|
|
|
Himalaya mountain climbing, Himalaya mountain biking, Himalaya weekend holiday, Himalayan Adventures India |
| FAQs | GRADING OF RAPIDS |
|
|
TRIP ARRANGEMENTS
During all treks we provide 4 season trekking tents which are pitched on twin share basis. Treks carry Mess tents, toilet tents and kitchen tents on a regular basis. Mules, horses, donkeys or porters are taken depending on the area of operation and you need carry only their day packs with packed lunch, water, camera and wind/water proof jackets.
The dining / mess tent has tables and chairs/stools. We also provide sleeping mats. You will need to bring your own sleeping bags, water bottles and personal clothing, however it can be arranged locally on request at extra cost. Water used for cooking is filtered, boiled and treated with iodine to make it extra safe before it is provided to you for consumption through the day. Carrying bottled water is a possibility on short/easy treks however we discourage use of plastic on our trips. A gamow bag accompanies all high trips.
Our trips are not left to sub-agents or trekking sirdars but organised and accompanied by our most seasoned escorts. All regular tours (cultural, festival and special interest tours) are arranged with English speaking local guides, though if required we can also arrange excellent escorts, who are well acquainted with Indian Culture, History, tradition, religion etc. to accompany the group throughout their stay in India.
On multi-day rafting trips, we carry all gear on our rafts in dry bags including client tents, crockery, stoves, sleeping bags and other gear. Toilets on river trips are the great outdoors. A cook accompanies all trips and tents provided with sleeping mats. Food is hygienically prepared and wholesome keeping in mind the nature of trip. At our rafting camps on the Ganga and Tons rivers, however, we have deluxe tents with beds, mattresses and quilts. All day and weekend trips run out of here and it serves as a base for treks in the region as well as day-hikes in the surrounding area.
Back to Top
|
|
1) Which Rafting Trip For You?
White water rafting trips come in a number of different guises, and which one you choose largely depends on your experience, fitness and levels of gung-ho.
At one end of the scale are the rapid getaway 1-3 day long adrenaline trips, the supreme example of which are the Ganga and Tons rivers - a roller coaster ride which combines excellent whitewater with camping by the river, with campfire barbecues thrown in.
Then, there are multi-day trips, which combine thrills with access to territory you couldn't visit in any other way. This is expedition, or wilderness rafting where you don't see anybody for 3-6 days, with technical rafting of Grade 3 and 4 (on some rivers, the odd Grade 5). The Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Kali/Sarda, Zanskar and Brahmaputra rivers are such trips.
Speak with your guides, before you go. We have the rating system below for you to go through, so you can choose the trip of your liking. Back to Top |
2) Is it safe ?
Rafting is one of the safest adventure activities you can take part in. All our trips are guided by competent and experienced guides with atleast five years of experience on all rivers that we run. In addition, all safety gear like lifejackets, helmets, footbraces etc. are provided for. River guides are trained in First Aid and C.P.R and can handle
minor injuries.Back to Top |
3) Do I need to be fit to go on a rafting trip?
Rafting does not require very high levels of fitness.Nearly anybody over 14 years of age can run nearly all rivers on offer. Ofcourse, heart patients,expecting mothers or any other serious ailments are an impediment.Back to Top |
4) Do I need to know how to swim?
All our guided trips are open for non-swimmers as well. A comprehensive safety briefing isgiven before each trip and moreover, the ability to swim is not a consideration when you go down a whitewater river.Back to Top |
5) I am a first timer - can I join a trip?
Yes, all guided trips are open for first-timers as well. You can join a weekend trip or an expedition trip, as long as you are gung-ho about the activity.Back to Top |
6) Do I need to buy some special gear before a rafting trip?
You need only your shorts, T-shirts, a pair of strap-on sandals and your sense of humor on most of our trips. Spray jackets and spray pants, wetsuits are provided for colder rivers, by us. Sleeping bags for expedition-style trips are
advisable.Back to Top |
7) What kind of food will I be served?
On our camps and expedition trips,meals served are buffet stlye - wholesome and delicious at camps (you WILL be surprised!) and easy to prepare on expedition trips. Most adventure travel trips travel on their stomachs - we make sure they travel very, very,well. Back to Top |
8) Is the water safe for me to drink?
On all our trips, water used is spring water (preferably, the first-use kinds) which is boiled and then treated with tincture of iodine.Back to Top |
9) Where are the toilets?
On our camps, we have bio-toilets in use because of closeness to river and Reserved Forest Regulations. You however, do not have to squat - there are proper seats (like the ones you have at home!).The only difference is that you cannot use the flush. On our multi-day trips, the toilets are the great outdoors - each person has to dig a small hole and burn their toilet paper (it does burn quite well).Back to Top |
10) Do I have to help out on a trip?
On our Camp based trips, everything is catered for and you need to only enjoy the few days that you have taken off
for the trip. On multi-dayers, you can participate in as much as you'd like to - helping with the rafts, the tents, the campfire etc., so choose your own pace.Back to Top |
11) Do I have to paddle on each rafting trip?
You can choose to set the pace of your own trip - each raft has one or two non-paddling positions which you can opt for incase you do not wish to paddle. Paddling however is half thefun and you can participate in paddling as much as you wish to.Back to Top |
| GRADING OF RAPIDS |
Rapids are graded from Class I to Class VI depending on the degree of difficulty they present in successfully maneuvering a white water craft (raft/kayak/canoe/cataraft) through it.
Grade 1 : Relax and chill out.
Grade 2 : Keep an eye open for small waves.
Grade 3 : This will be fun - tighten your lifejackets and helmets.
Grade 4 : Getting serious ; paddle well or you could end up swimming.
Grade 5 : Don't mess up - this is the hardest stuff you can raft.
Grade 6 : If you are told you are rafting grade 6, your guide is lying - this is suicide!! |
|
|
