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Route · The grand expedition

Kaudiyala Rafting in Rishikesh — 36 km Grand Expedition

The Ganga’s longest commercial run. Put-in upstream of Marine Drive, 36 km carrying the corridor’s biggest rapids down to NIM Beach — for experienced rafters and thrill seekers who want the full day, doubled.

  • Distance36 km
  • Duration4–5 h water
  • RapidsGrade II–IV set
  • GradeIII–IV
  • Min age16
  • From₹2,500 / pax
Rafters paddling a sustained whitewater rapid on the long Kaudiyala stretch of the Ganga near Rishikesh

Kaudiyala is the grand expedition — the longest commercial rafting run on the Rishikesh Ganga at 36 kilometres, put-in well upstream of Marine Drive and ending, like every route here, at NIM Beach. Because it starts furthest up the river, the Kaudiyala run carries the entire Marine Drive and Shivpuri rapid corridor downstream and adds the quieter upstream water on top. It is roughly half a day more river than the 24 km Marine Drive expedition. Grade III-IV water, ages 16 and up, four to five hours on the water.

This is not the route most people book first. If you want a real first trip, the Shivpuri 14 km half-day is the classic. If you want the gentlest run, the Brahmpuri 7 km family route takes ages 12+. If you want the standard full-day, that is Marine Drive, 24 km. Kaudiyala is what you book when you have done the corridor and want the most river a single day can hold. Our planning page compares every route side by side.

Who Kaudiyala is for

  • Experienced rafters who want the longest run available. If Marine Drive felt right and you wanted it to keep going, Kaudiyala is the answer.
  • Thrill seekers chasing the biggest day on the Ganga. 36 km sustains the corridor’s Grade IV rapids across a full day rather than a half.
  • Adventure groups celebrating something big. Birthdays, reunions, bachelor trips — the grand expedition gives the day real weight.
  • Fitness-active travellers 16+ in good health. The length is the challenge; come prepared to paddle hard through long rapid sequences.
  • Returning rafters who want a new line. Even if you know Marine Drive, the upstream Kaudiyala water is river you have not run.

The Kaudiyala experience

The put-in sits high up the corridor at Kaudiyala, a long drive upstream from Rishikesh town. The first stretch is the quietest of the day — wide, open water that gives the crew unusually long to settle in, learn the paddle commands, and read the guide before the river starts asking questions. On the grand run you get a proper warm-up, which the half-day routes never afford.

Then the corridor’s big rapids arrive in sequence as the river drops toward Marine Drive. The Wall is the first real test. Three Blind Mice follows — the Grade IV trio of consecutive drops that don’t give the crew time to recover between hits. Cross Fire brings cross-currents that make holding the line genuinely hard, and Return to Sender keeps the pressure on. By now you are deep into the day and the raft is working as a unit.

The middle of the run carries the famous Shivpuri-corridor rapids: Roller Coaster, the sustained Grade IV wave-train that the half-day routes treat as their headline, here arrives as one feature among many. Golf Course opens wide with multiple lines; Club House tightens into a technical channel. Most operators stop at a safe beach midway for 20 to 30 minutes — sunscreen, water, and a designated body-surfing pool for anyone who wants to float.

The back half runs Double Trouble and the final push through Hilton before NIM Beach (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering ghat) arrives by mid-to-late afternoon. Total water time: four to five hours. You come off the river having done the most the Ganga offers in a day — and you feel every kilometre of it.

Rapids you'll hit on Kaudiyala

#RapidGradeWhat it does
1The WallIII+First real test — a wall of water hits the raft
2Three Blind MiceIVThree consecutive drops with no recovery between
3Cross FireIIICross-currents test steering and the line
4Return to SenderIIISustained rapid that keeps the crew working
5Roller CoasterIVThe famous wave-train — biggest single feature
6Golf CourseIIIWide rapid with multiple lines through
7Club HouseIIITight technical channel, less margin for error
8Double TroubleIIITwo consecutive drops in quick succession
9HiltonIIIFinal big push into NIM Beach

The Kaudiyala run carries the corridor’s full rapid set because it starts furthest upstream — the same rapids the Marine Drive and Shivpuri routes are built around, run end-to-end in one day, plus the quieter upper-Kaudiyala water near the put-in. The rapid order shifts with season as water levels change.

What's included

On every Kaudiyala trip booked through RaftingX:

  • Certified rafting guide experienced on the full-length run
  • Certified whitewater life jacket (ISI-marked), helmet, T-grip paddle
  • Safety kayaker shadowing the raft through the Grade IV rapids
  • GPS-tracked trip
  • Basic GoPro footage delivered the same evening
  • Operator transport between the Rishikesh meet-point and the upstream Kaudiyala put-in

What to bring (the full kit guide lives on our planning page):

  • Quick-dry shorts or sport leggings, snug synthetic t-shirt
  • Sports sandals with heel + ankle straps (no flip-flops)
  • Sunglasses with retainer strap
  • Sunscreen SPF 50, lip balm with SPF
  • Complete change of clothes sealed in a plastic bag
  • Energy snacks and water for the full day, cash for tip and photographer
  • One photo ID

What's typically extra: premium photographer, beach-lunch upgrade, cliff-jump add-on (where conditions permit), riverside camping combo, hotel pickup from outside Rishikesh town.

Safety on Kaudiyala

  • Every operator on the route is RaftingX-verified — Uttarakhand Tourism permit, gear age and condition, guide credentials, briefing protocol, kayaker availability, and GPS infrastructure all checked.
  • Safety kayaker shadow through Three Blind Mice, Roller Coaster, and every Grade IV drop — fast rescue if a rafter goes in over a long day.
  • GPS-tracked trip — your family can follow the full-length run in real-time.
  • Certified whitewater life jackets (ISI-marked) are mandatory and trained guides handle swift-water rescue. No swimming required.

Read our full safety standards →

Price and operators

Kaudiyala rafting through RaftingX starts at ₹2,500 per person across verified operators on the platform — higher than the half-day routes because of the full-day length and the longer transport to the upstream put-in. The final quote depends on group size, day of week, and add-ons (premium photographer, beach lunch, cliff jump where included, hotel pickup outside Rishikesh). Standard inclusion covers gear, certified guide, safety kayaker, GPS-tracked trip, and basic GoPro footage.

Standard inclusion: gear, certified guide, safety kayaker, GPS-tracked trip, basic GoPro footage, and operator transport between the Rishikesh meet-point and the Kaudiyala put-in.

Group rates available for 8 or more rafters. Corporate offsite buyers booking 20 to 200: see our corporate offsite page for the dedicated package.

Treat very cheap full-day quotes with suspicion. A genuine 36 km run costs more to operate — longer transport, a full-day guide and kayaker, gear maintained across the whole corridor. The platform price is what you actually pay, fully accounted, with every operator verified end-to-end.

Ready for the grand expedition? WhatsApp the platform with your date and group size — verified operators equipped for the full 36 km run only.

Book Kaudiyala on WhatsApp→

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Kaudiyala 36 km rafting trip take?

Plan a full day. Kaudiyala is the longest commercial stretch on the Rishikesh Ganga — roughly 4 to 5 hours on the water plus an hour of overhead (briefing, transport to the upstream put-in, post-trip transfer back). Most operators launch mid-morning and reach NIM Beach by mid-to-late afternoon.

Is Kaudiyala suitable for first-time rafters?

It is the most demanding of the standard routes, so it is not the usual first-timer choice. The 36 km run sustains Grade III-IV intensity far longer than the half-day routes. First-timers wanting a real challenge are better served by Shivpuri (14 km), and families by Brahmpuri (7 km). If you are 16+, fit, and want the grand expedition as your first trip, it is possible — but go in prepared for a long, physical day.

What is the minimum age for Kaudiyala rafting?

16 years and older. The sustained Grade III-IV water and full-day length make it unsuitable for younger rafters. For 14+, see Shivpuri; for 12+, see Brahmpuri.

How is Kaudiyala different from Marine Drive?

Kaudiyala is the longer parent of Marine Drive. The Kaudiyala put-in sits upstream of Marine Drive, so the 36 km run includes the entire Marine Drive stretch and its rapids plus additional upstream water — about 50% more river than the 24 km Marine Drive expedition. If Marine Drive is the full day, Kaudiyala is the grand day.

What rapids will I hit on Kaudiyala?

The 36 km run carries the corridor’s big-name rapids as it flows down through the Marine Drive and Shivpuri stretches — The Wall, Daniel’s Dip, Three Blind Mice, Cross Fire, Return to Sender, Roller Coaster, Golf Course, Club House, Double Trouble and Hilton — plus the quieter upstream Kaudiyala water near the put-in. Grades range from II to IV. Exact rapid order shifts with season and water level.

How much does Kaudiyala rafting cost?

Kaudiyala rafting starts at ₹2,500 per person through verified operators on the platform — higher than the half-day routes because of the full-day length and longer transport to the upstream put-in. The final quote depends on group size, day of week, and add-ons (premium photographer, beach lunch, cliff jump where included, hotel pickup outside Rishikesh). Standard inclusion covers gear, certified guide, safety kayaker, GPS-tracked trip, and basic GoPro footage.

When is the best time for the Kaudiyala expedition?

September to November (post-monsoon, high water, biggest waves) and March to May (warm weather, steady flow) are the prime windows for the long run. December to February is properly cold for a full day on the water — dress for it. The river is closed during the monsoon (July to mid-September) by Uttarakhand government order.

Do I need to know swimming for Kaudiyala?

No. Certified whitewater life jackets (ISI-marked) are mandatory and your guide is swift-water rescue trained, with a safety kayaker shadowing the raft through the Grade IV rapids. Most Rishikesh rafters have never swum a stroke. The pre-trip briefing covers the float technique.

Is the Kaudiyala trip very tiring?

It is the most physical of the standard routes — 4 to 5 hours on the water asks more of you than the half-day runs. You will paddle hard through the rapid sequences and rest through the flat stretches between them. Come hydrated, fed, and reasonably fit, and the length becomes the point rather than the problem.

How do I book Kaudiyala rafting?

WhatsApp the platform with your date, group size, and that you want the Kaudiyala 36 km expedition. Fair-rotation matches you with the next-available verified operator equipped for the full run. Pay via UPI, card, or cash through Razorpay — your booking is GPS-tracked from launch.

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