Where do I raft in Nepal?

Updated 4 Months 1 day ago ( number of views: 16)

Plenty of rivers are open for rafting and kayaking in Nepal: Here are the major ones.

Tips: Usually Rafting season is in the Autumn (Fall) From September. Next best option is in Late Spring (March onwards). For the more adventurous, the rainy season in the summer holds better thrills, dangers and adventure.

For more details on Rafting specifics, see this link.

Whitewater rafting

Arun
Bheri
Bhote Koshi
Kali Gandaki
Karnali
Marshyangdi
Seti
Sunkoshi
Trisuli
Tamor
Budhi Gandaki
Seti Karnali
Dudh Koshi
Tama Koshi
Balephi Khola

Arun
Rafting in Arun River starts at Tumlingtar (Sabaiya Khola). You need to take an hour flight to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu. The river grade is III to IV and the rafting ends in Chatra. Rafting takes 3 days to complete. You need to drive 14 hours on a bus to travel back to Kathmandu.

Bheri
The starting point for rafting in Bheri River is Samjhighat. You can travel to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu or other locations on a prefered means of transportation and then drive 3 to 4 from Nepalgunj to Samhighat. The rafting route takes 3 days to complete and it ends in Bardia National Park. River Grade for Bheri is III to IV. You need to travel for around 14 on a bus to reach Kathmandu.

Bhote Koshi
Rafting starts at Borderland Resort, which is 95 km away from Kathmandu on the Araniko Higway. It takes around 4 hours to reach there on a bus or a car. The trip takes 2 days to complete and ends at Lamosangu dam. The river grade is III to IV between February to May and III to V between October to December.

Kali Gandaki
The Kali Gandaki River rafting starts in near Beni, which is 4 hours drive from Pokhara. The route, which ends in Mirmire, is 90 km long and takes 3 days to complete. The river grade is III to IV between February to May and III to IV+ between September to November. It takes 5 hours to travel back to Pokhara riding on a bus.

Karnali
The Karnali River rafting starts in Sauli in Surkhet. It takes 14 hours ride on a bus from Kathmandu or 4 hours ride on a bus from Nepalgunj, if you take an hour’s flight to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. The rafting route, which ends in Chisapani, is 180 km and takes 7 days to compelete. You need to take a 12 hours ride on a bus to travel back to Kathmandu and 2 hours ride to Nepalgunj. The river grade is III to IV between February to May and III to V between September to November.

Marshyangdi
Marshyangdi River rafting starts from Nagdi in Lamjung. It takes 8 hours ride on a bus from Kathmandu to reach Besisahar and one day trek to Nagdi. The rafting route, which ends in Bimal Nagar, is 27 km long and takes 2 days to complete. The river grade is IV to V between October to December and IV+ between February to April. It takes 5 hours on a bus to travel back to Kathmandu.

rafting in nepal

Seti
The starting point for the Seti River rafting is Damauli, which is 4.5 hours bus ride from Kathmandu. The rafting route is 32 km long and ends in Narayanghat. It takes 2 days to complete the rafting trip. The river grade is II to III between September to November and IV between June to August. It takes 4 hours to drive to Kathmandu and around half an hour to the Chitwan National Park.

Sun Koshi
Sun Koshi River rafting starts in Dolalghat, which is three hours drive from Kathmandu. The rafting route is 270 km long and ends in Chattra. It takes seven days of rafting to complete the trip. The return travel to Kathmandu after the trip takes 14 hours. The river grade is III to V- between September to November and V+ during June.

Trisuli
The rafting trip in Trisuli River starts from Charaundi. It takes 3 hours drive in a bus along the Prithvi Highway to reach Charaundi from Kathmandu. The rafting route is 40 km long and takes 2 days to raft to the ending point at Simaltal. The river grade is III between September to May and III to IV between June to August.

Tamor
The rafting trip in Tamor River starts from Dhoban. You need to take a 15 hours drive from Kathmandu to Basantpur or a flight from Kathmandu to Biratanagar and further 5 hours drive to Basantapur. From Basantapur take 3 to 4 days trekking to Dhoban. The rafting route is 120 km long and takes 11 days to complete. The trip ends in Chattra. From Chattra, take 14 hours ride on a bus to Kathmandu.

Tags: rafting, rivers