Rafting Information

Rafting Information

Whitewater Rafting in Nepal:

Whatever your desire for adventure, it is easy to find the perfect river in Nepal. With a wide range of difficulties from a gentle 1-day float down the Treshuli river, Seti river, to an exhilarating 10-day adventure through the rapids of the remote Tamur, Arun and Karnali, there is an experience for everyone waiting in Nepal's famous white waters. Nepal's rivers change with the seasons. Each year, after the heavy monsoon rains the waters swell, changing the run of the rivers and the nature of the rapids. New rapids are created, others become more difficult and some simply impossible to navigate. It is important to remember that some of the white water action you are about to read about could have changed by the time you come to run the river. At MRR we are constantly monitoring changes in the rivers and their rapids, so that we can always ensure the safety of our clients and plan expeditions with precision.

Best time for rafting: September to early December and March to early June are the best times to go rafting in Nepal. October being the most popular months for whitewater rafting. The Trishuli and Seti river are good for rafting even during the monsoon months.

Nepal has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in the world for white water rafting. For the rafting purpose, rivers are graded on a scale of one to six depending on how wild they are. Four grades are considered to be quite challenging without being exceedingly dangerous to the novice rafter. Grade five requires some previous river experiences.

Why Rafting?

Rafting trips often create lifelong memories for our guests and offer a unique rafting vacation experience. When you choose a rafting trip for your vacation, you will discover a unique sense of “escape”, removing you from civilization for a bit. There is simply something magical that happens when you move at the pace of the river itself. In almost every instance, a rafting trip brings you to places on this planet that cannot be enjoyed in any other way. “Joy in the journey” is literally what a rafting trip is all about. Discover how to paddle together as a team forming new bonds between family and friends and completely relax to the soft sounds of the river lapping at the side of your raft.

irst Time Rafting?
Rafting trips often create lifelong memories for our guests and offer a unique rafting vacation experience. When you choose a rafting trip for your vacation, you will discover a unique sense of “escape”, removing you from civilization for a bit. There is simply something magical that happens when you move at the pace of the river itself. In almost every instance, a rafting trip brings you to places on this planet that cannot be enjoyed in any other way. “Joy in the journey” is literally what a rafting trip is all about. Discover how to paddle together as a team forming new bonds between family and friends and completely relax to the soft sounds of the river lapping at the side of your raft.
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Trushuli (1-3 DAYS) Sep - Dec 3+ 500-300 Every Day
  Jan - May 3 250-1100 Every Day
  Jun - Aug 3+ 1600-4800 Every Day
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Seti Khola (2 DAYS) Sep - Dec 3 1400 Twice a weeks
  Jan - May 2+   Twice a weeks
  Jun - Aug 2+   Twice a weeks
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Bhote Koshi (2 DAYS) Sep - Dec 4+ 30-170 Every Tuse/Sat/Thursday
  Jan - May 4- 20-50 Every Tuse/Sat/Thursday
  Jun - Aug 4+ 90-220 Every Tuse/Sat/Thursday
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Kali Gandaki (3 DAYS) Sep - Dec 4- 60-550

16,20,24,28th Oct,

02,08,12,16,21.24.28 Nov

01,05,13,17,22,25.29 Dec

  Jan - May 3+ 25-100

02,08,11,15,21,24, 27 Mar

01,04,10,13,16,20,24,27 Apr

04, 10, 14, 22, 25, 28 May

  Jun - Aug 3+ 300-800 Not runable
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Marshyangdi (4-5 DAYS) Sep - Dec 5- 50-480

10,15,20.25 Oct,

05,10,15.25 Nov,

01, 10, 15, 22 Dec
 

  Jan - May 4+ 30-100

04,12,16.24 Mar

08,16,24 28 April

05,15,22, 30 May

  Jun - Aug NR 250-600 Not runable
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Sun Koshi (8-9 DAYS) Sep - Dec 5 250-1700

04th to 11th, 12 to 19 Sept 20 to 27th Sept, 25 Sept to 03rd Oct, 09 to 16, 17th to 24th Oct , 25th Oct to 01st Nov, 04 to 11, 14th to 21 st Nov and 23rd  Nov to 30th Nov

 

  Jan - May 4+ 200-300

19th to 26th feb,

27th Feb to 06th Mar

11 to 18, 22 to 29th Mar

01 to 08, 11 to 18, 21 to 28 26 April to 03rd May, 05th 12th May, 16 to 23 and 24 to 31 May 

  Jun - Aug NR 700-2400 Not runable
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Karnali (10 DAYS) Sep - Dec 5 200-1300

01 to 10,12 to 21st 17th to 26th Oct, 21st Oct to 30th Oct, 07th to 16th Nov, 17th  to 26th Nov, 05 to 14 and 15th to 24th Dec

  Jan - May 4+ 150-430

05 - 14, 15- 24th Jan

02 - 11, 15-24th, 18- 27 Feb

01-10, 11-20, 21-30 Mar

06-15, 17-26 April, 29 to 07th May, 05to 14, 15 to 24, 18 to 27 and 20 to 29 May.

 

  Jun - Aug NR 700-1700 on request
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Arun (9 DAYS) Sep - Dec 5- 150-800 on request
  Jan - May 4 100-300 on request
  Jun - Aug NR 600-1100 on request
River Name & Days Best Season Grade* Water Flow Departure Date
Tamur (9 DAYS) Sep - Dec 5 90-750

09to 18th Oct, 22 to 31st Oct

04th to 13th Nov, 15 to 24th Nov, 25th Nov to 04th Dec

  Jan - May 5- 40-200

01 to 10th 11 to 20th 22 mar to 31st mar

01 to 10th, 11 to 20th, 21st to 01 May

06 to 15, 16 to 25, 18 to 27th May

  Jun - Aug NR 500-950 on request

Grading System

Class 1 Easy: Moving water with occasional small rapids. Few or no obstacles.
Class 2 Moderate: Small Rapids with regular waves. Some maneuvering required but easy to navigate.
Class 3 Difficult: Rapids with irregular waves and hazards that need avoiding. More difficult maneuvering required but routes are normally obvious. Scouting from shore is occasionally required.
Class 4 Very Difficult: Large rapids that require careful maneuvering. Dangerous hazards. Scouting from shore is often necessary and rescue is difficult. Kayakers should be able to roll. Turbulent water and large irregular waves may flip rafts. In the event of a mishap there is significant risk of loss damage and/or injury.
Class 5 Extremely Difficult: Difficulties of class 5 carried out to the extreme of navigability. Might possibly (but not probably) be run by a team of experts at the right water level, in the right conditions with all possible safety precautions, but still with considerable hazard to life.
Class 6 Extremely difficult but can be run by extremely Rafters exports.

*For consistencey river grades are taken from the guide book "Whitewater Nepal Book".