Kali Gandaki Rafting Adventure

Duration
3 days
Max altitude
-
Best time
Sep to Dec, Mar to May

Overview

Raft the sacred Kali Gandaki through the world's deepest gorge - big whitewater, riverside camps and remote village stops.

This journey is fully supported by an Earthbound ground team, licensed guides, comfortable lodging and all logistics arranged so you can focus on the experience. Trips run for groups as small as one or two people, and every itinerary can be tailored to your dates and pace.

Trip highlights

  • Class III–IV whitewater rapids
  • Camping on white-sand beaches
  • The world's deepest river gorge
  • Remote villages & temples en route

What's included

Included in Standard

  • Airport transfers & ground transport
  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation throughout the trip
  • All permits & national park fees
  • Meals as per the itinerary

Not included

  • International flights
  • Travel & rescue insurance
  • Personal trekking gear
  • Tips & personal expenses
  • Nepal entry visa (on arrival)

Itinerary

Day by day, with where you sleep and how far you walk.

Drive early from Pokhara to the put-in point about 40 km away, taking roughly 2 hours, then get a safety briefing before launching. Paddle through a series of Class III and Class IV rapids past canyon rock formations and hilltop villages before reaching the campsite.

After breakfast tackle more Class III and Class IV rapids that ease in intensity as the day goes on, while the valley widens past temples and villages of Brahmins and Magars. Waterfalls cascading down stalactite formations lead to the night halt on a remote beach.

Pass Modi Beni village at the holy confluence of the Modi and Kali rivers, with relatively easy rapids as the great gorge is left behind and the river calms. The trip ends with lunch, then the drive back to Pokhara through farmland and Gurung villages.

Photos

A look at the trail, the villages and the mountains.

Reviews

5.0 9 reviews
The trip of a lifetime

Everything was handled for us from the moment we landed. Our guide read the group perfectly, slowed the pace when we needed it, and knew every village along the way. I never once worried about logistics.

Sarah M. AustraliaOctober 2025
Felt looked after the whole way

We travelled as a couple and the small group made all the difference. Comfortable lodges, honest advice about the altitude, and a team who clearly loved the mountains. Booking on our own dates was easy.

James & Kate United KingdomMay 2025
Well organised and genuinely local

You can tell this is run by people from here, not a call centre abroad. The itinerary had proper rest days built in, the food was better than I expected, and the whole thing ran to time.

Daniel R. CanadaMarch 2025

Common questions

We grade it Moderate. Rest days are built in to help you adjust, and a good level of everyday fitness is enough to enjoy it. Tell us about your experience when you enquire and we will be honest about the fit.

The best time to go is Autumn & spring (Sep–Dec, Mar–May), when the weather is most settled and the views are clearest. We also run the trip outside these months on request, ask us and we will tell you what to expect.

Small. Many of our trips run for just one or two people, and we keep group sizes low so the pace stays yours and your guide has time for everyone. You can also book the whole trip privately.

A 30% deposit, about $86 on this trip, holds your place, and the rest is due before you travel. You can change your dates for free up to 60 days out.

Yes, and yes. All the national park fees and trekking permits for this route are arranged by us and included in the price. You just need a valid passport and a Nepal entry visa, which you get on arrival.

Every itinerary can be adjusted around your dates, your pace and how long you have. If you want extra rest days, a different start, or to add another region, tell us and we will build it around you.

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