River Rafting in Rishikesh: Which Stretch, When to Go and How to Stay Safe

Rafting is the reason many people come to Rishikesh at all. Above the town the Ganga runs through a forested gorge in a series of rapids with names every guide knows, and the trips are organised so that you start upstream and float back down into Rishikesh. The only real decisions are which stretch, which month and which operator, and getting those right is the difference between a great morning and a frightening one.

The rafting stretches, at a glance

Times on the water run from about two hours for Brahmpuri to most of a day for Kaudiyala, plus the drive up to the start. Operators take you to the put-in by jeep, so you only need to reach their office in Rishikesh or Tapovan.

Shivpuri: the stretch most people choose

Shivpuri to Rishikesh is the run most first-time adults take. It has enough named rapids, Roller Coaster and Golf Course among them, to feel like real white water, with calm stretches between them where the guide may let you swim in a life jacket. It finishes near the town, and many trips stop at a sandy beach on the way for cliff jumping, which is optional and should be skipped if the guide says the water is too high.

Brahmpuri for families, Marine Drive and Kaudiyala for the bold

Brahmpuri is short and gentle, the right choice with older children or anyone nervous of water. Marine Drive and Kaudiyala start farther upstream and add bigger rapids and longer days; book them only if everyone in the raft is a confident swimmer and reasonably fit. Many operators set a minimum age of around 14 for the longer stretches and allow younger children only on the shortest one; check before you book, and do not bend the rule.

When rafting is open

The season runs from about September or October, once the monsoon floods have dropped, to June. Rafting is suspended during the monsoon, usually from July into September, when the river is high and dangerous. October to April is the most comfortable: clear water and warm days, though the river is cold in December and January, so wear quick-drying clothes and bring a change. May and June are hot on land and the river is at its friendliest.

Staying safe

• Book a licensed operator, through your hotel or an established office, not a tout on the street.
• Wear the life jacket and helmet the whole time, buckled properly, even on calm water.
• Listen to the safety briefing and the guide's commands; they are what keeps the raft upright.
• Wear sandals with straps or old shoes, never flip-flops, and leave phones and valuables behind.
• Skip rafting if you have a heart condition, are pregnant or have had alcohol.

Rafting before the Char Dham

Rishikesh is the usual first night of the Char Dham Yatra, and a morning on the river is a fine start. Do not raft the day before a long mountain drive if you are not used to exercise, though: tired arms and a long drive make a hard combination. Our Rishikesh before the Char Dham guide covers the aarti, the bridges and the jobs to finish before heading north.

Where to stay

Tapovan and the Laxman Jhula side are closest to most rafting offices and to the road up to Shivpuri; Muni ki Reti and Ram Jhula suit those who want the ghats and the aarti on foot. Our hotels in Rishikesh page compares the areas. Flying in? See Dehradun airport to Rishikesh.