Wild Karnali

Our expedition begins early in Kathmandu with a domestic flight to Nepalgunj. From Nepalgunj, we load our expedition equipment and begin the drive toward Dungeshwor, our river put-in point. The drive takes us deeper into western Nepal, away from the busy cities and toward the remote Karnali region. By the time we reach Dungeshwor, the character of the journey has completely changed. We prepare the boats and expedition equipment, have our final safety briefing and settle in for the night before launching onto the river. Overnight: Dungeshwor\ Meals: Lunch & Dinner\ Activity: Flight, drive & expedition preparation

Today we put our boats on the Karnali River and the expedition officially begins. After a safety briefing and final equipment checks, we push away from the bank and begin our journey downstream. The river quickly takes us away from roads and settlements, and the wilderness starts to become the focus of the expedition. We spend the day navigating the first sections of whitewater and calmer stretches before setting up our first riverside camp. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

We wake beside the river, have breakfast and pack camp before getting back on the water. The river becomes increasingly adventurous as we enter deeper gorges and encounter stronger rapids. Between the whitewater sections, there are long calm stretches where we can enjoy the surrounding jungle, cliffs and remote landscapes. By afternoon, we reach another beautiful riverside campsite, where the crew prepares dinner and we settle beneath the stars. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

Today brings some of the more exciting sections of the Karnali. We spend much of the day navigating powerful rapids and technical whitewater while our safety kayakers work alongside the rafts. Between rapids, the river slows down and gives us time to appreciate the incredible wilderness around us. The contrast between adrenaline-filled rapids and peaceful jungle makes the Karnali such a special expedition river. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

The expedition continues deeper into the Karnali corridor. The river cuts through spectacular jungle-covered valleys and remote gorges, with very little connection to the outside world. We continue working our way downstream, navigating exciting rapids and enjoying quieter stretches of river. Depending on the conditions, we may stop on a sandy beach for lunch or take time to explore the riverbanks before continuing to camp. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & wilderness exploration

Today is our rest day in the middle of the expedition. After several days of paddling and whitewater, we take a break from the river and allow everyone to recover. There is no scheduled rafting today. Instead, we enjoy a relaxed day at camp, explore the surrounding riverbank, swim where conditions are safe, play games, share stories and simply enjoy being deep in the wilderness. It is also a chance for the crew to check equipment, prepare for the second half of the expedition and enjoy a slower day beside the Karnali. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rest, relaxation & wilderness camp

After a well-earned rest, we pack camp and get back on the Karnali. The river once again becomes our road as we continue downstream through remote valleys and jungle-covered landscapes. With everyone rested and ready, we return to the whitewater and continue tackling the exciting sections of the river. As we move further downstream, the environment gradually begins to change, but the feeling of being deep in the wilderness remains. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

Another full day on the river takes us deeper toward the lower Karnali. We navigate a mixture of exciting rapids and calmer stretches, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery between the whitewater. The expedition rhythm is now fully established: paddle, navigate, explore, eat, camp and repeat. As evening approaches, we find another riverside beach or suitable campsite and settle in for one of our final nights beside the river. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Full-day rafting & camping

Our final day on the river brings the expedition toward Chisapani, our take-out point. We enjoy the last stretches of Karnali whitewater before the river journey gradually comes to an end. After several days of living beside the river, reaching Chisapani feels like the end of one adventure and the beginning of another. We take the boats out, pack the expedition equipment and celebrate the journey with the crew. Overnight: Chisapani\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner\ Activity: Final rafting day & take-out

After breakfast, we leave Chisapani and drive toward Nepalgunj for our return flight to Kathmandu. For those who want to extend the adventure, we can arrange an optional Bardiya National Park visit, turning the final day into a combination of river expedition and wildlife experience. For everyone else, we continue to Nepalgunj and catch our flight back to Kathmandu. The Karnali expedition ends where it began in Kathmandu, but with a very different story to tell. Meals: Breakfast\ Activity: Drive, optional Bardiya National Park visit & flight to Kathmandu Optional Bardiya National Park Extension Want to keep the adventure going? Instead of flying straight back to Kathmandu, you can extend your trip with a visit to Bardiya National Park. Chisapani provides a natural gateway for adding a wildlife experience to the end of your Karnali expedition. Spend additional time exploring the jungle and looking for Nepal's incredible wildlife before returning to Kathmandu. Bardiya National Park extension is optional and priced separately.