After returning to Kathmandu we soon wanted to leave again and headed to Pokara to base ourselves there for 10 days or so, so we booked a 7 hour bus ride and off we went. Pokara is the opposite from Kathmandu, a place you could go to relax for a while and lose track of time. A couple of days were spent with runs on the upper Seti, a fun run a quick taxi ride from Pokara.
Then it was decided that a river which takes 3 days would be possible in 1 day, the Madi Khola some 60km of paddling. A taxi was booked for 4.30, these taxi drivers will go to any lengths to get you to the river, taking us through rivers and over passes. We were on the river for 7.30, and then paddled for some 9 hours continuously before finally reaching the take out, all in all a good day out!
Then to a river I had been looking forward to; the Marsyandi, and it didn’t disappoint, we spent 2 days paddling fine white water, although there is now a dam in the middle there is still fantastic white water to be had. We were joined by Dipesh Gurung, from Paddle Nepal who wanted to paddle the river for the 1st time, making for a very entertaining weekend. Thanks Dipesh!
After a few more days paddling, jazz bars and some coffee shop time it was time to head elsewhere.