Tuesday, February 1, 2011

CHITWAN

CHITWAN

Chitwan District is one of the seventy-five Districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district is in the western part of Narayani Zone with Bharatpur, the seventh largest city of Nepal, as its district headquarters. It covers an area of 2,218 km² and in 2001 had a population of 472,048 people. Bharatpur is a commercial and service centre of central south Nepal and merger destination for higher education, health care and transportation of the region.
The district takes its name from the Chitwan Valley, one of Nepal's Inner Terai valleys between the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges, both considered foothills of the Himalayas.
Narayangarh, on the bank of Narayani River, is the main town with numerous shopping zones where people come from all over the district and neighbouring districts.
Now there are about 40 Village Development Committees (each of which has nine wards or villages) and one sub-Metropolitan city - Bharatpur and a municipality Ratnanagar each of which has more than nine wards or urban areas.
Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the Terai region, which formerly extended over the foothills of Nepal.

Origin

The name Chitwan is a composite of the Sanskrit words, transliterated "citta" meaning heart and वन, transliterated "vana" meaning jungle or forest. Thus, the meaning of Chitwan is Heart of the Jungle.

Industry

Chitwan is famous in Nepal because of its dominant production of mustard from which mustard oil is produced. This popularity of the mustard plantation in Chitwan is attributed to the predominant soil type of the place. The soil in Chitwan is mostly of the type silt. The silty nature of the soil is in turn attributed to the flooding over the ages in the past from the rivers like Gandaki. Chitwan is also profusely spotted with lands with soil type clay which are very good for use as rice fields. Other popular cash crops in the region are maize and wheat. The soil there is also very good for growing various types of vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, radish, potato, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, and carrot.
Chitwan hosts 80% of the country's poultry industry, and is also famous for floriculture, mushroom cultivation and bee keeping.
At present Chitwan's largest business area, Narayangarh, is less accessible due to the movement of the main bus terminal due to the previous king's son's anger with the politics of the citizens of the city. This bus terminal is however no longer in use following a successful people's movement in 2006. It is believed that Nepali leftist revolutionary leader Prachanda spent his childhood and youth in Chitwan. Chitwan is adapting South Korean model of development system called "Saemaul Undong or New Village movement" in Nepali context Nepal Saemaul Undong or Namuna Bikas Aviyan or Model Development Campaign at Piple Village of East Chitwan since 22 February 2003.

Places of interest

Chitwan has a particularly rich flora and fauna. Nepal's first national park, the Chitwan National Park together with the adjacent Parsa Wildlife Reserve support a species diversity much higher than any other on the Indian subcontinent. Rare species include Bengal tiger, gharial and the world's second largest population of Asian Rhinoceros, but also leopards, Mugger crocodile, Indian rock python and several species of deer. The protected areas are guarded by a battalion of the Nepal Army and patrolled by seven anti-poaching units.
Das Dhunga is a famous place in Chitwan - the people's leader Madan Bhandari was killed there in an accident.

Village Development Committees

Municipalities in Chitwan

Major Places of Chitwan

Chitwan National Park Nepal

Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal. Formerly called Royal Chitwan National Park it was established in 1973 and granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers an area of 932 km2 and is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal in the Chitwan district. In altitude it ranges from about 100 meters (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 meters (2,674 ft) in the Churia Hills.

In the north and west of the protected area the Narayani-Rapti river system forms a natural boundary to human settlements. Adjacent to the east of Chitwan National Park is Parsa Wildlife Reserve, contiguous in the south is the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park. The coherent protected area of 2,075 km2 represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki, which covers a 3.549 km2 huge block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests.

History - Chitwan National Park Nepal

Since the end of the 19th century Chitwan - Heart of the Jungle – used to be a favorite hunting ground for Nepal’s ruling class during the winter seasons. Until the 1950s the journey from Kathmandu to Nepal South was arduous as the area could only be reached by foot. Thus, in an area known as Four Mile Forest comfortable camps were set up for the feudal big game hunters and their entourage, where they stayed for a couple of months shooting hundreds of tigers, rhinocerosses, leopards and sloth bears.

In 1950 Chitwan’s forest and grasslands extended over more than 2,600 km2 and was home to about 800 rhinos. When poor farmers from the mid-hills moved to the Chitwan Valley in search of arable land, the area was subsequently opened for settlement, and poaching of wildlife became rampant. In 1957 the country's first conservation law inured to the protection of rhinos and their habitat. In 1959 Edward Pritchard Gee undertook a survey of the area, recommended creation of a protected area north of the Rapti river and of a wildlife sanctuary south of the river for a trial period of ten years. After his subsequent survey of Chitwan in 1963, this time for both the Fauna Preservation Society and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, he recommended extension of the sanctuary to the south.

However, by the end of the 1960s 70% of Chitwan’s jungles were cleared using DDT, thousands of people had settled there, and only 95 rhinos remained. The dramatic decline of the rhino population and the extent of poaching prompted the government to institute the Gaida Gasti – a rhino reconnaissance patrol of 130 armed men and a network of guard posts all over Chitwan. To prevent the extinction of rhinos the Chitwan National Park was gazetted in December 1970 with borders delineated the following year and established in 1973, initially encompassing an area of 544 km2

In 1977 the park was enlarged to its present area of 932 km2. In 1997 a bufferzone of 766.1 km2 was added to the north and west of the Narayani-Rapti river system, and between the south-eastern boundary of the park and the international border to India.

The park’s headquarter is located in Kasara. Close-by the Gharial and Turtle Conservation Breeding Centres have been established. In 2008 a Vulture breeding centre was inaugurated aiming at holding up to 25 pairs of each of the two Gyps vultures species now critically endangered in Nepal - the Oriental white-backed vulture and the slender-billed vulture.

Climate Nepal - Chitwan National Park Nepal

The area is located in the central climatic zone of the Himalayas, where monsoon starts in mid June and eases off in late September. During these 14-15 weeks most of the 2,500 mm yearly precipitation falls – it is pouring with rain. After mid-October the monsoon clouds have retreated, humidity drops off, and the top daily temperature gradually subsides from ±36°C / 96.8 °F to ±18°C / 64.4 °F. Nights are cooling down to 5°C / 41.0 °F until late December, when it usually rains softly for a few days. Then temperatures are rising gradually.

Mammals - Chitwan National Park Nepal

The Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals. The „King of the Jungle“ is the Bengal Tiger. The alluvial floodplain habitat of the Terai is one of the best tiger habitats anywhere in the world. Since the establishment of Chitwan National Park the initially small population of about 25 individuals has increased to 70-110 in 1980. In some years this population has declined due to poaching and floods. In a long-term study carried out from 1995-2002 tiger researchers identified a relative abundance of 82 breeding tigers and a density of 6 females per 100 km2

Leopards are most prevalent on the peripheries of the park. They co-exist with tigers, but being socially subordinate are not common in prime tiger habitat [9]. Apart from these top predators fishing cats, jungle cats, clouded leopards, leopard cats, marbled cats, golden jackals, Indian wild dogs, sloth bears, Bengal foxes, Spotted linsangs, palm civets, Large and Small Indian civets, several species of mongoose, binturongs, honey badgers and yellow-throated martens roam the jungle for prey. Striped hyenas are rare and prevail on the southern slopes of the Churia Hills. Smooth-coated otters inhabit the numerous creeks and rivulets.

Birds - Chitwan National Park Nepal

Every year dedicated bird watchers and conservationists survey bird species occurring all over the country. In 2006 they recorded 543 species in the Chitwan National Park, much more than in any other protected area in Nepal and about two-thirds of Nepal's globally threatened species. Additionally, 20 black-chinned yuhina, a pair of Gould's sunbird, a pair of blossom-headed parakeet and one slaty-breasted rail, an uncommon winter visitor, were sighted in spring 2008

Especially the park’s alluvial grasslands are important habitats for the critically endangered Bengal florican, the vulnerable lesser adjutant, grey-crowned prinia, swamp francolin and several species of grass warblers. In 2005 more than 200 slender-billed babblers were sighted in 3 different grassland types. The near threatened Oriental darter is a resident breeder around the many lakes, where also egrets, bitterns, storks and kingfisher abound.

The park is one of the few known breeding sites of the globally threatened Indian spotted eagle. Peafowl and jungle fowl scratch their living on the forest floor. Apart from the resident birds about 160 migrating and vagrant species arrive in Chitwan in autumn from northern latitudes to spend the winter here, among them the Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Pallas's Fish-eagle. Common sightings include Brahminy ducks and goosanders. Large flocks of bar-headed geese just rest for a few days in February on their way north.

As soon as the winter visitors have left in spring, the summer visitors arrive from southern latitudes. The calls of Indian cuckoos herald the start of spring. The colourful Bengal Pittas and several sunbird species are common breeding visitors during monsoon. Among the many flycatcher species the Paradise flycatcher with his long undulating tail in flight is a spectacular sight.

Tourism - Chitwan National Park Nepal

Chitwan National Park is one of Nepal’s most popular tourist destinations. In 1989 more than 31,000 people visited the park, and ten years later already more than 77,000. There are several lodges inside the national park offering full board and accommodation in combination with elephant and jeep safaris, rafting tours and guided jungle walks. The pioneer safari lodge is Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge receiving guests since 1972. Tiger Tops has developed standards for responsible conservation tourism, e.g. supports the “Long-term Tiger Monitoring Project” and anti-poaching units operating in the national park.

On the edge of the national park Sauraha is a well-known spot for tourists. Accessible from the nearby Bharatpur Airport, Sauraha offers a choice of hotels, lodges, restaurants and agencies that organize day trips into the protected area.

Once is not enough

NAGARKOT,KTM,NEPAL

NAGARKOT

Nagarkot is a village and Village Development Committee located 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3504 and had 655 houses in it. At an elevation of 2,195 meters, it is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur District. It is renowned for its sunrise view of the Himalaya including Mount Everest as well as other snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and sunset views. We can see the panoramic views of the captivating landscapes and hills with the Kathmandu valley. You can breathe the cool mountain breeze in the resort town of Nagarkot. There are resorts from top-end quality to decent lodges to accommodate you and serves different cuisines.

See in Nagarkot

Nagarkot is surrounded by thickly forested hills of pine trees which give you an idyllic escape- with only the wind and the sound of rustling leaves to disturb you.

It is a rustic resort high on the northern fringe of the kathmandu valley. It is an outstanding hilltop that offers great views of Himalayas, breathtaking mountain scenery and the most impressive views of sunrise and sunset.

From Nagarkot, one see the breathtaking views of the major himalayan peaks of Nepal like Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, dorje Lakpa, sisa pagma, Choyu, Gauri Shankar, etc. On a clear crystal day, one can even see the tip of Mt. Everest (8848 m) from here. Many tourists go to Nagarkot at afternoon, stay at one of the resorts to view early morning sunrise over the mountains.

5 good reasons to visit Nagarkot

1) For those longing for some really refreshing environment to be free from hectic busy schedules in the crowded Kathmandu.Nagarkot provides a scenic beauty and divine peace far from heat, dust, smoke and city’s hustle bustle.

2) Nagarkot is the nearest point from the Kathmandu valley from where on a clear day, the view of Mount Everest can be seen.

3) Nagarkot is ideal hilltop venue to acclimatize for high altitude adventures as it is located at 7200 ft above sea level.

4) It is the transit point for Helambu and Lang-tang trekking.

5) Nagarkot is also a good point for mini-trekking. There are several treks possible to and from Nagarkot such as sankhu, changu Narayan, Dhulikhel, Sundarijal, Nala, etc.

Plenty of resorts can be seen in Nagarkot, offering full board and accommodation. Situated just below the peak, many tourists stay here and trek to the hill top to watch the sunrise. It is considered the best time to view the mountain ranges because it is when the skies are clear.

ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH

Monday, January 31, 2011

Rafting

River Rafting in Nepal

Nepal has many rivers for you to explore: Trishuli River, Seti River, Bhote Khosi River, Kali Gandaki River, Marshyangdi River, Sun Koshi River, Arun River, Karnali River, Tamur River. On these rivers you will find the world's most thrilling whitewaters with a wide range of difficulties, warm water and bug free beaches for camping. All this makes a wealth of unlimited opportunities for great rafting, kayaking, Climbing, Mountaineering, biking, hiking and ever popular trekking adventures in Nepal. Nepal has something to offer to everyone.
Nepal river rafting trip is a wonderful way to explore and experience Nepal's natural and enthno-cultural heritage. Rivers here are regarded as goddesses, and are included in a number of Hindu and Buddhist religious rituals. Many can be witnessed during a raft adventure. Slopes adjoining the rivers often harbor dense vegetation and interesting wildlife. Several varieties of fish also abound. And rafting in Nepal is a great experience in it's own right: the thrill of running white water rapids can be as exhilarating as reaching a mountain summit! Rivers can be grouped into three categories on the basis of their origin: Antecedent to the Himalayas.
White water rafting is a special venture in the river on an inflatable rubber boat. A river trips in usually an adventure but not always. The most thrilling, exciting and exotic river trips in Nepal can be arranged with a registered rafting agency only. You have to choose river trips lasting 1 to 12 days on some of the best and exciting rivers in Nepal. These wild rivers rising from the hidden plateau of Tibet cu deep down the rugged sloppy mid-hills of Nepal and then finally meander across the Indian Plain to join the holy waters of the River Gangs. In a country like Nepal, a river trip is one of the best nobles always to explore a typical cross section of the country's natural as well as Ethan cultural heritage.

Rafting in Nepal ! Nepal River Rafting White Water Rafting in Nepal

Nepal is a river runner's paradise - no other country has such a choice of multi-day trips, away from roads, in such magnificent mountain surrroundings, with warm rivers, a semi tropical climate, impressive geography, exotic cultures, wildlife and friendly welcoming people!

But it's not just the rivers - as anyone who has been there will tell you, Nepal is a magnificent holiday in its own right - a fairy tale land of temples, mountains, dramatic festivals, exotic culture, colourful people, medieval villages, superb craft shopping, great food and sights - the bonus is some of the World's best rivers!

Rafting in Nepal is usually a 'wilderness' experience in that most rivers don't have highways alongside them - but it's a soft, tamed, wilderness with white beaches for camping, clean blue rivers, friendly locals and few 'nasties' - someone described it as 'blissful escapism'!

Incredibly inexpensive, Nepal is a peaceful democratic country where rafters and kayakers get a warm welcome as one of the best forms of ecotourism.

White water rafting means cruising down a rushing river in an inflatable rubber raft or white water kayak over crashing waves and swirling rapids for the excitement of a lifetime. Nepal has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in the world for white water rafting. Nepal's thundering waters, coming from the glaciers of the mighty Himalaya, provide unmatched thrills for rafting and immersing oneself in the landscape. A rafting trip is bound to be the highlight of your stay in the country.

Rafting in Nepal

Few River Rafting in the world can match the thundering course of the rivers of Nepal originating from snow meltdown of the Himalaya terrain. The rivers gush through the twisted canyon, winding through calm valleys where small settlements are perched on the southern plains to merge with the sea. A river trip is one of the country's natural as well as the ethno culture heritage with massive doses of adrenaline buzz on our world caliber white water thrills. An explore some of the most ruggedly beautiful, yet forbidden places in the world. Here are about ten diffident world class river are waiting for the people to make your trip to Nepal more excitable and memorable in you lifetime. Recommendation for all kind of Rafter and Kayakers.

Trishuli River Rafting

The Trishuli River is the most easily accessible from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Royal Chitwan National Park by far a trip on this river can be made for a varied duration, depending upon the availability of time and interest. Scenic valleys and impressive gorges, exhilarating rapids and easier sections as well as the right amount of time all make it the perfect trip for first-time or experienced rafters.

In high water conditions, this will be the perfect river for a short blast with huge rapids and a turbo fast current. There are numerous exciting rapids as the name of Snail's nose, Teendevi, Malekhu rapid, Monkey rapid, Upset, Surprise, Monsoon, Cotton Pony, Ladies Delight, S-Bend, Highway, Monsoon and Pinball Rapid. This makes your fun more challenging during high flows with a good mixture of continuous rapids and pleasant calm water

Seti River Rafting

River Seti can be reached from Damouli roughly 160 kilometers west of Kathmandu. Rafters encounter several rapids before reaching Trishuli River. Hindu religious site Devghat marks the confluence of Kali Gandaki and Trishuli and becomes River Narayani. Rafters have a choice of either coming back to Kathmandu or continuing the journey to visit the Chitwan National Park.

Kali Gandaki River Rafting

A deservedly popular and medium length of river trip is combining exhilarating white water with fine scenery. One of the famous names of Himalayan Rivers, The Kali Gandaki raises in Mustang an enclave of Nepal Poking into Tibet on the other side of the Himalayas here; it is a flat and braided river, flowing in an arid open valley. As it tumbles down between the majestic Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna ranges, it creates one of the world's deepest gorges. The explorer Michael Peissel ran this stretch of the river in a small hovercraft in 1973 and at least two other groups have rafted and kayaked in this section.

All day you have to continuous keeping paddlers busy against all technical rapids on the Kali Gandaki River. Both experienced and novice rafters love this. Nowhere else is it possible to find such diversity on a 3 day raft trip. Nice drops, sparkling chutes and turbulent rapids provide class III to IV+ runs during the fall and spring seasons.

After your exhilarating white water trip you have options either to drive or fly back to Kathmandu or to visit the Royal Chitwan National Park or again you can go for the trekking trip in the popular area of Annapurna region for few days

Marshyangdi River Rafting

Locally, it is used to say that Marshyangdi is the raging river in Nepal and describes one of the best whitewater runs in the world. One of the best class 4 kayaking rivers in the world-continuous, exhilarating whitewater with magnificent mountain backdrops. Recommended for expert kaykers and rafters.

If it's adventure you seek, you'll find it on this trip with one day of easy trekking and five days of intense rafting. Only recently opened for commercial rafting (many rapids have not been named yet), the Marshyangdi is one of the next generations of rivers in Nepal, steeper and with a much more continuous stretch of rapids.

The scenery is magnificent with every bend of the river opening up fresh vistas of some of the world's highest mountains, but these are behind-as someone said "great views but you need rear view mirrors

Bhote Koshi River Rafting

The Bhote Kosi is known as the River from Tibet and you can start a trip after a peak over the border into Tibet. The Kathmandu / Lhasa Highway (AKA Friendship Highway, Arniko Highway) runs along beside the river. You can run a day trip or do a two-day expedition and run parts of the river twice. It's a great beginner river for rafters and fun for kayakers at all levels.

Bhote Koshi is the beautiful for adventure trip with very steep and basically non-stop mountain river only 3 hours drives from Kathmandu offering tow days of intense and challenging river activity. You are beginning to understand what this great trip in Nepal offers you nothing less than the ride of a lifetime. If you have never rafted before and if you have limited time but desire an adrenaline overload, then this is a perfect introductory trip package for you because of the Bhote Kosi is probably the most exciting short rafting trip in Nepal and best white water adventure in the world has been variously described as:
"Like a pin-ball Machine-and you' re the ball"
"Like being flushed down on open air toilet"
"Expedition River" etc.

With the adventure of Bhote Koshi you also get the chance to observe emerald green fields are terraced high above the river on precipitous slopes, curious villagers lining suspension bridges are amazed as we plunge through cascading waves and chutes of foam. Visiting an ancient culture, trek in the awe inspiring Himalayas and get a tan - yep the weather is sunny! We love the excitement of this trip and it really is the best available in whitewater fun. The rapids here are a solid class IV- V at high flow, and a more classic III at lower levels. This true adventure can be rafted between October and December and February and April.

Bhote Koshi River Rafting

Upper Sunkoshi River Rafting

A clean, blue, scenic river only a few hours drive from Kathmandu. The upper part of the famous Sun Koshi river can offer you some amazing trips during the monsoon time with continuous class 4+ white water.

The valley is surprisingly scenic with well -wooded sides and a wide blue river winding between white beaches. The valley is followed by the Arniko highway (road to Lhasa) but the road traffic is usually light and not intrusive.

Sunkoshi River Rafting

We travel by surface to Dolalghat your raft 'put-in-point' covering the distance of 57kms in about 3 hrs. Your excitement starts and ends only after you covered 210kms of wild stretches, calm flows through high rock strewn passages eventually emerging form the mountains to the flat plains of southern Nepal.

One of the 10th classic and best white water journeys on Sunkoshi (river of gold) is in Nepal offers a longest river trip and the most fascinating among the few rivers, which flow down from snow-capped mountains. Big rapes, warm water, beautiful scenery and great camping makes this is a classic multi-day river trip. There will be a great trip for intermediate and advanced kayakers. At its best in medium to high flows. This enchanting river expedition of 9 days will definitely be the highlight of you visit to Nepal, its memory shall last for ever and ever . Sunkoshi is an unpredictable river, it has its own moods, serene, calm and tranquil one moment, wile and turbulent the next, always changing, always challenging, the ultimate in the river adventure. So, Sun Koshi is famous in rafting circles, and with good reason.

With in a short span or 9 days, you come in close contact with Nepal's natural beauty, people, culture, wildlife and its rivers, its simply magic, an experience you shall be glad you took. En route to the Chatara you come across many ethnic groups, each unique and colorful as relatively more Rais, Limbus and Newar are seen in this area. In this trip you have 250 different species of orchids to look for. River chats, dippers, flycatcher, wall creepers, bulbuls, fork tales are a few of the almost 400 species of birds available around the basin.

There are few more tributary of Sun Koshi as Rosi Khola, Junga Khola, Tamakoshi (Copper River), Dudh Koshi (Milk River), Rasuwa Khola. Tribenighat from where the Arun and Tamur join the Sunkoshi to form the giant Saptakoshi, which flows through Mahabharat range onto the Gangetic plain.

There are numerous (abundant) rapids such as Meat Grinder, Punch, and High Anxiety etc. Scaled from 3-8 will eventually emerges into the low land of Terai at Chatara. After 45-minute drive from Chatara you arrive in Dharan, which use to be British Gurkha Army recruiting center in Nepal for decades. Now you have several options as you can Drive to Biratnagar and take a flight to Kathmandu or drive to Chitwan National Park or Koshi Tappu for an excellent safari trip or drive back to Kathmandu

Lower Budhi Gandaki River Rafting

A little traveled, but easy river with typical Nepali villages and good mountain views, ideally combined with a scenic, pleasant and easy two-day trek to the put in.

The Budhi Gandaki drains the eastern slopes of Manaslu and the Ganesh Himal before flowing south through a steep-sided valley to join the Trisuli. Very few groups have paddled the Budhi Gandaki, as the trek takes already two days and the river will take two days only.

We recommend the river as a start to the Trisuli and an onward journey down to Chitwan National Park. This would give you a two-day trek, four days rafting and some relaxation in the National-park.

Tama Koshi River (Kayaking)

An exhilarating white water challenge, away from main trekking routes yet easily accessible from Kathmandu. Only recommended for expert Kayakers.

The Tama Koshi is a powerful, major, river with a volume twice of the Bhote Koshi. The river rises in Tibet and drains a lot of high Himalayan Peaks and glaciers. The drive to the put in will offer us perfect mountain views from the Rolwaling and Khumbu area.

Dudh Koshi River

The Dudh Koshi is the classic run from Everest. Basically can you start at Namche Bazaar (confluence with Bothe Koshi from Cho oyu), where you can Kayak all the way to Gopeghat mainly IV+ (V), then there is a major portage around the gorge at Basa. From there onwards will be more grade IV+ (VI) with the river easing down until it reaches the Sun Koshi.

A great river with stunning views from the Kumbhu Himal. The logistics aren't that difficult, as the trail follows the river and Lodges are plenty to be found. If you get the boats carried in from Kathmandu, the costs won't be to bad either.

Look at a long trip, which you can combine with a trek to Everest Base Camp and will get you all the way down to the lowlands of Nepal.

Lower Arun River Rafting

A powerful and famous river. Little traveled, it offers a shorter and easier alternative to the Sun Koshi, with big rapids of moderate difficulty.

The Arun is respected as one of the most powerful and mighty rivers of Nepal. The whole area is relatively unspoiled, and sees only a few trekking groups, mainly taking the Eastern approach to Everest.

Tamur River Rafting

Probably the best combination trip in Nepal-magnificent white water, a beautiful unspoiled valley, combined with one of the most scenic treks in Nepal. The Tamur and its tributaries drain the snows of Kanchenjunga third highest peak in the world. The river is the sixth largest river in Nepal and seems to have a feeling of

thrusting power and of being constrained by its valley sides. The first commercial run of the Tamur was in 1990 and there have been very few descents since then. It is an outstandingly beautiful river with superb views of the Himalayan range including Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Makalu. The river trip includes around 120 km descent through more than 100 of the most exciting rapids still to be named has to offer grade 3 to 4, with some graded -5, making one of the best white water expedition trips in the world.

The trip starts with an internal flight or drive from Kathmandu to Biratnagar in the far South-East of Nepal. We take a private bus drive to Basantapur in the Tehrathum Region, where we camp overnight. The following day, we begin an awe-inspiringly beautiful 5-day trek to Dobhan through the remote Taplejung region of Eastern Nepal. From Dobhan we begin the exhilarating trip, which includes a day relaxing on a remote river beach or an optional one-day trek visiting local villages. The Tamur is best tackled between October and November, and February and May. Finally, there's an overnight drive by private bus or an optional internal fly back to Kathmandu

Karnali River Rafting

One of the finest big volume rafting and kayaking trips in Nepal-spectacular, remote, jungle-clad canyons, Big white and abundant wildlife. 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, rising in the vicinity of Tibet's holy Mount Kailash and glacier of Kanziroba Himal,

other small peaks, as well as Rara lake rapid encountered on this river is 1 to 5 class. 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 abundant wildlife.

From the frontier town of Surkhet there is an unique and lovely two-day trek through lowland Sal forest to the village of Saul in the seldom seen area of far West Nepal. From Sauli it's 180 km to the nest road access at Chisopani, on the northern border of the Royal Bardia National Park. The river section takes about seven days, giving plenty of time to explore some of the side canyons and waterfalls, which comes in to the river valley. For 180 kilometers we won't see a single sign of the modern world. It's one of the last places in Nepal that you can see old growth forest and have a real chance of seeing Nepal's 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 'the elbow' by the Lohore Khola, the valley narrows into a series of canyons, the river speeds up, and there are big rapids, one leading into another, almost continuously down to the Seti river from the 'Elbow' down to the Seti the gradient is 3m/km (15ft a mile), but after here, the gradient eases, as the river winds through some magnificent un-spoilt scenery, eventually emerging onto the plains and flowing through the Royal Bardia National Park to join the Ganges. Finally leaving you close to Bardia National Park, where you can combine your rafting adventure with a safari trip and maybe spot some of the park's one-horned rhinos and elusive tigers or you can either drive back or fly back to Kathmandu.

Go on this trip if you want a true expedition style adventure and a totally classic river journey.

Bheri River Rafting

The Lower Karnali can be run in five to seven days and still proves a major river journey that has got to fall in the category of being one of the best in the world. Depending on the level of the river, day four could still be in the jungle corridor. Once the gorge is exited the Seti river enters from the right, (this is the western Nepal Seti, not to be confused with the river close to Pokhara) and the river grade drops to class 2. Another day or two brings you to the Bheri river, entering from the left which has a good camping beach if you want to reach the take-out at lunchtime the following day. At the take-out, Chisopani, is an impressive bridge spanning the river and plenty of shops selling food, soft drinks and cold beer. The return bus journey to Kathmandu is about twenty hours. Alternative returns would be via the Bardia national park which is located nearby, or bus to Nepalganj (2 hours) and fly to Kathmandu from there.

Seti Karnali River Rafting

A remote, beautiful, and little-travelled river that offers the same jungle wilderness and abundant wildlife as the Lower Karnali but at moderate difficulty.

The Seti rises wholly in Nepal on the flanks of the highest mountains in the Far West; Api 7132m, and Saipal 7031m and then flows south and southeast to join the Karnali. This is a remote valley, far from Kathmandu, that sees very few foreigners and has only had a few river descents. Although remote from Kathmandu, there is road access to the put in. Local people follow an unchanged lifestyle as subsistence farmers, and are naturally curious and friendly.

Upper Sunkoshi River Rafting

A clean, blue, scenic river only a few hours drive from Kathmandu. The upper part of the famous Sun Koshi river can offer you some amazing trips during the monsoon time
The valley is surprisingly scenic with well -wooded sides and a wide blue river winding between white beaches. The valley is followed by the Arniko highway (road to Lhasa) but the road traffic is usually light and not intrusive.

Sunkoshi River Rafting

Lower Budhi Gandaki River Rafting

rafting and some relaxation in the National-park. A little traveled, but easy river with typical Nepali villages and good mountain views, ideally combined with a scenic, pleasant and easy two-day trek to the put in.

The Budhi Gandaki drains the eastern slopes of Manaslu and the Ganesh Himal before flowing south through a steep-sided valley to join the Trisuli. Very few groups have paddled the Budhi Gandaki, as the trek takes already two days and the river will take two days only.

We recommend the river as a start to the Trisuli and an onward journey down to Chitwan National Park. This would give you a two-day trek, four days

Tama Koshi River (Kayaking)

Dudh Koshi River

The Dudh Koshi is the classic run from Everest. Basically can you start at Namche Bazaar (confluence with Bothe Koshi from Cho oyu), where you can Kayak all the way to Gopeghat mainly IV+ (V), then there is a major portage around the gorge at Basa. From there onwards will be more grade IV+ (VI) with the river easing down until it reaches the Sun Koshi.

A great river with stunning views from the Kumbhu Himal. The logistics aren't that difficult, as the trail follows the river and Lodges are plenty to be found. If you get the boats carried in from Kathmandu, the costs won't be to bad either.

Look at a long trip, which you can combine with a trek to Everest Base Camp and will get you all the way down to the lowlands of Nepal.

Lower Arun River Rafting

Tamur River Rafting

Karnali River Rafting

Bheri River Rafting

Seti Karnali River Rafting

Once is not enough