Tamor a mighty River lies Eastern part
of Nepal, it begin from Mt. Kanchanjunga and other
numerous mountains of Eastern part. A trip to Tamor
offers a thrilling experience combined trekking, Rafting
and exploration through cultural heritage. The snows
of Kanchenjunga feed a challenging less known relative
of the Sun Kosi. The spectacular Tamur combines an
exhilarating river expedition with one of the best
short treks in the Himalayas. Picking up our team of
fifty porters at Basantapur we trek for 3 days through
ancient moss covered Rhododendron forests and sunlit
meadows. The short trek is stunning, with great views
of Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Everest. Descending to
Dobhan we wander through charming Gurung villages
and emerald fields of rice. Children play excitedly
along the trail as we pass, snow-capped Himalayan
giants surround us, and the champagne river churns
and bubbles below. It gets even better - local people
are a fascinating collage of tribes and castes who
have perfected the brewing of their local drink, Tungba,
to a fine art. At Dobhan three tributaries of the
Tamur join their forces, combining the racing rivers
of the high mountains to the north. Steep canyon walls
enclose the river and the rapids are powerful and
continuous. In the middle section the river opens
up and there are beautiful white sandy beaches. The
last few days where the river turns back to the west
is phenomenal. Towering waves leap skyward, with seemingly
endless rapids surging through steep canyon walls.
Small fishermen's villages line the confluence of
every major tributary, while wild monkeys watch from
the jungle as we drift past.
For people who want a longer trip that combines a
spectacular short trek with intense whitewater, the
Tamur is without a doubt the river to run.
Starting Point :Kabaeli Doban
635 m
Ending Point :Chatara
Distance :131 Kms
Grading :Class 4/5
Duration :10 Days (Raft 5 Days, Trek 5 Days)
Average gradient :1 &
Maximum gradient :0,4%
Volume in November :150 M3/sec
Best season :October -December & February
-April
Group Size :From 4 Persons, joining & Private
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Kathmandu-Basantapur, O/n Camp.
Morning fly to Biratnagar, At Biratnagar we meet up
with the rafting bus and drive up through the bustling
market town of Hile and onto the end of the road at
Basantapur where we camp.
Day 02-04: Trekking to Dovan, O/n
Camp.
No visit to the Himalayas would be complete without
trekking and it is no accident that one of the world's
finest rivers starts with one of Nepal's most scenic
treks. At Basantapur our Sirdhar (head porter) will
be there with a tough looking crew who will carry
all the expedition gear to the river. Gear is divided
up, prices haggled, and these stouthearted men and
boys then pick up loads with their necks, and head
on up the trail. It's quite a sight to watch a 60-kilo
man in his mid thirties trudge up a steep mountain
trail with a 70-kilo raft hanging off a strap which
runs across his forehead. It's enough to make you
want to join a health club. This part of Nepal sees
very little tourism and the villages and farms you
see along the trail are much the way rural Nepal has
been for hundreds of years. Our 3-day trek follows
a ridge up to a 10,000 ft pass above the sacred lake
at Gupha Pokhari with magnificent views of Kanchenjunga,
Makalu and the Everest mastiff, before dropping into
the lush villages of the Tamur valley providing a
truly memorable approach to this classic Himalayan
white water descent. Days are long and the trail can
be difficult in places, but with Porters carrying
the gear and Sherpa guides we should all make it to
the river intact. Expedition members carry a daypack
with a warm set of clothes, water bottle and camera.
Trekking camps are an extravagant affair with staff
preparing well-deserved meals. Arriving at Dobhan
where the river expedition starts it is highly recommended
that you sample the local Thungba (Millet wine)
Day 05 - 08 Rafting
The Tamur and its tributaries drain the snows of Kachenjunga,
third highest peak in the world. Constrained by steep
valley walls, it becomes Nepal's sixth largest river
and one of the world's remotest whitewater river expeditions.
At our put in point we sort equipment and inflate
the rafts. The guides tie all the equipment into the
rafts, which is quite a thing to witness. Twenty years
of running rivers has taught us a lot, not the least
of which is how to tie a load so it stays put no matter
what, which is just as well because the first 20 kilometers
of the Tamur is basically one long rapid.
A raft trip down the Tamur isn't just a vacation
it's an education. Our river guides spend the first
part of the morning explaining the finer points on
how to paddle through whitewater and stay in the raft
as it bucks and contorts through rapids. For those
who missed a point in the previous lesson there is
a lesson on how to swim through whitewater, using
your flotation device to keep your head up and your
feet to push off rocks or pesky kayakers who happen
to be surfing in the middle of a rapid. The guides
will also teach you what they look out for when they
run a river, the innocuous looking rise in the water
that hides a hole, or the way you can use a pillow
of water rebounding off a rock to push the raft where
you want it. Whitewater rafts are amazingly versatile
and stable crafts, and in the care of an expert raft
guide it is possible to run challenging lines safely
and confidently. Your guide is a professional, someone
who has devoted their life to learning and running
rivers. Under his or her careful indoctrination the
raft crew learns how to work as a team, practicing
on the numerous smaller rapids we encounter on the
first two days of the river. From Dobhan we have 131
kilometers of breath-taking river journey through
the heart of eastern Nepal. With over 100 class 3
and 4+ rapids, the Tamur offers a unique six days
of white water with plenty of time to explore hidden
side valleys and visit remote villages.Camping on
the Tamur is awesome. The massive floods of the monsoon
deposit huge tracks of pure white sand along the river
creating ideal campsites surrounded by lush forest
and terraced hillsides. We will have at least one
layover day where we stay at the same river camp for
two nights. HELLO BEACH PARTY!!! Volleyball, sand
sculpture, foot bag, Frisbee, sun bathing or just
relaxing on a warm beach with a good book are favorite
activities for the layover day. You can also take
advantage of the layover day to trek to a peak or
nearby village, or take part in the kayak workshop
the safety boaters offer. Evenings are spent around
the campfire, drinking hot-spiced rum and getting
to know the people on the trip. Food is communally
prepared, every day a different raft crew helping
with the creation of sumptuous meals. The kitchen
becomes one of the main social points on the trip,
and without a doubt the best place to catch up on
the latest gossip or get to know someone better
"Gut
that chicken for you, mam?"
Day 09: Rafting
The Lower Tamur is a steep and continuous mountain
river section; a unique combination of exceptionally
fun and challenging rapids without it ever getting
past the point of recreation. It's sort of like being
flushed down a huge open-air toilet, but the Tidy
Bowl Man is your guide and there are no worries. Emerald
green fields are terraced high above the river on
precipitous slopes; curious villagers lining suspension
bridges are amazed as we plunge through cascading
waves and chutes of foam.
Day 10 Rafting End-drive to Biratnagar,
Fly to Kathmandu.
The Tamur / Sun Kosi confluence is called Tribeni
Ghat and has an interesting temple to visit. Before
emerging onto the flatland Terai, there is another
larger Hindi Temple called Baraha Chhetra. Every year
on the day of the full moon in January, thousands
of Hindu pilgrims mass here to pay homage to Lord
Vishnu. Legend has it that once a demon god inhabited
this area and troubled the villagers, holy men and
pilgrims. Hearing of this, Lord Vishnu, preserver
of the universe, took the form of a pig and slayed
the demon in battle. Inside the temple is a pig headed
figure of Lord Vishnu, and the annual Braha festival
commemorates the victory. Just a little further downstream
lays India and all its semi functional chaos. The
final day we raft the Sun Kosi to Chatara and then
return to Kathmandu. From the takeout it is a short
2 hours drive then a 55-minute flight back to KTM.
[ Tour
Cost & Inquiry ]
Service Include
Freshly cooked full board Meals, Camping gears;
two men a tent sharing, Kitchen tent, Dining tent,
toilet tent, life jackets, helmet, life jackets,
Ground transportation going by tourist Bus or return
after the trip tourist bus or local Bus depending
upon the mode of transportation available at put-in
and pull-out point, staffs; Cook, Captain and kitchen
crews.
Service does not include :
Bar Bills, Private Transport, Emergency evacuation,
things of personal use and travel insurance, private
vehicle. Airfare Kathmandu- Biratnagar( US$ 77.00
one way).
What we provide
Along with our high quality self-bailing rafts,
we provide helmets, plastic paddles, wetsuits, lifejackets,
and first aid kit.
We provide plentiful, healthy and hygienically prepared
food and drinks. Tents and sleeping mats are also
provided. Sleeping bags can be supplied upon request.
All our equipment is of the highest quality, clean
and well maintained.
Things you need to Bring
Please bring with you shorts and a T-shirt or swimwear
for on the river, suitable footwear for wearing
in the raft, warm clothing for the evenings, a towel,
sun block and your camera. A flashlight is also
useful
What you need to tell us
Please tell us if you are a non-swimmer, or not
very confident in the water. Also it is essential
that you inform us of any medical conditions that
may affect your well being on the trip.
Safety
Adventure Whitewater takes the safety of its clients
very seriously. All our guides are licensed, with
many years of experience on the rivers of Nepal
and other European countries. All are trained in
CPR, First Aid and advanced river rescue techniques.
SAFARI OPTION : For those
who don't cherish the thought of returning directly
to civilization, consider visiting the Koshi Tappu
wildlife Reserve Paradise of Bird, In Koshi Tappu
you will enjoy a variety of activities ranging from
elephant safaris (unquestionably the best vehicle
from which to view rhinoceros and tigers), canoeing
amongst marsh mugger crocodiles, jungle walks and
bird watching.Koshi Tappu wild life camp offers
a comfortable stay.