Hailing from the snow melt of holy Mount Kailash, Karnali, the 'Mightiest' river in Nepal carves its way through magnificent gorges and pristine jungles like a pulsating, thrill a second roller coaster ride. Arguably one of the country's best river journeys, this trip not only offers classic class three to adrenaline pounding class five rapids with plenty of hard paddling, the cultural and biodiversity along the way will truly open your eyes to stunning west Nepal.
This may be a challenging river, but the rapids start out gentle and progress to, well just huge. The river gives time for the novice rafter to warm up and learn a bit, making it ideal for first timers as well as seasoned paddlers. Basically if you are looking for a magical, less paddled, wild river adventure, then the Karnali is for you. If you're a Kayaker, you should be an experienced paddle to take on this mighty river
Traverse the Terai on a 16 hour, epic bus journey. Breeze through the river side town of Kohalpur. There is the option to also fly to Nepalganj and meet the rest of the team in Kohalpur which is half an hour from the airport. If you fly in the trip is only eight days. After spending the night in a hotel in Kohalpur it's a six to seven hours drive to Dungeswar where we will start our rafting. From here we have an hour or so of rafting before making camp on the river bank for the evening.
The river eases in to the swing of things with some small rapids and gentle paddling. Nights are spent on pristine white beaches mingling with starry eyed villagers who are fascinated by the 'people in plastic boats'. The river scenery is superb and there are many waterfalls along the river as it 'hots' up and rapids become larger and more frequent. Towards the end of the trip we reach a seven kilometer stretch of river, the rapid named 'Gods House' kicks of some of the most challenging rapids of the journey. The river narrows its path and we paddle through world class rapids such as – 'Juicer', 'Flip & Strip', 'Totali Ghat' and 'Freight Train' before the day is out! On day nine we take out of the river and depart by bus for the overnight trip to Kathmandu, or you can again drive to the airport at Nepalganj and fly directly back to Kathmandu.
The trip ends upon arrival in Kathmandu around mid-morning.
.png)
After days of riding the wild waves of the Karnali, slow things down and swap your paddle for binoculars. Just a short journey downstream lies Bardiya National Park, Nepal’s largest and most untouched jungle sanctuary — the perfect way to round off your adventure. Here, the rhythm of life is different. You’ll wake up to the calls of exotic birds, breathe in the earthy scent of the forest, and set out on safaris with expert guides who know the jungle like the back of their hand. Keep your eyes peeled — this is one of the best places in Asia to spot the elusive Bengal tiger, along with one-horned rhinos, wild elephants, swamp deer, gharials, and countless bird species. In between adventures, relax in a cozy jungle lodge, watch sunsets melt into the Karnali River, and meet the Tharu people, whose culture and traditions are beautifully interwoven with the forest around them. This safari isn’t just about wildlife — it’s about slowing down, soaking in the stillness, and letting the jungle leave its quiet mark on you. After the thrill of the river, it’s the perfect balance of excitement and serenity.
.svg){kind=small}
Here's a concise packing list for a rafting trip:
For Multiday Trips:
Aptly named 'The Jewel in the East', the waters of the Tamur falls down from the slopes of the world's third highest peak, Mount Kanchenjunga..
.JPG)
Karnali, the 'Mightiest' river in Nepal carves its way through magnificent gorges and pristine jungles like a pulsating, thrill a second roller coaster ride. Arguably one of the country's finest river journeys.
The Seti River with its warm white waters, incredible scenery and beautiful camping places is one of the most popular short and easy river trips in Nepal. The gentle waters spill down from the slopes of the Fishtail Glacier and disappears underground near to Pokhara
Bhotekoshi is the ideal introductory trip to whitewater inNepal. A pleasant half day trip, a blue river ,few gentle rapids and glisteningwhite beaches.
