Thanks to the glorious mountains located in the Himalayans regions which have created several rivers with rapid current in Nepal. You might find it hard to believe, but Nepal has more than around 6,000 water system, and with an account to the size of Nepal, it is amazing. The distance from North to the south of Nepal is only 200 kilometers, however, the altitude variation of this distance is from 8,848 meters to 70 meters; this huge altitude gap in short distance has caused many fast flowing rivers to be formed with steep downturns and gorges. With all of the rivers with such speed and rapid has made Nepal has one of the best holiday destinations for rafting.

Rafting in Nepal

Nepal is one of the best holiday destinations to visit, be it by yourself or with friends and family; there is a long list of things one can experience and explore here. Adventure, fun, exploration you can do all sorts of things. Trekking, mountain climbing, rafting, paragliding, these activities will imbue you with aliveness and daring; sightseeing, witnessing rare flora and fauna, exploring world heritage and ancient monuments will thrust your inner soul with delight and knowing traditional culture and simple lifestyle, witnessing exclusive festivals, will feel you with a sense of delight and warmth. There is nothing you can’t achieve once you are here. Beauty, nature, culture, history, Nepal has everything to offer.

Rafting is one of the best experience will get from Nepal, so you should try it. Rafting here is not just having a wild experience; you will also get an opportunity to see the beautiful hills, mountains, and traditional villages.

Information on Rafting in Nepal

Given to you skill and experience on rafting, you can choose to either paddle, oar or kayak in the river. Kayaking will be best for you if you have experience in rafting.

There are several rivers where you can have an experience of rafting. However, all those rivers aren’t same, they have different speed and rapid, and they are rated as per the level of difficulty. The government of Nepal has permitted commercial rafting in several rivers, however not all the parts of the rivers are suitable for rafting, so rafting is done in the predetermined areas of a river by government. Bhote Koshi, Sun Koshi, Trisuli, Karnali, Seti, Marshyndi are some of the rivers where you can go rafting.

Best season for rafting

It will be best to do rafting during autumn and spring season in Nepal. During these seasons, the water level is perfect; rapids are not so high or not so low. Also during these seasons, the environment gets very charming with crystal clear day, flowers blooming and very moderate temperate.

Summer in Nepal is quickly followed by monsoon. Heavy rainfall increases the water level and pace of rapids so rafting during this period might be prone to accident. Also, in winter with an already freezing temperature, playing with water won’t give you a very best experience.

Permits for rafting

It is mandatory for tourists to obtain a permit for rafting. A fee of NRs. 80 (equivalent payable on cash or any convertible foreign currency) should be deposited in Nepal Rastra Bank. After that, a copy of documents must be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism in Mountaineering section which is located at Tripureswor behind the Dasarath Stadium (biggest stadium in Nepal).

Rafting Destinations of Nepal

Trishuli River Rafting

Trishuli river rafting is one of the popular rafting of Nepal. As Trishuli river runs along the highway connecting Kathmandu, you will encounter view of vehicles running. Trishuli River possesses medium level difficulty with low rapids, and it will be perfect if you are a beginner or have less skill in rafting. The river has impressive gorges, exciting rapids, some easier sections and easy accessibility from Kathmandu as well as Pokhara. The water that flows in Trishuli river comes from the melted snow of Mt. Ganesh and Langtang Himal.

Bhote Koshi River Rafting

Bhote Koshi river is best known for rafting, kayaking, and bungee jumping. Bhote Koshi is the upper river course of Sun Koshi river. The river is the steepest river rafted in Nepal with a gradient of 15 meters per kilometers. The river water carves a steep and direct drop at the top which gradually eases to more placid streams and calmer pools with a 46 kilometer run at the Lamosunga dam. Bhote Khosi river is one of the favorite rivers for rafting as the river is steep and continuous with one rapid leading into another.

Sun Koshi River Rafting

Sun Koshi river is one of the major rivers in Nepal, and the rafting experience is the ultimate one. It is also used for kayaking. Starting point of Sun Koshi river rafting is Dolalghat, at the height of 620 meters/2,030 feet and passing through Khurkot, Harkaour, it finally ends at Chatra Gorge at 115 meters/377 feet, a total distance of around 272 kilometers.

Karnali River Rafting

Karnali River is the longest river in Nepal with a total length of 507 kilometers. The river comes from the glaciers of Mapchachungo in the Himalayas. It has some wild and challenging rapids with beautiful landscape view. This rafting trip will take you to the least visited and least explored area of Nepal, so it will also be an opportunity to know the story of Nepal beyond the crowd and tall buildings of the city.

Kali Gandaki River Rafting

Kali Gandaki is one of the holy rivers in Nepal. Rafting in Kali Gandaki is very famous because of the deepest gorge in the world between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. It is super thrilling and fantastic with the steep drops, huge waves and continuous rapid.

Seti River Rafting

Seti River originates from the snowfields and glaciers from around the twin peak of Api and Nampa in south which faces slopes of main Himalayas. Seti River flows in south-easterly direction and turns and flows in south-westerly direction and finally in south-easterly way before joining Karnali River. Seti River rafting is preferred for beginners as well.

Arun River Rafting

Arun River lies in the eastern part of Nepal which originates from Tibet and is one of the main tributaries of Saptakoshi River. Great landscape views, fun rapids and wavers, and its remote location make Arun River rafting an interesting adventure.