The Bhote Koshi bungee is the original jump in Nepal and still the one people mean when they say they bungeed here. The platform hangs from a 166 m suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi gorge, three hours north-east of Kathmandu on the road to the Tibetan border, and the drop is a straight 160 m into a canyon with the river running white below it.
The bridge was designed specifically for the jump by a Swiss company and is rated for a six-tonne load — several times what it ever carries. Jumps are run by New Zealand-trained masters using the same procedures as the operations at Queenstown, and the safety record over twenty-five years is the reason this site is still the benchmark.
It pairs naturally with a day's rafting on the same gorge, which is how most people do it.
The Jump at a Glance
| Drop | 160 m, free fall into the gorge |
| Bridge | 166 m span, purpose-built, rated to six tonnes |
| Where | The Bhote Koshi gorge, about 3 hours from Kathmandu |
| Duration | 1 day, including transfers and lunch |
| Difficulty | Easy — no experience needed, and the fear is the point |
| Best season | September to June |
| Operators | New Zealand-trained jump masters |
| Price | From USD 145 per person |
We run it as a full-day trip from Kathmandu. Most people combine it with rafting on the same gorge; for the other Nepali site, see Kushma.
How the Day Runs
A private vehicle from Kathmandu up the Araniko Highway towards the Tibetan border — about three hours through increasingly steep gorge country. The site sits at the bottom of a long descent, and the first thing you see is the bridge.
At the bridge: a weigh-in, which determines the cord, a safety briefing, harness fitting, and then the walk out to the platform. The jump masters run a tight, unhurried operation and talk you through everything as it happens.
Afterwards, lunch at the riverside resort is included, which is where the adrenaline wears off and everyone watches the video. Then the drive back to Kathmandu.
Safety: What Actually Backs It Up
Bungee in Nepal has a better safety story than most people assume, and the specifics matter more than the reassurance.
- The bridge was purpose-designed by a Swiss company for this jump, not adapted from an existing crossing.
- It is rated for six tonnes, which is several times the load it ever carries.
- Jump masters are New Zealand-trained and use the same procedures as the Queenstown operations that effectively wrote them.
- Every jumper is weighed and the cord is matched to that weight — this is why the weigh-in is not optional or approximate.
- Twenty-five years of operation at this site is the record the reputation rests on.
What is not covered by any of that is your travel insurance. Check the wording — bungee is excluded from most standard policies or listed as a paid extra.
What It Costs
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 traveller | USD 205 |
| 2 to 4 | USD 180 |
| 5 to 7 | USD 165 |
| 8 to 10 | USD 155 |
| 11 to 14 | USD 150 |
| 15 and over | USD 145 |
What Is Included
- Private vehicle from Kathmandu to the Bhote Koshi gorge and back, with hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Lunch at the riverside resort after the jump.
- One bungee jump including the safety briefing, harness, cord, weigh-in and certificate.
- Trained jump masters and full ground crew at the bridge.
- Bottled water in the vehicle.
- All government taxes and service charges.
What Is Not Included
- Travel insurance covering adventure activities — bungee is excluded from most standard policies.
- Breakfast and dinner, and any meals not specified.
- The photo and video package filmed by the operator.
- The canyon swing, available as an add-on at the same site.
- Alcoholic drinks at the resort.
- Luxury vehicle upgrade — private transport is included as standard.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and souvenirs.
- Tips for the crew and driver.
- Any additional cost caused by roadblocks, weather or circumstances beyond our control.
The canyon swing is worth considering. It is a different sensation entirely — a pendulum rather than a drop — and doing both in one visit is a common choice.
Practicalities
- There is a weight range. Both a minimum and a maximum apply and the weigh-in at the bridge is binding. Tell us at booking if you are near either end.
- Age and medical limits exist — back, neck and heart conditions, pregnancy and recent surgery all rule it out. Declare anything relevant.
- No phones or cameras on the platform. The operator films every jump and sells the footage.
- Nobody is pushed. If you walk back off the platform, most operators refund a portion of the fee less the fixed costs already incurred.
- Make a day of it. The bungee and the rafting run from the same resort, and doing both over two days is the standard package.
See our bungee and zip flyer guide for how Bhote Koshi compares with Kushma, and the adventure activities guide for the wider list.
