WhitewaterNepalLower Seti

Lower Seti

Also known as: Seti / Seti Khola

Forested canyon; big sandy beaches; rural Gandaki scenery

Gentle multiday warm-water runPoint-to-point
RaftKayak
Distance
32 km (est). Confirm.
Typical time
2 days on water
Thrilling adventure rafting through the vibrant rapids of a Nepalese river.

Is there water?

Whether there is a river here on your dates, and what kind of water it is.

Water-level regime

Rain fed with monsoon spikes; warm, silty in high flow

Runnable window

Runnable most of year; higher and pushier in monsoon Jun-Sep. Confirm.

Best season

Oct to Dec and Mar to May

Water temperature

One of the warmest rivers in Nepal; swim-friendly (est)

Monsoon flooding Jun-Sep raises grade; stable in dry season. Confirm.

Grade & who can come

Grade at a normal level
Grade 22 (Novice) - gentle class 2-3 warm-water multiday, ideal for beginners and families

A river changes grade with its level. These grades describe a normal flow - in flood the same run is harder, and often a different run entirely. Check the gauge before you commit.

Local grading

Nepali grade 2 with short grade 3 sections

How it is run

Rafting and kayaking

Splitting the group

Can run as 1 or 2 days; combine with Trisuli continuation

Accessibility & group fit

Beginner and family friendly; warm water, easy access; children with operator age limits (est)

The run

Crux rapids

Mostly grade 2 wave trains; a technical grade 3 near the Trisuli confluence. Confirm.

Portages & hazards

No significant portages; standard grade 2-3 hazards

Named section

Lower Seti (Damauli to Trisuli confluence)

Crowds

Quiet compared to Trisuli; low crowds midweek

Access & shuttle

No government river permit since 1999; operator fees only. Confirm.

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Put-in & take-out

Put-in at Damauli (Madi Khola bridge) on Prithvi Highway; roadside take-out near Gaighat

Shuttle & transport

About 2 hr drive from Pokhara to Damauli; highway take-out for onward transport

Camps & huts

Wild sandy beach camps arranged by operator

Gear

Operator provides camping and gear; patchy mobile coverage in canyon

Operators

Pokhara and Damauli hubs; Highland Excursions, Nepal River Runner (est)

Hazards & exits

Hazards

Warm water lulls beginners; watch for high-flow strainers after rain

Emergency exits

Prithvi Highway parallels sections; road access at Damauli and confluence for evac

Guiding

Commercial guided raft; NARA-registered operator required

This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand river run report. Coordinates are approximate.

Also in Nepal

Paddle Lower Seti with your crew
Manta plans the run, the shuttle and what the non-paddlers do so a mixed group all get a great trip.
Plan a paddling trip