The expanse of Himalayas in India, with myriad rivers gushing through its heart, the untouched environs, the flora and fauna along the rivers and the culture of the region make India an exciting destination for rafting and kayaking.
River rafting opportunities are available to experienced as well as first time rafters in India as commercial rafting has come off age in the country. And how! Nine-year-old children to seventy-year-old adults have rafted down rivers in India.
Ganga and its tributaries have so far been the most popular rivers for rafting in India. Rivers in Central India also offer great rafting opportunities. Snow Leopard Adventures has recently added white water rafting on the Kundalika River near Mumbai, Maharashtra to their array of rafting experiences.
Suggested Programmes
Rafting on the Ganges
The holy Ganga or the Ganges is the most popular river in India for river running due to its easy accessibility from the Indian capital, Delhi, and because the river has rapids with varying levels of difficulty (Grade II to IV) that provides the thrills and spills of river rafting to both novices and experienced alike.
Best Time: September- June
Duration: 3 days/ 2 nights
Day 1: Arrival at Camp and rafting
Arrive at Camp Panther.
On arrival, orientation briefing followed by allotment of tents. Lunch at the camp. Post lunch after a safety briefing, we go for rafting.
Drive back to Camp. Evening tea/coffee and snacks followed by some games i.e. volleyball and cricket.
Evening campfire followed by dinner. Overnight in Camp Panther.
Day 2: Full day rafting
After an early breakfast, drive to the put in point for the day’s rafting session. We start the rafting session. A fairly calm day on the river. This is a good stretch to practice river skills/ swimming/ body surfing. Lunch on an isolated beach on the river.
Conclude the day’s rafting. Drive back to camp. Evening tea/coffee and snacks followed by some games i.e. volleyball and cricket. Evening campfire followed by dinner. Overnight in Camp Panther
Day 3: Rafting and Departure
Morning wakeup call followed by breakfast. Post breakfast after a thorough safety briefing we go for rafting. Return to camp for a hot lunch.
Post lunch, depart for onward destination.
What to Bring Along
For Rafting
- Shorts/ tights
- T – Shirt (preferably not cotton)
- Sports shoes without socks / beach sandals
- Cap
- Retainers for prescription glasses or sunglasses
- Life jackets, paddles, and helmets will be provided at the camp.
For Camp
- Shoes
- Clothes ( Track bottoms, T-shirts,light jacket)
- Torch
- Personal medical kit and toiletries
- Sun shade/ cap
- Sunblock lotion
- Retainers for prescription glasses/ sun glasses
- Water bottle
- Rain gear (raincoat/ umbrella)
- Camera
- Musical instrument/ reading/ writing material
- Your Spirit of Adventure and sense of humour!
Alaknanda River Rafting
“The river so beautiful, the water so clean, the mountains so majestic, the surroundings so green….” The Alaknanda river, on which Sir Edmund Hillary undertook his ‘Ocean to Sky’ jet boat expedition, emanates high in the Himalayas and has a pristine rafting stretch through a beautiful gorge.
Best Time: November-March
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Day 1: Delhi – Shivpuri Camp
Depart from New Delhi. Arrive Snow Leopard Adventures Camp for lunch. Post lunch, a 10-km river rafting session. Tent pitching demonstration and expedition training. Dinner and overnight in camp.
Day 2: Shivpuri
Early morning wake up call followed by a nature walk in the surrounding areas. After breakfast, we do a training raft run. Lunch at the camp. Post lunch, we drive for about a three-and-a-half hours to a beach on the Alaknanda River. Overnight at camp set up on the beach.
Day 3: Drive to Put in Point
We leave camp after breakfast and drive for an hour to the put-in point for rafting expedition.
Start the Alaknanda River Rafting Expedition. A few kilometers downstream the valley widens and the river eases in intensity once we are past the relatively big town of Srinagar. The town is famous in the area for its university. The entire rafting is through areas rich in avi-fauna and wildlife. Overnight on beach by the river.
Day 4: On Expedition
After breakfast, start the day’s rafting. Today the river enters a breathtakingly beautiful gorge and picks up in intensity. We finish rafter for the day and set up camp for the night on an isolated beach by the Ganga River.
Day 5: Finish expedition and drive to Shivpuri camp
Rafting begins after breakfast. The river now widens out and is relatively calm for the next 20 river kilometers. We finish the rafting session and drive to Snow Leopard Adventures Camp.
Lunch at the camp. Post lunch, we go for sightseeing and visit the various ashrams of Rishikesh.
Dinner and overnight at Snow Leopard Adventures Camp.
Day 6: Shivpuri-Delhi
Return to Delhi
What to Bring Along
For Rafting
- Shorts/ tights
- T – Shirt (preferably not cotton)
- Sports shoes without socks / beach sandals
- Cap
- Retainers for prescription glasses or sunglasses
- Life jackets, paddles, and helmets will be provided at the camp.
For Camp
- Shoes
- Clothes ( Track bottoms, T-shirts,light jacket)
- Torch
- Personal medical kit and toiletries
- Sun shade/ cap
- Sunblock lotion
- Retainers for prescription glasses/ sun glasses
- Water bottle
- Rain gear (raincoat/ umbrella)
- Camera
- Musical instrument/ reading/ writing material
- Your Spirit of Adventure and sense of humour!
The Kali Sarda River Rafting
Known as the Mahakali in Nepal and the Sarda or the Kali in India, this is one of the great rivers of the Himalayas and probably the least travelled one. Most of it is remote, unspoilt and with excellent scenery. The pristine wilderness is a highlight of the trip with few trails, no people and beautiful canyons and beaches. It also has some phenomenal bird life. The Kali for most of its length demarcates the western boundary between India and Nepal. On the Indian side it flows along the region of Kumaon – a land of gentle hills and beautiful mountains. The valley of the river had been a trading route up to Tibet and one can see the Tibetan influence in this region. An expedition down this river provides some classic Grade III / IV rafting.
Best Time: October-April
Duration:9 days/ 8 nights
Day 2: Kathgodam- Pithoragarh
Early morning arrival at Kathgodam, the last rail head in the Kumaon region. 8 hr drive to Pitthoragarh town (1,650m) sitting in a small valley, the erstwhile summer retreat of the Chand rulers of the area. This town has some fine temples built by them. Overnight at Pithoragarh Tourist Rest House.
Day 3: Drive to Put in Point
Drive to put in point where we begin the rafting expedition. Easy rafting stretch for about 2 hrs. till we set up a camp on an isolated beach by the river. Overnight stay in camp set up by the side of the river.
Day 4: On Expedition
About five hours of rafting in a very straightforward river with few villages and beautiful waterfalls on both sides of the river. Overnight stay in camp set up by the river.
Day 5: On Expedition
Day spent on the river with grade II & III rapids. Watch beautiful waterfalls high up on the rocky escarpments on both sides. Visit some villages en route and talk to the people, who are extremely friendly and warm. Overnight at camp set up near Pancheshwar by the river.
Day 6: Rest Day at Pancheshwar
A designated day of rest. Visit a temple at the confluence of the Kali and Saryu rivers. Overnight at camp.
Day 7: On the river
Past Pancheshwar, there are very few villages, just thickly forested hillsides. The areas abound in wild life and is a paradise for bird watchers. The river picks up force and there are two big grade III rapids. Camp set up on a beach.
Day 8: On the river
The best white-water day of the trip. Plenty of flat water paddling as well as a number of big and bouncy rapids including a grade IV+ rapid. Explore the forest area around the campsite for the day.
Day 9: Last Day of Expedition
Finish the expedition by lunch time. After lunch drive to Kathgodam for overnight train back to Delhi.
What to Bring Along
For Rafting
- Shorts/ tights
- T – Shirt (preferably not cotton)
- Sports shoes without socks / beach sandals
- Cap
- Retainers for prescription glasses or sunglasses
- Life jackets, paddles, and helmets will be provided at the camp.
For Camp
- Shoes
- Clothes ( Track bottoms, T-shirts,light jacket)
- Torch
- Personal medical kit and toiletries
- Sun shade/ cap
- Sunblock lotion
- Retainers for prescription glasses/ sun glasses
- Water bottle
- Rain gear (raincoat/ umbrella)
- Camera
- Musical instrument/ reading/ writing material
- Your Spirit of Adventure and sense of humour!
Kundalika rafting
The Kundalika is a small river flowing from the hills of Sahayadri to the Arabian Sea. This river originates at a small town called Bhira in Maharashtra, 150 km south east of Bombay (Mumbai). Due the river’s proximity to Mumbai and Pune, rafting on the Kundalika river has become immensely popular. The exciting 14-km rafting stretch comprises grade II and III rapids and can be done in about 2 hours. The put-in or the start point for this exciting rafting session is at Saje Village and take out is at Kamat village, approximately a 2 ½ hour drive from Mumbai or Pune.
Best Time: Through the year
Duration: 2 hours
Kundalika is a dam controlled river and rafting starts at 8 am sharp. The river is fed by excess water from Tata Power’s Mulshi Dam Project, where the water is released in the morning typically at 8 am. The gush of the water reaches the rafting put–in point, Saje, at 8:30 am and water rises at Kolad by 10:00 am.
Day 1:
Early morning drive from Mumbai/ Pune to Saje Village, the put-in point of the day’s rafting. Upon arrival, we gear up for the rafting session (with helmets, life jackets and paddles). After a thorough safety briefing by our experienced river guides, we get on to the river and start our rafting session.
This is a 14 Km exciting stretch with grade II and III rapids, with names such as Butterfly, Morning Headache, John Carry, Rajdhani Express etc. The rafting ends with body surfing at Kamat Village. Finish rafting at about 1030 am. Drive back to Mumbai / Pune.
What to Bring Along
For Rafting
- Shorts/ tights
- T – Shirt (preferably not cotton)
- Sports shoes without socks / beach sandals
- Cap
- Retainers for prescription glasses or sunglasses
- Life jackets, paddles, and helmets will be provided at the camp.
- Sun shade/ cap
- Sunblock lotion
- Retainers for prescription glasses/ sun glasses
- Water bottle
- Camera
- Your Spirit of Adventure and sense of humour!
Betwa Rafting
The Betwa River and the picturesque terrain, along with the magnificent ruins make it an adventurer’s paradise. The river is wide and its placid flow is intermittently broken by Grade I to Grade II rapids. The river is good for easy kayaking and rafting. As the Betwa River is dam controlled, rafting is subject to water level. We will organize alternate soft adventure activities, if rafting is not possible.
Best Time: September-April
Duration: 2 days/ 1 night
Day 1: Delhi-Jhansi-Camp Blue Bull
Arrive Jhansi at 1030 hrs. Meet and greet by snow Leopard Adventures team at Jhansi railway station followed by transfer to Snow Leopard Adventures Camp Blue Bull in Orchha.
Camp Blue Bull is set up on the banks of the Betwa River. The camp has 16 comfortably done up safari tents. The camp offers guests an opportunity to combine the thrill of adventure with the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Lunch at camp. Post lunch, we embark on an exciting exploration visit to Adventure Island. The Island is accessible only by rafts. This interesting island has ruins of a 400-year-old hunting lodge and some very exciting forest trails. Overnight at Snow Leopard Adventures Campsite.
Day 2: In Orchha (Rafting and return to Delhi)
Morning wake-up call followed by breakfast. Post breakfast we drive to the Rafting* put-in point at Kanchana Ghat. From here we raft down to Notghat Betwa Bridge. Working our way through gentle rapids, the rafting takes you past forested banks, age-old monuments and down the history lane of Orchha. Drive back to the Camp. Lunch at camp. After Lunch, we pack up and drive to Jhansi for the train back to Delhi.
*Rafting on the Betwa River is subject to water level. We will organize alternate soft adventure activities if rafting is not possible.
What to Bring Along
For Rafting
- Shorts/ tights
- T – Shirt (preferably not cotton)
- Sports shoes without socks / beach sandals
- Cap
- Retainers for prescription glasses or sunglasses
- Life jackets, paddles, and helmets will be provided at the camp.
For Camp
- Shoes
- Clothes ( Track bottoms, T-shirts,light jacket)
- Torch
- Personal medical kit and toiletries
- Sun shade/ cap
- Sunblock lotion
- Retainers for prescription glasses/ sun glasses
- Water bottle
- Rain gear (raincoat/ umbrella)
- Camera
- Musical instrument/ reading/ writing material
- Your Spirit of Adventure and sense of humour!