Nepal Whitewater Rafting
Nepal is home to 8 of the worlds top ten 8,000m peaks, and where you find big mountains, you’ll find big rivers. The far eastern border of Nepal is guarded by the third tallest mountain in the world, Kangchenjunga, a Tibetan word meaning ‘The five treasures of the high snow’. The real treasure that flows off Kangchenjungas western slopes is the Tamur River, Nepals premiere whitewater journey.
After a short flight from Kathmandu we land in Biratnagar from where we drive up through the sub tropical hills to Basantapur, a small village at the end of the road. At 7,500ft we start our trek, teaming up with local porters to manage all the rafting and camping gear for our expedition. Winding up through Rhododendron forests, the trail follows a 10,000ft ridge line, passing through small farming communities and offering superb views of the Makalu Massif to the north and Mt Kangchenjunga in the east. The trail eventually descends from the cool heights to the lush tropical valley below where our river adventure awaits (contrary to popular belief, we don’t raft high up in the snow!).
We load up our rafts and travel downstream where an adventure is in store around every corner. From the adrenalin surging rapids to scenic sandy beaches, no moment is a dull one. The Tamur has some of the finest whitewater you’ll ever find, and in between the rapids there is ample time to enjoy the scenery and abundant birdlife.
What’s included:
3 nights lodging in Kathmandu
Internal flights
Meals as outlined in the itinerary
World Class Guides; both Western and Nepalese
Not Included:
International airfare
Tips
Meals in Kathmandu
Tim Lawson –
It’s sat in Katmandú airport after completing this trip and wondering if it could have been better? The start of the trip is a cultural shock. The hotel is modern, clean and friendly, but the city is a bustling hive of activity and disorienting disorganization. Once I settled, I felt safe and enjoyed wondering the streets looking at the shops and Nepalí culture. Then comes the hike. It shouldn’t be underestimated. We were generally an older group, but used to hiking. I found it strenuous but not excessive. We camped each night near a village, our tents food etc came with the porters on a tractor. Food was great cooked by the Nepali team. We are not talking gourmet, but usually an appetizer, main and dessert. Although I came for the river I actually enjoyed the hike just as much, a glimpse of Everest and multiple encounters with goats and Nepalíes. The river exceeded expectations. I was kayaking and the remainder of the group was in rafts. The guides were very profesional lead by Stan and steered us down the river. I thought they made a good decision walking around one particular rapid. All the camps were on sandy beaches and the same type of breakfast linch and dinner happened every day. Every night had a fire drinks and conversation.
In summary, would I do it again?
Absolutely!
Tim Helmer –
Hello-
I just finished a Tamur River trek/ rafting trip in Nepal that was a collaboration between Bio Bio & Whitewater Asia.
I’ve been rafting for over 30 years (10 as a guide) & have rafted all over the world.
The Tamur trek/ raft was perhaps the most extraordinary ten days I’ve ever experienced, & the intense whitewater was incredible.
Much of this had to do with our paddle guide, Derik Pritchett, & his “assistant”, the legendary Pat O’keefe, who was making his 29th trip down the Tamur.
Derik & Pat did a fantastic job collaborating together, & Derik’s skills as an oarsman & paddle captain were truly a privilege to watch. He worked w/ us as a team, encouraged us, paced us on the hard sections, described each rapid he scouted w/ amazing clarity, & brought a personal, funny, and always safety conscious voice to our journey. He respected Pat’s vast experience on the Tamur, & the two were brilliant together.
I just wanted Bio Bio to know how impressed I was w/ Derik & Pat. This was the trip of a lifetime, & these two gentlemen were responsible for keeping us safe on one of the great river adventures in the world.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Tim Hillmer
Louisville, Colorado
Former river guide for Whitewater Voyages & Boulder Outdoor Center
Tamur 2022
Jessica and Kham Xapakdy –
Such an amazing trip and great way to experience so much of Nepal. The trekking was breathtaking as you walked through villages, interacting with the local people and the views of the Himalayas were stunning. After four days of trekking you reach the Tamur river which feels like you are about to begin a brand new adventure. Our lead guide Ant was well prepared and made us feel safe in a technically challenging river that had not been undertaken since the earthquake two years prior. The team did a lot of scouting on the first day and told us exactly what to do to get us through safely. After becoming more comfortable the rafting was quite trilling and I began to appreciate Ant’s skill in reading the water and navigating us through a roller coaster of rapids. The team did an excellent job preparing meals and truly making this a memorable and special trip. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and see the real Nepal and hospitality of the Nepalese people.