Trishuli River Rafting / White Water Rafting

What is White Water Rafting?

An adventure sport where you cruise down and navigate a river aboard an inflatable rubber raft. White Water refers to rivers that have a lot of rapids, so White Water Rafting means running across rough rivers like these.

Do I have to be able to swim?

There are no situations on our trips when you are required to swim in the river. However, river sports present some risks and you may fall into the water accidentally during the trip. On all our trips you will be wearing a buoyancy aid (floatation jacket) which will hold your head above the water in the event that you fall out of the raft, ducky, or kayak. However, some confidence in the water is required as you will still need to be able to help the guide and move towards the raft or safety kayaker.

What happens on a typical rafting trip in Nepal?

Our goal, since 2000, has been to help people enjoy "the best outdoor experience of their lives." Every day on the river brings a new experience, whether it’s spending a ½ day experiencing your first rapids, spotting wildlife, hiking to ancient petroglyphs, or staying up late to watch shooting stars.  However, there are certain things you can count on. A Day with Regulus Nepal.–What to Expect on your Regulus Nepal. Whitewater Vacation details everything from breakfast to bathrooms.

Do I need previous experience?

No, but you should be ready to spend a few hours to a full day participating in an outdoor activity. Prior rafting experience is required to raft the Trishuli River.

I have never been before. Which trips are best for me?

Start off with a class III, or an easier class IV trip. An alternative is to ride along on an oar boat, which many companies offer on different rivers. If you are confident in the water, healthy, and feel adventurous, you can drop right into a class IV river without prior experience. Guides will make sure you are trained in safety and paddle techniques. For class V Rivers, you must have prior class IV experience.

What if I wear glasses?

No problem, many people raft with glasses. We suggest you buy a cord to attach them firmly to your head, so should they slip you will not lose them. If you prefer to raft without them, then we have a strong box to keep them safe while rafting.

Do I need insurance for this trip?

We recommend that our clients have proper medical insurance before choosing to raft with us. This allows us to make necessary arrangements in case of emergencies.

What equipment do I need for the trip and what equipment do you provide?

What we provide: Rafts, life-jackets, helmets, oars, other accessories, First Aid Kit (tapes, bandages, general drugs, etc).
What you need to bring: Clothing and footwear, toiletries, cameras, batteries, and other personal items.

What is the best season for White Water Rafting in Nepal?

September to early December and March to early June are commercial rafting months in Nepal. The more adventurous and experienced, however, choose to run the rivers from early September to early October and from May to June when there is a high flow in the river stream.

How many people are in a raft?

The rafts are large enough to carry six people (plus cargo on expedition trips) and your rafting guide. If you’re traveling with friends or in a group, we can generally organize it so that you are together in the same raft.

How far is the rafting from Pokhara / Kathmandu?

The details of travel to each river can be found on the River Trips page. The closest rafting to Pokhara is the Upper Seti, only a 1/2 hour drive from Lakeside. The closest rafting to Kathmandu is the Trisuli River, 3 hour drive away.

How are the White Water Rivers in Nepal classified?

The rivers of Nepal are graded on Class 1 to 6 international scale:

• Class I Easy
• Class II Medium
• Class III Difficult
• Class IV Very Difficult
• Class V Extremely Difficult
• Class VI Unrunnable

What is the possibility of falling out of the boat?

That often depends on the river levels but there is always a chance that participants may fall out of the raft.  You will be instructed by your guide on how to brace yourself in the raft to minimize the chance of falling out, but if you do our guides are trained to deal with this and every river trip has a safety kayaker (1 per paddle raft). There is a full safety briefing before you commence your rafting trip explaining what to do if you fall out of the raft.

How do I book a trip with you?

You can book a trip with us using the booking form on our website or if you’re already in Nepal you can come to visit us in our office at Lazimpat.

What happens if it is raining or bad weather?

White water rafting will still go ahead if it is raining or bad weather, you are going to get wet anyway and the river is normally at its’ best then. We will not refund if you decide to cancel at short notice due to rain or bad weather.

Is there a guide in the raft with us?

Yes, every boat is captained by a fully qualified and certified rafting guide. On some occasions, a trainee guide will also be in the raft to gain experience and learn from the qualified guide.

What about showers and toilets?

Showers will not be possible, in some places you can wash in the river or a stream. In such cases please be aware of the environment and use only biodegradable soaps and shampoos. Your rafting team will construct a pit toilet for your use near the campsite and supply toilet paper.

Can I bring my camera?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your camera on the trips. All our trips will have a large communal dry box that you can place your camera in while on the river. We also have small size dry boxes and bags available for hire, if you would like to keep your camera with you in the raft. However, it should be remembered that river trips are a risky activity and we cannot guarantee your camera’s safety against damage especially when out of our dry boxes.

There will be a professional film of your trip available for purchase on DVD upon completion of your trip.

What are the costs included and excluded in the rafting package?

Cost includes

• Ground transportation
• wages and insurance of guides
•  porters and kitchen staff
• food and accommodation during the rafting period, boats, and accessories (helmets, paddles, etc).

Cost Excludes

• Mineral water or beverages
• hotel accommodation or meals if you choose to stay in a hotel during the trip
• personal items
• emergency evacuation 
• airfare when applicable.