Saluting the Sun (Kosi River)

Grab your mat and paddle and head into remote Nepal on this unique yoga and rafting adventure.

CONTRIBUTED BY GRG'S ADVENTURE KAYAKING

Imagine waking up in the shadow of the Himalayas, with the sound of rapids surging through the Sun Kosi river, practicing sun salutations on the river bank before enjoying some of the best whitewater rafting and kayaking in the world. This trip of a lifetime awaits you in beautiful Nepal.

Nestled between China and India, Nepal is perhaps most famous for being home to the biggest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. And it goes without saying, where there are mountains, there are rivers - over 6000 in fact! Rivers, plus Hindu temples, culture, history, trekking, mountain biking and safaris, all to be experienced in this small but vast country.

The Sun Kosi is one of the most famous rivers in Nepal. It translates as the river of Gold, and is gold-stamped as one of the top ten river journeys in the world by National Geographic. It travels almost the whole length of Nepal, right from the mountainous Tibetan border through to the flat plain of India and is one of the most incredible kayaking and rafting experiences on offer.

On this adventure, you’ll experience paddling through big, bouncy rapids and a diverse ecosystem...through jungles, remote villages, and eventually the dusty flat plains. Each evening, camp is set up on pristine white sandy beaches, where you’ll enjoy driftwood campfires under the stars, drinking a river-cooled beer and chatting about the adventures of the day.

A Typical Day

We start things early on this trip, getting up with the sun to give sun salutations during our first yoga session of the day. This is such a magical way to start the day, with the birds chirping, the sounds of the rapids in the background, and the mist just starting to fade away.

We then have a full breakfast before we break camp, load up the gear raft, and head on down the river. Each day we paddle around 20 miles until 1 pm, where we stop at whichever beach looks the most enticing for a spot of lunch! An hour’s break for sunbathing, playing football with the local kids, or maybe a quick yoga session, before we jump back into the boats.

As we paddle, we stop from time to time to perhaps explore a remote village or local Hindu temple, stock up on fresh veg, get our hearts pumping with a quick cliff jump, have a shower under a natural waterfall, or track tiger footprints.

We make camp around 4 pm, where everyone is responsible for their setting up their own tent. Once camp is made, there is the option of yoga, or singing bowl therapy, or massage from our incredible yoga instructor. The evenings are spent playing volleyball, reading, helping in the kitchen, relaxing around the campfire and telling stories. We camp out under the stars and really, truly relax. There is no Wifi or electricity - just nature. Pure bliss.

We guarantee by the end of this trip you will be feeling refreshed and revitalized. You need no previous rafting experience if you wish to raft this river. The professional and qualified Nepali raft guides have all the necessary skills to guide you safely down the river. You will be given a full safety briefing and time for practice before setting off on this expedition. As long as you have a sense of adventure, love being outdoors and are up for an epic trip, then this is the perfect expedition for you.

Plan Your Trip Expeditions are scheduled in April, May, October and November 2019. The trip departs from Kathmandu in Nepal. This is certainly something to tick off your bucket list!

Learn more at grgadventurekayaking.com.