Rishikesh has become a main centre of white water rafting in North India. River Rafting is riding  on the    torrential river on an inflatable rubber boat. It's an adventure sport best enjoyed with professional rafters  and trainers staying at a white sand beach next to the river. We will like to give you information here about various aspects of white water rafting and various camps being organised at Rishikesh for accommodation in  natural and serene surroundings.

'There is little doubt that whitewater rafting is thrilling. It is one of the few sports where a person with no experience whatsoever can pay someone to put them in an unbelievably intense encounter with Mother Nature'

Rafting is done mostly in imported rafts made of vulcanised rubber bodies reinforced by nylon fabric beneath an exterior of neoprene thus making it tough enough to withstand the battering it gets when it rams across the rocky boulders in the water. Rafting is done on rapids which is a white patch of foam on a flowing river caused by sudden gradient or by the river breadth getting constricted while flowing through a gorge between rocks or by a sudden increase or decrease in the volume of the water. Rapids are graded from 1 to 6 depending on the ease with which they can be negotiated, with 1 being the most easy. Rapids have been given interesting names like Golf Course, Three Blind Mice, Daniel's Dip, Sweet Sixteen, Marine Drive, Cross Fire and Roller Coaster.

Classification of rapids

Class 1: an easy, slow-moving current

Class 2: small waves

Class 3: rapids have medium waves with some technical maneuvers required

Class 4: rapids occur in a faster current, with bigger waves that are technical and scouting is sometimes recommended

Class 5: rapids have a very fast current, large waves and scouting is necessary

Class 6: rapids are virtually un-runnable, only attempted by professional racing teams

Other activities which can be done along with rafting at Rishikesh are body surfing, cliff jumping, kayaking beach volleyball, trekking, camping, rock climbing, rappelling etc.

Safety measures- Before going for rafting, you must ensure that you are doing it with a competent team who maintain all the safety standards like a qualified trainer, good rafts, crash helmets, life jackets and a medical backup in case of need. Also you must choose a well known operator who follows al safety precautions and not go just by the low rates offered by the fly by night local operators.

Camps at Rishikesh

Camp 5 Elements

Run by the Leisure Hotels the camp the rafting camp in Rishikesh offers serene and rejuvenating environment. The Camp is indeed the most scenic, secluded & romantic beach camp on the Ganges. Sprawling over 500 meters of Silvery Sandy beach, the camp is surrounded by thick forests and mountains. The camp is located 27 kms from Rishikesh on the road to Deoprayag  between Shivpuri and Byasi Village. The tents are deluxe with a twin/double bed. There is an attached bathroom having running water(The only camps in Rishikesh with attached bathrooms). Toilets, the typical dry pit ones are separately made. 

Activities 

White Water Rafting The Camp Riverwilds provides the facilities of White Water Rafting starting right from the camp covering 30 River Kms from The Camp till Rishikesh, total time taken is 05hrs. covering rapids from grade 1 to 5.

Trekking to Nearby Garhwali Village This is an interesting trek of the duration of 02hrs. to a very small Garhwali village, which will make you aware of the life style of Garhwalis, the flora and fauna of that region. It is also a great opportunity to do some  bird watching. 

Rock Climbing & Rappelling In this basic class we'll cover the fundamentals of technical rock climbing/rappelling; knots, top ropes etc. After practicing the basics, you'll follow your instructor on an easy but exhilarating multi-pitch climb, as part of a rope team.

Beach Volleyball & Cricket Enjoy a game on the soft white sands of the river bank.