The Marsyangdi River is one of the most outstanding grade IV Kayaking Rivers in the world. Continuous, exhilarating white-water with magnificent mountain backdrops and drains the northern slope of the Annapurna Himal. It flows east through an arid valley around Manang and then swings south to join the Trisuli River at Mugling. Marsyangdi means ‘raging river’ in local dialect. It was opened to commercial rafting in 1996 and demands 100% Commitment from both crew and guide. It is totally different from the big volume rivers like Sun Kosi and Karnali, the rapids are technical and require a very different approach.
Itinerary 1:
Rafting (4 days)
Day 01:
Drive from Kathmandu to Dumre by bus, then drive from Dumre to Bensisahar by bus. You camp overnight at Bensisahar.
Day 02:
Rafting from Bensisahar and camp at the beach at the confluence of Chepe River and Marshyangdi River.
Day 03:
All day rafting and camping on the beach near Turtle Bazaar.
Day 04:
Rafting to Bimalnagar. After lunch drive back to Kathmandu.
Itinerary 2:
Rafting (5 days)
Day 01:
Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar and then to Khudi to set up Camp
After reaching Besisahar you unload the gear and one of our staff will show up with a porter who will carry all the expedition gear to our camp at Khudi. You arrive at Khudi in time to set up camp, relax and find the best spot to take in the magnificence of the surrounding Himalayas at sunset
Day 02:
Trek start from Khudi to Ngadi then back to Ngadi by raft for your night camp
After breakfast, you start trekking for a couple of hours to your put in point Ngadi. Lunch will be served, rafts are pumped, gear handed out after and your expedition leader will brief you and train you on land about safety and paddling. Pay attention as you are straight into the rapids and this river has a way of underlining any mistakes! This is the most knuckle gripping section of the river so enjoy it. You encounter rapids as Instant Karma, Twinkie, Adrenaline, and Mama’s Big Butt by Bhulbhule. You finish today back at Khudi and have a well-earned dinner.
Day 03:
Start adventure-rafting trip from Khudi and raft up to the sandy beach below Besisahar.
From today you have to be prepared to continuous bumping into the challenging rapids and it doesn’t stop after the 1st day. The crystal blue water thunders down steep as waterfall for mile after mile, with lush jungle clinging insecurely to the canyon walls and surreal mountains suspended high above the forested ridges. You have to run on these rapids and tackle the intense whitewater rafting for the next 5 hours. Lunch will be provided on the way and then continue descent to the camping site in the sandy beach. The white sandy beaches below Bensisahar make for the most comfortable nightspot around
Day 04:
Do rafting and camp in Bhoteodar
After breakfast you hit directly into whitewater again. At Phaliya Sanghu the whole river is squeezed between vertical walls, which rise 200 ft to a suspension bridge across the river. For a short section after Phaliya Sanghu the river relaxes, the rapids are more open and nowhere as powerful. You end the day at Bhotewodar, where you camp on the banks in the cave of a Shiva temple.
Day 05:
Bhotewodar to Bimalnagar.
The river becomes very mellow and goes through a high walled gorge with birds and vegetation that can only be described as breath taking. You reach your take out point at Bimal Nagar by lunchtime where your transport is waiting to take you back to Pokhara or Chitwan or Kathmandu |
