Named after Goddess Kali and nicknamed “The Holy River,” the Kali Gandaki rises in Mustang, an enclave of Nepal on the northern side of the Himalayas. As it tumbles down between the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, it creates one of the world’s deepest river canyons.

Once an ancient trading route to Tibet, it is now a popular trekking trail. The Kali Gandaki is a terrific medium-length river journey, combining great whitewater with some of the prettiest scenery in Nepal, seldom-visited villages, and truly quiet and introspective evenings. Both experienced and novice rafters will love it. The rapids on the Kali Gandaki are much more technical and continuous than on the Trishuli (Class III–IV depending on the flow) and in extremely high water, it is not a place to be unless you are an accomplished rafter and have experience in avoiding big holes. At medium and low flow, it is a fun and challenging river with rapids keeping you busy on all but one day. Being one of the holiest rivers in Nepal, every river junction on the Kali Gandaki is dotted with cremation sites and above ground burial mounds. If you’ve been wondering what’s under that pile of rocks, we recommend that you don’t go exploring it.