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Sunkoshi Rafting

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Sunkoshi Rafting 11 Days

The Sunkoshi Rafting starts in the biggest tributary of Nepal’s biggest river the Saptakoshi. It moves through all its tributaries. It provides an awesome whitewater rafting experience. Just as the river builds up from a solitary branch to the collection of seven snow-fed watercourses. It makes the largest supplier of the Ganges. So does your experience in the course of 9 wet and exciting days. Unlike the other rivers rafted in Nepal, the Sunkoshi river is gentle at first. It reserves some of the biggest and wildest rapids further downstream toward the end of the journey. Along with your total navigated course of 270 kilometers, you have plenty of varying scenes and experiences.

Trip Facts

Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge/Teahouse/Tent

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Trip Overview

Broad, fertile river valleys, deep gorges, steep, looming cliffs, dense forests, beautiful villages, and their inhabitants who may cheer you from time to time. There is nothing here to spoil your craving for the ultimate water experience. You will have the first-hand experience of a large swathe of Nepal’s natural beauty and culture. And also ethnic diversity in the course of the journey during the Sunkoshi rafting.

As the river measures its way from the heart of the mountain region to the northern belt of the Gangetic plain in Nepal. It will evoke a myriad of emotions in you with its sometimes calm, serene waters which sometimes swing into wild furies and turbulent rapids. In general, the initial days fit more for beginners and moderately experienced. From the fifth day onwards, the river’s gorges, canyons, and rapids increase in their wilderness and intensity. However, in the hands of our well-experienced and skilled guides, you have nothing to worry about. You have only exciting moments ahead. The thrill and excitement earned without overcoming some formidable difficulties. These are pale and not worth the spirit they inspire in you. In the highs and lows of the currents of this river, discover whether you wanted to earn them in your life!

Trip Outline

Day 01: Drive to Dolalghat and Arrive at Tarang Gaon
Day 02: From Tarang Gaon to Dumja Village
Day 03: From Dumja Village to Khurkot
Day 04: From Khurkot to Likhu Dovan
Day 05: From Likhu Dovan to Harkapur Village
Day 06: From Harkapur Village to Rai Ghat
Day 07: From Rai Ghat to Bandar Ghat
Day 08: From Bandar Ghat to Bonjur Ghat
Day 09: From Bonjur Ghat to Barahachhetra
Day 10: From Barahachhetra to Chhatara
Day 11: Wildlife Trip in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve or Chitwan National Park and Return to Kathmandu (Optional)

Detail Itinerary

Day 01 Drive to Dolalghat and Arrive at Tarang Gaon

Elevation: 3 hrs

A short drive from Kathmandu (approximately 3 hours) reaches us to Dolalghat, the entry point of our long rafting trip. We enter into the currents here and float to Tarang Gaon, where we stay in a tent for the night.

Tent

Day 02 From Tarang Gaon to Dumja Village

4 hrs

It is generally a leisurely day, in terms of both time and effort. The river is generally calm and wide today, except for a rapid named “Khuei Bhai,” in its eastward course through the wide fertile valleys it has created. You see lush green farms and small villages on the sides. There is an old Mahadeva Temple on the campsite today. You may see the traditional fishermen casting their nets in the river and even some group of villagers may cheer you from time to time.

Lodge/Teahouse

Day 03 From Dumja Village to Khurkot

6 hrs

Excitement builds up in you as encounter more rapids today. On the sides of the river, you will see stiff cliffs made up of layered rocks, which look as if they were built by some gifted masons. You need to be on the lookout for Chamere Bhir (bat-inhabited cliff) where hundreds of bats are clinging to the precarious slopes and screaming. We reach Khurkot and spend our night there. Farms, fields, local people and their cattle are seen on the riverbank as usual.

Lodge/Teahouse

Day 04 From Khurkot to Likhu Dovan

5 hrs

This is a wild section dominated by hillocks and cliffs that surround the river from both sides. You meet some exciting rapids, few people, and abundant wilderness around. You have some memorable “chill-out” moments of your life. Just glide down the course of the river listening to the echoes of the flow reverberated by the hills around.

Lodge/Teahouse

Day 05 From Likhu Dovan to Harkapur Village

6 hrs

The river meanders its way deep through small and big hills and mountains of Mahabharat range. There are some deep, wild gorges on the way with some wild rapids. From the afternoon, however, it is a gentle gliding over water. You can see some languor and rhesus monkeys chattering in the riverbanks. Otherwise, you see the wild, overpowering cliffs looming overhead: some dotted with trees and others bare.

Lodge/Teahouse

Day 06 From Harkapur Village to Rai Ghat

6 hrs

This is one of the most challenging days of the journey. The river suddenly gets furious, driving the guides rapidly into action. At the same time, you will have the ultimate excitement of a roller-coaster ride as the mighty rapids throw you up like anything. The most famous and wildest rapids of the day are Bridge rapids, Krishna rapids, and Mangal rapids. The last name is a tribute to Mangal Gurung, the first ever Nepalese to raft this river and blaze the trail for others. Finally, we arrive at Raj Ghat, where we camp for the night.

Camp

Day 07 From Rai Ghat to Bandar Ghat

6 hrs

It is the special character of the Sunkoshi to get more formidable downstream. It is the same today as yesterday in terms of effort and excitement. The holes and eddies we encounter today are something to reckon with, even for the foolhardy water-babies. Finally, we arrive at Bandar Ghat to establish our camp for the night.

Camp

Day 08 From Bandar Ghat to Bonjur Ghat

6 hrs

Late in the afternoon, the river gets mild. But in the morning we have to negotiate some deep gorges, wild rapids and constricted channels.

Lodge/Teahouse

Day 09 From Bonjur Ghat to Barahachhetra

The river continues to emerge from the Mahabharat range into the gentle Terai plains today, so does its character. A few rapids and gentle rolling currents—that is all that you encounter today.

Day 10 From Barahachhetra to Chhatara

It is a short trip today lasting only for a few hours. But the last sections will leave you some good memories: in the river’s confluence with the Arun and Tamor contains remarkable rapids. Finally, we stop at Barahachhetra at our exit point, drive to Kathmandu or drive to Biratnagar and fly to Kathmandu from there. But before that, it is a fine, contrasting experience to make a wildlife trip in either the Koshi-Tappu Wildlife Reserve or the Chitwan National Park.

Day 11 Wildlife Trip in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve or Chitwan National Park and Return to Kathmandu (Optional)

Set aside a day for bird-watching at the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, a small island lying in the middle of the two branches of the Koshi River that develop down from Barahakshetra. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is also the home to Arna, a vanishing species of wild buffalo. If you choose to come to Chitwan National Park, you can choose between a jeep or elephant safari to catch the common sights of rhinos, and various other birds and animals.