The Sun Koshi ‘River of Gold’ has been rated as one of
the top ten rafting trips in the world! It is also in thelist of ‘must do while in Nepal’.The river
rises near Shisha Pangma in Tibet and runs eastwards, draining the highest
mountains of the world before emerging on the plains of India, where it joins
the Ganges. Our journey takes us 270km through some of Nepal’s
most remote regions giving you a unique wilderness experience. The first two
days are relatively easy and allow time to train you as a team before the
bigger rapids arrive. The rapids have acquired names like Meat Grinder, High
Anxiety, Jaws and Big Dipper, from previous experiences on expeditions. Say no
more! The calmer stretches between rapids give you time to take in the
phenomenal views, swim (voluntarily) in warm water and camp on white sandy
beaches. This river is a BIG volume HIGH adrenaline expedition!!!
DEPARTURE POINT Kathmandu
RIVER START POINT Dolalghat
RIVER FINISH POINT Chattra
OUTWARD TRAVEL TIME 3
Hours
RIVER GRADEIV
- V
RETURN TRAVEL TIME 14 Hours
Itinerary
Day 01
Morning at 7 ammeet in Ktm. office - store baggage and finalise plans a quick breakfast then
we drive to Dolalghat the put-in-point of Sun Kosi. The drive is beautiful. In
clear weather you will have a magnificent view of the HimalayanRanges . Upon arrival at Dolalghat
we unload the gear - lunch will be served and a full safety briefing will be
given by your expedition leader. The first and second days are easy paddling.
The big one you will encounter today is a class 4+ rapid "RottenCave". We will choose our
beach campsite, where dinner will be served amidst the splendor of the
star-filled sky.
Day 02
Have breakfast pack up the gear and startrolling down the river. Today you will
encounter a big class 4+rapid " Meat grinder". It is fairly straight
run down the center avoiding holes left and right. A few meters below here the
Tamba Kosi river joins the Sun Kosi on the left with a beach on the confluence.
There is another beautiful Shiva temple overlooking the two rivers. We camp
here.
Day 03
Today a few kms below the confluence of the Likhu Khola is a
short, class 3+ rapid ‘Pre-Anxiety’ soon followed by a long class 4 rapid ‘High
Anxiety’ with a large hole on the left halfway down and a series of holes at
the bottom. Float a while and then camp.
Day 04
This day starts with several class 3+ rapidsthen a quick stop for buying food and maybe
beer. Then prepare for a big and interesting one ‘Harkapur 2 and 3 the hardest
rapid on the river which should be carefully scouted. Camp
Day 05
Some kms
below Harkapur, Dudh Kosi river joins the SunKosi from the left. Below here the river widens into an arid area of
gravel. You meet some small rapids an will teach you into another aptly named
rapid 'Jaws'. Camp
Day 06 Today is a hard day as you will be
encounter most of the grade 4+ rapids - you are straight into good exciting
rapid "Rhino Rock" which is a grade 4+ followed by "Jungle
Corridor" a kilometer of continuous white water. Waterfalls cascade on
both sides of the river. One waterfall makes a great spot for a team shower.
Camp
Day 07 Last few days are mainly wave trains
if you are interested you can try kayaking where our experts will teach you the
basic skills needed to maneuver the boats or learn the Eskimo roll. Camp
Day 08
The last stretch of river which brings you to the last class
4+ ‘Big Dipper’ is a series of huge standing waves. A few kilometer later Big
Arun and Tamur rivers joins together to form the Sapta Kosi. Then you float
along on the powerful current , the hills dramatically give way to totally flat
Terai and the northern plains of India.
This is the end of a classic and memorable river journey. We will finish our
trip around 2 pm pack the gear and then drive back to Kathmanduaround 4 pm from Chattra. This takes
around 13/14 hours .
FOR THE 9 AND 10 DAY EXPEDITIONS YOU FOLLOW THE SAME ROUTE
AS ABOVE AND START AND FINISH AT THE SAME TIMES ON THE FIRST AND LAST DAYS.
THERE IS AN EXTRA DAY ON THE 9 DAY EXPEDITION TO ALLOW FOR THE FLUCTUATIONS IN
THE SPEED OF THE WATER. IF THE WATER IS STILL FLOWING FAST, YOU CAN ENJOY A
REST DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIP TO RELAX, PLAY VOLLEYBALL OR GO FOR A WALK.
THE 10 DAY EXPEDITION GIVES THE EXTRA DAY RAFTING TO ALLOW FOR A SLIGHTLY LOWER
FLOW OF WATER AND A REST DAY.
