Home
Blog
Travel Blog
Trishuli or Bhote Koshi Rafting: Which River to Choose from Kathmandu

Trishuli or Bhote Koshi Rafting: Which River to Choose from Kathmandu

Updated on 10 October 2026Third-generation Himalayan guide · CEO, The Everest Holiday · TAAN Member #1586

For a first rafting trip choose the Trishuli, a Class III run beside the Pokhara highway. See how it compares with the Bhote Koshi, the best months and the price.

Last updated 10 October 2026.

Short answer: For a first rafting trip, choose the Trishuli. It is Class III, the run from Charaudi to Kurintar sits beside the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway, and our one-day trip is USD 219 per person. The Bhote Koshi is the steepest river rafted in Nepal, with Class III at low water and Class IV to V at high flow, and I would keep it for people who have rafted before.

I am straightforward about this one. We run the Trishuli. We do not run rafting on the Bhote Koshi, though we do run a bungee day there. So I describe the Trishuli from our own trip and the Bhote Koshi from public information, and I say which is which. You can see the Trishuli trip on our Trishuli River Rafting, 1 Day page.

Trishuli or Bhote Koshi at a glance

	Trishuli (our trip)	Bhote Koshi (public information)
Difficulty	Class III, beginner friendly	Class III at lower water, Class IV to V in high flow
Character	Lively rapids with calmer stretches between them	Steep and continuous, one rapid leading into another
Where	Charaudi to Kurintar, beside the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway	Near the Tibet border
Drive from Kathmandu	About 3 hours to Charaudi	About 3 hours to the gorge, as for our bungee day
Time on the water	Around 3 hours	Not our trip, so I will not quote it
Best for	First-timers, families, and a break in the road to Pokhara or Chitwan	Experienced rafters who want steep white water
Price with us	From USD 219 per person	Not offered

What is the Trishuli like?

The Trishuli is the most accessible white-water run in Nepal. It is genuine Class III, not a tame float, but the rapids are spaced out, so you have time to relax between them and the consequence of a swim is mild. The usual run goes from Charaudi down to Kurintar, depending on river level and season. Most trips start with a drive of about three hours from Kathmandu to Charaudi. After a safety briefing and instructions from your guide, you spend around three hours on the river, with lunch on the bank.

You do not need to be able to swim, because you wear a life jacket the whole time and safety kayakers are on the water. You do need to listen to your guide and follow instructions. Stronger rafters move on to the Bhote Koshi or the Sun Kosi after this. For more rivers, read my guide to white-water rafting in Nepal.

What is the Bhote Koshi like?

Public sources describe the Bhote Koshi as the steepest river rafted in Nepal, with a gradient of about 15 metres per kilometre. It rises in Tibet and the rafting is steep and continuous. At lower water the rapids are Class III, and in high flow they climb to Class IV and V. That makes it a very different day from the Trishuli. If you have never rafted, I would not start here, and I would not promise you the same trip every month, because the river changes with the water.

The same gorge has a 160 m bungee jump at The Last Resort, about a three-hour drive from Kathmandu, which we do run as a day trip. See our Bhote Koshi Bungee Day Tour page and my complete guide to bungee jumping in Nepal.

How does the Trishuli day run?

Stage	What happens
Morning	Pick-up in Kathmandu, then a drive of about three hours to Charaudi
On arrival	Safety briefing, paddle instructions and kit from your guide
On the river	Around three hours of rapids and calmer stretches, with time to swim and take photographs in the calm sections
Midday	Lunch on the bank, with vegetarian and meat options, on Standard and Luxury
Evening	Back in Kathmandu by evening, or on to Pokhara or Chitwan if you are travelling that way

Tell us about any food allergy or dietary need in advance. Vegetarian options are always available.

When is the best time for rafting?

Months	Trishuli
October and November	The best window. Stable weather, clear skies and good water levels.
March to May	Another excellent period. Warmer, with steady flow from melting snow.
December to February	Possible and calmer, but cold, especially in the morning and when you get wet. Fewer crowds.
July and August	Higher water and stronger rapids. Trips depend on daily river and weather conditions, and I would not choose these months for a first trip.

How does the Trishuli fit with the rest of your trip?

This is the part people like. The put-in and take-out sit right on the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway, so you can do the Trishuli as a day out from Kathmandu or slot it into your journey between the two cities, or on the way to Chitwan. Tell us your plans and we will fit it in. My guide to getting from Kathmandu to Pokhara compares the ways to make that journey.

How much does it cost?

Option	Price per person	What it adds
Budget	USD 219	Tourist bus or shared tourist vehicle, a professional rafting guide, helmet, life jacket and paddle, safety briefing and first aid. Lunch is not included.
Standard	USD 219	The same, with a riverside lunch.
Luxury	USD 249 for 1 to 4 people	A luxury tourist car or bus and a riverside lunch with tea, coffee or juice.

These are the live prices on the trip page. Luxury is USD 224 for 5 to 8 people and USD 219 above that. Personal expenses, drinks, travel insurance and tips are not included. No special permit is needed for the lower Trishuli run, so there is no paperwork except your passport details when you book.

What should you bring?

Swimwear and a quick-dry shirt and shorts.
Water shoes or sturdy sandals with a good grip.
A dry bag, a quick-dry towel and a change of clothes.
Sunscreen and sunglasses with a strap.
Any personal medication.

Leave valuables and phones with the crew or in a dry bag, because you will get splashed. Avoid alcohol before and during the trip, and tell your guide about any medical condition or allergy.

What are the terms?

Every trip is private, so we never add strangers to your party. Buy travel insurance at home and check that it covers adventure sports, including white-water rafting, emergency evacuation and medical costs. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. With 72 hours notice you can reschedule free of charge to any date within one year. The balance is paid in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

Questions people ask

Is Trishuli rafting suitable for beginners? Yes. It is Class III, the most beginner-friendly run we offer, and your guide briefs the whole boat before you set off.

How much does Trishuli rafting cost? From USD 219 per person on Budget and Standard, and USD 249 on Luxury for 1 to 4 people.

How long does the trip take? It is a one-day trip. Expect a drive of about three hours from Kathmandu, around three hours on the river, and a lunch break.

Do I need to know how to swim? No. You wear a life jacket throughout and safety kayakers are on the water. You do need to follow your guide's instructions.

Is the Bhote Koshi harder than the Trishuli? Yes. Public sources describe it as the steepest river rafted in Nepal, and it reaches Class IV and V in high flow. We do not run rafting there.

Can I raft the Trishuli between Kathmandu and Pokhara? Yes. The run sits beside the highway, so you can break the journey with a day on the river. Tell us your travel plans.

What is the best time for rafting in Nepal? October and November, and March to May.

Do I need a permit? No special rafting permit is needed on the lower Trishuli run. We handle the logistics, the equipment and the safety crew.

How do you book?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your date, how many of you are rafting and whether you are driving on to Pokhara or Chitwan afterwards. I will tell you honestly if the Trishuli is the right river for your group and send the exact quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.