The heart of the Himalayas is a place where you’d expect lots of great whitewater, wildness, scenery and culture. Nepal meets every expectation with sparkling whitewater, stunning mountain scenery, temples, villages and wildlife. We’ve chosen the western half of the country with its plethora of accessible and proximate rivers for our trip, minimizing our time in vans and maximizing our time on the water and exploring fascinating places. We spend seven days on the Kali Gandaki, Marsyangdi and Seti rivers and still find time to explore Kathmandu and Pokhara as well as the hilltop village of Bandipur, then put an exclamation mark on our trip with foot and elephant-back safaris in Chitwan National Park. Amazing! This trip includes 3 nights of riverside camping and some challenging whitewater on the Marsyangdi, so be sure to arrive ready for a true adventure.
Since it’s a short hop from Kathmandu to Bhutan, we’ve also planned a World Rivers trip there immediately after the Nepal adventure. Why take that long trans-Pacific flight twice when you can get the best rafting and cultural experiences of both countries on one trip? Please join us in Nepal and, perhaps, stay on to delve deep into the mysteries and beauty of the Hidden Kingdom too.
ITINERARY
Day 1, April 3 ~ Kathmandu
Land in exotic Nepal and take a deep breath before going into the chaos of Tribhuvan International Airport. Once you clear immigration and customs you’ll be met outside and driven through the crowded and colorful streets to your hotel. Rest from the long flight and relax and explore a bit of Kathmandu before we meet at 6 PM for an orientation and welcome dinner.
Hotel Manaslu or similar, dinner only
Day 2, April 4 ~ Boudhanath & Pokhara
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel, and head into town to explore one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, Boudhanath, a major pilgrimage point near Kathmandu. Every day, Buddhists fill the square to light incense, turn prayer wheels, and perform kora (clockwise circumambulations) around the monument.
When we’re done, we drive back to the airport for our flight to Pokhara, a short 25-minute trip. On a clear day, out of the right-hand side windows you’ll be treated to a stunning view of the western Himalaya before landing in the more tropical climes of Pokhara. Free time to explore the lakeside and all the many shops and cafes of this popular center for rafting, hiking and climbing. Dinner on your own. There’s a plethora of good restaurants to choose from, from backpacker to gourmet.
Hotel Temple Tree Resort or similar, breakfast & lunch only
Day 3, April 5 ~ Kali Gandaki River
Early breakfast then off in our van. We head north out of town to the put-in point for the Kali Gandaki. Named after “Kali” the goddess of destruction, the Kali Gandaki is said to be one of Nepal’s most holy rivers. Originating high on the Tibetan Plateau the “Mighty Kali” plunges down through the Himalayas, carving out one of the deepest gorges in the world between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Mountains.
With exciting whitewater rapids, spectacular mountain views, traditional villages, endless suspension bridges, waterfalls, pristine jungle rich in wildlife, deep gorges, cultural temples and beautiful white sandy beaches for camp, we consider this to be the best all round river adventure in Nepal. Raft down to our first night’s beach camp.
Camp, all meals
Day 4, April 6 ~ On the river
Early breakfast as we awe at the views from our riverside camp. We load up the rafts and continue down this great class III-IV river to our next camp. It’s a fantastic day of action and excitement. Once in camp, we sit back and relax as the sun goes down, soaking up the glorious views.
Camp, all meals
Day 5, April 7 ~ Raft & Pokhara
Another early breakfast before we get back on the water for our last day on the Kali Gandaki, ending with a float on flatwater. We’ll meet our van at take-out then drive back to our hotel in Pokhara and a welcome hot shower to wash the river sand out of our hair. Relax and explore Pokhara for the evening. Dinner on your own.
Hotel Temple Tree Resort or similar, B&L only
Day 6, April 8 ~ Marsyangdi River
Leave the hotel, load our gear and head to the put-in for the Marsiyangdi River. Draining the northern slopes of the Annapurna Mountains, this raging river is steep, technical and not to be underestimated! This spectacular whitewater adventure shares some of the most exciting rapids in the world with views of some of the most beautiful mountains in the Himalaya. With two days of intense, challenging and continuous crystal clear whitewater rapids, it is no surprise that this is one of the most popular trips in Nepal for serious rafters. It demands 100% commitment from both crew & guide. It’s not for the faint of heart.
After our day on the river we leave our guides with the rafts and return to our hotel close by to clean up, relax in the beautiful environment and exchange river stories while enjoying another great dinner .
Gateway Himalaya Hotel or similar, all meals
Day 7, April 9 ~ Rafting & Bandipur
From our hotel we drive back to the river to meet the crew and continue down the Marsiyangdi to our take-out. Plenty more excitement is in store before we leave our river crew and drive to Bandipur and our hotel for the night.
Bandipur, a Newar town with its age-old flavor still intact, is in the hills between Pokhara and Kathmandu. We climb through pristine forests on the historical trail at Dumre Bazaar to a town that has hardly changed. Well-preserved Bandipur beckons travellers to experience its unique offerings: rich hill culture, mountain views, and hiking. Unlike most trading posts in the Nepal hills, Bandipur has retained its age-old cultural attributes – temples, shrines, sacred caves, innumerable festivals, and a Newari architecture that harks back to the Kathmandu Valley of old.
Old Inn Hotel, all meals
Day 8, April 10 ~ Seti River
Take a last stroll through town before we leave for the put-in of our 2-day trip on the Seti River. Our crew will have restocked and be at the put-in ready to start through this lovely Class III canyon. This enchanting river passes through two beautiful and contrasting scenic areas offering a good variety of Nepal’s landscapes with local villages, terraced rice fields, waterfalls, suspension bridges, jungle rich with wildlife and a beautiful white sandy beach for camping under the stars. We’ll find a scenic and comfortable camp for the night and enjoy our well-earned rest.
Camp, all meals
Day 9, April 11 ~ Seti & Chitwan
Put in on the Seti again for our second day with some great rapids before we hit the Trisuli river confluence and float down to the take-out. Dry out a little and have some lunch before getting back into our van for the 2 ½ hour drive to the terai with its tall grasslands, scrub savannah, sal forests and clay rich swamps. It’s a lot hotter in these lowlands close to the border with India.
Our destination is Chitwan National Park. Chitwan, Sanskrit for Heart of the Jungle, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its abundance of wildlife and flora. Covering an area of 932 sq.km. in Nepal’s lowlands, Chitwan is home to endangered species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, one-horned rhino and the Asiatic elephant. With some luck on our jungle safaris, we may see them in their natural habitat.
Here we will check into our hotel for the next 2 nights. We may have time for an evening jungle walk to try to spot wildlife like rhino or elephants.
Sapana Village Resort, all meals
Day 10, April 12 ~ Chitwan National Park
Get on an elephant and cruise through the park trying to spot rhino or even a tiger! Back for lunch then just relax or take a stroll through the village and surrounding areas before dinner.
Sapana Village Resort, all meals
Day 11, April 13 ~ Kathmandu
After breakfast we’re off to the local airport at Bharatpur for the short flight back to Kathmandu. Check into our hotel then use our free time for last minute shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing in the hotel grounds before our farewell dinner, where we can meet up with our river crew say thanks and enjoy our last meal together.
Hotel Manaslu or similar, BF&D
Day 12, April 14 ~ Depart
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home or on to your next adventure!
Breakfast only
NEPAL & BHUTAN TOGETHER
If you’re looking for even more Himalayan whitewater, we’ve got just the thing for you. It’s a short flight from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan. World Rivers Bhutan, April 17-29, 2022, adds the very best of Bhutan’s whitewater to some of the most fascinating active tourism ever, walking and biking to the finest assortment of Buddhist temples, monasteries and palaces anywhere. Just contact Wantok if you’re interested in this dynamic combo.
DATES & PRICES
April 3-14, 2022
April 2-13, 2023
Minimum 6, maximum 16 participants
2022 prices:
6-8 participants, $4100 per person double occupancy
9-12 participants, $3850 pp dbl occupancy
13+ participants, $3600 pp dbl occupancy
Single supplement requested $500; forced $400. Forced means willing to share but no other participant available to share. Domestic flights are included in the land cost (Kathmandu-Pokhara and Bharatpur-Kathmandu). International flights not included.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Wantok leader and professional raft and safety guides
- Transportation as described in itinerary
- Local airfare Kathmandu-Pokhara & Bharatpur-Kathmandu
- Meals as per itinerary
- Gratuities at restaurants & hotels
- All rafting gear
- Wetsuit, water shoes, and/or splash jacket when required
WHAT’S NOT
- International flights
- trip and flight insurance
- Three meals as per itinerary
- optional tipping off-river and to leader, guides and river staff
- excess baggage charges
- airport taxes
- personal items like drinks, laundry, souvenirs, etc.
ABOUT US
Wantok, a word from the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea, literally means “someone who speaks my language”, which by implication means someone from the same village or nearby, and by extension a friend or a mate. Wantok Adventures LLC is a group of veteran international river runners who chose our name to celebrate the spirit of camaraderie that brought us together. We are not a business in the traditional sense. We cooperate to create and market exciting river trips.
Our goal is to bring you great whitewater at great values, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and safety on the water while minimizing the tendency towards luxury of the large adventure companies. We think trip participants are fully capable of being a bit more self-reliant, that 3-4 star hotels with lots of local flavor are preferable to the big chains, that a great meal in a lively local restaurant is more enjoyable than the same meal in a fancy tourist place, and that a sense of adventure should be part of every trip.
Our price structure is simple, omitting the many hundreds of dollars others add on to every booking to pay for their printing, their mailings, their offices, and their staff. We devise the best and most cost-effective itineraries and negotiate the lowest fair price with the best local operators to offer you a terrific trip at a good price. A local outfitter, our guides, and you—that’s all we need!
WORLD RIVERS PROGRAM
For years travelers have been visiting the great ruins, monuments and cultural attractions of the world. Their more adventurous cousins have been going to the same countries to challenge the rapids of whitewater rivers. Why not combine the two, we thought? So now we have. In 2022 we are offering five trips that combine the tourist highlights of a country with rafting on its best rivers, spending most nights in hotels along the way: Georgia (Caucasus Mountains), Bhutan, Nepal, The Alps (France, Italy & Switzerland), and East Africa (Kenya & Uganda).
This enticing collection of journeys will offer something for anyone who loves the thrills and beauty of a great river. Wantok’s encyclopedic knowledge of rivers and river outfitters in a hundred countries, compiled during a lifetime of travel and river exploration, has been applied to devise the very best itineraries with the top operators around the globe.
Perhaps you’ll be lured by the exhilarating whitewater, ancient Orthodox monasteries, great food and welcoming people of the Georgian Caucasus. You won’t want to miss the Alps, with all the comfort and glory of Europe paired with four great rivers and fine wining and dining in three countries. New this year are trips to Bhutan and Nepal, the pinnacles of the Himalayan rafting experience. In Nepal we challenge the best whitewater of the western area and end the trip in famous Chitwan National Park for elephant-back and other safaris. In Bhutan, the hidden kingdom, we’ll be overwhelmed by the splendor of the monasteries, temples and palaces, enjoy stunning walks through the hills, and raft some of its lesser-known rivers. Finally, you might opt for East Africa and its incomparable wildlife, fabulous whitewater and high excitement, a complete adventure experience. We’re sure that one of these treats will compel you to experience this new way of seeing the rivers of the world.
Or you can take advantage of our Roll Your Own option and get together a group of four or more people to create a departure on any of our existing World Rivers itineraries in Peru, Ecuador, Morocco, Japan, Southeast Asia, Nepal, East Africa, Bhutan or Guatemala. If you have a country in mind for a World Rivers-style trip, let us know and we may be able to put the perfect itinerary together for you.
All of the trips take you out of the US for less than two weeks, and most nights are spent in picturesque hotels and inns as we seek to avoid the blandness of the international hotel chains in favor of small, family-run properties with local flavor and a personal feel.
Sound appealing? All the details you’ll need to pick the right trip for yourself are available in on our website, www.wantokadventures.com. Take advantage of the opportunity to tour some of the most interesting countries in the world and get your whitewater fix too. But watch out: Once you try your first Wantok World Rivers trip, you may become addicted.
INSURANCE
Neither the guides who are part of Wantok and its associates nor Wantok Adventures LLC, carries liability, evacuation or other insurance for the participants. We VERY STRONGLY recommend that you check what your current insurance will cover on a trip, and then purchase additional insurance for anything else you feel you need. We particularly advise buying trip cancellation, medical and evacuation insurance in case of last-minute changes in plans or a need for emergency medical treatment or evacuation while on the trip.
You can find good insurance policies through WorldNomads, Ripcord, Squaremouth, Travelguard, and Travelsafe. Another excellent option is MedJet. At a modest cost they will supply evacuation insurance from anywhere in the world to any hospital, promptly and without questions.
You will be required to sign a liability waiver acknowledging the insurance situation to participate in the trip
HOW TO SIGN UP
A deposit of $800 per person will hold your seat on this trip. If you’re ready to join the trip, please mail your check for $800 per person to Wantok at 1678 B 16th St, Oakland CA 94607. If you prefer to pay by credit card, you can do so via Paypal, www.paypal.com, using wantokadventures@gmail.com to identify us. Payments by Zelle or Venmo accepted. Please inquire.
You’ll receive an email on receipt of your deposit with the detailed information on the trip, including a registration form, liability waiver, packing list, and travel details.
PAYMENT, CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
Final payment is due 90 days before trip departure. Final payments using Paypal will be charged an additional 4% of the amount being paid to cover Paypal fees. Payments by Zelle, Venmo, check or direct transfer are not surcharged.
Checks should be mailed to Wantok, 1678 B 16th St, Oakland CA 94607.
If you cancel your trip up to 90 days before departure, the deposit minus $250 penalty will be refunded. The penalty rises to $500 for cancellations received 89-60 days before trip departure. Cancellations between 59 and 30 days before trip departure incur a fee of 50% of trip land cost. No refund will be made for cancellations within 29 days of departure date. We strongly recommend purchase of trip cancellation insurance (see above).
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at wantokadventures@gmail.com or contact the person who sent you this itinerary.
Wantok Adventures LLC
1678 16th Street, Suite B
Oakland CA 94607
www.wantokadventures.com
