Trishuli River Rafting
●●●●● 4.9 · 60+ TripAdvisor reviewsA day of white water on the Trishuli, Nepal's best known rafting river. Fun grade 2 and 3 rapids with expert guides, a riverside lunch and transfers from Kathmandu. Add a night at a riverside camp to make it two days, or carry on to Pokhara or Chitwan afterwards.
On the Trip
What It Really Looks Like
Trishuli River Rafting: What to Expect
Big splashy waves and fun rapids. Exciting but safe for first timers
Trained guides in every boat and a safety kayaker on the water
A hot lunch on a sandy beach halfway down the river
Back in Kathmandu by evening, or carry on to Pokhara or Chitwan the same day
Trishuli River rafting is the easiest way to add some adventure to your time in Nepal. The Trishuli flows right beside the main road from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Chitwan, so it fits into almost any trip. You spend around three hours on the water through grade 2 and 3 rapids with names like Upset, Surprise and Monkey Rapid. There is a hot lunch on a sandy beach and plenty of calm stretches to swim or just float and look at the gorge.
You do not need any experience. Every trip starts with a full safety briefing on the bank. You wear a life jacket and helmet the whole time and a trained guide steers every raft. A safety kayaker paddles alongside. Most first timers come off the river soaked and grinning.
Choose the one day trip and you are back in Kathmandu by early evening. You can also be dropped at the take-out and carry on to Pokhara or Chitwan. Want more time on the water? Add a night at a riverside camp and raft a second stretch the next morning.
What you will see and do:
- Around three hours rafting through grade 2 and 3 rapids
- A full safety briefing and all gear provided
- Calm stretches where you can jump in and swim
- A hot lunch on a sandy riverbank
- Views of the deep Trishuli gorge and small riverside villages
- The option of a night at a riverside camp with a campfire
Looking for something wilder? Bhote Koshi River Rafting is grade 4 to 5 and one of the steepest rafting rivers in the world. Want rafting as part of a bigger trip? The Nepal Adventure Tour adds paragliding, a bungee jump and a Chitwan safari.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Rafting the Trishuli
We pick you up from your hotel at 6:30am and drive about three hours to Charaundi on the Trishuli River. After a safety briefing and gear fitting you get in the raft and head downstream through grade 2 and 3 rapids. Stop for a hot lunch on a sandy beach, then raft the second half down to Kurintar. Change into dry clothes and drive back to Kathmandu, arriving by early evening.
3D Route Map
Includes & Excludes
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Hotel pickup and drop-off Private car from any hotel in Kathmandu
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About 3 hours of rafting Charaundi to Kurintar through grade 2 and 3 rapids
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Professional raft guides A trained guide in every raft plus a safety kayaker
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All rafting gear Life jacket, helmet and paddle
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Lunch on the riverbank Hot lunch, tea and fruit
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Breakfast and dinner
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Photos and videos The raft company often sells them on the day
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Travel insurance Required. Must cover white water rafting
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Tips for raft guides and driver Up to you
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Drop-off in Pokhara or Chitwan Available at extra cost. See upgrades
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What Our Trekkers Say
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any rafting experience?
No. The Trishuli is one of the best rivers in Nepal for first timers. Your raft guide gives a full safety briefing on the bank and shows you how to paddle and what to do if you fall in. They steer the raft and call out every move.
Do I need to be able to swim?
It helps, but it is not a must. You wear a life jacket the whole time and it keeps you afloat if you go in. You should be comfortable in water and able to stay calm if you get a splash in the face. If you cannot swim at all, tell us when you book and the raft guide will keep an extra eye on you.
How difficult is the Trishuli?
The Trishuli is grade 2 and 3. That means big splashy waves and a few rapids that need good paddling, but nothing extreme. It is fun and exciting rather than scary. Water levels are highest after the monsoon in September and October, which makes the rapids bigger.
Is there an age limit?
Children can raft the Trishuli if they are confident in water. The raft company sets its own minimum age, which is usually somewhere around 10 to 12. Tell us the ages of everyone in your group when you book and we will check with them.
What should I wear?
Swimwear or quick-dry shorts and a T-shirt, plus sandals with a back strap. Flip-flops come off in the rapids. Bring a dry change of clothes and a towel in a separate bag for after. In cooler months the raft company can lend you a splash jacket.
What is the 2 day option?
Instead of driving back after lunch, you spend the night at a riverside camp. You get dinner around a campfire and sleep in a tent by the water. The next morning you raft a second stretch of the river before heading back to Kathmandu or on to Pokhara or Chitwan.
Can I go on to Pokhara or Chitwan after rafting?
Yes. The Trishuli is right on the road from Kathmandu to both. After rafting we drive you on to <a href=”https://mountainkick.com/trip/chitwan-national-park-safari/”>Chitwan</a> or Pokhara instead of back to the city. It is a good way to turn a long drive into a fun day.
Trishuli or Bhote Koshi?
Pick the Trishuli if you want fun and splashes with no experience needed. Pick the Bhote Koshi if you want serious white water. It is grade 4 to 5, steep and fast, and best for people who have rafted before.
Do you offer rafting on other rivers?
Yes. We can arrange the Seti River near Pokhara, which is warmer and gentler and good for families, and longer multi-day trips on other rivers. Ask us and we will put together a plan.
Departure Dates & Pricing
No upcoming fixed departures are scheduled at the moment. Contact us to arrange a private departure on dates that suit you.
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary. You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
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20% deposit: due on booking Secures your place on the departure. The deposit is non-refundable. We also need a copy of your passport.
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80% balance: due on arrival Pay the rest in Kathmandu before the trip starts. Bank transfer, cash, or card (4% card fee).
| Cancel before you arrive | Deposit not refunded, nothing more to pay |
| Cancel after the pre-trip meeting | No refund |
| Date or name change | USD 200 per person |
| MountainKick cancels trip | Full refund or reschedule |
Weather delays and extra days cost extra, so travel insurance is required. We give you documents for any claim.
Read the full terms and conditionsTrishuli River Rafting
Talk to Kumar and the team before you commit. Ask about pace, hotels, a private group or adding extra days.
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