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White Water Rafting
River rafting is an exceptional experience anywhere - but in Nepal's unique terrain, it is somehow all the more fascinating. Nepals' major rivers have their sources in Tibet, cut through the Himalayas, and sweep down the country's central hills to the north Indian plains to join the holy Ganges or its tributaries. The rivers of Nepal take the rafter to the very heart of a magical land and is one of the most exciting ways of exploring Nepal's ancient cultures and unspoiled landscapes in addition to enjoying the thrills of the sport on the rapids of the Himalayan rivers of Nepal.
On their river journey travelers pass through a continually changing, verdant Landscape, past ancient cultures and diverse peoples. The alternately serene and stormy waters of the Himalayas and their rapid descent to the Terai through deep gorges and steep downflow provide numerous thrills and challenges to the professional as well as the casual rafter.
History
Foreigners ventured onto the rivers soon after Nepal's boarders were opened in the early 1950's. Sir Edmund Hillary attempted the SUN KOSHI in eastern Nepal in 1968. Terry & Cheri Beach descended much of the SUN KOSHI in a small raft in the early 1970's. After numerous other efforts by various river experts it was only in 1976 that an American, Al Read, systematically explored and charted some of the rafting rivers of Nepal. It was at this time that the first rafting company in Nepal was established. Initially this attracted a number of foreign river guides to Nepal. But now almost every company in Nepal employs highly trained (international standard) Nepali guides capable of operating trips in complete safety, supervising camping and cooking fine meals on the river.
The Rivers
The rivers of Nepal open for rafting by the government are the TRISHULI, THE KALIGANDAKI, THE BHOTE KOSHI, THE SETI, THE SUN KOSHI, KARNALI, TAMAKOSHI and the ARUN. Among them Trishuli, Kaligandaki, Karnali, Seti and the Sun Koshi are the most commonly rafted rivers.
Method
Rafts can be either paddled or rigged with an oar frame and rowed. With an oar frame, the guide generally sits in the middle and rows while others hold on through the rapids. With a paddle raft the guide normally sits in the back calling instructions and steering the raft, while the others paddle - providing the power for the raft. The oar raft is generally used for first time rafters who would rather like to enjoy the trip under the total control of the rafting guide. The paddle raft is more dependent on team work and obviously the rewards in terms of excitement is also greater.
Rafting Season
The best times of the year for river rafting in Nepal are late September until early December, and then again from mid February until May. In late August and late May, the rivers can be extremely high with monsoon run off. Any attempts at this time requires a very experienced guide and strong rafters. From October the rivers are settled and this is the most popular time for rafting in Nepal. In December some of the rivers become cold and the days short.
The spring season of March until mid-May has lower flows to begin with, which generally means that the rapids are not that powerful. This is ideal time for leisure rafting. The rivers come up again with pre-monsoon melts and snow melts. From June to August the monsoon rains arrive and the rivers hold 10 times their low flow and can flood with 60 - 80 times this flow. Any high flow can make the rapids 1-2 grades tougher.
Some of our Rafting Programs
Sun Koshi
9 - 10 days. (Grade 1 - 5+)
Trishuli
1 - 4 days. (Grade 1-3+) - A good combination with Pokhara and Chitawan.
Seti
3 days. (Grade 1-3) - A good combination with Pokhara and Chitawan.
Karnali
12 days. (Grade 1-5+) (includes 2 days travel to/from the river and 2 days trek.)
Kaligandaki
7 days. (Grade 1-5) (includes 2 days travel to and from the river.) Can be combined with a trek or a visit in and around Pokhara.
Bhote Koshi
2 days. (Grade 1-5+). Good combination with visit to Kathmandu and trek in the Langtang region.
Please e-mail or fax us for day to day itinerary details. Rafting costs vary considerably upon the size of the group thus they will be supplied upon receipt of group size and other details. Itineraries are subject to change due to reasons of time constraints and ground realities.
What to bring - on the river
- Shorts / T-shirts
- Teva - type Sandals / Trainers
- Sunhat / Cap
- Sunglasses with strap or string
- Sunscreen cream.
Off the River
- Long Trousers / Pants
- Warm Shirt / Light Jacket
- Dry Shoes & Socks
- Toiletries
- Flash light
- Small amount of money
- Towel / Sleeping bag
- Special Medication
- Supplementary food items if needed and alcoholic beverage.
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