Water Sport in Bhutan
Water Sport 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.
“THE BEST SEASON FOR WATER SPORTS IN BHUTAN IS AUTUMN AND SPRING (March, April, May, October & November).”
Rivers Suitable for Water Sports.
| 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 |
