Home > Nature > Rafting > Adventure > River > Trekking > Wildlife > Tibet > Sikem > Valley > Rivers in Nepal NepalRivers in Nepal are treated as goddesses. They are the ever flowing and inspiring source of beauty, abundance and infinite adventure. The rugged topography, extreme variations and excessive snow melting in Nepal make this mountain kingdom blessed with blosoming, flowering rivers, running across the country. This makes Nepal an obvious choice for river adventure. River journeys in Nepal are electrifying and nerve thrilling. Your life flashes before you as you comfortably hurtle towards monster boulders and towering walls of water. So come let us indulge in this maddening and bone chilling experience. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The BHOTE KOSHI 2 DAYS It's a 3 hours bus ride from Kathmandu. The Bhote Kosi is with out a doubt the most action packed short white water run in Nepal. The river drops steeply offering relentless stretches of class III-IV white water. Boulder gardens, small waterfalls, steep chutes and 90 degree bends are just some of the obstacles to be overcome. Like the Marsyangdi, this river is not typical of the big volume waters of the Himalayan, it is steep and technical and requires a reactive crew. The fun doesn’t stop there at the end of an action packed day, relax in unspoiled surroundings on the beach. DEPARTURE POINT :Kathmandu RIVER START POINT :KM 95 RIVER FINISH POINT :Lomasangu Dam OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME : 5 Hours RIVER GRADE : Class III-IV RETURN TRAVEL TIME :3 Hours Itinerary Day 01 Meet at the office as per time arranged by your expedition leader at the pre-departure meeting. Then we travel by our private bus to the river starting point of the trip. This is a spectacular drive through villages and if weather permits, you will have fantastic mountain views i.e. Ganesh Himal, Langtang etc. Upon arrival in the camp lunch will be served. After early lunch your expedition leader will deliver a safety talk and provide all paddling gear for the trip. First day rafting provides about three and half hour of pure white water. After a long series of class 3 rapids we drop into the first class 4 drop known as Gerbil In The Plumbing. From here there is a stretch of class 3 whitewater and then we come to the crux of the day, which is a long, technical rapid called 'Frog in a Blender'. After this rapid we settle down for about twenty feet, and then it’s back into the soup with a long series of class 3+/4- drops which lead us into a nifty little rapid called Carnal Knowledge of a Deviant Nature. The remaining ten kilometers of river is a non-stop series of class 3 and 4 drops terminating into short pools with the next drop just a few feet away. The river flows through a beautiful narrow canyon with lush green vegetation and waterfalls coming in from the steep stone walls. At the bottom of this stretch is a rapid called ExLax. Just before we hit the village of Barabise we load all the boats onto our bus and drive back to our camp, change your wet clothes, enjoy the scenery and late evening have dinner and camp. hot drinks, rum punch, enjoy the scenery an Day 02 Early morning, have hot drinks and breakfast then pack your gears. You have the second chance to show how your raft team can work well together in challenging rapids. We have lunch on the river and continue the action until the take out point. We run the top stretch again in the morning, though most people don’t recognize it the second time through. Today instead of getting out at Barabise we continue on down through the center of town and onto a short flat stretch. Upon reaching the dam, the entire gradient of the last kilometer fulminates into fifty meters of incredibly steep and technical rapid known as 'The Great Wall'. 'The Great Wall’s one redeeming feature is that there is a pool at the bottom, because right after the pool is an incredible rapid called 'Liquid Bliss', which leads directly into a rapid called 'Fake Right Go Left', which leads directly into another rapid called 'My God, What To Do?'. The trip ends with a bang on a long series of drops known as 'Dazed and Confused'. Without a doubt this is some of the finest whitewater rafting to be had anywhere. Our trip ends by mid-noon. Once you get their load up all the kits on bus, drive back to Ktm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TAMAR RIVER DURATION: 10 days DEPARTURE POINT : Kathmandu RIVER START POINT : Dobhan RIVER FINISH POINT: Chattara OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME : 2 days by bus / 2days trek RIVER GRADE : III - IV RETURN TRAVEL TIME: 13 hrs. by overland or 1 hrs by flight -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun koshi 8 days The Sun Koshi ‘River of Gold’ has been rated as one of the top ten rafting trips in the world! It is also in the list of ‘must do while in Nepal’.The river rises near Shisha Pangma in Tibet and runs eastwards, draining the highest mountains of the world before emerging on the plains of India, where it joins the Ganges. Our journey takes us 270km through some of Nepal’s most remote regions giving you a unique wilderness experience. The first two days are relatively easy and allow time to train you as a team before the bigger rapids arrive. The rapids have acquired names like Meat Grinder, High Anxiety, Jaws and Big Dipper, from previous experiences on expeditions. Say no more! The calmer stretches between rapids give you time to take in the phenomenal views, swim (voluntarily) in warm water and camp on white sandy beaches. This river is a BIG volume HIGH adrenaline expedition!!! DEPARTURE POINT: Kathmandu RIVER START POINT: Dolalghat RIVER FINISH POINT: Chattra OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME :3 Hours RIVER GRADE: IV - V RETURN TRAVEL TIME: 14 Hours Itineary Day 01 Morning at 7 am meet in Ktm. office - store baggage and finalise plans a quick breakfast then we drive to Dolalghat the put-in-point of Sun Kosi. The drive is beautiful. In clear weather you will have a magnificent view of the Himalayan Ranges . Upon arrival at Dolalghat we unload the gear - lunch will be served and a full safety briefing will be given by your expedition leader. The first and second days are easy paddling. The big one you will encounter today is a class 4+ rapid "Rotten Cave". We will choose our beach campsite, where dinner will be served amidst the splendor of the star-filled sky. Day 02 Have breakfast pack up the gear and start rolling down the river. Today you will encounter a big class 4+rapid " Meat grinder". It is fairly straight run down the center avoiding holes left and right. A few meters below here the Tamba Kosi river joins the Sun Kosi on the left with a beach on the confluence. There is another beautiful Shiva temple overlooking the two rivers. We camp here. Day 03 Today a few kms below the confluence of the Likhu Khola is a short, class 3+ rapid ‘Pre-Anxiety’ soon followed by a long class 4 rapid ‘High Anxiety’ with a large hole on the left halfway down and a series of holes at the bottom. Float a while and then camp. Day 04 This day starts with several class 3+ rapids then a quick stop for buying food and maybe beer. Then prepare for a big and interesting one ‘Harkapur 2 and 3 the hardest rapid on the river which should be carefully scouted. Camp Day 05 Some kms below Harkapur, Dudh Kosi river joins the Sun Kosi from the left. Below here the river widens into an arid area of gravel. You meet some small rapids an will teach you into another aptly named rapid 'Jaws'. Camp Day 06 Today is a hard day as you will be encounter most of the grade 4+ rapids - you are straight into good exciting rapid "Rhino Rock" which is a grade 4+ followed by "Jungle Corridor" a kilometer of continuous white water. Waterfalls cascade on both sides of the river. One waterfall makes a great spot for a team shower. Camp Day 07 Last few days are mainly wave trains if you are interested you can try kayaking where our experts will teach you the basic skills needed to maneuver the boats or learn the Eskimo roll. Camp Day 08 The last stretch of river which brings you to the last class 4+ ‘Big Dipper’ is a series of huge standing waves. A few kilometer later Big Arun and Tamur rivers joins together to form the Sapta Kosi. Then you float along on the powerful current , the hills dramatically give way to totally flat Terai and the northern plains of India. This is the end of a classic and memorable river journey. We will finish our trip around 2 pm pack the gear and then drive back to Kathmandu around 4 pm from Chattra. This takes around 13/14 hours . FOR THE 9 AND 10 DAY EXPEDITIONS YOU FOLLOW THE SAME ROUTE AS ABOVE AND START AND FINISH AT THE SAME TIMES ON THE FIRST AND LAST DAYS. THERE IS AN EXTRA DAY ON THE 9 DAY EXPEDITION TO ALLOW FOR THE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SPEED OF THE WATER. IF THE WATER IS STILL FLOWING FAST, YOU CAN ENJOY A REST DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIP TO RELAX, PLAY VOLLEYBALL OR GO FOR A WALK. THE 10 DAY EXPEDITION GIVES THE EXTRA DAY RAFTING TO ALLOW FOR A SLIGHTLY LOWER FLOW OF WATER AND A REST DAY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Charaundi to Simaltal The Trishuli being the most easily accessible river by far a rafting trip on this river can be made for a varied durations, depending upon the availability of time and interest. A brief account on a common Trishuli trip is presented below. [ MAP ] [ PICTURE ] DEPARTURE POINT : Kathmandu or Pokhara RIVER START POINT : Charaundi RIVER FINISH POINT : Simaltal OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME : 3 Hours RIVER GRADE : III RETURN TRAVEL TIME : 4 Hours --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAMAULI TO NARAYANGHAT DEPARTURE POINT : Kathmandu or Pokhara RIVER START POINT : Damauli RIVER FINISH POINT : Gaighat OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME : 4 & half hrs. RIVER GRADE : III RETURN TRAVEL TIME : 4 Hours -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------KARNALI -11 DAYS Nepal's longest and largest river, the Karnali, springs forth from the base of Mt. Kailash in Tibet, the center of the universe for both the 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, unpopulated "wild west". From our starting point at Sauli the river drops into imposing canyons filled with powerful, big volume white water. These canyons flow into scarcely populated areas of pristine jungle teeming with abundant bird and wildlife. Rapids like "Captivity", "Flip and Strip" and "Gods House" are separated by just enough easier water to regroup and prepare for the next big challenge. Towards the end of the trip the river gradient begins to ease as the Karnali leaves the mountains and flows out into the Gangetic plains of the Terai. The jungle thickens as the river broadens, and the pristine Beaches become bigger and more beautiful. OPTION A This is an ideal opportunity to go to Bardia National Park and the resort from Chisopani will collect you. This would include two nights in the park and full safari activities including elephant rides. DEPARTURE POINT : Kathmandu or Pokhara RIVER START POINT : Sauli RIVER FINISH POINT : Chisopani OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME : 14 Hours RIVER GRADE : III - IV+ RETURN TRAVEL TIME : 12 Hours Itinerary Day 01 We meet at the office at 7am (Pokhara or Kathmandu) with your bags ready to go. This is a long bus journey, so be prepared with water etc. We travel to the far west and arrive in Surkhet very late/early hours of the morning. You are able to have a sleep here. Day 02 After breakfast, we will take a truck as far as the road goes until about lunch time (this all depends on availability...be flexible). After lunch we walk all afternoon to the put-in point at Sauli. A great walk which highlights just how "out there" you really are. You pass local villages and spectacular scenery, then.......you hear the river! Day 03 The river gives the team time to build and there is enough challenging rapids and water flow to allow for learning errors. We still manage to get at least one great class iv rapid in. We camp and get excited about tomorrow. Day 04 This is the type of day that people imagine when they think of Himalayan water. It is BIG and it is continuous. We enter into the Jungle Corridor. This is a narrowing jungle clad gorge and it is all ours. The team building is put into full practice and when your guide shouts "all forward" he really means it! Enjoy the ride all day and camp in this sensational setting. Day 05 More of the same including the notorious GOD’S HOUSE rapid. Don't forget to take in the bird life which is equally as abundant as the lush vegetation. Camp and relax. Day 06 It isn’t over yet! Keep paddling hard ! You really are experiencing the best of the west on yet another day of great action and breath taking scenery. Day 07 This is a holiday after all, so we have programmed a rest day so you can take time to enjoy your surroundings and relax on a great sandy beach. Day 08-09 We see the rapids dying off as we come out of the gorge. We pass the confluence with the Seti river where the river broadens. Today and the next day and a half are a chance to enjoy your journey admiring the country and villages you pass. You will have seen the safety kayakers in action and will no doubt be inspired, so ask the guides for some supervised instruction, or take over the raft and learn about the river. You see there is more to a rafting expedition than just rafting. Day 10 We come to the end of our journey at about lunch time where our bus will be waiting to collect us. Those who have booked to go to Bardia National Park (highly recommended!), will be collected from here as well. Day 11 We arrive back at Kathmandu/Pokhara, in the early morning of the eleventh day. What a journey !!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KAYAKING: This is a great river for intermediate to advanced Kayakers. Most rapids are pool-drop and there are surfing waves almost all the way down the river. Many of the Nepal's rafting operators have the best kayakers and instructors, they are always willing to share their enthusiasm and expertise. We encourage kayakers to join any of the trips. You needn’t worry as the safety kayaker is always with the expedition. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------KALI GANDAKI 3 DAYS (Pokhara to Pokhara) The Kali begins its journey high on the Tibetan plateau in the kingdom of Mustang. Plunging its way down through the Himalayas, the river carves the deepest gorge in the world between the two 8000m peaks Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. The Kali Gandaki was first opened to commercial use in 1991. The journey descends through challenging white water, unique cultures and amazing beaches. When not negotiating rapids, time on the river can be spent under cascading waterfalls and enjoying the backdrop of the Annapurna ranges. Both experienced and novice rafters will love it. Being one of the holiest rivers in Nepal, every river junction on the Kali Gandaki is dotted with cremation sites and above ground burial mounds. As the trip begins and ends in Pokhara you need to get there one day before the trip. There are few options depending on your budget and time schedule. All of them are relatively easy to arrange and if you want your tour operator can assist you. [ MAP ] [ PICTURE ] DEPARTURE POINT : Pokhara RIVER START POINT : Near Beni RIVER FINISH POINT: Mirmere OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME: 4 Hours RIVER GRADE :III - IV RETURN TRAVEL TIME: 5 Hours Itinerary Day 01 At around 7/8 am, we drive for around 3-4 hrs to the put-in point near Beni. Throughout this drive we have stunning views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks as well as the sacred Machapuchare. Upon arrival, we unload all the equipment and you will receive a full safety briefing. Have lunch and then the guide will take you to the river starting point ready to begin your exciting 3 days raft trip. First day we begin with some class III rapids this is a warm up for the team, after 10/15 minutes you will be encountering 2 big class 4 rapids i.e. ‘Small Brother’ and ‘Big Brother’. Your guide will be making you work hard at doing exercises to work as a team maneuvering the raft efficiently. After scouting the rapid, the safety kayaks will go first then the raft. Soon after encountering these two big rapids we will reach the Modi Khola confluence where we will choose the beach for the evening campsite. We unload the rafts and one raft team prepares dinner and rum punch whilst the others play or relax and take in the scenery. Day 02 Once the rafts are packed we start down the river for a day mixed with adrenaline calm and spectacular scenery including views of Annapurnna 1 and Himachuli. We will tackle many class III sections and the challenging class IV named REFUND. This section of river is abundant with vines, wildlife and lush vegetation hanging from the cliff faces. Our campsite is below the village of Purti Ghat. Day 03 Soon after being back on the water we reach the holy village of Seti Beni. The river has deposited a house size boulder in the confluence with a smaller tributary. Since confluence is considered holy places in the Hindu religion, this boulder has become an important shrine to the local river people. There is usually a great audience to watch and listen to the spectacle as each team negotiates the rapid that has formed around this holy place. Not long after this it is time for the journey to end. Our bus will be waiting for us. We load up the gear and prepare for the bus journey back to Pokhara. KAYAKING: This is a great river for intermediate to advanced Kayakers. Most rapids are pool-drop and there are surfing waves almost all the way down the river. Many rafting operators in Nepal has the best kayakers and instructors l, they are always willing to share their enthusiasm and expertise. We encourage kayakers to join any of our trips. You needn’t worry as our safety kayaker is always with the expedition ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ultimate Sports Adventure & Activities Nepal is a country of adventures. The raging rivers, high mountains, exotic valleys and jungle safaris are all sources of adventure. Cited below are some of the most thrilling and engaging adventurous activities of Nepal. River Rafting/White Water Rafting River Rafting is journeying on torrential river on an inflatable rubber boat. A River Raft is the most enjoyable way of checking one's guts. Both amateur and experienced rafters equally enjoy it. A river trip also provides the opportunity for geological surveys and fishing. In a country like Nepal, blessed by Himalayan rivers, a river trip is one of the best ways to explore a typical cross section of the country's natural as well as ethno-cultural heritage. The river is regarded as a form of goddess and is used for the purpose of various religious rituals under both Hinduism and Buddhism. A variety of cultural activities can be witnessed being performed along the river. The adjoining slopes of the river often harbor dense vegetation and interesting wildlife. Know-How of River Basins The splendid rivers of Nepal can be divided into three categories in accordance to their origins. The first category comprises the three main river systems of the country - the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river systems, all of them originating from glaciers and snow-fed lakes. The Koshi River System The Koshi river system consists of Tamor, Arun, Dudhkoshi, Likhu, Tamakoshi, Sunkoshi and Indravati rivers. The Arun and Sunkoshi originate in Tibet. The confluence of these rivers is at Tribeni (near Dharan) in Sagarmatha Zone. Flowing for almost 10 kms through a narrow gorge before entering the plains, the 'Sapta Kosi' or simply the 'Koshi', swollen with the waters of the seven rivers, finally merges into the Ganges. The Kali Gandaki originates in Mustang and converges with the Trishuli at Deoghat in Chitwan. The river is then called the 'Narayani' and goes on to meet the Ganges. The Gandaki River System The Kali Gandaki originates in Mustang and converges with the Trishuli at Deoghat in Chitwan. The river is then called the 'Narayani' and goes on to meet the Ganges. The Gandaki river system in central Nepal consists of the Kali Gandaki, Budhi Gandaki, Marsyanghi, Trishuli, Seti, Madi and Daraundi rivers. The Kaligandaki is the longest river and the Trishuli, the main tributary of this system. The Karnali River System The Karnali river system in Western Nepal consists of the Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Seti and Bheri rivers and is the longest river system in the country. The Humla Karnali, which rises in Tibet, is the main tributary. After entering India, this river assumes the name Gogra.