Trishuli River (1 or 2-Day Trip)
Among all the white water rivers in Nepal, the river Trishuli is the most popular. No prior experience is needed for this trip so it is the ideal rafting experience for new comers or families. The Trishuli river is located at an equal distance from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan making it the perfect spot. The river has moderate rapids ranging from Class 2 rapids to Class 3 rapids. The journey has stunning scenery and is easily accessible. Public Transport can be used to reach this river or private hire is also an option.
The most common 1 day package of Trishuli typically begins in Charaudi Rato Ghar and ends at Kurintar. The river covers a distance of 15-20km of water. The class 2-3+ rapids like “Ladies Delights”, “Upset” and “Surprise” are some of the well known and exciting spots. Upset specially is an infamous spot as most adventure like photographs are often taken at this sport. Despite the river being very calm, these rapids provide enough thrill and excitement for first time rafters while offering a safe and an enjoyable experience.
The 2 day raft trip includes an overnight stay on one of the many resorts in the riverbank of Trishuli. Most notably River Fun Beach Resorthas been seen to consistently provide safe guides for rafting and a good place for the night's rest. The second day of the trip is more relaxed, with calmer waters and mild rapids. Wildlife such as kingfishers, monkeys and eagles can be spotted during this trip.
Trishuli river is a year round river but the best rafting season is from September to June. This is the best time as the rivers are calm but fun enough making it the ideal season to visit. During the monsoon season the river becomes more challenging due to the rise in water levels. The river also starts to have a brown color due to constant mud spillage and landslides in the river. Trishuli is the combination of natural beauty, thrill and convenience making it the perfect spot to white water rafting for beginners and families.
Seti River (2-Day Trip)
The Seti River offers a more pleasant trip. It is a 2 day trip through warm waters and gentle class 2-3 rapids. The river flows through lush green forests and remote villages making it a scenic and enjoyable trip. It is perfect for families, school groups and people who are looking for a fun and exciting trip.
The word Seti means white in Nepali. The seti river meaning the white river derives due to its milky color from the limestone deposits in the river. The river flows through the western part of Nepal and offers a calm yet adventurous rafting experience. This river is comparatively less busy making it perfect for people who are seeking a relaxing escape from crowds with a moderate adventure.
The 2 day Seti trip begins at a place called Damauli. It is a small town located between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The first day begins with rafters navigating to calm Class 2 and Class 3 rapids. This river as the previous 2 is also a good place for beginners and families. Similar to Trishuli the seti also flows through lush jungles, villages and massive natural rock formations. The water in the Seti is warm which makes it comfortable for swimming and fun water activities. The camp for this trip is set up on an undisturbed beach. This offers rafters to have a chance to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, the night sky and local meals. The second day at the Seti is a bit more challenging as it involves a few more rapids and floating sections. Eventually it merges with the Trishuli river. The Seti River Rafting trip ends near a place called Gaighat, the place is close to the highway making it easy to go to your next destination via the road.
The season for the Seti is from September to June. The river is perfect for school groups and families. The Seti’s beautiful and scenic river with low intensity rapids makes it the ideal destination. Unlike the Trishuli river the Seti River is one of Nepal's Hidden gems which is waiting to be discovered.
Bhote Koshi River (1 or 2-Day Trip)
For rafters seeking a bit more thrill and adrenaline rush the Bhote Koshi River is the perfect match. The river delivered intense white water action in a short time period. The Bhote Koshi River can be done as a 1 day trip or a 2 day trip. This river is steep, fast flowing and provides a non stop action from Class 3 to Class 5 Rapids. This included with the unpredictable river and technical challenges makes it the best sport for experienced rafters who are looking for an extreme adventure. The river is not only adventurous but beautiful, the Himalayan View in the background makes it a scenic and an exciting adventure.
The name of the Bhote Koshi River translates to just river in the Tibetan Language. The river is short and steep which offers some of Nepal’s most intense white water rafting. The river is located at just a 3 hour drive from Kathmandu. The distance and the rapids make it the most ideal destination for adventure and thrill seekers.
The 1 day trip is high energy as it covers Class 3 to Class 5 rapids over a 12-15 KM river stretch. The trip starts at a town called Barhabise. The rivers flow rapidly through narrow canyons, big rocks and steep drops. The Bhote Koshi river is known for rapids such as “ Frog in the Blender” and “Dazed and Confused”. These rapids help provide an unforgettable challenge for season rafters.The 2 day trip adds an overnight stay at the basin of the river. The next day the rafting journey continues allowing for a deeper immersion into the region's natural beauty and amazing river.
The best season for Bhote Koshi is from September to November and from March to May. The Bhote Koshi River's strength comes from the glaciers that have melted in Tibet. Bhote Koshi like Trishuli is a year round rafting trip. This is the perfect getaway for adventure seekers and seasoned professionals.
Kali Gandaki River (3-Day Trip)
The Kali Gandaki River is named after the fierce hindu goddess Kali. This rafting trip is an exciting 3 day trip through one of the worlds deepest gorges. The River is a mix of challenging rapids, beautiful waterfalls and cultural sites. This river offers both a white river adventure and a spiritual adventure.
The adventure begins near Baglung which is a few hours drive from Pokhara. The River features fun rapids such as “Big Brother” and “Little Brother”. This provides an exciting trip without any real risk. The River provides rapids from Grade 3 to Grade 4. The river offers a total of over 60+ rapids making it the best spot to raft in. The route also includes calm waters with peaceful and beautiful views. Temples and villages can also be seen while passing through the river.
Adventurers camp on the beaches by the river with lush forests nearby. The region is very rich in biodiversity. Animals and birds such as Cheer pheasant, Crested Kingfisher, and Brahminy Starling can be found while travelling through the river. The second and third days of the trip are more calm waters with a few more rapids. A thing to mention is that the river is colder during the first and second day but eventually gets warmer by the third day. Kali Gandaki is a little bit less popular so the river is often empty. Surprisingly the river has a number of fatal accidents so some precautions are needed before heading to the river.
The best season to raft in the river is from October to December and from March to May. The Kali gandaki rafting trip is an ideal trip for people who are seeking a medium length trip with lots of adventure..
Sun Koshi River (9-Day Trip)
For people who are seeking a longer journey in the river, the Sun Koshi river is ideal. The trip is a total of 9 days. This expedition is regarded as one of the world’s best multi day rafting trips. The total length of the trip is over 270 KM. The trip is filled with changing landscapes and the rapids are from Class 3 to Class 5. The Sun Koshi is the best balance of adrenaline, nature and experience.
The name of the river Sun Koshi means River of gold in nepali. This river is considered as one of the top 10 rafting rivers in the world. The 9 day expedition starts from Dolalghat which lies in the east of Kathmandu to a place called Chatara in eastern Terai. The long journey takes adventurers through new landscapes, from Himalayan foothills to tropical jungles. The river is filled from Class 3 to Class 5 rapids making it the perfect mix of white water rafting.
Each day in the river presents newer challenges and experiences. The earlier days are milder which offers time for the team to build coordination in the river. As the journey continues the river starts to get more intense with rapids such as “Meat Grinder”, “Jaws” and “Big Dipper”. The long river offers time between rapids in calm waters for bird watching, cliff jumps and relaxing moments.
One convenience of this river is that the lower you descend the harder the river starts to get. This helps rafters as they will have time to loosen up and practice their skills before they hit the harder parts of the river.
The best part of this trip is not only the river but the nights that are spent on the riverbank. With late night bonfires, storytelling and stunning night skies, these moments are the most enjoyable with friends and families. This rafting experience not only challenges your skill but your lifestyle as you have to spend days cooking in the fire and sleeping in the hard floor of tents.
The best time to visit this river is from late September to early December. The Sun Koshi is the ideal trip for adventurous travellers who seek a full rafting expedition with plenty of white water action and to Nepal's natural beauty.
Karnali River (10-Day Trip)
The Karnali River is the longest river of Nepal. It has a total length of 507 km. This causes the Karnali trip to be a 10 day wilderness adventure. The river flows through the remote western region of Nepal. It features powerful rapids, unurbanized forests, and unique wildlife. The Karnali River is home to a diverse range of animals and birds, including endangered species like the Gangetic river dolphin and the mugger crocodile. Other notable animals include otters, deers, and various species of birds are also found in the banks of the river.
The trip starts from Sauli in the far west. The total rafting experience covers a distance of 180 KM through class 3 to class 5 rapids. Famous rapids such as “Gods Houses”, “Jailhouse Rock” and “Juicer” are found in this river. The volume of the water and the rapids increases along with the river. The top half of the rapids are fairly easy but as the main canyons start to arrive the river turns into a “thrill a minute roller coaster” with rapids on every bend of the river. The trip also boasts a good fishing experience as massive fish like the Golden Masheer, Silver Masheer and Sahar can be found in the river. These massive fishes create a fun rafting+fishing experience while in the river.
The participants camp in the isolated river banks. It is far from roads or any modern infrastructure making it the ideal trip for seclusion and a nature experience. Local communities can be found in the regions. Tharu and Magar communities provide cultural insight into the lives of Nepal's different tribes. The trip ends in Chisapani which translates to cold water in Nepali. The river is a bit colder than Sun Koshi and Trishuli so thermal/shell clothing is recommended. Although you can stop in the middle and stay in Bardiya National Park which is one of the best wildlife parks in the whole of Asia. The best season to raft is from October to November and from April to May. This trip is for people who want an expedition style trip into Nepal's amazing white water rafting and diverse wildlife.
Tamur River (12-Day Trip)
The 12-day Tamur River expedition blends rafting and trekking. The rafting portion offers over 100 thrilling rapids, beginning with a picturesque trek close to Kanchenjunga. For those looking for a varied, off the beaten path experience that combines white water and mountain trekking, the Tamur is perfect. The ultimate adventure in eastern Nepal is the Tamur River, which combines rafting and trekking. The 12-day adventure starts with an 8-day rafting trip after a picturesque 4-day hike through the foothills of Nepal's third-highest mountain, Kanchenjunga.
Most rafting trips start at Dobhan and from here it is a 6 day hike down to Chatra. This trek takes you along the top of a 3000 meter ridge through beautiful forests and magnificent views of Makalu and Everest Massif. The walk offers breathtaking Himalayan vistas as well as cultural insights. The river journey, which offers 120 km of white-water through more than 100 Class III to V rapids, starts at Dobhan.With rapids like "The Wall" and "Shiva's Rock," the Tamur is strong, technical, and far away.
Beautiful dense forests, waterfalls, and slender gorges are scattered throughout the landscape, which also includes serene riverbanks. The campsites are remote and immaculate. This trip is among the most varied in Nepal because of the combination of difficult rapids, abundant ecosystems, and the distinctive trekking style.
Best done from October to November and April to May, the Tamur is perfect for seasoned adventurers seeking a blend of hiking, rafting, and raw natural beauty in a lesser-known region.
Choose the Best Rafting Package in Nepal for Your Adventure
Nepal's rivers provide an unmatched variety of rafting experiences, making it one of the top rafting destinations in the world. Whether you're looking for short, accessible trips like Trishuli River Rafting, relaxing and scenic escapes like the Seti River, or thrilling challenges on the Bhote Koshi, there's something for everyone. Longer expeditions like the Sun Koshi, Karnali, and Tamur River Rafting Tours deliver immersive adventures through remote wilderness, cultural sites, and changing landscapes.
The best rafting seasons in Nepal generally fall between September to December and March to June, offering ideal water levels and comfortable weather. From family-friendly excursions to expert-level expeditions, these best rafting packages in Nepal promise a lifetime of memories on the Himalayan waters. Choose your trip based on your thrill level, time, and interest, and dive into the heart of Nepal’s natural beauty through its exhilarating rivers.
