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Published: November 2nd 2009
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The main aim of our trip to Nepal was to do some serious rafting for few days. Well, I guess plan are made to be changed. We headed early morning to the Bhote Koshi Valley. Our schedule was pretty tied and I couldn't find any decent river to raft in 3 days. So we did sign for a 2 days trip rafting on the Bhote Koshi as well as one day of canyoning, staying two nights in the camp of Borderlands. Bhothe Koshi translate in Nepalese as the Tibetan River, flowing as its name indicates it from Tibet, just 15 km up the road from the Borderlands Camp. This is also the main highway from Nepal to Tibet, which technically also means, the main road from India to China in the area. The road was full of very colourful trucks, with even more interesting honking devises...
Well, Bhote Koshi is my 8th river and the 4th for Ma'ri. We are in the look for rivers which provide as many Class IV rapids, and if they throw in few Class V, this is even better. We were sold 2 days of amazing rafting. Guess what, I'm starting to be
seriously fed up with the marketing tricks of some of these Rafting Companies around the world trying to give you the impression you are going to raft for hours on a great river. Our first day rafting was simply boring, with one single Class IV, and maybe 2 proper Class III over a two hours boring ride. The only good news is that the scenery was pretty amazing. We used Ultimate Descent, but frankly, they all advertise the same big lie, and I hate this! Why do all these companies try to rank their rivers top 10 in the world...when they are simply boring. Ok, what they did not tell us, is that the higher part of the river was still close due to to high currant, and too many big stones in the wrong places making it too dangerous for most. Well, they could have told us this! This was my 50 cents of complaining around the big lying myth of most rafting companies. Don'tworry, I'm on the Nile in Uganda in March...and this should be...serious!
The good news, is that if we had issues with Ultimate descent bad sales techniques and even worst, a serious lying rafting
guide leader, at least I can say that Borderlands teams are a completely different story. Do come, and when you come here...do Canyoning. We were lucky to be able to switch our second day of rafting, for a second day of canyoning. For this I commend the honesty of the camp manager at Borderlands. So before coming back to the canyoning, let me share the paradise of Borderlands with you.
The camp is 96km north-east of Kathmandu. Depending on traffic it will take 3 to 4 hours of van/bus drive. The drive is simply magical...And yes, I did not even imagine before I came here, but there are a lot of traffic jams in Nepal. Not that they have that many cars, but with so many trucks and buses on maybe a little more than one lane "highways", bending every
50 meters, you can easily imagine the chaos in some of these Valleys.
We made it to the camp before lunch. They have different types of "tents". Our was a safari type, with a proper bed, lying in luxurious vegetation and beautiful flowers. Borderlands lay next to the river, so be ready for continuous rapids "noise"...don't know if
it is a nuisance or somehow romantic, but the place is really beautiful. We were tended by impressive nice staffs, and if the food was not amazing, it was perfectly adequate for the adventures we did everyday.
On our first day, we did a "beginner" level outing of canyoning. By canoying, you mean going down waterfalls and canyons by abseiling, swimming, jumping, wading and sliding. For your info, Ma'ri loves rock climbing, and she is pretty good at it, so she was really exited about the all thing. On my side, I'm scared of height....can you tell me why I was doing this...good question!
First day was spent doing the Galoun descend. Not really sure of the spelling. We had 3 guides and a group of 6 fun guys...well, Mari was the only girl. You start by...I think it's call hiking a serious 20 minutes up the road by steep steps...up nearly 200 meters. And there I go...what Am I doing here again? The first day was mainly an abseiling day, going down waterfalls...yes...waterfalls means water...and when it's wet, it's slipery...mad! But we made it, great guides, great fun! The pics are taken from that first day, down
from the road. Courtney did took them, as if you expect a baby...you should not try this. If you think rafting can be scary...getting down 20 meters vertical waterfalls...is a non-sense, but what a fun experience!
On our second day we had this disappointing rafting. The only good thing is that we have been able lately to get the front seat in every trip we've done...it's just did help to make it a little less boring.
And on our third day, back to canyoning. This time we went down Old Jumbo. Wow...that was a day. Another step climb of a good 20 minutes, and another 200 meters up the road. Am I doing this I was thinking...are we mad! We had to jump...and you want to aim properly to avoid rocks...and save your legs. One jump of 4 meters, one of 6 meters...fun! Than also one proper slide...this one did hurt my ankle properly...for few days! Than more serious abseiling. The best one today, a single vertical drop of 35 meters, all this while a nice waterfall seriously pour water on you...and don't forget...I'm scared of heights...mad...but great and fun!
The first day we made it back
to the camp on the roof of the van...well, this is maybe not very safe, but this is where the little video is coming from. Only less that 2km, so maybe not that risky. On the third day, we made it back to Kat, for a good bath and a good bed.
Borderlands is an amazing place, I would just keep it for canoying...let say I warned you. In term of rafting, I guess we need more time. There seems to be two rivers to do, the Tamar Koshi and the Sun Koshi...but both requires between 9 and 12 days...and I simply don't see myself going 12 days without internet away from the office! Oh, on last think. Everything is seriously cheap if you consider the level of service and the quality of the place. One more reason to come back...one day...Ultimate Descent seems also to have taken seriously our comments, and I also commend them for this.
One more blog from us about Nepal coming soon. The visit of an impressive old city...for this just wait few days...
And next, we are going back for few days in Shanghai...family style, for a great friend wedding. Shanghai
temperatures have dropped, going to be nice to go for a little chill...just for few days!
Coming soon, more smiles, more love...more adventures!
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Slovenian girl
Jana P
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Hola Peter!!! It looks amazing! Nice that u had a lot of fun :) greetings from Colombia - yes I am still here :)