Nepal Travel Trek

Sunkoshi River Rafting

River is the main sources and most powerful and attractive forces on natural part of Nepal. There are several excellent rivers in Nepal which offer brilliant rafting or canoeing. Trishuli, Seti, Bhotekoshi, Kali Gandaki, Marshyangdi, Sunkoshi, Arun, Karnali, Tamur are the main excellent rivers for rafting or canoeing. Nepal's rivers are second to none, originating from the glaciers of the worlds highest mountains, they plunge through towering gorges and forested foothills before the more tranquil journey along the Ganges plain on their way to the Bay of Bengal. Rivers here are regarded as goddesses, and are included in a number of Hindu and Buddhist religious rituals. There are clear sandy beaches to camp or take a meal, and cool clear pools to bathe.  On these rivers you will find the world's most thrilling whitewaters with a wide range of difficulties and warm water. There is no more relaxing experience, any better way of getting from Kathmandu valley to the jungles of the Chitwan Valley, a drop of thousands of feet in new heavenly miles. Experience water rapids grade 2 to 7 in a beautiful environment of colorful villages, subtropical vegetation and friendly people will be unforgettable. River journeys range from one-day short-cut excursions to 11-day long way expeditions. Each offers incredibly unique knowledge and engenders a lifetime record.

Sun Kosi; River of Gold is one of the ten best rafting rivers in the world. Big rapids, warm water, no roads or towns are the main characteristics of this river. Extraordinary scenery and great camping makes this a classic rafting journey. Normally the starting point to raft this river is Dolalghat, a three hour drive east from Kathmandu. The Sun Kosi traverses the Mahabharat range and follows one of the main geological fault lines of the Himalayas. This is also an excellent trip for intermediate and advanced kayakers.
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!!!
Best season to visit: October –December and March –May
Raft Grade: Class 04 -05  
Length of Raft: It is advisable to do 12 days along this route to fully experience the river rafting in Nepal. 
Accommodations: Camping

General information: The River rises near Tibet and is joined by the Bhoti Kosi just downstream from Barbesi. Most raft trips start at Dolaghat. The Sun Kosi flows eastwards in Nepal through the great valley between the Mahabharat Lekh Mountains and the Himalayas.
The volume increases considerably draining flows from his Himalayan tributaries. In November, the flow at Dologhat is about 100 cumecs. Lower down the river, through the big rapids of the Jungle Corridor, it would be about 400 cumecs, which is approximate 11,000 ft, a typical low flow on the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. At the end at Chatra, the flow is a super 800 cumecs, in November, which makes it one of the major rivers of the world in monsoon. A nice thing about Sun Kosi is that the general standard of the river gets progressively harder as you descend it so there is time to practice your skills on easy water before the more interesting, bigger and continuous rapids lower down the river.

Additional Information: Put in Point is Dolalghat (altitude 620m) and take out point is Jugedi (altitude 170m). Average gradient is 0.20% and maximum gradient is 0.60% and the volume in November is 285M3/sec.

Outline Itinerary:

Note – Our Itinerary does not include your arrival and departure day to and from Kathmandu, and our fixed dates are the trekking starting date from Kathmandu. And, our river guides will give briefing every evening for the next day. So, any information not covered now by this itinerary can be discussed then.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Kathmandu to Dolalghat to Timal Besi:
Morning at 7 am meet in Ktm. office - store baggage and finalize 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: Timal Besi to Dunja Village:
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: Dunja Village to Khurkot:
Today a few kilometers 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: Khurkot to Oxbox Section Beach:
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: Oxbox Section Beach to the confluence of Dudh Koshi
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: the confluence of Dudh Koshi to Rasuwa Khola:
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: Rasuwa Khola to Kampu Ghat:
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: Kampu Ghat to Tribeni Ghat:
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.
Day 09: TribeniGhat to Chatara to Dharan
Day 10: Dharan to Kathmandu: Drive
Take a drive to Kathmandu from Dharan.

Cost Includes:

• All meals during the rafting period

• Rafting & trekking permit

• Transportation going by tourist or local bus depending upon the mode of transportation available at put-in and pull-out point

• Rafting, kitchen and camping equipment

• Experienced Captain

• Cook and other staffs

• Group leader will be free over ten people

Cost Doesn't Include:

• Mineral water, cold drinks and alcohols during whole trip

• Hotel accommodation & meals at hotel during whole trip

• Emergency evacuation

• Things of personal use

• Member insurance

• Airfare Kathmandu - Biratnagar

• Private transportation

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