TRIP DETAILS: Kali Expedition

REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY

  • Must be 14 years old or above

  • Must not suffer from any medical or physical condition that prohibits the participant from partaking in physical exercise

COST: Rs 66,000

Rates quoted are per person, based on sharing double accommodations.

Cost includes: Transfer from Kathgodam to the starting point and the take-out to Kathgodam, sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary, accommodation in hotel/inns/camping in villages, rafting and camping fees, and all arrangements in the field, including camp meals, cook staff and group gear. Costs include rafting equipment – life jacket, helmet, raft guide, safety kayaker; we have unmatched top of the line self-bailing rafts and accessories used by professionals globally. Also included in the cost is expert leadership, including the country’s most experienced guiding team.

Cost excludes: Airfare/train/surface, sleeping bags, expenses of personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, laundry, etc.), insurance (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance which includes trip cancellation insurance), etc. Cost also excludes costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, landslides, road conditions or any other circumstances beyond our control.

ITINERARY

Day 0: Delhi to Kathgodam. Overnight train from Delhi to Kathgodam. (Train travel not included in cost of trip.) Arrive early in the morning.

Day 1: Kathgodam to Pithoragarh. Our drive to Pithoragarh (7 hours) gives you splendid views of the Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchuli mountain ranges. We drive through the towns and villages of Kumaon that provide a rich cultural background for the trip. Don’t be surprised if you want to stop often to take photographs of the diverse flora and fauna, along with the Himalayas in the background. Overnight at Pithoragarh Hotel.

Day 2: Pithoragarh to Jauljibi to Chaukidari Camp. A short drive from Pithoragarh (2 ½ hours) brings us to the confluence of three rivers: Gori, Ganga, and Kali Rivers at Jauljibi. It is here that we start the expedition. After a comprehensive river safety briefing, as well as basic rafting instructions, you are ready to experience the thrill of grade 3 rapids. The sights and sounds of the many villages we cross add to the special experience of being on the river. We pitch camp late afternoon, followed by dinner around the campfire. Overnight at camp.

Day 3: Chaukidari Camp to Waterfall Camp. Our second day on the Kali begins with a grade 2 rapid. Enjoy the white water as we raft through the ‘Squeeze’ at Juhlaghat. The river banks sport stalactite and stalagmite formations, reminding us of what we learnt in school. In the afternoon, we pitch camp by a waterfall and we can either choose to hike up to it or laze around the campfire, eat dinner and hit the sleeping bag. Camp overnight.

Day 4: Waterfall Camp to Nidal Camp. Get ready for some more action on grade 2-3 rapids to reach Pancheshwar, the confluence of Kali and Saryu Rivers. Don’t forget your poles, this is a great spot for fishing. Camp overnight.

Day 5: Nidal Camp to Rupali Gad Camp. Expect loads of thrills today as we move from Pancheshwar towards Rupali Gad and encounter grade 3 rapids as the river picks up volume. The untouched beauty is breathtaking and has us all wishing for the day not to end. Camp overnight.

Day 6: Rupali Gad Camp to Pari Gaon Camp. The river’s run from Rupali Gad to Pari Gaon takes us through the Kali’s biggest rapid, the ‘Chuka’, a grade 4+ rapid. As the rapid has several channels we will scout around before running it. We will then enjoy a few more grade 3 rapids before we reach camp across the river from Pari Gaon. There will be plenty to discuss and remember about the day when we sit around the campfire and savor a hot, delicious meal. Camp overnight.

Day 7: Pari Gaon to Boom to Kathgodam. On the last day on the river we start from Pari Gaon to reach the take out at Boom. There is a distinct shift in the surrounding vegetation as we enter the Terai region. You may find wild elephants sharing the river with you! After lunch load up and drive to Kathgodam. Board the night train out of Kathgodam to Delhi. (Train travel not included in cost of trip.)

Day 8: Kathgodam to Delhi. This is the end of the journey folks; you’re back in Delhi, bright and early.