Highland Asia

Itinerary

Day 01 Drive from Kathmandu to rafting put in point at Baseri and start rafting.

Its about 4 hours from Kathmandu to drive to the rafting put in point at Baseri that lies on Kathmadnu-Tibet border highway. Soon after we arrive, lunch will be served. The rafting captain will deliver a safety talk and provide all paddling gear for the trip. First day of the trip is about three and half hour of crystal clear white water rafting. After a long series of class 3 rapids we drop into the first class 4 drop known as “Gerbil in the Plumbing.”  From here, we ride on a stretch of class 3 whitewater and then we come to the crux of the day, which is a long, technical rapid called 'Frog in a Blender'. After this rapid, we settle down for about twenty feet, and then it’s back into the soup with a long series of class 3+ to 4- drops which lead us into a nifty little rapid called “Carnal Knowledge of a Deviant Nature.”   The remaining 10 km (6 miles)  of river is a continuous series of class 3 and 4 drops concluding into short pools with the next drop just a few feet away.  The river flows through a beautiful narrow canyon with lush green vegetation and waterfalls coming in from the steep stone walls.  At the end of this stretch is a rapid called “ ExLax”. We stop just before we arrive at the village of Barabise, and load all the boats and gears onto our bus and we drive to our camp.

Day 02: Raft 3-4 hours and take out at Dam and drive back to Kathmandu

After an early morning breakfast, we return to the previous day’s take out point. From here the action increases as we head down towards the steep and technical rapids of the, "The Great Wall". From here rapid follows rapid; "Liquid Bliss", "Fake Right Go Left" and "My God, What To Do?" culminate with, "Dazed And Confused". Without a doubt this is some of the finest whitewater rafting we could do anywhere.Our trip ends by mid-noon. Once you get their load up all the kits on bus, drive back to Ktm.

Difficulty Level

The Bhote Kosi is without a doubt the most action packed short white water run in Nepal. The rapids in this river are a solid class IV- V at high flow and drops steeply offering relentless stretches of class III- white water. Boulder gardens, small waterfalls, steep chutes and 90 degree bends are just some of the obstacles to be overcome.

Travel to the river and return.

Baseri-the rafting put in point lies 95 km (60 miles) north east of Kathmandu on Kathmandu-Tibet highway and is accessible by 4 hours drive. This is a spectacular drive through villages and if weather permits, you will have Fantastic Mountain views i.e. Ganesh Himal, Langtang etc. The trip cost includes bus transportation but we can arrange a private car transport on additional cost as well. We take out rafting at Dam from where it takes about 3 hours to drive back to Kathmandu.

On the river

Soon we arrive the river, lunch will be served. We unload and unpack the boats and equipment and the main guide will conduct a briefing lesson about the rafting techniques and safety measures. Each of rafters will get a paddle, safety jacket and helmet. Soon we set off on the river. All rafters have to work hard and maintain team work to maneuver the raft efficiently. Usually, there will be an escort Kayaker scouting the rapid; the kayaker goes first and then the raft. The first day, we raft about 3-4 hours and conclude the day late afternoon or early evening. We pack and take short drive to our camp site. Our rafting crews cook hot delicious meals for us. The crews also entertain group with folk singing and dancing. The next day morning, we will have a cup of hot tea or coffee at our tent, soon followed by breakfast and then we embark on the raft. We will raft about 3-4 hours and we will arrive at the take out point at Dam. We will hop on our  transport and drive back to Kathmandu

Safety and Equipment Issues

Safety and security of all our clients is our prime concern. All rafting guides are licensed, trained in CPR, first aid and advanced river rescue techniques. All equipment is world class, up to date and carefully maintained. All the rafts are Avon self-bailing rafts. There will be always safety kayakers on every trip following or escorting the boat. We prepare all food with the utmost attention to hygiene.

Before your trip you will be invited to an orientation meeting in order to meet the rest of your paddling team, the guide(s) and safety kayakers. At this meeting there will be opportunities for you to ask any questions that you may have and discuss any personal requirements, such as a special diet or medical conditions that could affect your time with us. Upon arrival in put in point, there will again a session of questions and answers. The captain briefs you about the trip of the day, river level, paddling tips and so on before you step into the boat.

We have our own private transportation to take you to and from the river. When our own coach is not available then we provide a privately booked alternative.

We provide plentiful, healthy and hygienically prepared food and drinks.
Along with our high quality self-bailing rafts, we provide helmets, plastic paddles, wetsuits (during winter), lifejackets, dry bags, camera barrels, all necessary safety and medical equipment. Tents and sleeping mats are also provided. Sleeping bags can be supplied upon request. All our equipment is of the highest quality, clean and well maintained.

What to Bring?

In some ways it is best to bring as little as possible to the river. There are however, some essential personal items that you may need:

 

• Light weight clothing that will dry quickly, eg. shorts, t-shirt, swim wear for on the river
• Warm clothing for the evenings including a fleece or a pullover
• Sunscreen and lip protector
• Sunglasses (with retaining device) and/or a cap
• Towel
• Toiletries (environmentally friendly is best!) and any personal medication
• Flashlight
• Footwear that will stay on in the river, ‘Tevas’ or tennis shoes are best
• Camera and spare batteries
• Walkman/Discman
• Spare glasses/contact lenses
• A book to read
• Your diary and a pen!
• Snack treats/cigarettes
• A small amount of money
• A positive attitude!