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Arun River Rafting.

Powerful rapids in a wild and committing gorge and a scenic trek to the start. Substantial high-class paddling for the expert kayakers.

The Arun is respected as one of the most mightily and powerful rivers of Nepal. Its source is on the Tibetan Plateau, to the north of Kathmandu and it then swings in an easterly arc for some 200 km, drinking the Northern slopes of Everest and Makalu before cutting south through the Himalayas and into Nepal. It cuts through the Himalayas in some deep and awesome gorges that have fascinated explorers, join the Sun Kosi shortly before the Indian Plain. The gorges and gradient ease off near Chandanpur as the valley opens out and the hills get lower. L.R. Wager, a mountaineer and geographer, explored these gorges on the upper Arun and as a result, in an article in the Geographical Journal in 1937, he suggested the now accepted theory of antecedent drainage- that these major rivers had developed before the Himalayas and that they had maintained their courses by cutting progressively deeper gorges as the mountains were uplifted. In more recent years the river has been the subject of 'Arun iii', a proposed huge hydroelectric project that thankfully this has now been shelved. The river and its tributaries drain a huge watershed and the river carries a high load of sediment and glacial silt- colour varies between a milky brown to a granny. The deep gorges of the upper river have granite canyons clad in overhanging jungle and a wide variety of plant and animal life - very beautiful, but at times damp and gloomy.Mainly Bhotia people, many of whom still practice the old Bon Po religion, sparsely inhabit this upper valley. In the old days one of their main sources of income used to be trading goods to and from Tibet as the main trail up valley used to be an important trade route through to Tibet. Below Sedum most confect is with the hardy Rai tribe who eke out an innovative existence on the walls of the gorge.

Fast Facts.

Put-in point: Hedangna Bridge (Alt. 790m) . Put-out point: Tumingtar (Alt. 280m) Distance: 60 km (35 miles) River day: 4 (6 to chatara) From Kathmandu 2 hours. Difficulty in Nov: Class: 5(6)  Average gradient : 10m/km (50ft a mile) Est. Max. Gradient 0.7 % Volume in Nov:  150 cms (5300 cfs) Best season: Oct / Dec and March / May. Rapids Name: Snail's nose, Teendevi, Malekhu rapid, Monkey rapid, Upset, Surprise, Monsoon, Cotton Pony, Ladies Delight, S-Bend, Highway, Monsoon and Pinball Rapid

The Experience

This is a really pleasant, picturesque two day trip which offers an easier and shorter alternative to the upper Kali Gandaki or the Trisuli - no horrendous big rapids but plenty of friendly small ones. Many companies now two-days raft trips on the Seti. It doesn't really need three days, but the 'Jungle Corridor' is so beautiful, with white beaches by a warm blue rive, completely away from roads, villages, and civilization, that it make a great place to lazy or camp. Comment from one-woman rafter was: "this is the place I would like to spend my honeymoon"! The Seti river now sees several trips a week in high season, but there's a wide selection of beaches on which to camp, and you are far away from any road so it retains that precious 'away-from-it-all' feeling. Several companies now offer kayak clinics on the Seti, where you are accompanied by a raft, as you learn to run the rapids. You normally start with an introductory day on the lake at Pokhara and then, at Damauli to take 3 or 4 days to slowly make your way down the river. Partners who are not interested in trying this deviant activity should note that most companies would welcome you to come along for a relaxed ride on the support raft.Rafting above Damauli is probably not worthwhile in view of the lower volume, narrow steep falls that would need portaging and shallow shingle rapids.

Arun River Itinerary.

Day 01 Kathmandu to Tumlingtar: - An hour's flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. The Tumlingtar flight if scheduled in the afternoon, the camp shall be put up in Tumlingtar itself. The afternoon could be spent in visiting this tiny village with its small teashops and airstrip. Briefing for the next day's trip in the evening. Day 02 Savaiya Khola Breakfast will normally be served at 8: 30 AM. Trek for about two hours at a gradual pace until Sabiya Khola. Briefing for the next day's schedule. Get the equipments ready to start early for the following day. Day 03 Megan Besi As soon as we get on the river. From Tumlingtar, we get started at 9:30 AM after breakfast. Today is pretty smooth except for little rough ones of grade III/IV. Day 04 Today could be more challenging than the previous days. We come across quite a number of rapids one after another. The first encounter is a left- bend rapid, before the suspension bridge at Ranighat. A number of rapids follow after this, one after another we finally camp nearby blithe rapid. Day 05 Today is pretty smooth and relaxed compared to the previous days. The Arun River now merges with river Sunkosi to form in to a confluence of river Saptakosi, one of the major rivers of Nepal, which further flows to merge with the famous Gange in India. Float along Saptakosi for another half an hour and we reach the site of a temple in Bara Chettra a Hindu temple dedicated to lord Vishnu. From here, float for another half an hour to Chattra . Drive back. Day 06 Arrive Kathmandu .