Also known as “The River of Gold,” the Sun Koshi is the longest river trip offered in Nepal, traversing 270km through the beautiful Mahabharat Range, on its meandering way from the put-in point at Dolalghat to the take-out point at Chatara, far down on the Gangetic Plain. It is quite an experience to begin a river trip just 3 hours out of Kathmandu, barely 60km from the Tibet border, and end the trip looking down the hot, dusty gun barrel of the North Indian Plain just a week later.
The Sun Koshi starts off fairly relaxed with smaller rapids to warm up during the first couple of days. Savvy guides will take this opportunity to get the teams to work with exquisite precision, as on the third day the rapids become more powerful and frequent with high-water trips. One can be astonished at just how big a wave on the river can get. While the lower sections of large volume rivers are usually rather flat, the Sun Koshi reserves some of its biggest and best rapids for the last days. At the right flow, it is an incredible combination of powerful whitewater, stunning scenery and villages, and truly quiet and introspective evenings along what many people consider to be one of the world’s ten classic river journeys.
*Please note: This trip runs 6 days in the spring and 9 days in the fall.
Spring 2025 Departure Dates
01 March – 06 March
08 March – 13 March
15 March – 20 March
22 March – 27 March
29 March – 03 April
02 April – 07 April
12 April – 17 April
19 April – 24 April
26 April – 01 May
02 May – 07 May
10 May – 15 May
17 May – 22 May
24 May – 29 May
31 May – 05 June
07 June – 12 June
14 June – 19 June
21 June – 26 June
Fall 2024 Departure Dates
23 Sept – 01 Oct
04 Oct – 12 Oct
14 Oct – 22 Oct
26 Oct – 03 Nov
06 Nov – 14 Nov
17 Nov – 25 Nov
29 Nov – 07 Dec
Shorts / half pants
T-shirts
Sport sandals or comfortable shoes that can get wet and will stay on your feet
Quick dry long shirts
Swimwear
Track pants / comfortable long pants
Warm fleece
Jacket (waterproof shell)
Socks
Comfortable Shoes for trekking and rafting (Tamur River)
Warm hat (in cold months) and sunglass
Travel towel
Toiletries/Sunscreen / sunscreen lip protection
Mosquito repellant
Water bottle
Head lamp / flash light
Personal first aid kit
Sleeping bag (if you do not have one – we will provide a complimentary rental)
A little cash for treats,
Tipping is certainly appreciated by the guides and other river crew, who work hard to make sure you have fun and a safe trip. If you feel your guide has done a good job keeping you entertained, safely looked after and has shared the wonderful river environment with you, then feel free to show your appreciation.
The total number of people on the team varies with the duration of the trip and how many guests there will be. The team will always include the expedition leader and the main river guide, under whose supervision there is a team of additional river guides and a minimum of two safety kayakers. All of our team members are river professionals who have the required certification for commercial river descents. The river crew prepares the camp logistics, including meals, but the clients are encouraged to join in.
A minimum of 4 people are required to make the trip operational. Each raft must be at least 6 people and 1 guide, however we can add up to 8 people depending on the river.
If you are just learning to raft, start off with a Class II or III (or an easy Class IV) rafting trip. If you are really nervous about being part of a paddle boat, an alternative is to ride along on an oar boat, which we can offer on different rivers. Many rafters who are confident in the water, healthy, and feel adventurous, drop right into a Class IV river without any prior experience. Our guides will make sure you are trained in safety and proper paddle techniques. For Class V rivers, you must have prior class IV experience.
Yes! We provide private transportation to and from the river for each rafting trip and this is included in the cost of the trip. However, if you would prefer a flight, this can be arranged for an additional cost.
Typically you will have approximately 4-5 hours of actual river journey each day. The rest of the time is spent on setting up the campsite, preparing logistics, etc. This can be a good time for personal exploration and interaction with the natural surroundings or fellow travellers.
We don’t recommend bringing video cameras, or even expensive still cameras, on trips. If you do choose to bring a more expensive camera, or any camera really, we suggest that you protect it with a waterproof case; many are available which fit different shapes and sizes of cameras. Oftentimes, our river trips also have a professional photographer, whose photos you can view and order after the trip.
The meals will include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options which are hygienically prepared by our team members everyday. Sometimes, local delicacies are served as well. You are also welcome to bring your own nonperishable foods/snacks and any alcoholic beverages you would like to enjoy at the campsite in the evening.
What's Included
Transportation to the put-in point and back from the put-out point
Lunch
Internationally certified rafting guides and safety kayakers
State-of-the-art rafting equipment and safety gear (including dry bags, helmets, life vests, etc.)
River permits
What's Not Included
Personal insurance
Emergency evacuation
Clothing and footwear
Alcoholic beverages
Any expenses/items of a personal nature
The River of Gold
Meeting time/Place:
06:00 am/ Sales office, Kathmandu
Departure time:
06:30 am from Sales office, Kathmandu
Put in Point:
Sukute or Ghurmi
Take out point:
Chatara Ghat
Rafting distance:
270 km km
River Grade:
IV – V
Time on Water:
5-6 Hours each Day with 1 Layover
Bus ride to the Put-in:
3 or 6 hours
Return Journey:
Overnight ride
Meals:
Full Board
Flight Option:
Available
Age restrictions:
15 – 70 years old
Seasons:
Spring – Mar-Jun
Fall – Sep- Dec