The Arun, one of the rivers draining the Tibetan Plateau, is one of the most powerful and appreciated rivers in all of Nepal. This river trip is perfect for the rafter that wishes to experience a trip similar to the Sun Kosi or Karnali but does not have the time in their schedule to fit in a nine day rafting adventure. Leaving from Kathmandu a 45 minute flight will put us in Tumlingtar. From here we have about a three hour trek until we reach the river. Once we launch into this mighty river we will float through remote forested gorges; with ample opportunities to view wildlife. Of course it will not be all lounging around and looking at wildlife as we will negotiate many big water class 3 and 4 rapids throughout our rafting days. This is one of the more remote rivers of Eastern Nepal and as such still has pristine sand beaches and unspoiled local villages; but has the advantage of easier access than many of the rivers of Western Nepal. On our fourth or fifth day of rafting the Arun will join with the Tamur and the Sun Kosi to become the Sapta Kosi. Here we will be floating one of the most powerful rivers in the world as we work our way down to Chatra; our take-out.

Departing from Kathmandu:
Difficulty: 4-
From: Katiteghat
To: Chatra
Distance: 84 km
Trip Days: 4-5 Average
Gradient: 12 ft per mile
Best Season: November to April

Since this trip ends in Chatra, a 16-18 hour bus ride from Kathmandu we offer a flight back for those travelers pressed for time. However if time is no restriction than consider breaking up the long bus ride back with a jungle safari in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.

Rafting
Rafters need no previous experience.

Kyaking
This is the perfect river for kayakers of an upper intermediate level looking to push their big water skills however is also entertaining for the expert kayaker as there are abundant big wave surfing opportunities. The majority of the rapids are pool-drop making them forgiving to run and allowing us to set safety at the bottom of the rapid. Our experienced safety kayakers accompany every trip and can offer you advice on rapids and tips on improving your technique along the way. A good roll is a minimum prerequisite.

6 days: Kathmandu-Kathmandu.

Itinerary

A Pre-departure meeting is held on the evening prior to your departure at our office in Hotel 7 Corner’s Restaurant at 6pm.

• Day 01: Depart from Kathmandu early in the morning and fly (45 minutes) into Tumlingtar. If the Tumlingtar flight scheduled in the afternoon, we will find a place to camp at Tumlingtar, otherwise we will begin our trek to the river (Katikeghat).
• Day 02: We will rise early and get a good breakfast. Soon after breakfast, we will load the gear, have a safety talk and be ready to commence for next four days of rafting. Along the way we will stop for lunch on a pristine white sandy beach; then continue rafting for next couple of hours to our campsite near the confluence with the Savaya Khola.
• Day 03: Our day will once again begin with the breakfast and tea. After breakfast we will board the rafts and begin our day of rafting. Today will be one of the more relaxing days with plenty if time to take in the breath-taking landscape and capture photos of the exquisite wildlife. We will get opportunities to practice our rafting skills and test them in one class III/IV rapid before again making camp for the night on a beautiful sand beach.
• Day 04: Today we will get to see if we had adequate practice yesterday as our rapids will be more challenging and continuous. We negotiate a number of rapids one after another starting with a left bend rapid, just before the suspension bridge at Ranighat. After this a number of rapids follow and we will work our way down these until finally arriving at our camp. Here we will get a chance to rest, relax in the afternoon sun and eat a much deserved dinner.
• Day 05: After yesterday today will feel smooth and relaxed. After a couple of smaller rapids we will eventually meet Sun Kosi River and Tamur River to form the Sapta Kosi, one of the major rivers of Nepal. This river flows down to the Indian Plain where it merges with the famous Gange River. We will float along Sapta Kosi for another half an hour until we reach the site of Bara Chhetra, a famous Hindu temple dedicated to lord Vishnu. From here, we continue to float for another hour to Chatara, the final destination of our raft trip and meet our transport for Kathmandu.
• Day 06: Travel by night bus back to Kathmandu.

• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping pad / Thermorest (we can provide if you do not have)
• Rain shell
• Warm jacket (down jacket-vest for Tamur Expedition)
• Warm Hat
• Hiking shoes
• River shoes/Tevas
• Sunglasses (an extra pair never hurts)
• Sun block
• Sun hat or visor
• Headlight
• Extra batteries
• A good book
• Personal Toiletries
• Small First Aid Kit*
• Water bottle (we carry water on the rafts but it is nice to have your own bottle to drink from)
• Shammy or small towel (optional but nice for after a day on the river, there will be opportunities to purchase these along the way if desired)
• Rafting clothes: Cotton is NOT a good idea. It does not dry and will keep you cold. A bathing suit works well and a polypro or other synthetic top for cool mornings. For women a swimming suit is good but quick dry shorts will also probably be wanted. 
• Camp clothes: Here is your opportunity for that cotton sweatshirt and jeans; however bring polypro and synthetic clothing as well. For women it is a good idea to have skirts or wraps rather than shorts, especially when we are trekking. Everyone will want to have at least a t-shirt to wear in public places.
  

Pre Departure Info

Raft 'N Rivers will be more than happy to organize all your internal travel arrangements in the Kingdom of Nepal. We have a wide variety of services and budget options to suit your needs including, airport pick-ups, sightseeing day hiking/excursions around Kathmandu, airline reconfirmation, hotel room reservations and much more. Contact our friendly and experienced staff or check out our hotel’s web site at www.hotel7corner.com for more information.

Your Trip Costs Includes: All accommodation (once trip begins), river/trekking meals, instruction, trekking / river permits, all required rafting gear (mentioned above), raft support and local transportation. It does NOT include personal expenses such as alcohol, candy, soft drinks or meals in Kathmandu or Pokhara. This will give you the flexibility to do as you wish. Restaurants in Pokhara and Kathmandu are inexpensive and their cuisine varies depending on what you are in the mood for. It also does not include any flights that you may choose to add to your itinerary.

Age and Fitness: Age is an attitude and not a problem; however we do reserve the right to not allow children on the trip if we feel it is too dangerous. River running is a physical pursuit and expedition members should have a reasonable level of fitness. Expedition members should be good swimmers and comfortable in the water.

Insurance: Each Expedition member is responsible for having their own travel insurance including helicopter evacuation.

Vaccinations: Nepal has no official vaccination requirements for entry. However we recommend that you visit a doctor for the latest recommendations and protect yourself accordingly.

Visa: Visa can be obtained at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu upon arrival. You will need 2 passport size photographs.

Currency: The best currency to have is Euros/US Dollars in travelers cheques, cash and/or credit cards. American Express, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted in Nepal.

Recommended Reading: "White Water Nepal," by Peter Knowles; any of the many adventure travel guide books on Nepal, we recommend Lonely Planet publications.

**A deposit of 50% of the trip total is required upon booking. The balance is required upon arrival.**