Nepal Rafting

Rafting in Nepal

Our rafting expedions in Nepal are operated for us by Himalayan Encounters, a well-established local company. The managing director is British and all the staff are Nepalese. The company provides excellent equipment and all the necessary safety equipment is provided. Some of the guides are westerners, but most of them are local. All are trained to the highest standards. On the river, all trips are accompanied by at least one extra guide in a safety boat.

Rafting trips can be of short duration, ie one or two days, added on to a trekking trip during the spare days at the end, or can be up to ten days duration providing an expedition in itself.

Rafting Programme

Bhote Kosi - the river from Tibet

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):
From take-out (pm day 2):

2 days Grade IV+

Kathmandu - Kathmandu
46 km
3.5 hours
3.5 hours

Trisuli - short trip, long on thrills

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):
From take-out (pm final day):

2 - 4 days Grade III - IV

Kathmandu - Kathmandu
106 km
4 hours
4.5 hours

Seti Kosi - fun rapids, unplundered scenery

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):
From take-out (pm day 3):

3 days Grade II - III

Kathmandu or Pokhara
62 km
5 or 3 hours
4.5 hours

Kali Gandaki - Annapurna white water

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):
From take-out (pm day 4):

4 days Grade III - IV

Pokhara - Pokhara
90 km
4 hours
5 hours

Marsyangdi - blue river, white water

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):
From take-out (pm day 6):

6 days Grade IV - IV+

Kathmandu - Kathmandu
55 km
1 day drive + 1.5 days trek
5.5 hours

Karnali - wild water of the west

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):

From take-out (pm day 6):

7 days Grade IV - V

Kathmandu - Kathmandu
180 km
bus journey, overnight at Lamahi
then trek in, overnight en route
bus journey, overnight at Narayanghat

Sun Kosi - the river of gold

To - from:
Total river distance:
To put-in (am day 1):
From take-out (pm day 8 to pm day 10):

10 days Grade IV - V

Kathmandu - Kathmandu
272 km
3.5 hours
10 hours to Chitwan, 20 hours at Chitwan
then 6 hours to Kathmandu

Days on the River

What to expect
Days are not rushed - morning tea, breakfast until 09.30 when all equipment is stowed on the rafts, and another day’s white water begins. A pleasant beach for lunch at about 12.30, and night camp is pitched around 16.00. In all about 5.5 to 6 hours rafting each day.

The water and the weather
All the best white water in Nepal exists at an altitude between 1200m and 600m, a sub-tropical region lower than Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Post monsoon - mid-September to late November
High water rivers at their maximum grades especially until mid-October, then monsoon ‘run-off’ changes to thaw and glacial melt. Hot or warm temperatures with any rain ending by late September, sunny days and warm nights, but woolly sweaters needed as winter takes hold.

Winter - early December to mid-March
The Nepal white water experience is still a warmer and sunnier one than in many parts of the world, but there are longer shadows in the deep river valleys and a warmer sleeping bag is advisable. Wet suits may be needed.

Spring/summer - late March to early June
The clear, still-powerful rivers driven by spring snow melt are, on average, reduced by one grade from their high water maximum. The Karnali and Kali Gandaki , perfectly suited to this season, are great ‘all-comers’ rivers.

Monsoon - late July to early September
The rivers are full and the few rafting trips that are still operated are limited to overnight programmes on the Trisuli and Seti.

Safety

First class guides with a minimum of five years experience on the rivers of Nepal. Mainly local guides with a few guest western guides - a small, elite corps.

Equipment

Best quality rafts with a minimum of eight paddlers plus support/safety craft. Fully adjustable life jackets purpose designed for maximum buoyancy. Proper designated white water headgear. Paddles strong and lightweight. Spray jackets, personal dry bags, throw lines, camera barrels etc also provided.