There are numerous fine rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing. You can glide on calm jade water with a magnificence of scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert river men. There are clear sandy beaches to camp or take a meal, and cool clear pools to bathe.
Trisuli River
The Trisuli River is Nepal's most popular rafting river. Impressive gorges, exciting rapids, some easier sections, and easily accessible from Kathmandu and Pokhara. Recommended for intermediate kayakers and those wanting a cheap white water trip.
Not far from the source the Trisuli joins the Bhote Kosi that flows from Tibet. The two rivers joining in some pretty fearsome looking gorges that are visible on the way up to the Langtang Trek. The Buri river, the Marsyandi and the Seti river ads to its flow.
When the Kali Gandaki joins it, shortly before the plains, it changes its name to the Narayani. Here, it is a truly mighty river, peak flows in the Monsoon have been measured at 25,700 cusec (extreme, instantaneous discharge) about 900,000 cubic feet per second or fifty times the typical flow of Colarado river through the Grand Canyon.
TRISULI RIVER 1 day
Day1. Drive from Kathmandu to Fishling.
2.Raft from Fishling to Mugling.
3.Drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara.
TRISULI RIVER 2 days
Day1. Drive from Kathmandu to Maleykhu, raft to Majimtar Camp.
2.Raft from Majimtar Camp to Mugling and drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara.
TRISULI RIVER 3 days
Day1. Drive from Kathmandu to Churandi, raft to Kurintar Camp.
2.Raft from Kurintar Camp to Simaltal.
3.Raft from Simaltal. to Judegi and drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara
Sunkoshi River
The river rises near Tibet and is joined by the Bhoti Kosi just downstream from Barbesi. Most raft trips start at Dolaghat. The Sun Kosi flows eastwards in Nepal through the great valley between the Mahabharat Lekh mountains and the Himalayas.
The volume increases considerably draining flows from his Himalayan tributaries. In November, the flow at Dologhat is about 100 cumecs. Lower down the river, through the big rapids of the Jungle Corridor, it would be about 400 cumecs, which is appr. 11,000 cft, a typical low flow on the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.
Rafting 10 days
1. Drive from Kathmandu to Dolaghat and raft to Taramg Gaon, Timal Bensi Camp.
2. Raft Timal Bensi to Roshi Khola near Dunja Village.
3. Raft from Dunja Village to the village of Khurkot.
4. Raft from Khurkot to Oxbox Section beach.
5. Raft from Oxbox Section to the confluence of Dudh Koshi.
6. Raft from the junction of Dudh Koshi to Rasuwa Khola.
7. Raft to broad beach bordered by a 400 ft high waterfall or Kampu Ghat.
8. Raft to Tribenighat, where the Arun and Tamur join the Sun Kosi.
9. Raft to Chatara, end of the rafting. Drive to Dharan in the afternoon.
10. Drive back to Kathmandu.
At the end at Chatra, the flow is a super 800 cumecs, in November, which makes it one of the major rivers of the world in monsoon.
A nice thing about Sun Kosi is that the general standard of the river gets progressively harder as you descend it so there is time to practice your skills on easy water before the more interesting, bigger and continuous rapids lower down the river.
Bheri River
A remote and easy river, blue water, white beaches and fine campsites.
This must be one over your premier rafting trips in Nepal. Is has some of the best fishing in Nepal, together with beautiful and diverse scenery, lots of wildlife and unspoiled villages. Two large tributaries, the Thuli (large) and the Sani (small) join at Ramnagat to form the main Bheri river.
Rafting 6 days
1. Drive from Kathmandu to Samjhighat.
2. Arrival at Samjhighat Camp and overnight.
3. Raft from Samjhighat to Rani Ghat and camp at the beach.
4. Raft from Rani Ghat to Jamu and camp at the beach.
5. Raft from Jamu to Chisapani and drive back to Kathmandu by night bus.
6. Arrival at Kathmandu.
Arun River
A powerful and famous river, huge rapids, good sensations. It is respected as one of the most mighty rivers of Nepal. Its source is on the Tibetan plateau, to the north of Kathmandu. The Arun is ideal for someone who wants to run a big water river but hasn't got the time to raft the Sun Kosi or the Karnali.
7 days rafting
1. Drive to Hille by bus
2. Arrival at Hille Bazaar, after lunch a short trek and overnight camping.
3. Full day trekking and overnight camping.
4. Full day trekking and camping on the bank of Arun river near Tumlingtar.
5. Rafting and camping on the beach at Andherighat.
6. Rafting and camping on the river bank at Barachhetra.
7. Rafting to Chatara, lunch and then drive to Dharan, continue by night bus back to Kathmandu.
kaligandaki River
The upper part is a beautiful unspoiled river with good white water, gorges and a feeling of remoteness. The lower part is a big but relatively easy river, with small gorges, jungle and an abundance of wildlife. A combined upper and lower part of the river is a classic, best of its kind.
The Kali Gandaki rises in Mustang. Here it is a flat and braided river, flowing in an arid open valley. At Kalopani (black water) the river drops off the roof of the world and cuts one of the deepest gorges in the world between Dhaulagiri, height 8,167 m and Annapurna, height 8,091 m.
The Kali Gandaki is named after the goddess Kali and is considered a particularly holy river. It is also a gold bearing river, and we met several small groups who were sluicing and panning the gravel's of the river bed for minuscule amounts of metal.
Kali Gandaki River (Upper)
1. Drive to Nayapool, about 250 kms to the West. Rafting from Nayapool to Devisthan. Overnight camping at Devisthan.
2. Rafting from Devisthan to Purtighat.
3. Rafting from Purtighat to Rudrabeni.
4. Rafting from Rubrabei to Ranighat.
5. Rafting to Ramdighat and drive back to Kathmandu.
Kali Gandaki River (Lower)
1. Drive to Ramdighat and overnight at the riverside.
2. Raft from Belghri to Malunga village.
3. Raft from Malunga village to Batulitar.
4. Raft from Batulitar to Below Khalte.
5. Raft from Khalte to Narayanghat, and drive back to Kathmandu.
TAMUR RIVER
A magnificent white water trip, one of the best in the world, approximately 130 rapids in 120 km The river flows through a beautiful and unspoiled valley and the trek to the start is one of the most scenic in Nepal.
The Tamur and its tributaries drain the snows of Kanchendzonga, third highest peak in the world. The river is the sixth largest river in Nepal and seems to have a feeling of thrusting power.
Whilst it is possible to fly into Taplejung, we especially recommend the trek, a great way to start your river trip. The trek is not to arduous as it goes along the top of the ridge and then drops down to the river.
We should recommend this particularly as an exciting paddle trip for fit and active rafters looking for the second time trip.
TAMUR RIVER 11 days - with trekking
1. Drive from Kathmandu to Basantapur by bus, overnight camping.
2. Trekking from Basantapur to Tuhurenpari, overnight camping.
3. Trekking from Tuhurenpari to Basantapur, overnight camping.
4. Trekking from Basantapur to Dovan, overnight camping.
5. Rafting from Dovan to Bensi Tar, overnight camping.
6. Rafting from Bensi Tar to Phulbari, overnight camping.
7. Rafting from Phulbari to Esuwa Khola, overnight camping.
8. Rafting from Esuwa Khola to Naya Pul, overnight camping.
9. Rafting from Naya Pul to Simal Chaur, overnight camping.
10. Rafting from Simal Chaur to Triveni, overnight camping.
11. Rafting from Triveni to Chatara, packing and drive back to Kathmandu by bus.
Karnali River
One of the finest big volume rafting and kayaking trips in Nepal and definitely the best combination trip, trekking, white water rafting and wilderness.
The Karnali is Nepal's longest and largest river and with its tributaries, it drains most of the Far West of Nepal. The rapids are also pretty wild, with the river building to its climax in these lower canyons. In terms of volume, the river is comparable to the Sun Kosi, but the Karnali is more constrained by its canyon walls, giving bigger, mote continuous and serious rapids. This constrained nature of the river means that any increase in volume has more pronounced effect on the difficulty of the rapids and this makes it a river that is best run at low flows. Highest extreme instantaneous discharge measured at Chisapani was an incredible 21,700 cumecs.
The trek to start of the river trip is pleasant and highly scenic. It climbs through mixed forest and then traverses two ridge tops with excellent panoramic views of the Bheri forests.
10 Days rafting
1. Drive to Bhutwal by private bus, camp at Bhutwal.
2. Drive to Surkhet and overnight camping.
OR
1. Fly to Nepalgunj, overnight at the hotel.
2. Drive to Surkhet and overnight camping.
3. Trek from Surkhet to Dhanigad, overnight camping.
4. Trek from Dhanigad to Kareleghat, camp at the river bank.
5. Rafting from Kareleghat and overnight camping.
6. Rafting day and camping on the beach.
7. Rafting day, camping on the beach near the confluence of the Seti River.
8. Rafting day, camping on the beach after passing Bijura Village.
9. Rafting to Chisapani, end of the trip, drive back to Kathmandu by private bus.
10. Arrival in Kathmandu
OR
9. Raft ends at Chisapani, drive to Nepalgunj and overnight at the hotel.
10. Fly back to Kathmandu.