Overview
This Bhotekoshi bungee and rafting adventure packs two of Nepal's biggest thrills into a single overnight trip east of Kathmandu. You drive out along the Araniko Highway to the Bhotekoshi gorge, where a suspension bridge some 160 metres above the river is set up for the bungee jump and the canyon swing, both among the highest of their kind anywhere. After the leap you settle into a riverside resort in the gorge for the night, with the water rushing below and a bonfire in the evening. The next morning is white-water rafting on the Bhotekoshi itself, a steep and lively mountain river, before the drive back to the city. It is a short, sharp hit of adrenaline that needs no experience, only nerve.
The itinerary
- Morning drive east from Kathmandu along the Araniko Highway to the Bhotekoshi gorge, about 3 to 4 hours
- Safety briefing and harness fitting at the bridge, some 160 m above the river
- Choose the bungee jump or the canyon swing over the gorge
- Check in to a riverside resort, with an evening bonfire and the sound of the river
- Breakfast at the resort above the river
- Kit up and take a safety and paddle briefing with your river guide
- White-water rafting on the Bhotekoshi, graded to the group and the water level
- Lunch by the river, then the drive back to Kathmandu
Things to carry
- Quick-drying clothes and a swimsuit for the rafting
- Secure trainers or river sandals with a firm strap
- A towel and a full change of clothes for after the river
- A light layer for the cooler gorge evenings
- A small dry bag, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle
Good to know
Complete guide
The Bhotekoshi gorge is where Kathmandu goes to get its heart racing. A few hours east of the city, a steep river runs through a jungle canyon crossed by a high suspension bridge, and around it has grown Nepal's home of the big jump and some of its best white water. This trip puts the two together over one night in the gorge. Here is how it works and what to expect.
What the Bhotekoshi bungee and rafting trip covers
The plan is simple: drive out on day one, jump or swing off the bridge, sleep by the river, and raft the next morning before heading home. The bungee and the canyon swing drop from a bridge about 160 metres above the water, among the highest fixed jumps in the world, and the rafting runs the Bhotekoshi below. Everything is guided for first-timers, so no experience is needed. If you would rather string several adventures together over more days, the Nepal super adventure tour adds an ultralight flight and canyoning to the mix.
The jump and the canyon swing
The bridge over the Bhotekoshi is the centrepiece. You choose between the bungee, a straight free fall towards the river, and the canyon swing, which drops you before arcing out across the gorge, and you can do both if you have the nerve. Staff brief and harness everyone, and there is no shame in watching a few go first. Wear secure clothing, empty your pockets and leave loose items behind before you step onto the bridge.
Rafting the Bhotekoshi
The Bhotekoshi is a short, steep, continuous river, which makes it one of the more exciting rafting runs near Kathmandu. Your guide grades the day to the group and the water level, gives a full safety and paddle briefing on the bank, and stays in command in the rapids. You will get wet and you may take a swim, but a life jacket and helmet, and a guide who knows the river, keep it under control.
Who this trip suits and how to prepare
This is a trip for people who want a big thrill without a long commitment, and it suits couples, friends and active families with older children. Come with reasonable fitness, quick-drying clothes and a spare set for after the river. If you catch the adventure bug and want another quick hit near the city, Hattiban rock climbing is an easy day out on real rock south of the valley.
