Highlights
- Trekking in the Himalaya with views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and Makalu
- The best combination trip on offer – trekking & rafting in one!
- 120 rapids in 130 km!
- Amazing Himalayan views
Overview
| Duration | 14 days |
| Grade (Class) | IV / IV+ |
| Start trek | Basantapur (20-hour drive from Kathmandu or optional flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar) |
| End trek / Put in | Dobhan |
| Take out | Chatara (15-hour drive to Kathmandu or optional flight from Biratnagar to Kathmandu) |
| Best season | October - November, April - June |
Best Season
This river is only runnable from the middle of October to the end of November, or April, May time. Due to its technicality, the river levels need to be just right.
Experience Required
For rafters, although your river guides will have all the necessary skills to guide you safely down the river, we do suggest that you have done a little bit of whitewater rafting previous to this trip. As there is no warm-up (in the first minute of the river you are literally thrown into one of the most technical rapids of the river), you’ll want to know what to expect.
For kayakers, you will need to be a confident Grade IV boater with a solid roll. The first few days are very intense, non-stop Grade IV rapids with little time to recover.
Accessing this River
This river is extremely remote, and getting there can be quite the adventure in itself. For the budget traveler, you can expect a 20+ hour journey from Kathmandu to the East of the country to get to the start of our trek. Recommended though, is to take the internal flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and then a 6-hour drive to the trek start.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Accommodation & Meals
As with all the river expedition style trips in Nepal, accommodation is tented. There are plenty of stunning white sandy beaches along the river (surprisingly we have some of the best beaches in the world which you wouldn’t think of being a landlocked country). Camping under the stars is simply stunning and a highlight for many.
Eating on the river is also an experience. All the raft guides are also trained in food preparation and hygiene and make some of the most delicious meals you will have ever tried. From Buffalo steaks, curries, pastas and salads, you do not need to worry about going hungry on a river expedition!
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Kathmandu! | Kathmandu |
| Day 2 | Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 3 | Drive to Biratnagar or stay an extra night in Kathmandu | Biratnagar (or Kathmandu) |
| Day 4 | Optional flight to Biratnagar | Biratnagar |
| Day 5-6 | Trek to Gufal Pokhari | Gufal Pokhari |
| Day 7-12 | Rafting, Hindu temple, optional flight to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 13 | Drive to Kathmandu | Kathmandu |
| Day 14 | Depart Kathmandu |
Detailed Itinerary
Most itineraries are around 11 days. The suggested itinerary, below, is offered by GRG's Adventure Kayaking.
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!
As you fly into Kathmandu, you'll have beautiful views over the valley, the Himalaya, and of the terraced fields below. After going through customs, a representative will be waiting to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets and get you settled into your hotel. Once you've settled in, head out and visit one of Kathmandu's cultural highlights. In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.
Day 2: Explore Kathmandu
Kathmandu has a special atmosphere during the early morning hours when the city is slowly coming to life yet not too chaotic. It's a great time to walk and explore the streets or have a chai overlooking one of the local courtyards or durbar squares. There are a number of ways you can spend the day given the many incredible sights around the Kathmandu Valley. Later in the evening, head out for dinner at one of the city's great eateries, or your specialist can arrange a home-cooked dinner with a local family.
Day 3: Drive to Biratnagar or stay an extra night in Kathmandu
Those on a budget will leave in the afternoon from Kathmandu after loading the bus up and drive to Biratnagar and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4: Optional flight to Biratnagar
If you have opted for a flight, you will catch an early morning flight to Biratnagar, and the gear bus will collect you from there. We then continue the drive to the start of our trek Basantapur and spend the night here.
Day 5-6: Trek to Gufal Pokhari
The trek begins. This has been described as one of the most scenic treks on offer in the Himalaya, however, very few people trek here. Heading over a 3000-meter pass you will be rewarded with stunning mountain views including Mount Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga. A highlight of the trek is camping in Gufal Pokhari, a breathtaking high altitude lake.
Day 7-12: Rafting, Hindu temple, optional flight to Kathmandu
Let the adventure begin! Today we hit the water, and we start off with a BANG! Straight into constant Grade IV rapids, this will certainly get your heart pumping! After the first few days the river levels out a bit, giving you all a chance to catch your breath and take in the scenery a bit more. We’ll travel through remote villages, impressive gorges and out of this world scenery. Not many tourists come this way, so the locals are always interested to come and say hi when we make camp. Evenings will be spent playing football with local children, fishing, relaxing, dancing around the campfire and talking about the rapids we encountered earlier in the day!
The highlight of the week though is the second last day of rafting which has been described by raft guides as the best whitewater in the world. We then meet the confluence with the Sun Kosi and enjoy half a day floating to our take out point. We can stop at a local Hindu temple for a quick blessing before we take out of the river, sort our gear and head on back to the city. For those who are flying back, it’s a quick 1-hour drive to Biratnagar airport to get you back to Kathmandu in time for dinner. For the rest of the group, it’s time to jump on the bus.
Day 13: Drive to Kathmandu
If you’ve opted for the bus journey, after a long 20 hours on the bus, we will finally reach Kathmandu at approximately 9 am in the morning. Time for a well-earned shower and rest!
Day 14: Depart Kathmandu
Time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.
