Trishuli River Rafting -02 Days
The Trishuli River Rafting in Nepal is among the most popular river rafting, easy access from Kathmandu and Pokhara, scenic valleys and impressive gorges, exhilarating rapids and easier sections as well as the right amount of time make it the perfect trip for first-time or experienced rafters. Unfortunately, its popularity means that the river is crowded and the beaches disturbed during the normal rafting season. However, there is some good news. During the monsoon, the Trishuli River changes character completely as huge runoffs make the river swell and shear like an immense ribbon of churning ocean. When the river is running high and wild, there are hardly any rafters around and rafting in the Trishuli River is without doubt the most exciting and one of the best two days big water rafting trips offered anywhere.
A two-day trip starting at Baireni and finishing at Gaighat is a classic river experience. You run all the good rapids, follow the river through its middle stage, watch the river grow as its tributaries join, marvel as it cuts its way through impressive gorges and then leave it as it spills over the lowlands.
Day 1
Our vehicle ride starts at 6:30 which takes us out of Kathmandu Valley and through the rice fields to the valley rim. From here, the road drops dramatically to about 700 meters to the village of Baireni (put-in), on the bank of the Trishuli River. Once at the river, everyone is fitted with a lifejacket, spray jacket and helmet. Then the trip leader and safety kayaker give an extensive lesson in river safety, paddling technique and what to do if you suddenly find yourself not sitting in a raft anymore. Most of the people we take down the river have never been in a raft before and our guide gears the safety talk to neophytes. Rafting in the Trishuli river is a full body activity with much more involved than simple forward and backward paddling. You learn how to throw your body weight around the raft in desperate, yet effective attempts to swing the raft around boulders and through massive crashing waves-you’ll be amazed at just how big a wave can get. It’s sort of like playing Simon Says in a big rubber playpen sliding down a roller coaster while you get water thrown at you. Fun!
Nothing can match the exhilaration of running the rapids as the rushing water draws the raft into the torrents; the adrenaline rises with each wave bucking the raft. The guide shouts instructions above the delighted screams of the crew as we maneuver the raft through the churning water. While the rapids are great fun, the slow times are just as relaxing, looking back at the river valley, watch birds at the riverside, maybe a troop of Langur monkeys are chattering away in the forested slopes. Most of the time on the river will be thrilling rapids and idyllic scenic floats; rest of the time you will be camping on sandy beaches by the riverside villages and feeling the presence of the river in the roar that pervades the air.
Though some of the rapids can be quite challenging, it is nothing beyond a spirited, well-instructed crew with a skilled guide helm. Great care is taken to ensure a safe trip. We have safety kayaker on each trip and our experienced raft guides are trained in emergency and medical procedures. We use top quality, self-bailing ‘Avon’ inflatable rafts and all members are supplied with good life jackets, helmets and paddles in addition to waterproof jackets. Waterproof barrels for storing cameras, binoculars and valuables are also provided. The food that is served is delicious, wholesome, varied and needless to say, hygienically prepared.
The first day includes about 5 hours of rafting. We have a couple of kilometers of smaller rapids to polish our paddling skills before we drop into the first class III-IV drop, affectionately known as Snail’s Nose. Snail’s Nose has a relatively easy entrance after which all the water is pushed up against the left side of the river bank in a chaotic, boiling series of pushing waves. We normally stop for lunch just above the Monkey rapid and after the Snail’s Nose ends. You can relax under the shade of huge banyan trees or can wander down to a small tributary which has a very beautiful waterfall. You can explore this area and enjoy some premium swimming pools while our staff prepares lunch. After lunch, try to scan the forest around Monkey Rapid which has a stretch of class III whitewater and then we come to the crux of the day- a long, technical rapid called Teen Devi (literally meaning three goddesses). The guides often scout this one, as with changing water levels the ride can become really interesting. Don’t worry though, your trustworthy and stalwart safety kayaker is waiting for you while surfing on one of the several massive waves to be found along the way.
After Teen Devi, things settle down for a while followed by big crashing waves that finishes off the day at Twin Rocks. We then drift down below Charaudi to our campsite. We set up camp and have some leisure time to play volleyball, explore the surrounding villages or simply read a book and relax. Eating is one of the main activities as rafting promotes a very healthy appetite.
Day 2
At around 7 in the morning, we gather one more time for a steaming hot coffee. This is not just to wake you up but also to prepare you for the river journey ahead. Here lies the opportunity to refresh your memory of rafting done during the previous day. Fun paddling of 5 hours and we get to run the main canyon section of the Trishuli. The swift water is confined to narrow gorges as we run exhilarating rapids such as: Ladies Delight, S-Bend, Highway, Monsoon, Upset and Surprise.
At Mugling, the water of Marshyangdi tumbles into the Trishuli increasing the volume of the already swollen river. After Pinball rapid at Mugling, the river eases a bit but there are still a few challenging rapids. The scenery and geography is very impressive.
Trishuli is a monsoon special river journey. With real voluminous water and sandy beach due to the monsoon debris, it can offer you one of the best short day river experience ever. At the takeout, the rafts are carried up and dried while you can relax in the shade and have a cold drink. From here it’s a 4 hours bus ride back to Kathmandu, usually reaching around 19:00 hours.
Where we start rafting, the river is confined to narrow valleys and gorges of the middle hills and two days rafting downstream brings us to where the valley opens out to the lowlands near Chitwan. It is a good idea to connect to a wildlife safari as the jungles of Chitwan are at their wildest and wildlife experience is superb at this time. Be warned though, it can be really hot. Alternatively, from where we finish off, it is only a three hours drive to Pokhara.
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