First paddle strokes in the Nepal.

On 31st March 2011 another small team of British kayakers are making their first steps into the brave world of expedition kayaking, as they land in Kathmandu Airport. They are joining Pure Land Expeditions for a two journey across Nepal. Running rivers and building friendships all self supported. The have booked one of our Self Support packages and have chosen extra days in Nepal; see http://purelandexpeditions.com/page17.htm for our standard 16 day(14+2) door to door schedule. This group have bolted extra days on the schedule (17+2) for acclimatising to the culture and adding extra river days.




31st March, land in Kathmandu and meet the guides who will collect from the airport. In private transport we will then progress to Thamel the tourist hub of the city and our base Hotel.

1st April, spend the morning exploring the chaos of Kathmandu and sorting expedition gear. We are able to send a bag to Pokhara for later in the trip and rest before the expedition begins.

2nd After breakfast we will leave for the Trisuli river class 3/4 and will get accustomed to paddling loaded boats. We will be staying in a local villageand eating with localfamilies throughout. This allows us time to get settled on thefeel of the river.

3rd Trisuli class 4 stay Pokhara, these last two days have been shake down days and we may make adjustments to the schedule should we feel the need.

4th Kali 3/4 after breakfast take private transport to the put-in and paddle rapids Big Bro and Little Bro-scounting and setting safety as required. Sleeping at the Modi Khola confluence under a blanket of stars.* We may venture to the Upper Kali prior to this.



5th Kali 3 a much more mellow day in an isolated gorge (perhaps the deepest on Earth). We will be using our camp skills again tonight.

6th Kali 2 take out at Seti Beni and return in private transport to Pokhara

7th Jeep and trek to Souda (upper Madi Khola) class 4(5) sleep on beach.

8th Start Lamerket section of Madi class 3/4 (5p) sleep on beach, cook on fire/local home (self support equipment will be carried in kayaks)

9th. Madi trek, stay local home.

10th Trek stay tea house

11th Marsyandi class 4 the great roller coaster blast, Sleep in local lodge.

12th Marsyandi and return to Kathmandu on local transport

13th After breakfast its time to load the bus again and head to the border with Tibet. We will paddle the rivers Balephi, Sun Kosi and BhoteKosi over the next three days staying in our riverside lodge

14th Bhote riverside lodge

15th Bhote area stay hotel Kathmandu

16th Breakfast last chance for seeing the famous Stupas and prayer wheels. Pack and fly home. Its sadto leave this magic place and our guides will journey to the airport with you. Time for returning back to the UK and work.

What I have learned from kayaking.

This short article has been supplied by Erik Boomer and offers a hint at the mental landscapes.

I have always loved paddling on rivers, especially when I find myself in the midst of difficult whitewater or challenging situations. I have always felt at my best on the water, physically and mentally. I have been asked more than once, “What it is that you love so much about paddling or what the river has taught you?” My answers were always philosophical, touching on the ideas of “being in the moment”, and “getting past irrational fears” and mostly to never stop fighting no matter how bad the situation seemed. Every time I would put on a river I would be put into this mindset and experience a sense of contentment of just being on the river while putting aside all of my everyday worries, it feels empowering to rise above situations and moments that are usually considered “bad” and turn them into fun in completing the river or by surviving the hike out if we deemed the river to dangerous to paddle. Little did I know, these lessons were much deeper and powerful than I was letting them be.“The best line through a rapid is not the line that takes you clear of siphons, sticky holes and beat downs. The best line is one that takes you through the rapid and applies in a positive way to your life everyday.”-Doug Ammons. In such discussions I have quoted this great piece of wisdom from Doug Ammons while trying to find deeper meaning and a purpose for kayaking. What I find ironic is that this was exactly what I was not doing, I read it and understood it, but was not living it. “The graveyard is full of good intentions” Something I have heard and continue hear. I “want” to do that--I want to travel, I want to do more photography, I want to lose weight. There is no connection between saying you want something and actually doing something. Just saying that you want something is really your mind creating the reality and affirming that you do not have that thing. I have always wanted the same focus that I have in kayaking in my everyday life, but I never found it. Or if I did I felt that it was fleeting and passed quickly when the situation creating excitement passed, I would feel my focus dissolve away with the worries and stresses of daily life.

It is not until just recently that I have realized many of the lies I have been telling myself are not true. Kayaking has helped me learn that. When I paddle I realize that fear, emotions, worries and stress are not reality, we can choose to let them manifest in our minds and cloud our vision. But if you can experience freedom from past failures, future fears, or basically anything that takes you out of living wholeheartedly in the moment while kayaking—I would be lying to myself if I thought this freedom was only available on the river, or when I put my helmet on. And if that is the case-that reality on the river in difficult situations is the same reality when I am presenting a proposal to a client, playing with my niece or nephews, in a heated argument, or even on a walk, or stranded on the streets with no food or money-- Then every moment of my life changes from “Wants and Excuses” into rapids and waterfalls that are as rich and rewarding to deal with as the most harrowing paddling descent. Kayaking has taught me to live.

White Water Safety and Rescue - April 9th and 10th

In a joint venture with our friends at ITS ONLY WATER) we are running a BCU certified WWSR course on the above dates on the Upper Tees, £125 per person, plus river and BCU fees, £10 for non members, £5 for members



If you are interested PLEASE contact bookings@purelandexpeditions.com asap, places are in short supply.


Dont be a danger to youself or your friends learn the right skills to be safe of the river. This course is a must for all canoe and kayak users, paddle safe and have fun.

The WWS&R training course is designed for all paddlers operating in a moderate to advanced white water environment in either kayak or canoe. Unlike the ‘old’ BCU safety course, this one is also designed for anyone working near swift water, for example, bank based coaches and parents.

also this course is a pre-requisite for 4 star assessment and level 3 coach.