Rafting · Grade I to IV

River Rafting in Rishikesh

Four stretches of the Ganga, from a friendly 12 km first raft to the big 36 km run through The Wall. Pick the length and the water that suit you. We run every one with a licensed river team.

Overview

Rishikesh is India's rafting capital: cold, clear Himalayan Ganga water through forested hills, with calm pools between the rapids.

Four stretches, 12 to 36 km. Pick the length and the water that suit you.
Grades I to IV. The 12 and 16 km suit first-timers and families; 26 km is for people who have rafted before; the 36 km runs The Wall, for confident, fit swimmers.
The same safety every time: a licensed river team, a guide in each raft and a safety kayaker, with life jackets and helmets fitted before launch.
Season is mid-September to the end of June. Rafting pauses in the monsoon, when the river runs too high to be safe.
From Rs. 1,200 per person. Your host arranges the pickup and timing; pick a stretch in the panel to enquire.

The four stretches

Same river team and gear on every run. The length, the water and the price are what change. Read them here, then pick one in the booking panel.

12 km · Marine Drive to Shivpuri

Rs. 1,200 / person

A proper taste of the river: a shorter run with a little more bite than the gentlest stretch, moving between whitewater and calm.

Grade I to III
About 2 hours on the water
A great first raft, good for families

Rapids: Black Money, Three Blind Mice, Crossfire

16 km · Shivpuri to Neem Beach

Rs. 1,500 / person

Rishikesh's best-known run: more river and more rhythm, a changing mix of stronger whitewater and calmer bends.

Grade II to III+
About 2 hours on the water
The popular all-rounder

Rapids: Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Club House

26 km · Marine Drive to Neem Beach

Rs. 2,000 / person

A longer sweep of the Ganga: a fuller, more sustained session with a succession of well-known rapids.

Grade III to III+
About 3 hours on the water
Bigger water, for people who have rafted before

Rapids: Three Blind Mice, Cross Fire, Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Club House

36 km · Kaudiyala to Neem Beach

Rs. 3,000 / person

The longest commercial stretch on the Ganga near Rishikesh, through the biggest named rapids, including The Wall.

Grade III to IV
About 4 hours on the water
The big one, for confident, fit swimmers

Rapids: The Wall, Daniel's Dip, Three Blind Mice, Roller Coaster and more

Good to know

StretchesFour: 12, 16, 26 and 36 km

GradesGrade I to IV, by stretch

PricesRs. 1,200 to Rs. 3,000 per person

GearImported life jacket, helmet, paddle, wet suit in winter — included

SafetyA trained guide in every raft + a safety kayaker on the river

TransportPickup and return, confirmed by your host with your stretch

DepartureDaily in season, your host confirms the time

Who can raftAge and weight limits vary by stretch, confirmed on booking

Not suitable forHeart conditions, past bypass, epilepsy or severe asthma

VideoCan be added on the day, Rs. 2,000 per raft

Best seasonMid-September to end of June

Before you go

Pick the stretch that fits

The 12 and 16 km runs are friendly and suit first-timers and families. The 26 km is a bigger half-day for people who have rafted before. The 36 km is Grade III to IV, the challenge, and The Wall can flip a raft. If you are not sure, your host will help you choose.

Who can, and can't

Age, weight and health limits vary a little by stretch and are confirmed when you book. If you have a heart condition, have had bypass surgery, have epilepsy or severe asthma, rafting is not for you. Tell us honestly at booking.

What you'll wear

Quick-drying clothes you can move in, shorts and a T-shirt or similar. No saris, skirts or loose robes on the water. Bring a full change of dry clothes for after.

The season and the water

Rafting runs mid-September to end of June. Rapid size changes with the water level, so no two days are identical, and a trip can be paused for unsafe conditions.

Give the day room

Allow a half day for the shorter runs and most of a day for the 36 km, including transfers. Rishikesh weekend traffic can add time, so keep the day loose.

What's included

Your BMR host coordinating the day
A trained rafting guide in your boat
A safety kayaker on the river throughout
Pickup and return transport for your stretch
All rafting gear: imported life jacket, helmet, paddle, and a wet suit in winter

Confirmed when you book.

What's not included

Personal expenses
Personal clothing and dry bags
The rafting video (Rs. 2,000 per raft, split between the boat)

What to bring

Quick-drying clothes to raft in (shorts and a T-shirt)
A full change of dry clothes and a towel
Secured footwear (strapped sandals, not flip-flops)
Sun protection
A little cash for the video or a snack
A power bank and any personal medication

What to wear

No saris, skirts or loose robes on the water
Secure footwear: strapped sandals, not flip-flops
A full change of dry clothes and a towel for after
Quick-drying clothes you can move in (shorts and a T-shirt)

Season & weather

Rafting runs mid-September to the end of June, with a monsoon pause. Rapid size changes with the water level, so no two days feel the same, and your host or the river guide may move or pause a trip when the water is unsafe. Your safety comes before the slot.

Run with a licensed river team

This is a partner trip we stand behind: it runs with a licensed local rafting company, with a professional guide in every boat and a safety kayaker on the water the whole way. The gear is proper, imported life jackets and helmets, and your BMR host sorts the booking, the pickup and the day around you.

A licensed partner, not a random boat

It runs with a licensed local rafting company, with a trained guide in your raft and a safety kayaker on the river throughout.

Proper gear, sorted for you

Imported life jackets and helmets, paddles, and a wet suit in the colder months, all included, all fitted before you get on the water.

The honest bits, first

The real grade, who can and can't do it, the age and weight limits, and what the day actually costs. Before you book, not after.

One host, start to finish

The same BMR host handles the booking, the Tapovan pickup and the day, so you just turn up ready to paddle.

Common questions

Which stretch should I pick?

If it's your first time or you have children, the 12 or 16 km runs are ideal. If you've rafted before and want bigger water, take the 26 km. The 36 km from Kaudiyala is the longest and hardest, Grade III to IV, for confident, fit swimmers. Your host will help you choose.

Is it safe? I've never rafted.

First-timers raft here every day, especially on the 12 and 16 km runs. Every boat has a trained guide who briefs you fully before you launch, and a safety kayaker follows the whole trip. You should be reasonably fit and comfortable in water.

How big are the rapids?

It depends on the stretch: the 12 and 16 km are roughly Grade I to III+, the 26 km is Grade III to III+, and the 36 km reaches Grade IV, including The Wall, which can flip a raft. There are calmer stretches in between on every run.

Do I need to know how to swim?

You don't have to be a strong swimmer, but you should be comfortable in water. You'll be in a fitted life jacket and helmet the whole time, and the guide tells you exactly what to do if you go in.

Who can't raft?

Rafting isn't suitable for anyone with a heart condition, past bypass surgery, epilepsy or severe asthma. Age and weight limits vary by stretch and are confirmed when you book. Please tell us at booking.

Is transport included?

Yes. Pickup and return are included. The exact pickup point and timing depend on the stretch you choose, and your host confirms them with you.

When does it run?

Daily in season, mid-September to the end of June. It's paused when the water is unsafe.