A Guide to White-Water Rafting in Nepal

Did you know, you can now join Culture Trip on an expertly curated 11-day trip in Nepal? Led by our Local Insider, you’ll go white-water rafting on the Seti river, look for Bengal tigers in Chitwan National Park and learn how to make momo dumplings at a Tibetan refugee camp.

Kathmandu and Pokhara are the two cities in which most travellers base themselves. Thankfully, single-day white-water rafting trips are possible from both. When you take a one-day tour, transportation and lunch – typically good old dal bhat – at a river camp is often provided. Here are some excellent options for one-day trips from Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The Bhote Kosi River is a little closer to Kathmandu, at two-to-three hours to the northeast. The Bhote Kosi used to have a longer raftable stretch but due to a major landslide in 2014, only a shorter section remains navigable. Still, there’s enough for plenty of fun for a couple of hours and the water here is cool and refreshing – particularly good for the hotter months. There are nice river camps along the way here to stay for the night if you wish, although be warned as they get busy and noisy – especially with partying Kathmandu students on the weekends.

From Pokhara, rafting the Upper Seti is the best single-day option. At 90 minutes, trips on the Seti are a little shorter than the options from Kathmandu – but it’s much more accessible, at just a 30-minute drive away. It’s also chock-full of class three and four rapids and comes with glorious views of the Annapurna. Short and sweet.

If you’ve got more time in Nepal, consider taking a multi-day rafting tour and heading deep into the wilderness to see the changing Nepali landscape and to camp on white-sand river beaches. Typically, everyone gets a private tent – or can sleep under the stars – and the guides do a great job cooking tasty and healthy meals on campfires. Here are some excellent multi-day options.

The Kali Gandaki River is accessible from Pokhara. This river flows down through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, which is the deepest gorge in the world, at 5,571m (18,277ft) at one point. Kali Gandaki trips generally last three days, so they are another good option for a shorter trip.

The Sun Kosi is a couple of hours’ drive from Kathmandu and ends close to the Indian border, in southeast Nepal. The eight-day trip is a classic and a favourite among rafters and kayakers alike. The beaches and river sparkle with the golden sand, the camping beaches are clean and remote, the high hill scenery gives way to the flat plains of the Terai and there are plenty of mid and large-sized rapids for plenty of fun.

Two of the best activities in Nepal – trekking and rafting – come together on the Tamur River trip. On this 12-day expedition, the first three days are spent trekking in the mountains, reaching altitudes of more than 3,000m (9,842ft) and having the kayaks and rafts carried by porters. The rapids on this river are quite challenging, so they are best suited for people with some white-water experience.

The Karnali River runs through Western Nepal – an extremely remote and under-developed part of the country. 10-day river expeditions are one of the few ways to see the region and pass along clear blue waters, jungles, amazing rock formations and end near Bardia National Park. The Karnali River is threatened by a hydropower project, however, so it would be a good idea to take this trip sooner rather than later.

Where white-water rafts can go, so can kayaks. Although you can learn to kayak in Nepal and go on kayak-only trips, it’s also possible to combine the two activities. This is a particularly good idea for beginner or intermediate kayakers who want to improve their skills, but who may not be confident kayaking all day, every day on a longer trip. It’s also a good idea for groups of friends or couples travelling together, who may have different skills and interests.

Nepali companies don’t necessarily have to abide by the same standards as tour companies in some other countries, but many reputable ones do. Look out for companies that have good, recent reviews and who have their credentials clearly displayed on their office walls – and are able to talk to potential clients about them. A particular point to ask about is their ratio of safety kayakers to clients. These guys are the ones who keep clients safe should they fall in the water and some companies may try to cut costs by limiting the number of safety kayakers. Reputable, well-established companies for longer trips include Ultimate Descents and GRG’s Adventure Kayaking.

Another consideration when choosing a trip and company is the type of accommodation provided. When heading on a multi-day trip, it’s necessary to camp on beaches, as this is the only option. However, for overnight trips, some companies can arrange accommodation in a basic or more comfortable river camp. Sukut Beach and Rafting Star on the Bhote Kosi River have particularly good camps – complete with permanent tents and beautifully landscaped gardens.

The peak tourism seasons in Nepal are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). At these times, the weather is best – pleasantly hot with very little rain.

Water levels are an important factor for white-water rafting, of course. In spring, water levels can be quite low, as, at this time, it’s been the longest since the heavy rains of the monsoon. On some rivers – such as the Bhote Kosi – the flow can be a bit low, meaning it’s common to get stuck on the rocks. This isn’t usually a major problem but can be an inconvenience. The wind on some rivers – such as the Karnali – can be an annoyance in this season, too.

In autumn – after the monsoon season – water levels are at their highest. This can make for some exciting rapids – sometimes a bit too exciting earlier in the season. By late November, the nights are quite cold for beach camping, so pack extra layers.

White-water rafting is very good value in Nepal. While a 10-day trip in the USA might cost several thousands of dollars, a similar trip in Nepal is more in the $800-$1,200 (£579-£869) range. This includes all food, tent hire, equipment and ground transportation. Day trips cost around $70 (£50), including transportation and lunch.

Be sure to tip your guides if you’ve had a good experience. Guides in Nepal aren’t paid well and appreciate the extra cash. Be sure to tip the guides directly – or hand it to a head guide on a longer trip – rather than give it to the company, as it is not always passed on to the guides in the latter case. Approximately 10 percent of the total trip cost is an appropriate amount to tip a guide.