Information on this section was compiled with assistance from Simon Wiles.
The Modi Khola runs from the Annapurna Sanctuary, an area North of Pokhara where you can sit surrounded
by the mighty peaks of the Annapurna Himal. The trek into the sanctuary follows the river and the descent
of the river would be a great finish to the trek.
The river can be run from Landruk which is a
day's trek from Lumle. The valley then drops 540m from the put-in to the Kali gandaki confluence. The
descent of the Kali gandaki would be the obvious end to the trip.
Breakdown of the journey
Travel to the river
The starting point would be Pokhara, so
allow a day to get from Kathmandu. The next leg would best be done by taxi or jeep from Pokhara to Lumle.
Here you can hire porters to take your gear to Landruk, the put-in, which is about a day's walk away.
If you are taking the trek option your gear and boat can be left at one of the lodges in Landruk
and you should allow 6-8 days to reach the sanctuary and return.
On the river From the
put-in the river could be run in one very long day, but the recommendation is to take two. The first
section is particularly technical and despite the short distance my take a couple of hours or more to
descend. A good option is to stop at the end of the first day at Birethanti a short walk up from the
river. There are lodges here and places to eat which would reduce the equipment you have to carry in
kayaks.
Day two takes you down to the Kali gandaki where it would be a great idea to meet a rafting group to
provide support down the rest of that river.
There is no let up on the level of rapids on day
two either, with several class 4's and a class 5 that will need scouting and possibly portaging. The
beach on the right bank of the Kali gandaki just below the Modi Khola confluence is the usual first night
stopping point for Kali gandaki trips - you could wait for your rafting group there.
Day by Day breakdown.......
Day 1 Early taxi to Lumle from Pokhara, porters, trek to Landruk. Days 2 - 8* Trek to
Annapurna sanctuary and return. Day 2 / 9 Run Modi khola to Birethanti. Day 3 / 10 Run
Modi khola to KaliGandaki Day 4 / 11 Return to Pokhara or continue down Kali Gandaki (3days)
In theory, without the trek or Kali gandaki option, you could taxi and trek day 1, Run the river days
2-3 and be back in Pokhara at the end of day3 or day 4.
* shows trek option.
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