Overview
Sukute Beach rafting is a relaxed riverside overnight on the Bhotekoshi, about three to four hours east of Kathmandu, that pairs white water with a night on the sand. You drive out along the Araniko Highway, stopping at the hilltop Palanchowk Bhagwati temple on the way, and settle into a beach resort on the riverbank where the pace slows right down. There is time for a raft on the Bhotekoshi, a swim, a BBQ and a bonfire on the sand under the stars, with short walks in the surrounding hills for anyone who wants them. It is an easy, sociable trip that suits families, couples and groups of friends, and the rafting is guided for beginners as well as the more experienced.
The itinerary
- Morning drive east from Kathmandu along the Araniko Highway
- Stop at the hilltop Palanchowk Bhagwati temple, a well-known Shakti shrine above the valley
- Continue to the Sukute Beach resort on the banks of the Bhotekoshi and check in
- Afternoon by the river, then a BBQ and a bonfire on the sand under the stars
- Breakfast at the resort by the river
- Safety and paddle briefing with your river guide, then kit up
- White-water rafting on the Bhotekoshi, graded to the group and the water level
- Lunch back at the beach, then the drive 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 change of clothes for after the river
- A light layer for the cooler riverside evening
- A small dry bag, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle
Good to know
Complete guide
Not every river trip has to be all adrenaline. Sukute Beach, on the banks of the Bhotekoshi a few hours east of Kathmandu, is where rafting meets a proper beach day: white water in the morning, a bonfire on the sand at night, and a slow, sociable pace in between. With a temple stop on the way out, it makes an easy overnight escape from the city. Here is how it works.
What Sukute Beach rafting involves
The trip is a relaxed riverside overnight built around one raft on the Bhotekoshi, with a beach camp, a BBQ and a bonfire either side of it. You drive out on day one, stop at the Palanchowk Bhagwati temple, settle into the resort, and raft the next morning before heading home. Everything on the water is guided for beginners, so no experience is needed. For a punchier multi-day version that stacks bungee and canyoning onto the rafting, the Nepal super adventure tour is the step up.
The temple stop and the drive out
The road east from Kathmandu follows the Araniko Highway towards the Tibet border, and the trip breaks the drive at Palanchowk Bhagwati, a hilltop Shakti temple above the valley that draws pilgrims for its views and its shrine. It is a short, worthwhile pause that adds a bit of culture to an adventure trip before you drop down to the river and the beach.
Rafting and the riverside camp
The rafting runs the Bhotekoshi, with your guide grading the day to the group and the water level and briefing you fully on the bank before you launch. Back at Sukute, the beach is the point: a swim, time on the sand, a BBQ and a bonfire under the stars, with short walks in the hills for anyone who wants to stretch their legs. It is more holiday than expedition, which is exactly why it suits families and mixed groups.
Who this trip suits and when to go
This is for anyone who wants a taste of white water without a hardcore river trip: families, couples and groups of friends after a fun, easy weekend by the river. September to June gives the best weather and river levels, while the monsoon is avoided. If you would rather have a full day of climbing near the city instead of a river, Hattiban rock climbing is an easy day out on real rock south of the valley.
