The Golden River

We leave Kathmandu and drive toward Dolalghat, our put-in point on the Sunkoshi River. After reaching the river, the crew prepares the rafts and expedition equipment while we receive a safety briefing and learn the basics of expedition life on the river. Once everything is ready, we launch onto the Sunkoshi and begin our journey downstream. We spend the first day getting into the rhythm of the river before setting up our first riverside camp. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Drive, river preparation & rafting

We wake beside the river, have breakfast and pack camp before getting back on the water. The river starts to reveal its character as we navigate a mixture of rapids and calmer stretches. The surrounding hills, forests and villages provide a constantly changing backdrop as we move further away from the road. By evening, we find a suitable riverside beach, set up camp and enjoy another night beneath the open sky. Overnight: Riverside camp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

The expedition continues deeper into the Sunkoshi corridor. Today we spend more time navigating exciting whitewater, working together as a team through the rapids while our safety kayakers move alongside the rafts. Between the rapids, the river gives us time to relax, swim where conditions are safe and appreciate the changing landscape. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

As the Sunkoshi continues downstream, the river becomes increasingly powerful. We spend the day tackling a combination of technical rapids and longer whitewater sections. The excitement of the rapids is balanced by peaceful stretches where we can simply enjoy the river and surrounding wilderness. Another riverside camp becomes home for the night. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Full-day rafting & camping

Today we take a well-earned rest day. After several days on the river, we slow things down and enjoy the campsite. There is no scheduled rafting, giving everyone time to recover, explore the riverbank, swim where safe, play games, read, relax and enjoy the wilderness. The crew also takes the opportunity to check equipment and prepare for the second half of the expedition. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rest, relaxation & wilderness camp

After our rest day, we pack camp and get back on the river. The Sunkoshi continues to carry us eastward through increasingly warm and subtropical landscapes. We return to the whitewater, working together through the rapids and enjoying the long calm sections between them. The river expedition rhythm is now fully established: paddle, navigate, explore, eat, camp and repeat. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Rafting & riverside camping

Another full day on the Sunkoshi takes us through a constantly changing landscape. The river cuts through forested valleys and remote sections where the road feels far away. We continue navigating exciting rapids while keeping an eye out for birds and wildlife along the riverbanks. As evening approaches, we find another riverside campsite and enjoy one of our final nights beside the Sunkoshi. Overnight: Riverside camp\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks & Dinner\ Activity: Full-day rafting & camping

Our final full day on the river brings us closer to Chatara, our take-out point. We enjoy the remaining whitewater and calm stretches while taking in the last landscapes of the Sunkoshi expedition. After days of living beside the river, reaching Chatara marks the end of our time on the water. We take the rafts out, pack the expedition equipment and celebrate the journey with the crew. Overnight: Chatara\ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner\ Activity: Final rafting day & take-out

After breakfast, we finish our expedition logistics and begin our journey back. Depending on the group's travel arrangements, we can continue by road toward Kathmandu or arrange onward transportation from the region. The Sunkoshi expedition ends here, after approximately 270 km of river, multiple days of whitewater and a week of life beside the river. Meals: Breakfast\ Activity: Departure / onward transportation