 White Water Rafting & Kayaking
White water rafting means cruising down a rushing river in an inflatable rubber raft or white water kayak over crashing waves and swirling rapids for the excitement of a lifetime. Nepal has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in the world for white eater rafting. Nepal’s thundering waters, coming from the glaciers of the mighty Himalayas, provide unmatched thrills for rafting and immersing oneself in the landscape. A rafting trip is bound to be highlight of your stay in the country.
Rivers are graded on a scale of one to six. Four is considered to be quite challenging without being exceedingly dangerous to the novice rafter. Five requires some previous river experience. Here are some of the popular rafting trips:
The Trisuli River (grade 3+) is one of the most popular, if not the favorite, of Nepal’s ratable rivers, Due to its proximity to Katmandu and the easy road access, which accompanies it. Most rafting companies offer trips on the Trisuli.
The Kali Gandaki ( 4 – 4+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges for five days of intense rapids among gorgeous wilderness and mountain views. The run flows 120 km and is challenges are continuous. Trips on the Kali Gandaki begin and end in Pokhara and offer and exciting alternative to the Trisuli.
The Bhote Koshi (4 – 5) is worth special mention. It is a two-day run of pure adrenaline located only three hours from Kathmandu. Twenty-six km of continuous white water soaks rafters as they shoot through a veritable maze of canyons and boulders. Little more than a swimsuit is needed for this one.
The raging Marshyangdi (4 – 5) is a relative newcomer in this group. The Marshyangdi run is four days of uninterrupted white water. Flowing through the gorges of the Annapurna, it runs sandwiched between 52 km of boiling foam and towering peaks. Trips on the Marshyangdi start from Pokhara.
The Karnali River (4 – 5) in the far west is the longest and largest river in Nepal. To arrive at its banks require a two day from Surkhet in the Terai. The next 90 km are spent flying through spectacular landscapes and narrow gorges and down some of the most challenging rapids in the world. For the remaining 90 km, the scenery and wildlife are the main attraction, as is the abundance of fish. During most of the trip, the wilderness is uninterrupted by human habitations.
The Sunkoshi (4 – 5) is Nepal’s second offering for expedition rafting. With a put-in only three hours from Katmandu, it is more easily accessible than the Karnali while nevertheless offering an incredible stretch of exhilarating white water. The run is 270 km and requires 8 – 10 days to complete with road access only at the beginning and end. On the third day rapids reach the upper 4 classifications and the remainder of the trip is consistently intense – the white water stays white until the very end. | 
