Gathering strength from tributaries draining the highest mountains in the world the white water on the Sun Kosi is Biblical, even expedition-size rafts disappear into the vastness of crashing waves and rolling, boiling water. After the monsoon the river is high and wild, and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Whipped, foamy white water where narrow gorges constrict the river’s flow, the rapids here are long and powerful.
The warm waters of the Sun Kosi surge, snake and wind for 270 km to the east of Nepal. While the lower sections of large volume rivers are usually rather flat, the Sun Kosi reserves some of its biggest and best rapids for the last days. At the right flow it’s an incredible combination of white water, scenery, villages, and truly quiet and introspective evenings on huge sandy beaches along what many people consider to be one of the world’s 10 classic river journeys.
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!!!
Trip Itinerary :
Day 01 Pick up from airport, drop to hotel (A).
Day 02 Morning at 7 am meet in Ktm. office – store baggage and finalize 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 Himalayan Ranges . 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 “Rotten Cave”. We will choose our beach campsite, where dinner will be served amidst the splendor of the star-filled sky. (L, D).
Day 03 Have breakfast pack up the gear and start rolling 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. (A, B, L, D).
Day 04 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. (A, B, L, D)
Day 05 This day starts with several class 3+ rapids then 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 (A, B, L, D).
Day 06 Some kms below Harkapur, Dudh Kosi river joins the Sun Kosi 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 (A, B, L, D).
Day 07 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 (A, B, L, D).
Day 08 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 (A, B, L, D).
Day 09 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 Kathmandu around 4 pm from Chattara. This takes around 13/14 hours . ( B, L)
Day 10 Departure from Nepal (B)
Abbreviation: (A = Accommodation, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)