Half Day Rafting in Rishikesh
A 26 km run down the Ganges through the best-known rapids in India, with helmets, life jackets and a guide in every raft. It is the classic Rishikesh adventure and fits neatly into a morning.
India
Rishikesh & Haridwar
Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world and the gateway to the Garhwal Himalaya, a river town where the Ganges leaves the mountains and runs fast, green and cold past ashrams, temples and rafting beaches.
Evening Ganga Aarti ceremonies draw pilgrims and travellers to the ghats, the Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula footbridges link the two banks, and the ashram where the Beatles stayed in 1968 now sits in quiet, graffiti-covered ruins in the forest. Rapids with names like Roller Coaster and Three Blind Mice make this India's best-known rafting stretch, while Kunjapuri sunrise treks, Rajaji National Park safaris and the waterfalls above town fill the rest of the week. Haridwar, about 25 km south, adds Har Ki Pauri, one of the great pilgrimage ghats of India, and the cable cars up to Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi. Mussoorie, Surkanda Devi and Tehri Lake make longer day trips. This guide covers the tours worth booking, honest hotel picks in both cities, and six planning guides for first-timers, rafters and slow travellers.
Don't miss
Half Day Rafting in Rishikesh
A 26 km run down the Ganges through the best-known rapids in India, with helmets, life jackets and a guide in every raft. It is the classic Rishikesh adventure and fits neatly into a morning.
Triveni Ghat Ganga Aarti and Old Town Walk
A guided walk through the old town to Triveni Ghat for the evening Ganga Aarti, when oil lamps, bells and chanting turn the riverbank into the spiritual heart of Rishikesh.
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
The forest ashram where the Beatles studied meditation in 1968 is now a hushed ruin of stone domes and graffiti art. A guided walk explains the history, the murals and the story behind the White Album songs.
Rishikesh Ashram Half-Day Guided Tour
A guided half day through the ashrams and riverside temples that made Rishikesh a world capital of yoga, including the large Parmarth Niketan complex and the Swarg Ashram area.
Things to do in Rishikesh & Haridwar
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Full Day Rafting in Rishikesh
A 35 km run from the upper river to the lower beaches, with extra rapids, a riverside lunch stop and time to swim. It is the longer, bigger version of the classic Rishikesh raft trip.
Triveni Ghat Ganga Aarti and Old Town Walk
A guided walk through the old town to Triveni Ghat for the evening Ganga Aarti, when oil lamps, bells and chanting turn the riverbank into the spiritual heart of Rishikesh.
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
The forest ashram where the Beatles studied meditation in 1968 is now a hushed ruin of stone domes and graffiti art. A guided walk explains the history, the murals and the story behind the White Album songs.
Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula Walking Tour
A private walk through the riverside lanes, the footbridges, ashrams and bazaars that make up Rishikesh, led by a local guide who can explain what you are seeing.
Rishikesh Ashram Half-Day Guided Tour
A guided half day through the ashrams and riverside temples that made Rishikesh a world capital of yoga, including the large Parmarth Niketan complex and the Swarg Ashram area.
Morning Walk and Yoga Session by the Ganges
A gentle morning walk along the river followed by a yoga session, the simplest way to try yoga in the town that gave it a global following.
Kunjapuri Sunrise Trek
A pre-dawn drive and short climb to the Kunjapuri Devi temple, where the first light touches the Himalayan peaks and the Ganges valley spreads out below.
Vashishta Cave and Gufa
A quiet meditation cave on the Ganges upstream of Rishikesh, long associated with the sage Vashishta and still used by visitors who want a few minutes of silence.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Trek
A guided forest trek to one of the most important Shiva temples in Uttarakhand, rising through woods to a hilltop shrine with sweeping views.
Rajaji Tiger Reserve Jungle Safari
An open-jeep safari in Rajaji National Park, the forest reserve on Rishikesh's doorstep that shelters elephants, leopards, deer, hundreds of bird species and a small tiger population.
Bungee Jumping in Rishikesh
A fixed-platform bungee jump in the hills above the Ganges, one of the highest in India, with safety checks, harnesses and a gentle landing.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Aloha On The Ganges
Ganges riverside
A riverside resort on the Ganges outside the busiest lanes of Rishikesh, aimed at travellers who want water views, space and quiet between rafting days and ashram visits.
Check rates →goSTOPS Rishikesh Lakshman Jhula
Laxman Jhula
A social hostel near Laxman Jhula for backpackers and solo travellers, within walking distance of cafes, yoga studios and the riverside lanes.
Check rates →Tapovan New Residency
Tapovan
A simple, budget hotel in Tapovan about five minutes from Laxman Jhula, a practical base for yoga, cafes and day trips.
Check rates →Divine Resort Laxman Jhula
Laxman Jhula
A modest resort-style stay near Laxman Jhula that suits couples and small groups looking for private rooms close to the river.
Check rates →SKI Rishikesh by Hotel SK International
Rishikesh town
A mid-range hotel in Rishikesh for travellers who want a standard hotel room with reliable basics rather than a hostel bed or an ashram cell.
Check rates →Hari Ganga Niwas Haridwar
Har Ki Pauri
A heritage-style riverside hotel in Haridwar, part of the IHCL SeleQtions collection and known as the Haveli Hari Ganga, within reach of the Har Ki Pauri ghat.
Check rates →Hotel Hari Heritage
Haridwar
A mid-range hotel in Haridwar for pilgrims and day-trip visitors who want a comfortable base close to the ghats and the railway station.
Check rates →Pride Elite Haridwar
Haridwar
A modern mid-range hotel in Haridwar, a comfortable base for families and business travellers who want standard hotel facilities.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Half Day Rafting in RishikeshStay
Aloha On The GangesGanges riverside
Do
Triveni Ghat Ganga Aarti and Old Town WalkStay
Hari Ganga Niwas HaridwarHar Ki Pauri
Do
Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)Stay
SKI Rishikesh by Hotel SK InternationalRishikesh town
Rishikesh & Haridwar guides
First Time in Rishikesh: What to Book, Where to Go and How Many Days
A first-timer's plan for Rishikesh and Haridwar: how to get there, what to book ahead, the rules of a holy town, and a realistic shape for two, three or four days.
Where to Stay in Rishikesh and Haridwar: Riverside, Tapovan or Haridwar
A neighbourhood guide to staying in Rishikesh and Haridwar: Laxman Jhula and Tapovan, riverside resorts, town hotels and a night near Har Ki Pauri.
Rishikesh in Three Days: Rapids, Ashrams and a Day in Haridwar
A three-day plan for Rishikesh that balances rafting, ashrams, the evening aarti, a sunrise trek and a day in Haridwar, with options to swap in a safari or a food walk.
Eating in Rishikesh: Vegetarian Street Food, Sattvic Meals and Chai
A guide to eating in Rishikesh and Haridwar: the vegetarian rules, street food to try, sattvic and ayurvedic meals, sweets, drinks and tips for staying well.
Best Time to Visit Rishikesh: Seasons, Rafting Window and Festivals
When to visit Rishikesh and Haridwar: the cool season, summer heat, the monsoon closures, the rafting window, safari season and the festival calendar.
Rafting in Rishikesh: Rapids, Stretches, Safety and What to Book
Everything to know before rafting the Ganges at Rishikesh: stretch lengths, rapids, season, age limits, safety checks, what to wear and how to choose an operator.
