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Kaligandaki River |
Dammed
or not a
Divine
Experience
3-4
days,
Grade
3+4
With 60
rapids
over 60
kilometers
the Kali
Gandaki
is a
thrill a
minute!
Named
after
the
goddess
of
destruction,
Kali,
this is
Nepal's
most
holy
river.
Rising
in the
mystical
region
of
Mustang
it drops
off the
roof of
the
world
only to
carve
out the
world's
deepest
river
gorge.
As you
roar
through
turbulent
rapids,
dodging
huge
boulders
and
sliding
down
glistening
chutes
into
churning,
frothy
whirlpools,
your
adventure
is set
against
the
backdrop
of the
Annapurna
range,
it's
surreal
snowcapped
peaks
suspended
in view
through
120 km's
of
wilderness
area and
shadowy
canyons
of
stone.
As you
pass
isolated
villages
precariously
clinging
to
terraces
high
above
the
river,
you will
hear the
melodic
calls of
Namaste
from the
children.
Locals
and
pilgrims
alike
worship
Kali's
holy
river,
and at
every
confluence
one can
see the
fire
rings
from
many
cremations.
Pilgrims
also
make the
journey
to the
Shiva
temple
at Rubra
Beni and
greet us
as we
float
pass. On
the last
day we
meet the
largest
rapids,
providing
a
thrilling
climax
to the
journey
of a
lifetime!
There
are no
warm up
days on
this
river,
you are
straight
into the
action
with
bumpy,
fast,
and
medium
level
rapids
challenging
you at
every
turn.
Both
experienced
and
first
time
rafters
will
enjoy
the
exciting
rapids
of the
Kali
Gandaki.
At high
water
the Kali
Gandaki
is a
Grade 4
river
built to
remind
you that
you are
alive!
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
rises in
Mustang
and 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. |
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 Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
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At around 7/8
am, you drive
for around 3-4
hrs to the
put-in point
near Beni.
Throughout
this
drive
you have
stunning
views of
the
Annapurna
and
Dhaulagiri
peaks as
well as
the
sacred
Machapuchare.
Upon
arrival,
you
unload
all the
equipment
and you
will
receive
a full
safety
briefing.
Have
lunch
and then
the
guide
will
take you
to the
river
starting
point
ready to
begin
your
exciting
3 days
raft
trip.
First
day you
begin
with
some
class
III
rapids
this is
a warm
up for
the
team,
after
10/15
minutes
you will
be
encountering
2 big
class 4
rapids
i.e.
‘Small
Brother’
and ‘Big
Brother’.
Your
guide
will be
making
you work
hard at
doing
exercises
to work
as a
team
maneuvering
the raft
efficiently.
After
scouting
the
rapid,
the
safety
kayaks
will go
first
then the
raft.
Soon
after
encountering
these
two big
rapids
you will
reach
the Modi
Khola
confluence
where
you will
choose
the
beach
for the
evening
campsite.
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Day
02 :
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Once the rafts
are packed you
start down the
river for a day
mixed with
adrenaline calm
and spectacular
scenery
including views
of Annapurna
1 and
Himachuli.
You will
tackle
many
class
III
sections
and the
challenging
class IV
named
REFUND.
This
section
of river
is
abundant
with
vines,
wildlife
and lush
vegetation
hanging
from the
cliff
faces.
Your
campsite
is below
the
village
of Purti
Ghat.
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Day
03 :
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Soon after being
back on the
water you reach
the holy village
of Seti
Beni.
The
river
has
deposited
a house
size
boulder
in the
confluence
with a
smaller
tributary.
Since
confluence
is
considered
holy
places
in the
Hindu
religion,
this
boulder
has
become
an
important
shrine
to the
local
river
people.
There is
usually
a great
audience
to watch
and
listen
to the
spectacle
as each
team
negotiates
the
rapid
that has
formed
around
this
holy
place.
Not long
after
this it
is time
for the
journey
to end.
You load
up the
gear and
prepare
for the
bus
journey
back to
Pokhara.
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Day
04 :
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Drive from Pokhara
to
Kathmandu.
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Is It For Me ?
With
no warm up days
you are straight
into the action
with this one.
If you are short
of time but
still want a
wilderness
experience then
this river is
perfect for you.
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Best time to
Raft :
There are two
rafting seasons,
The best season
is September
following the
monsoon and
extending
through October,
November and
sometimes early
December. The
second season
follows the
spring thaw from
March to May,
the best water
being in April/
May. Combine the Marshyangdi
or the
Kali
Gandaki
with any
of our
treks in
the
Annapurna
Region.
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