There is no better way to fully experience the beauty and magnificence of Nepal than to combine one of its most scenic treks with one of the most incredible rivers. The Tamur river trip begins with one of the most picturesque treks in all of Nepal, the Milke Danda. After three days of trekking through flourishing forests and fertile meadows we arrive at the put-in. From here we have 6-days of rafting over 100 class 3-4+ rapids in 120 kilometers. As we move through one of the most remote gorges in the world we allow for plenty of time to explore the multitude of side canyons and obscure villages around the area. Because of the trek to the put-in this river valley is one of the most remote whitewater trips offered in the world. The Tamur River and Milke Danda trek is wonderful for the adventure seeker who wants to get the maximum possible experience while in Nepal. This is the trip to go home and brag to your friends and family about.
Departing from Kathmandu:
Difficulty: 4 / (5-)
From: Dobhan
To: Chatra
Distance: 270 kms
Trip Days: 10 total day (6 river days)
Average Gradient: 20 ft per mile
Best Season: October - November or April – May
Since this trip ends in Chatra, a 16-18 hour bus ride from Kathmandu we offer a flight back from Biratnagar for those travelers pressed for time. However if time is no restriction than consider breaking up the long bus ride back with a jungle safari in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Because of the amount of time required to plan this trip we have established fixed departure dates.
Departure Dates:
April 5 to April 14
April 18 to April 27
Rafting
Rafters need no previous experience.
Kayaking
This is the perfect river for kayakers of an upper intermediate level looking to push their big water skills however is also entertaining for the expert kayaker as there are abundant big wave surfing opportunities. The majority of the rapids are pool-drop making them forgiving to run and allowing us to set safety at the bottom of the rapid. Our experienced safety kayakers accompany every trip and can offer you advice on rapids and tips on improving your technique along the way. A good roll is a minimum prerequisite.
Itinerary:
A Pre-departure meeting is held on the evening prior to your departure at our office in Hotel 7 Corner’s Restaurant at 6pm.
- DAY 1: We will meet at 6.30 am at Hotel 7 Corner Restaurant. Here you can store extra luggage you may have. We will eat breakfast (not included) and depart for our journey. First we will fly KTM- Biratnagar. Once we arrive in Biratnagar we will drive to Basantapur, about a 6 hour ride. Once we arrive in Basantapur we will make camp for the night.
- DAY 2-4: We will organize our gear and porters and begin the trek to Dobhan via Gupha Pokhari, Our days will be long and the trail can be difficult in places, this is a real expedition! Our porters will carry most of our personal gear bags and the Sherpas will guide the way. You are responsible for a daypack with a warm set of cloths, water bottle and camera. Each night we will make camp, an extravagant affair with Sherpa cook teams preparing a well-deserved meal.
- DAY 5: Finally we reach the banks of the mighty Tamur River. We will unload our gear and pack up the rafts. After a safety briefing the white water action begins. Our first day is filled with continuous class 4 white water all the way down to our camp for the night. Here we will spend our first night by the river enjoying a delicious meal once again.
- DAY 6: Today we will continue descending the rapids in the upper gorges of the Tamur. We will break for lunch and finally have opportunities to capture some magnificent photos of our surroundings. After lunch the whitewater continues as we move down river toward our next river camp. Tonight we can eat our tasty meal knowing that tomorrow we will get a day of rest.
- DAY 7: Finally a much deserved day of rest. Today we will have time to enjoy the natural surroundings of beach life in Nepal by lounging around and soaking up the sun. Or if you have more energy we can take a trek to a local village and get an experience of real rural life in Nepal. We will be sure to get a good dinner in tonight because tomorrow the adrenaline continues.
- DAY 8: After breakfast we will re-load the rafts and prepare for the day. Today the action continues with more of the Tamur’s spectacular whitewater. Again we will get a break from the excitement for lunch before continuing down the river. We will make camp and celebrate knowing that we made it through some of the most difficult whitewater on the trip.
- DAY 9: After breakfast we will take to the river for a more relaxing day; taking in local river life as we float through wooded valleys, past small Hamlets and the fishermen. The guides consider day ten the calm before the storm! We will make a delicious feast at camp tonight to try to prepare ourselves for tomorrow.
- DAY 10: The final day on the Tamur is considered, "one of the finest river days in the world" by white water experts. Continuous class IV and IV+ rapids define the reason for the Tamur’s reputation as one of Nepal’s finest river / trek combined. Tonight we will make camp and celebrate once again having survived some of the wildest whitewater Nepal has to offer.
- DAY 11: Today we will board the rafts for our last day and float past the confluence of the Tamur, Sun Kosi and Arun and continue our journey on the Sapta Kosi; one of the most powerful rivers in all the world. When we arrive at our take-out we will meet our pre-arranged transportation back to Kathmandu.
Equipment List:
Kayaking gear: Kayakers will need all of your own boating gear (including floatation bags). Upon arrival ask us for an updated list of available kayaks to choose from. The weather should be good and the water is relatively warm, but always be prepared for the worst. We recommend either a dry top or a least a shorty for your top; wet suit shorts should be enough for the bottom. Booties/Tevas are necessary for footwear and it is nice to have a small dry bag to carry your small personal items in your kayak.
Rafting Gear: We will supply you with all the necessary specialist river equipment including helmets, lifejackets and paddles. If you get cold easy and have a personal paddle jacket (rain jackets also work well) or shortie wet suit, please bring them along you.
Sample Pack List:
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping pad / Thermorest (we can provide if you do not have)
- Rain shell
- Warm jacket (down jacket-vest for Tamur Expedition)
- Warm Hat
- Hiking shoes
- River shoes/Tevas
- Sunglasses (an extra pair never hurts)
- Sun block
- Sun hat or visor
- Headlight
- Extra batteries
- A good book
- Personal Toiletries
- Small First Aid Kit*
- Water bottle (we carry water on the rafts but it is nice to have your own bottle to drink from)
- Shammy or small towel (optional but nice for after a day on the river, there will be opportunities to purchase these along the way if desired)
- Rafting clothes: Cotton is NOT a good idea. It does not dry and will keep you cold. A bathing suit works well and a polypro or other synthetic top for cool mornings. For women a swimming suit is good but quick dry shorts will also probably be wanted.
- Camp clothes: Here is your opportunity for that cotton sweatshirt and jeans; however bring polypro and synthetic clothing as well. For women it is a good idea to have skirts or wraps rather than shorts, especially when we are trekking. Everyone will want to have at least a t-shirt to wear in public places.
Personal First Aid Kit: If you have something you are particularly prone to: ear infections, foot rot, or sinus problems, bring what you need with you. You will definitely want to be carrying medicines for common illnesses like diarrhea, infections and upset stomachs. Also you will want a complete set of inoculations for Asia, ask your doctor for these current suggestions.
Additional Food: Please bring any river snacks that you desire as these are not provided: power bars, granola bars, dried fruit, chocolate, etc. are always nice to have as a pick me up before we get to camp. Additionally Gatorade Powders (or other powdered mix-ins) are a great way to drown out the taste of iodine in your drinking water.
Pre Departure Info
Raft 'N Rivers will be more than happy to organize all your internal travel arrangements in the Kingdom of Nepal. We have a wide variety of services and budget options to suit your needs including, airport pick-ups, sightseeing day hiking/excursions around Kathmandu, airline reconfirmation, hotel room reservations and much more. Contact our friendly and experienced staff or check out our hotel’s web site at www.hotel7corner.com for more information.
Your Trip Costs Includes: All accommodation (once trip begins), river/trekking meals, instruction, trekking / river permits, all required rafting gear (mentioned above), raft support and local transportation. It does NOT include personal expenses such as alcohol, candy, soft drinks or meals in Kathmandu or Pokhara. This will give you the flexibility to do as you wish. Restaurants in Pokhara and Kathmandu are inexpensive and their cuisine varies depending on what you are in the mood for. It also does not include any flights that you may choose to add to your itinerary.
Age and Fitness: Age is an attitude and not a problem; however we do reserve the right to not allow children on the trip if we feel it is too dangerous. River running is a physical pursuit and expedition members should have a reasonable level of fitness. Expedition members should be good swimmers and comfortable in the water.
Insurance: Each Expedition member is responsible for having their own travel insurance including helicopter evacuation.
Vaccinations: Nepal has no official vaccination requirements for entry. However we recommend that you visit a doctor for the latest recommendations and protect yourself accordingly.
Visa: Visa can be obtained at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu upon arrival. You will need 2 passport size photographs.
Currency: The best currency to have is Euros/US Dollars in travelers cheques, cash and/or credit cards. American Express, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted in Nepal.
Recommended Reading: "White Water Nepal," by Peter Knowles; any of the many adventure travel guide books on Nepal, we recommend Lonely Planet publications.
A deposit of 50% of the trip total is required upon booking. The balance is required upon arrival.
