Rafting in Nepal

Rafting in Nepal, an exciting adventure :
Nepal is a river runner's paradise - no other country has such a choice of multi-day trips, away from roads, in such magnificent mountain surrroundings, with warm rivers, a semi tropical climate, impressive geography, exotic cultures, wildlife and friendly welcoming people!

But it's not just the rivers - as anyone who has been there will tell you, Nepal is a magnificent holiday in its own right - a fairy tale land of temples, mountains, dramatic festivals, exotic culture, colourful people, medieval villages, superb craft shopping, great food and sights - the bonus is some of the World's best rivers!

Rafting in Nepal is usually a 'wilderness' experience in that most rivers don't have highways alongside them - but it's a soft, tamed, wilderness with white beaches for camping, clean blue rivers, friendly locals and few 'nasties' - someone described it as 'blissful escapism'!

Incredibly inexpensive, Nepal is a peaceful democratic country where rafters and kayakers get a warm welcome as one of the best forms of ecotourism.

White water rafting means cruising down a rushing river in an inflatable rubber raft or white water kayak over crashing waves and swirling rapids for the excitement of a lifetime. Nepal has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in the world for white water rafting. Nepal's thundering waters, coming from the glaciers of the mighty Himalaya, provide unmatched thrills for rafting and immersing oneself in the landscape. A rafting trip is bound to be the highlight of your stay in the country.

Rivers are graded on a scale of one to six, with one being a swimming pool and six a one-way ticket to your maker. Four is considered to be quite challenging without being exceedingly dangerous to the novice rafter. Five requires some previous river experience. Here are some of the popular rafting trips:

Trisuli River (One to Three days)

The Trisuli, draining the snow melt of Ganesh and Langtang Himals, gains its name from lord Shiva's three pointed stuff Trisule. Legend has it that the god drove the tips into the ground creating three small lakes, which form the headwaters of the river.

There are 10 major rapids on the Trisuli starting with "Beginners Luck" and ending with the rocky and technical "Pin Ball" under the bridge of Mugling. The emphasis is on fun and safety. For those short in time for holidays it is a great trip of exciting paddling and plunging through exhilarating rapids.

Kali Gandaki River (One week)

Nepal's new and wildest river situated 3 ours drive from Pokhara is one of the world deepest and most impressive canyons. From the first day at Kusma the rapids run thick and fast with little relent. We are rewarded with unique views of the Annapurna range; beautiful deserted beach camps, charming villages and a visit to an aerie, derelict palace.

The Kali Gandaki is one of the holiest river in Nepal but now is under threat for a Hydro Electric Dam which will destroy one of the best white water runs in Nepal. Run it now if you want! Our seven days itinerary Kathmandu-Kathmandu can be shortened to 6 days Kathmandu to Pokhara to fit in with any trekking plans or may be planning around the Annapurna Range.

Marshyangdi River (Five Days)

The "raging river", drains the northern slope of the Annapurna mountains. It was only opened to rafting in 1996 and yields some of the most exciting class iv-v white water in Nepal. This river demands 100% commitment from both crew and guide. It is totally different from the big volume rivers like the Sun Koshi and Karnali, the rapids are technical and require a very different approach. Big volume rivers need power and a good line; the Marsyangdi needs fast reactions from the crew to get through this Pinball Machine River. The located on the eastern side of the Annapurna circuit, the Marsyangdi River has long been famous for the beautiful views. With each twist and turn the steep sided gorge walls frame a new mountain backdrop.

Sunkoshi River (Nine Days)

The Sunkoshi " River of gold" is one of the finest rivers available for rafting because it is considered to be one of the 10 classic rivers in the world. It starts from the bottom of Mt. Sisapangma and Langtang range of Nepal - Tibet border and runs through the Mahabharat parbat range. Gathering power from tributaries draining the highest peaks of the world it emerges on to the northern plains of India where it goes in to the Gangas.
From put in point (Dolalghat) to ending pint (Chautara) covers 270 km. And have graded 3-5 rapids encountered. It's fully nice to meet some of remote village nestled on the laps of hills; Hindu temples and religious spots along the way make this trip really joyful.

Karnali River (Eleven Days)

Nepal's longest river, the Karnali springs from the base of Mt.Kalish in Tibet, the center of the universe for both Buddhist and Hindu religions. Flowing south into Nepal it forms the major drainage system of the western districts. The Karnali is one of the finest BIG volume river trips in the world, a classic expedition into Nepal's remote, "Wild West." The starting point is Sauli where the river drops into imposing canyons filled with powerful big volume white water. These canyons flow into the scarcely populated areas of pristine jungle teeming with abundant bird and wildlife. Towards the end of the trip, the river gradient begins to ease as the Karnali leaves the mountains and flows into the Gangetic plains on the Terai. The jungle thickens as the river broadens, and the pristine beaches become bigger and even more beautiful.

Tamur River (Eleven Days)

No expedition to Nepal would be complete without a trek in the Himalayas and its no accident the one of the world's finest rivers starts with one of Nepal's most scenic treks. Our 4-day trekking route follows a 3000-meter ridge through beautiful woods and meadows with magnificent views of Kanchenjunga, Makalu and the Everest mastiff, before dropping into the lush villages of the Tamur valley. A truly memorable approach to this classic white water descent. The Tamur and its tributaries drain the snows of Kachenjunga, third highest peak in the world. Constrained by steep valley walls, it becomes Nepal's sixth largest river and one of the most remote white water river trips of its length. 120 km of breath taking river takes us on a journey through the heart of eastern Nepal. The Tamur is a challenging expedition; however, our guides have the skill and experience to bring this expedition within the capability of anyone with a good and positive attitude. With over 100 class 3 - 4 rapids, the Tamur offers a unique six days of white water taken at a leisurely pace with plenty of time to venture up hidden side valleys and explore remote villages.