International River Expeditions

Join MFRE owner/guide James Ellsworth on the following International River Expeditions to Nepal and India in 2023.  James was International Rivers Program Director for www.mtsobek.com for 10 years from 1997 until 2006.  He was in charge of operating a First Raft Descent every year as well as manage dozens of International River trips.  He is excited to continue offering amazing trips to far flung destinations.

April 2-13, 2023- Rafting in Nepal with volunteering opportunity (See detailed itinerary below) and Click on Link Here

August 20- Sept 1, 2023- The Zanskar River in Ladakh, India (See detailed itinerary below) and Click on Link Here

MFRE’s International Affiliate is Wantok Adventures, which is run by John Yost, c0-founder of Sobek Expeditions.  Since 1973, John has spearheaded the exploration by raft most of the major rivers around the world.  Sobek did over 70+ First Raft Descents around the world, including the Yangtze in China, Indus in India, Zambezi in Zambia, Bio Bio in Chile, Tatshenshini in Alaska, Coruh in Turkey to name a few.  He continues to push the boundaries of rafting, not only reviving many of the classic trips of yore, but always on the lookout for new rivers to explore too. His encyclopedic knowledge of raftable rivers and of local whitewater outfitters around the world make it easy for Wantok to zero in on the very best available adventures.

Call James on his cell at 415-342-8011 or e-mail him at middlefork@idahorivers.com to discuss these trip offerings or John Yost ‭at 510-517-8953‬ on his cell to sign up.  John’s e-mail is wantokadventures@gmail.com.  Please note these are Wantok Adventures trip offerings and you will be signing a Wantok waiver and paying them directly.  Middle Fork River Expeditions is not the outfitter for these departures.  James will join these departures as the Trip Leader and be working with local river guides to provide an amazing trip of a lifetime.

April 2-13, 2023- rafting in Nepal

The heart of the Himalayas is a place where you’d expect lots of great whitewater, wildness, scenery and culture. Nepal meets every expectation with sparkling whitewater, stunning mountain scenery, temples, villages and wildlife. We’ve chosen the western half of the country with its plethora of accessible and proximate rivers for our trip, minimizing our time in vans and maximizing our time on the water and exploring fascinating places. We spend seven days on the Kali Gandaki, Marsyangdi and Seti rivers and still find time to explore Kathmandu and Pokhara as well as the hilltop village of Bandipur, then put an exclamation mark on our trip with foot and elephant-back safaris in Chitwan National Park. Amazing!

This trip includes 3 nights of riverside camping and some challenging whitewater on the Marsyangdi, so be sure to arrive ready for a true adventure.

Since it’s a short hop from Kathmandu to Bhutan, join Wantok in Bhutan! Why take that long trans-Pacific flight twice when you can get the best rafting and cultural experiences of both countries on one trip?

Post Trip Extension in Pokhara- Please join James in Pokhara after the river trip to visit a project with 80+ school students ages 5-18 from the Mustang Kingdom of Nepal.  James will spend 3 more days in Pokhara after the trip.  The entire group will visit the HCCH (Himalayan Children Care Home) while in Pokhara on the Nepal Itinerary.  Check out the HCCH Annual Report here with lots of wonderful photos of the kids.  More info on HCCH HERE.

PRICES

Minimum 6, maximum 16 participants

6-8 participants, $4100 per person double occupancy

9-12 participants, $3850 pp dbl occupancy

13+ participants, $3600 pp dbl occupancy

Single supplement requested $500; forced $400. Forced means willing to share but no other participant available to share. Domestic flights are included in the land cost (Kathmandu-Pokhara and Bharatpur-Kathmandu). International flights not included.

August 20- Sept 1, 2023- The Zanskar River in Ladakh, India

It doesn’t get much better than this! The Zanskar offers all of the elements of the perfect river trip—Exciting but safe whitewater, spectacular canyon scenery, extensive cultural contact, lots of diversity, great monasteries and palaces, beautiful campsites, dry and pleasant weather, remoteness, and an excellent local crew. It’s an immersion in Tibetan Buddhism with a touch of Moghul majesty, a photographer’s paradise.

When George Wendt, founder and owner of OARS, the biggest rafting company in the world, did this trip with us in 2012, he declared it the best international river trip he had ever done and promptly chartered two Zanskar departures through Wantok.

John Yost, Sobek Expeditions co-founder and long-time international river guide, rates the Zanskar as the #1 river experience in the world, combining true adventure and wilderness with superb off-river activities. It is remote and wild enough to keep the crowds away, a truly special place. The Zanskar takes you into a world of awe and wonder, of whitewater action and scenic overkill.

COST

$4100 per person for 11+ participants

$4800 per person for 6-10 participants

$5500 per person for 4-5 participants

Trip costs are based on double occupancy. Should you prefer single rooms and tent, the single supplement cost is $600. Should you be traveling alone but willing to share rooms and tent, we will try to match you up with a roommate. If we are unable to do this, the surcharge for involuntary singles is $500.

Airfare Delhi/Srinagar & Leh/Delhi is not included. Projected cost for these tickets varies from $175-250. We’ll issue tickets about 120 days before the trip and add the ticket amount to the final invoices. Late bookings may pay higher airfares.