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River
Rafting & Kayaking in Bhutan
Bhutan is emerging as a much sought after destination for
white water sports. It is surprising that though every valley
in Bhutan has a river running through it, Bhutanese took to
white water sports very late.
Realizing the importance
of these sports as a tourism product, Tourism Board of Bhutan
started taking interest in their development. With the support
of the government, kayaking and rafting have picked up and are
attracting a number of adventure sport lovers to Bhutan.
The rivers in Bhutan are
generally very steep and powerful and road access is limited,
so only relatively short sections of the main rivers are
suitable for Kayaking and Rafting. On other hand Bhutan offers
a unique destination for the recreational Kayaker with
incredible rivers that are both challenging and some of the
beautiful in the world.
River Pho chu is the most
popular river for water sports. It is easily accessible by the
road and has a couple of class III rapids with name like HORSE
PLAY, STRAINERS PARADISE and the WRATHFUL BUDDHA.
Rivers Suitable for
Water Sports.
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LOCATION
|
RIVER
|
SECTION
|
DISTANCE
|
DIFFICULTY
|
SPORTS
|
|
Paro
|
Paa
Chu
|
Mistsi
Zamfoot Freezer Gorge section
|
10
Km
|
III
and IV
|
Kayaking
recommended only
|
|
Paro
|
Paa
Chu
|
Lower
Paa Chu
|
7km
|
III
with one class V
|
Kayaking
only
|
|
ChhudZom
|
Upper
run Wangchu
|
Chudzom
to Tamchu
|
4km
|
Class
IV and V
|
Kayaking
only
|
|
Tamchu
|
Lower
Wangchu
|
Tam
Chu
|
4
km
|
Class
III
|
Rafting
and Kayaking
|
|
Punakha
|
Pho
Chu
|
Upper
Pho Chu
|
7km
|
III
and IV Class
|
Rafting
and Kayaking
|
|
Punakha
|
Pho
Chu
|
Lower
Pho Chu
|
7km
|
III
with one IV class
|
Rafting
and Kayaking
|
|
Punakha
|
Moo
Chu
|
Upper
Moo Chu
|
3km
|
Class
IV and V
|
Kayaking
|
|
Punakha
|
Moo
Chu
|
Sonam’s
Put in
|
5km
|
Class
III and IV
|
Kayaking
and Rafting
|
|
Punakha
|
Moo
Chu
|
Lower
Moo Chu
|
6km
|
Class
I and II
|
Kayaking
and Rafting
|
|
Wangdi
|
Dang
Chu
|
Upper
Dangchu
|
3km
|
Class
IV and V
|
Kayaking
|
|
Wangdi
|
Dang
Chu
|
Middle
Dangchu
|
5km
|
Class
IV with III
|
Rafting
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
V scout
|
(Strong
and experience team) and kayaking.
|
|
Wangdi
|
Dang
Chu
|
Lower
Dangchu
|
5km
|
Class
III
|
Rafting
and Kayaking
|
|
Trongsa
|
Mangde
Chu
|
Ema
Datsi Canyon
|
7km
|
Class
III and IV at and Extreme caution
|
Kayaking
but rafting possible with medium flow strong team
|
|
Bumthang
|
Tangchu
|
Misitang
Tang
|
10km
|
Class
III and IV including one of the only class piece of flat
water in the world
|
Kayaking
only, portage is not an option
|
|
Bumthang
|
Chamkhar
Chu
|
Thankbi
|
5km
|
Class
II and III
|
Rafting
and Kayaking
|
|
Lhuntshi
|
Kuri
Chu
|
Upper
run
|
14km
|
Class
IV and V
|
Kayaking
only
|
|
Lhuntsi
|
Kuri
Chu
|
Middle
run
|
20km
|
Class
IV with a couple of class V
|
Kayaking
only
|
|
Lhuntsi
|
Kuri
Chu
|
Lower
run
|
10km
|
Class
III
|
Rafting
and Kayaking
|
Season: February
– May ; October – December
Pho-Chhu à
Start Samdingkha – 2hrs Class II and III. Ends below the
confluence
Mo Chhu à
Start from suspension bridge – 1hrs Class II, End below the
confluence.
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