Rafting Equipment

Items for River:

- River sandals, Shorts or a swimming costumes
- A cap, sunglass and sun cream

Clothes and Other Items:

• Hiking short pants
• T-shirts (Long & short)
• Pairs of thick socks (wool or synthetic)
• Pairs of Long Paints and pullovers (depends rafting days).
• To sunburn protection for skin.
• Underwear and all necessary and personal things etc
• Pair of condition lightweight walking / running shoes.
• Quality sleeping bag & sleeping matters. For those who don’t have they can rent it easily in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
• Light weight clothing as pants, shorts, cotton underwear, t-shirts, swim wear
• Light weight long sleeved shirt or t-shirt and a fleece style jacket
• Flashlight with spare batteries & bulbs
• A couple handkerchiefs
• Pocket knife
• Biodegradable soap
• Hand towel
• Feminine hygiene items, including plastic bags to pack out dirty items.
• Lighter / matches (for toilet paper and candles)
• Spare eyeglass or contact lenses if needed
• Hard shell water bottle.
• Emergency contact information
• Personal medical kit and things for personal use etc.

Rafting Season

The time of the year can really make a big difference in the flow of water in the rivers. The flow of the rivers during the monsoon in July and August are ten times are more than the flow of water in March.

It is usually best for beginners to go on a trip after mid-October, when the rivers become milder. During the November the rivers are mainly fast-moving, but not too difficult. The busiest rafting season is in October and November. The best seasons for rafting are from September to December and March to early June. In December and January many river become cold and unless you have a wetsuit they may not be enjoyable. The winter is not as cold as might be expected because most of the trips are on rivers areas below 500m elevation. The rivers are the most mild between from December to April. During the winter is a slower time for tourism, there are less options with tour operator for rafting trips.

From March to the mid-May because the river flow is low, the rivers do not move as quickly. If the water is running faster on a river at a particular time of the year, the trip can take a shorter time than if it is running slower.

From early September to early October and late-May to late-June (when snow melts in the mountains and some pre-monsoon rainfall) the rivers can flow very quickly. During this time rafting can be more dangerous than normal. It is best to raft with an experience company at this time, because extra precautions need to be taken.
During the monsoon, from June to August only experts should do rafting trips. During this time there may be 10 times as much water flowing in the rivers. Rafting can only be done on certain rivers during this time.

Various rivers can be different depending on the time of year. Depending on the time of the year you are in Nepal, can adjust what river you go on.

Rafting Grade

1. Easy
Moving water with occasional small rapids. Few or no obstacles.

2. Moderate
Small rapids with regular waves. Some maneuvering required but easy to navigate.

3. Difficult
Rapids with irregular waves and hazards that need avoiding. More difficult manicuring required but routes are normally obvious. Scouting from the shore is occasionally necessary.

4. Very difficult
Large rapids that require careful manicuring. Dangerous hazard. Scouting from the shore is often necessary and rescue is usually difficult. Kayakers should be able to roll. Turbulent water and large irregular waves may flip rafts. In the event of a mishap there is significant risk of loss, damage and/ or injury.

5. extremely difficult
Long and very violent rapids with servere hazards. Continuous, powerful, confused water makes route finding difficult and caution from the shore is essential. Rescue is very difficult or impossible and in the event of a mishap there is a significant hazard to life.

6. Nearly impossible

Difficulties of class 5 carried to the extreme of navigability. Might possibly (but not probably) be run a team of experts at the right water level, in the right conditions, with all possible safety precautions, but still with considerable hazard to life.

Rafting Medical Kits

Climate.

The seasons in Nepal are typically that of the northern hemisphere. Throw in a monsoon season and the climate becomes anything but typical. Diverse topography ranges from the cold. Wind swept Himalayan peaks, to humid sub-topical jungles all within a span of less than a hundred miles. For river trips, plan for temperate to sub tropical conditions. Average daytime temperatures range between 25 and 320 C, while the evenings are around 10 degrees cooler.

Health

Nepal has no official vaccination requirements for entry. However. you should make an effort to protect yourself from some of the serious infection diseases that can be prevented by vaccine or other preventive measures. Antibiotics and other medications are available in Nepal Prescriptions are not needed but you ill need to know the chemical name of the medicine.

Dysentery, amoebic and bacterial is normal ailments that strike travelers to Nepal. It is essential to take the necessary precautions when selecting where and what you eat before your journey. Sanitation is a major concern on our trips and almost without exception illnesses that occur on the river, will usually have begun before the trip even started. If you have any medical conditions, make sure to list them on your booking form. Also, it is advised to discuss it with your guide and trip leader in Kathmandu.

Beyond Rafting

Venturing into the unknown is the spirit of exploration and is often never as difficult as first imagined, As Nepal is a land of extremes. There is so make to see and do during your visit. Ultimate Descents. Nepal has more combined experience than we organizing airport transfers. Hotel bookings treks domestic and mountain flights, mountain biking, wildlife safari, sightseeing excursions, cultural fours, ballooning, mountain biking and adventure trips in conjunction with your river journey. Other Ultimate destinations are Bhutan, Thailand and Tibet, Leave the logistics to us and we will custom design a holiday to suit you needs.

Airline Ticket Reconfirmation

If you have an international flight schedule less than 72 hours after your return to kathamandu from your rafting trip, it is highly recommended that you reconfirm the reservation prior to your departure for the river; our staff can arranges this for you for an administration fee will be minimum.

Rafting and the Environment

Nepal, with its massive mountain peaks and impressive geography, is actually a very fragile environment. At Ultimate Descents Nepal our lives have revolved around the free-flowing river, we feel an increased responsibility to protect and preserve these wild places. Not only do we leave every campsite cleaner than when we arrived. We take all necessary steps to protect Nepal's river and the people who live along them.

In association with the non-profit Nepal River Conservation Trust. We run a yearly conservation trip on one of Nepal's classic rivers. Similar to our regularly scheduled trips. These expeditions have the added bonus of incorporating conservation and education opportunities. The entire proceeds from this river journey are contributed to the Trust.