Packraft Expedition Training | Kathmandu, Nepal | October 25th – November 7th, 2026
COURSE DETAILS
Join SSI for a 14-day expedition-style paddling and packrafting training across Nepal. This is open to both packrafts and hard shell kayaks. Kayaks can be rented from our partners in Nepal for $100/wk. This immersive, multi-river journey combines world-class whitewater with overland expedition travel, linking remote valleys, diverse river systems, and Himalayan terrain into one continuous adventure — from first put-in to final take-out.
From the moment you arrive in Kathmandu, you’ll be immersed in Nepali expedition culture. In partnership with Royal Beach Camp, SSI manages all in-country logistics, accommodations, and transportation, including courtesy airport pickup and drop-off, so you can focus fully on training and experience. Built-in flex time allows you to explore Thamel — the historic launch point for Himalayan expeditions.
Designed for paddlers ready to operate in complex international environments, this expedition develops real-world skills in river travel, logistics, movement between drainages, and team operations in remote terrain. Participants build the judgment, adaptability, and leadership required to operate where rivers, overland travel, and dynamic landscapes merge into a single expedition flow. This is not a single-river trip — it’s a full-spectrum Himalayan expedition.
Group size is intentionally limited to 6–10 expedition members to ensure a cohesive, professional, and highly personalized experience. Designed for paddlers who want more than just whitewater, expect immersive travel, real operational challenges, and the kind of shared experience that defines a lifetime adventure. If you’re ready to expand your expedition skillset and operate at a higher level — this is your invitation to explore the globe with us!
HIMALAYAN RIVERS: (for a full description and daily itinerary please visit ABOUT THIS COURSE)
Trisuli River to our Base Camp Lodging- Royal Beach Camp (Between Kathmandu and Pokhara)
3 day Expedition – Budi Gandaki River
5 day Expedition – Bheri River (Remote Western Nepal!)
COURSE DETAILS
WHEN: October 25th – November 7th, 2026
WHERE: Kathmandu, Nepal
FIELD SITE: Multiple Himalayan Rivers (Central and Western Nepal)
INSTRUCTOR: Eric Riley
Eric Riley has spent more than two decades exploring and teaching in moving water environments around the world, blending expedition paddling with technical rescue expertise. Raised in Idaho, he is now in his 25th season on the water and brings a rare combination of expedition leadership, instructional depth, and real-world field experience.
Eric’s international expedition journey began in 2010 with his first jungle packrafting expedition in Panama, where he joined the first continental divide traverse on a four-day remote crossing. He returned the following year as expedition team medic — setting the foundation for a career built around international river travel, cultural immersion, and operating in complex environments.
Since his first trip to the Himalayas in 2011, Eric has returned five times as an expedition team member, guide, and instructor. He has led rafting expeditions in Bhutan, participated in whitewater expeditions in Nepal, and taught swiftwater rescue throughout Nepal, India, and Bhutan. Across six continents and twelve countries, his work has centered on helping teams move safely and confidently through remote landscapes where rivers, travel, and terrain converge.
As Founder and CEO of the Swiftwater Safety Institute (SSI), Eric also leads advanced training programs for rescue professionals, military teams, and expedition paddlers — bringing a calm, systems-based approach to high-consequence environments. Based in Jackson, Wyoming, he balances technical instruction with a lifelong passion for exploration and believes the best expeditions are the ones that challenge us, connect us, and leave us changed.