The crystal clear rivers of Bhutan are one of the kingdom’s best kept open secrets. Fed by the glacial-melt of the Eastern Himalayas, six major rivers (Wang Chhu, Sunkosh, Puna Tsang Chhu, Mangde Chhu, Kuri Chhu and Dangme Chhu and their tributaries), have been scouted for kayaking and rafting.
They cut through high valleys and low plains to meet up with the Brahmaputra River in India. The pristine natural setting and the sheer variety of the rivers’ courses provides a unique opportunity to explore Bhutan’s beautiful wilderness. Adventurous travelers will not be disappointed by the rugged, untamed waterways of Bhutan. The rivers are plentiful with strong currents varying between slow, gentle flows in some places and powerful, raging torrents can be found throughout the country. Although adventure sports and tourism are relatively recent introductions to Bhutan, they are rapidly gaining in popularity.
The river courses available in Bhutan offer something for all visitors, regardless of experience: There are easy routes for beginners and hair-raising runs for the veterans. Besides the rafts and the kayaks, Bhutanese agents also organize walking and trekking expeditions along the scenic river banks. The best time for rafting and kayaking is from March to April and November to December.
All references to water levels are estimated and in cubic feet per second (CFS).
Safety
❯ Bhutanese rafting and kayaking guides are well trained and will do everything to ensure that you enjoy the adventures minus the risks.
❯ The rivers of Bhutan were first graded for water sports in 1997 by the experienced duo Gerry Mofatt and Peter Knowles at the invitation of the Royal Government, under the erstwhile Department of Tourism to survey potential routes
❯ They trained the first batch of Bhutanese river-guides and conducted surveys.
❯ Since then, other rivers have been surveyed including the Punatsang Chhu, Manas and Amo Chhu
❯ TCB guidelines ensure that all operators use well maintained professional equipment and a reasonable guide-client ratio
Paro Chhu (Bondey – Isuna Bridge)
Location: Paro Valley, Western Bhutan
Length: Approximately 10 km (3 hours)
Difficulty: Class III-IV
Flow: About 500 cfs
Season: March – April
Craft: Kayaks recommended due to narrow and steep rapids
Lower Paro Chhu (Isuna Bridge – Chhuzom)
Location:Paro Valley, Western Bhutan
Length:7 km (1 hour)
Difficulty:Class II – III, with one V
Flow:Approximately 500 cfs
Season:March-April
Craft:Kayaks (too small for rafts)
Wang Chhu – Upper Run (Chhuzom Confluence –
Lower Tam Chhu, Dobji Dzong)
Location: Thimphu/Paro/Phuentsholing Highway, Western Bhutan
Length: Approximately 4 km (2 hours)
Difficulty: Class IV, one class V
Flow: 800 -1000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: a high water
in this section is extremely dangerous. Not recommended
for amateurs)
Craft: Only Kayaks
Wang Chhu – Lower Run (Tam Chhu – 4 km Downstream)
Location: Thimphu/Paro/Phuentsholing Highway, Western Bhutan
Length: 4 km (1 hour)
Difficulty: Class III
Flow: 800 -1000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Tips: a high water run
is possible with good scouting)
Craft: Kayaks, Rafts
Upper Pho Chhu (Wangthangkha – Samdingkha)
Location: Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan
Length: Approximately 7 km (2 hours)
Difficulty: Class III-IV
Flow: 2000 -3000 cfs
Season: March – April, October – November
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Mo Chhu – Tashitang Devil’s Gorge Section (Tashithang
– Below Punakha Dzong)
Location: Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan
Length: 12 km, 5 -7 hours with scouting
Difficulty: Class V
Flow: 1000 cfs
Season: Feb/Dec. (Caution: higher than medium flows makes this
run dangerous. High water runs not recommended for
amateurs)
Craft: Kayaks only (too steep for rafts)
Kabjisa – Khamsum Yuling Namgyal Chhorten
Location: Punakha Valley, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: 5 km (1.5 hours)
Difficulty: Class III – IV
Flow: 1500 – 2000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Tips: with good
scouting, runs at higher flows possible)
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Lower Pho Chhu (Samdingkha – Below Punakha
Dzong)
Location: Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan
Length: 7km, (1.5 hours)
Difficulty: Class III with one IV at the bottom
Flow: 2000 -3000 cfs
Season: March – April, October – November (Tips: runs at high water
possible)
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Mo Chhu – Upper Run (14km above Punakha Dzong
– Kabjisa)
Location: Punakha Valley, Western Bhutan
Length: 3 km (1.5 hours with scouting)
Difficulty: Class IV -V
Flow: 1500 – 2000 cfs
Season: Mar-Apr, Nov-Dec
Craft: Kayaks only
Lower Mo Chhu (Khamsum Yuling Namgyal Chhorten
– Below Punakha Dzong)
Location: Punakha Valley, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: 6 km (1 hour) (Note: In Spring, high winds and small
currents makes this stretch longer and harder)
Difficulty: Class I – II
Flow: 800 -1000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Tips: with good
scouting, runs at higher flows possible)
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Upper Dang Chhu (Wangduephodrang Downstream –
Kichu Resort)
Location: Wangduephodrang, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 3 km (2 hours with scouting)
Difficulty: Class IV -V at medium flows, V -V at higher flows
Flow: 400-500 cfs
Season: March – April, October – November (Caution: high water
makes this run dangerous. Not recommended for amateurs)
Craft: Kayaks only (too small and steep for rafts)
Lower Dang Chhu (Wangduephodrang Upstream –
Puna Tsang Chhu Confluence)
Location: Wangduepwhodrang, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 5km (1 hour)
Difficulty: Class III+
Flow: Class IV with 3 Class V scouts (Tips: runs possible at high
water if the first section is scouted carefully and the paddlers
are strong)
Season: March – April, November – December
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Puna Tsang Chhu – Waklaytar to Sunkoshtar
Location: Wangduephodrang, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 17 km (4 hours)
Difficulty: Class III-IV at most flows
Flows: 5000 – 7000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Tips: high water
makes this run more difficult but reasonable as well)
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Middle Dang Chhu (Kichu Resort – Dang Chhu Downstream)
Location: Wangduephodrang, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: 5 km (1.5 hours)
Difficulty: Class IV with three class V scouts
Flow: 400 – 500 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December
Craft: Kayaks. (Tips: rafts possible but only with crew and
portages. It is time consuming but there are great runs at
stretches)
Puna Tsang Chhu – The Canyon
(Kami Chhu – Waklaytar)
Location: Wangduephodrang, Western/Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 15 km (4 hours in kayaks with scouting,
longer for rafts due to portages)
Difficulty: Class IV-V at low to medium flows, solid vat-high flows
Flows: 5000 – 7000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: a high water
on this stretch can be extremely difficult. Not recommended
for amateurs)
Craft: Kayaks. (Rafting possible with strong crews)
Mangde Chhu – Upper Section (Yundo Choling Palace
– Langthel)
Location: Trongsa, Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 5 km (2 hours with scouting)
Difficulty: Class IV
Flows: Approximately 3000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December
Craft: Kayaks
Ema Datsi Canyon – Kevorkian Canyon (Rayfay –
Tingtibi)
Location: Trongsa, Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 50 km (2-river days)
Difficulty: Class V -VI at low to medium flows
Flows: Approximately 3000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: high water
runs not recommended for amateurs)
Craft: Only Kayaks
Mangde Chhu – Ema Datsi Canyon (Langthel – Rayfay)
Location: Trongsa, Central Bhutan
Length: Approximately 7 km (3 hours with scouting)
Difficulty: Pool drop class III-IV at medium flows
Flows: Approximately 3000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: high water
makes this section very dangerous. Not recommended for
amateurs)
Craft: Only Kayaks
Kuri Chhu – Upper Run (Lhuentse – Tangma Chhu)
Location: Lhuentse, Central-Eastern Bhutan
Length: Approximately 14 km (3 hours)
Difficulty: IV for the first 7 km, class V -VI after that
Flows: 4000 -6000
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: High water
runs not recommended for amateurs)
Craft: Kayaks only (Tips: the long portages and big rapids in the
lower canyon makes this impossible for rafts)
Kuri Chhu – Lower Run (Power House – Hydropower
Project Site)
Location: Lhuentse, Central-Eastern Bhutan
Length: Approximately 10 km (1 hour)
Difficulty: Class III
Flows: 4000 -6000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: high water
runs not recommended for amateurs)
Craft: Rafts and Kayaks
Kuri Chhu – Middle Run (Bottom of the Upper Canyon
– Autsho Village South)
Location: Lhuentse, Central-Eastern Bhutan
Length: Approximately 20 km, 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Class IV-IV+ with a couple class Vs
Flows: 4000 -6000 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: high water
runs not recommended for amateurs)
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Chamkar Chhu (Thangbi – Jakar)
Location: Bumthang, Central Bhutan
Length: 5 km (1 hour)
Difficulty: Class II -III
Flows: 1500 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December
Craft: Kayaks and Rafts
Tang Chhu (Misitang – Jakar)
Location: Bumthang, Central Bhutan
Length: 10 km (2 hours)
Difficulty: Class III -IV (includes one of the world’s only class VI cases
of flatwater)
Flows: 300 -500 cfs
Season: March – April, November – December (Caution: high water
runs not recommended for amateurs)
Craft: Only Kayaks (Tips: the rapids in the lower section are too
narrow to allow a raft to pass. Portaging is not an option)
