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Normally the
first day of a river trip begins early in the morning around 7
a.m. You are driven to put-in point of the river. Depending upon
the distance between Kathmandu and the put-in point, the river
can take from a couple of hours. This is a situation if you
choose between the Trishuli and the Sunkoshi. A river trip on
any other river requires a longer drive or a flight plus drive
and even a trek in some cases.
If you start at 7 a.m. and the drive drops you at the put-in
point exactly after three hours, rafting is likely to begin
around 11 a.m. After you reach the put-in point, a safety talk
takes place along with the inflating of the rubber rafts and
organising other river equipment by river crew.
The talk includes delivering of know how about measures to be
taken in case of an emergency need. The participant should
listen to the river guide very carefully. Questions can be
raised to make things clearer.
The life-vest must be worn all the time while on the river,
irrespective of weather you are hitting a major rapid or running
a flat water section. A protective helmet is suggested if you
are running a high class rapid.
Frequently the river outfitter provides the option between an
oar boat or a paddle boat. Kayaking is another option. Normally
the Kayakers bring their own Kayaks. There are outfitters who
provide with a Kayak. If your option is the paddle boat, then
you are instructed to properly use the paddle either during the
safety talk or before sailing off. If you are of participate
nature, then your choice would be paddling. Paddling is more
challenging and thrilling. The paddle boat requires well co-ordinated
team effort between the paddlers and river guide who stays at
the back and plays his paddle in the role of the steering wheel
of a car. The responsibility of the participants is to follow
his instruction in a proper manner. The thrilling moment for a
paddler is while hitting a rapid.
It is usual that you get wet whether you hit rapid or not within
half an hour after sailing starts. In an oar boat, the river
guide alone rows lightly and slowly on the flat wear and
penetratedly and boldly while hitting a rapid. The oar boat
gives you an opportunity to observe the surroundings.
As for meals, the river outfitter normally provides all meals
during the trip days. |
