ best then. We will not refund if you decide to cancel at short notice due to rain or bad weather.

Is there a guide in the raft with us?

Yes, every boat is captained by a fully qualified and certified rafting guide. On some occasions, a trainee guide will also be in the raft to gain experience and learn from the qualified guide.

What about showers and toilets?

Showers will not be possible, in some places you can wash in the river or a stream. In such cases please be aware of the environment and use only biodegradable soaps and shampoos. Your rafting team will construct a pit toilet for your use near the campsite and supply toilet paper.

Can I bring my camera?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your camera on the trips. All our trips will have a large communal dry box that you can place your camera in while on the river. We also have small size dry boxes and bags available for hire, if you would like to keep your camera with you in the raft. However, it should be remembered that river trips are a risky activity and we cannot guarantee your camera’s safety against damage especially when out of our dry boxes.

There will be a professional film of your trip available for purchase on DVD upon completion of your trip.

What are the costs included and excluded in the rafting package?

Cost includes

  • Ground transportation
  • wages and insurance of guides
  •  porters and kitchen staff
  • food and accommodation during the rafting period, boats, and accessories (helmets, paddles, etc).

Cost Excludes

  • Mineral water or beverages
  • hotel accommodation or meals if you choose to stay in a hotel during the trip
  • personal items
  • emergency evacuation 
  • airfare when applicable.