The Karnali lies in the western part of the nation in what is called the “Wild West” of Nepal, an area only recently opened for tourism. It is Nepal’s mightiest river and most experienced river travelers, who have rafted or kayaked down the Karnali, agree that it is one of the best trips offered anywhere.

Rising in the vicinity of Tibet’s holy Mount Kailash, the Karnali carves the Himalayan landscape into a series of magnificent gorges and canyons as it descends slowly into the forests of western Nepal. On this river you can expect exceptionally big-volume rafting through jungles inhabited by nomads, deserted beaches and small villages. Seasonal snow melts and storms can cause the river level to swell drastically and create the extremes of whitewater rafting.

In high water, the Karnali is a serious undertaking, with fairly straightforward yet huge rapids. Even at lower levels, it is still not a walk in the park as the rapids become more constricted and the gradient steeper. One highlight of this classic river journey is a 7km long gorge, “thrill-a-minute roller-coaster ride,” with rapids at every bend. Although we must admit, any season suits the Karnali.