- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Adventure tour · 9 days, 8 nights
9 Day Bhutan River Adventure Tour: Rafting and Kayaking the Mo Chhu, Pho Chhu and Paro Chhu
A specialist white water trip on Bhutan’s glacier-fed rivers, from gentle floats below Punakha Dzong to the faster rapids of the Pho Chhu, with licensed Bhutanese river guides and time for the Tiger’s Nest.
- 9 days, 8 nights
- 4 river days
- Licensed outfitters and safety kayakers
4
Days on the water
II to IV
Rapid grades, about
2025
First Rescue 3 river guide course in Bhutan
Moderate
Grade
Trip overview
Bhutan's rivers from the water
Bhutan’s rivers start in the glaciers of the high Himalaya and drop thousands of metres in a short distance on their way to India. That makes for clean, cold, fast water running through deep forested gorges, past farms, temples and dzongs, with almost no other boats on it. River running is still young in Bhutan, and a trip down the Pho Chhu or Mo Chhu feels like a real exploration.
This 9 day tour is built for people who want proper time on the water. After a day to settle in Paro, you raft the Paro Chhu, then base yourself in Punakha for three river days: the calm Mo Chhu below Punakha Dzong, the more demanding Pho Chhu with its Class III to IV rapids, and a day of your choice, either another run, a kayak lesson, or a day trip to a river further east. Between runs you visit Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang and the villages along the banks, and you finish with the Tiger’s Nest hike.
All river days are run by licensed Bhutanese rafting companies with trained guides, modern self-bailing rafts and a safety kayaker on the harder sections. In 2025 the Department of Tourism and UNDP ran the country’s first international river guide and Rescue 3 training, and eight instructors were certified. River levels change a lot with the seasons, so the exact sections depend on the water when you arrive.
- Four river days on the Paro Chhu, Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu
- Class II to IV rapids, chosen to suit the group
- Licensed guides, safety kayaker and all river gear
Highlights
Highlights on and off the river
Pho Chhu rapids
The most exciting run in western Bhutan.
Under Punakha Dzong
Float past one of Bhutan's great fortresses.
Paro Chhu
A first run through the Paro valley.
Kayak lesson
Learn to roll and paddle with a local instructor.
Riverside villages
Rice farms and temples along the banks.
Tiger's Nest
The cliff monastery to finish.
Itinerary at a glance
Nine days at a glance
River sections are chosen on the day from water levels and the group’s experience.
Day 1: Arrive in Paro
Land in Paro.
Day 2: Paro Chhu
First river day on the Paro Chhu.
Day 3: To Punakha
Drive via Thimphu and Dochula.
Day 4: Mo Chhu
A scenic run on the Mo Chhu to Punakha Dzong.
Day 5: Pho Chhu
The bigger rapids of the Pho Chhu.
Day 6: Your choice
A second run, a kayak lesson or a rest day.
Day 7: Back to Paro
Drive back over Dochula.
Day 8: Tiger's Nest
Hike to Paro Taktsang.
Day 9: Depart
Transfer to Paro airport.
Day 1
Arrive in Paro
Your guide meets you at Paro airport. After lunch you walk to Rinpung Dzong across the old cantilever bridge and look down at the Paro Chhu, which you will raft tomorrow. In the evening you meet your river guide for a briefing and kit check.
- Overnight: Paro
- Altitude: about 2,200 metres
- Meals: lunch and dinner
Day 2
Rafting the Paro Chhu
Your first run is on the Paro Chhu, a fun river with Class II to III rapids that winds through the valley below the airport and past villages and chortens. It is a good warm-up for the group to learn paddle commands and practise safety drills. In the afternoon you visit Kyichu Lhakhang and the National Museum.
- Overnight: Paro
- On the water: about 2 hours
- Grade: II to III
Day 3
Over Dochula to Punakha
You drive to Thimphu for a short visit to the Memorial Chorten and Buddha Dordenma, then over Dochula, at about 3,100 metres, to the warm Punakha valley, where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu meet. In the evening you walk down to the rivers to look at the water.
- Overnight: Punakha
- Drive: about 4 to 5 hours
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4
The Mo Chhu
The Mo Chhu, the ‘mother river’, is the gentler of Punakha’s two rivers, with Class II rapids and long calm stretches through rice fields and forest. The run finishes below Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, which you visit in the afternoon. If you want more, you can paddle an inflatable kayak on the easier sections.
- Overnight: Punakha
- On the water: about 2 hours
- Grade: II
Day 5
The Pho Chhu
The Pho Chhu, the ‘father river’, is steeper and faster, with continuous Class III rapids and, depending on the level, a few Class IV drops. Your guides scout the harder rapids before you run them and a safety kayaker goes ahead. After the run you walk across the long suspension bridge over the Pho Chhu and visit Chimi Lhakhang.
- Overnight: Punakha
- On the water: about 3 hours
- Grade: III to IV
Day 6
A day of your choice
Today depends on you and the water. You can run the Pho Chhu again, take a half-day kayak lesson on calm water, raft a section of the Puna Tsang Chhu below Wangdue, or rest and hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten above the Mo Chhu. In the evening many people book a hot stone bath.
- Overnight: Punakha
- Options: rafting, kayaking or hiking
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7
Back to Paro
You drive back over Dochula to Paro. The afternoon is free to rest before the hike tomorrow, walk around the town or visit a farmhouse.
- Overnight: Paro
- Drive: about 4.5 hours
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8
Hike to the Tiger's Nest
The hike to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, takes five to six hours return. The path climbs through blue pine forest to a cafeteria with a clear view of the monastery, then on to the cliff itself at about 3,120 metres, where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated in the 8th century.
- Overnight: Paro
- Hike: 5 to 6 hours return
- Altitude: about 3,120 metres
Day 9
Fly home
After breakfast your guide drives you to Paro airport for your flight home.
- Transfer: about 15 minutes
- Meals: breakfast
Where you stay
Where you stay
Comfortable hotels close to the rivers.
| Nights | Place | Where you stay | Why we chose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 7 and 8 | Paro | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Luxury upgrades available |
| 3, 4, 5 and 6 | Punakha | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Near the rivers |
Riverside camping in Punakha can be added on request.
What the price covers
Included and not included
Included
- Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
- Hotels as listed, 3-star as standard, with 4-star and luxury upgrades on request
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- A licensed English-speaking guide for the whole trip
- Private car or SUV with a Bhutanese driver, and all transfers
- Entry fees to dzongs, temples and museums
- Bottled water in the car
- Four river days with a licensed outfitter
- Rafts, paddles, helmets, buoyancy jackets and wetsuits
- Safety kayaker on Class III and IV sections
Not included
- International flights into and out of Paro (we can book them for you)
- Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
- Drinks, laundry and other personal costs
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Anything not listed under included
Price on request
Tell us your budget and we will send our best price
We don’t publish one fixed price, because hotels, season and group size change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this river adventure tour.
How we price
What decides the cost of this trip
Government fees
The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, plus a USD 40 visa. These are fixed by the Government of Bhutan and paid through us.
Hotels you choose
Group size, the number of river days and hotel style change the total most.
Season and dates
Spring and autumn are peak season. Winter and summer dates are often easier to price well.
Group size
Guide and car costs are shared, so the price per person drops for two, three or four travellers.
We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything. No booking fees.
Good to know
Planning your river trip
Best season for rafting
The best months are March to May and late October to November, when water levels are moderate and the weather is clear. From June to September the monsoon brings high, brown water and most commercial rafting stops. December to February is possible on some rivers, but the water is very cold and levels are low. We choose the sections on the day based on the flow.
Who can join
You do not need rafting experience for the Mo Chhu and Paro Chhu, but you should be able to swim and be comfortable in cold water. For the Pho Chhu, a reasonable level of fitness and some previous rafting are helpful. The usual minimum age is about 12 for the harder sections and 6 for the gentle ones. Experienced kayakers can bring their own boats; tell us in advance.
What to bring
The outfitter provides rafts, paddles, helmets, buoyancy jackets and wetsuits. Bring quick-dry clothes, a fleece for after the run, sandals or old shoes that strap on, sunscreen, sunglasses with a strap, and a dry bag for your camera. A change of clothes stays in the car.
Safety on the river
All river trips are run by licensed Bhutanese rafting outfitters, with trained guides, self-bailing rafts, helmets, buoyancy jackets and a safety kayaker on the harder sections. In 2025 the Department of Tourism and UNDP ran Bhutan’s first international river guide and Rescue 3 training course in Punakha, and eight local instructors were certified. The water is cold and fast after the monsoon, so we follow the guides’ briefing closely and choose sections that match the group.
The hot stone bath
A menchu, or hot stone bath, is a wooden tub of river water heated with stones that have been roasted in a fire, often with artemisia leaves added. Bhutan’s Department of Tourism lists it among the country’s traditional wellness experiences, and Bhutanese people use it to ease sore joints and tired muscles. Many farmhouses in Paro and Punakha offer one in the evening. Tell your guide if you have heart problems or high blood pressure before you book.
Visa, SDF and guide rules
Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is issued online before you fly. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, with half rates for children aged 6 to 11. A Department of Tourism notice from April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide. We file the visa and pay the SDF for you. Read more in our Bhutan visa guide and SDF guide.
Flying into Paro
Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Paro, mainly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Singapore. Pilots land by sight between the ridges, so morning flights are the most reliable. We suggest a night in your hub city on the way in. Our flights to Bhutan page lists every route.
River adventure tour: questions
It depends on your hotels, group size and dates. Tell us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.
Not for the easier rivers. Some experience helps for the Pho Chhu.
From Class II on the Mo Chhu to Class III and IV on the Pho Chhu, depending on the water level.
Trips are run by licensed outfitters with trained guides, full safety gear and a safety kayaker.
Yes. You can take a kayak lesson or, if you are experienced, paddle the rivers with a guide.
March to May and late October to November.
About 6 for gentle sections and 12 for harder rapids.
Two to four months ahead for spring and autumn.
Price on request
Ask for your best price
Tell us your dates, your experience on the water and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this river adventure tour.
- Share your budget, we shape the trip around it
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Let's plan your Bhutan journey
Tell us a little about your trip. Our team in Thimphu will reply with ideas, a day-by-day plan and a full price.
We’ll reply within 24 hours. No booking fees, and no obligation to book.