Camping in Rishikesh
Fifty-plus camps on the Ganga. Most of them are mediocre. Here are the ones that are actually worth your money, what they include, and what they conveniently forget to mention.
By Amit · · 8+ visits to Rishikesh
Why Rishikesh camping is different from anywhere else
You're not camping in a field. You're camping on a sandy beach beside the Ganga as it exits the Himalayas. The water is emerald green, 8-16 degrees Celsius depending on the month, and fast enough that the sound of rapids is your background noise all night. On the other side of the river are Siwalik hills covered in sal forests. Above you, on a clear night between October and February, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye.
The camping industry in Rishikesh is built around a simple package: you arrive at noon, do some adventure activities (usually rafting), eat dinner around a bonfire, sleep in a tent, eat breakfast, and leave by 10 AM. Every camp runs this cycle. The difference between a ₹1,500 camp and a ₹3,500 camp is the tent quality, the food, the toilet situation, and how many activities are bundled in.
The bonfire is the real draw. After a day on the river, you sit around a fire on a Himalayan river beach with strangers who become temporary friends, eat food that tastes better than it has any right to, and stare at stars you've never seen from a city. No phone signal. No laptop. Just fire, river, and mountains. That's the pitch, and honestly, it delivers.
Riverside camping under Himalayan stars — the Milky Way is visible on clear winter nights at Byasi
Three areas, three very different vibes
All camps are on the Ganga, but distance from Rishikesh town changes the experience dramatically.
Shivpuri
Most PopularThe default camping zone. Eighty percent of Rishikesh campers end up here, and for good reason — it's the rafting launch point for the most popular 16 km route, the beach is wide, and you're close enough to town for a quick auto ride back. The downside: it gets loud on weekends. Groups of 20+ from Delhi with portable speakers are not uncommon.
First-timers, groups combining camping with rafting, anyone who wants a social atmosphere
High (Oct-Nov weekends), Moderate (weekdays)
Byasi
Quieter AlternativeDeeper into the valley, past Shivpuri, on a narrower stretch of the Ganga. Fewer camps means fewer crowds. The river runs faster here and the canyon walls are closer — you actually feel like you're in the mountains, not at a party. Most camps here are slightly more expensive because the transport cost is higher and the land is harder to maintain.
Couples, small groups wanting peace, people who've done Shivpuri before
Low-Moderate year-round
Ghattugad / Marine Drive
Remote & RawThe furthest upstream you can camp commercially. This is where the 24 km Marine Drive rafting route starts, and the Grade IV rapids (The Wall, Return to Sender) are nearby. The camps here are fewer, more basic, and genuinely isolated — no phone signal at most spots. If you want the 'middle of nowhere beside a Himalayan river' feeling, this is it.
Experienced campers, adventure seekers, people who want zero phone signal for 24 hours
Low always
The bonfire is the real draw — dinner tastes better when you can hear the river and see the stars
8 camps we'd actually recommend
Real prices, real inclusions, real opinions. We've stayed at or visited all of these. Sorted by area, then by price.
Camp Crossfire
Shivpuri- +3 meals + unlimited chai
- +16 km rafting (Shivpuri route)
- +Rappelling (40 ft cliff)
- +Volleyball & badminton
- +Bonfire with music
- -Bungee jumping (separate, ₹3,550 at Jumpin Heights)
- -ATV rides (₹500-800 extra)
- -GoPro footage (₹500)
Groups of 6-10 who want maximum activities for the money
Ask for tents on the upper terrace, not the ones near the kitchen. The kitchen crew starts clanging pots at 5:30 AM and you will wake up whether you want to or not.
Aqua Forest Camp
Shivpuri- +3 meals (better quality than average — actual paneer, not soy chunks)
- +16 km rafting
- +Cliff jumping stop
- +Swiss cottage tents with mattress
- +Bonfire + music system
- -Zip-line (₹600)
- -Body surfing (₹400)
- -Extra snacks/drinks
People who want a slightly nicer tent without paying luxury prices
Their Swiss cottage tents are genuinely better than the standard dome tents at most camps — taller ceilings, proper bedding, attached toilet. Worth the ₹500 premium over Camp Crossfire if you care about sleep quality.
Red Chilli Adventure Camp
Shivpuri- +3 meals + chai
- +9 km rafting (Brahmapuri route)
- +Volleyball
- +Bonfire (no music system — speakers are BYOB)
- +Dome tents with sleeping bags
- -Upgrade to 16 km Shivpuri rafting (₹400 extra)
- -Sleeping bag liner (₹100)
- -Any adventure activity beyond rafting
Budget travelers, solo backpackers, anyone who just needs a tent and a river
The cheapest legit camp in Shivpuri. The catch: the base package includes the 9 km Brahmapuri rafting, not the 16 km Shivpuri route. Pay the ₹400 upgrade — Brahmapuri is too mild to be memorable. Total still comes out cheaper than most competitors.
Camp Wild Expedition
Shivpuri- +3 meals + evening snacks
- +16 km rafting
- +Rappelling + cliff jumping
- +Nature walk (morning, 1 hr)
- +Luxury tents with attached washroom
- -Kayaking session (₹800)
- -Bungee/Giant Swing (separate booking)
- -Late checkout after 10 AM
Couples and families wanting comfort without going full glamping
They run a morning nature walk along the ridge above camp that most guests skip because they're hungover. Don't skip it — the views of the Ganga valley at 6:30 AM are the best thing about this camp, and you'll have the trail to yourself.
Camp Rapid Fire
Byasi- +3 meals + bonfire snacks
- +16 km rafting
- +Body surfing session
- +Bonfire with guitars (no DJ system)
- +Dome tents on raised platforms
- -Kayaking (₹700)
- -Transport from Rishikesh (₹300 per person, or ₹150 if group of 4+)
- -Any Rishikesh town activities
People who want camp vibes without the weekend party chaos
Byasi is 25 km from Rishikesh, not 16 like Shivpuri. Some camps quote pricing 'from Rishikesh' and then charge transport extra — Camp Rapid Fire is upfront about the ₹300 transport, but ask before you book anywhere in Byasi. The body surfing here is better than Shivpuri because the current is stronger and the pools are deeper.
Jungle Camps
Marine Drive- +3 meals (cooked on-site, not pre-packed)
- +24 km Marine Drive rafting
- +Bonfire
- +Jungle walk with guide
- +Canvas tents with cots
- -Sleeping bag (₹150 rental)
- -Transport from Rishikesh (₹500 — it's 35 km)
- -Any non-rafting adventure activities
People who want genuine isolation and don't mind basic facilities
This is the most remote commercial camp on the Rishikesh stretch. No phone signal, no WiFi, no nearby shops. The 24 km rafting included in the price is worth ₹1,800-2,500 on its own, so the camping portion is essentially ₹700-1,000 — incredible value if you were going to do the Marine Drive route anyway.
Camp Footloose
Shivpuri- +3 meals + unlimited chai + evening pakoras
- +16 km rafting
- +Zip-line (200 m)
- +Volleyball + cricket
- +Bonfire + music
- -Bungee jumping
- -ATV ride (₹600)
- -Early check-in before 12 PM
College groups, corporate outings, anyone who wants the classic Rishikesh camp experience
The zip-line included in their package is the 200-meter one over the river — it's not the Jumpin Heights one (that's 1 km and costs ₹3,550 separately). Still a decent zip-line, and it's free with stay. The evening pakoras are a nice touch that most camps don't offer.
Rendezvous Camp
Byasi- +3 meals (quality is noticeably better — surprisingly good paneer dishes, fresh rotis, and proper sabzi)
- +16 km rafting
- +Cliff jumping
- +Stargazing session (clear skies at Byasi)
- +Premium tents with attached washroom
- -Transport from Rishikesh (₹400)
- -Kayaking (₹800)
- -Extra night (₹1,200)
Couples, anniversary trips, anyone willing to pay more for better food and quieter nights
The stargazing is real — Byasi has minimal light pollution and on a clear winter night you can see the Milky Way with your naked eyes. They provide a basic telescope. October-February is best for stargazing; summer haze reduces visibility. Book a weekday if you're a couple — weekends attract groups and the romance factor drops significantly.
What's actually in a “camping package”
MMeals (almost always included)
- Lunch on arrival — dal, rice, sabzi, roti. Functional, not fancy.
- Evening chai + snacks — Maggi, pakoras, or biscuits depending on the camp.
- Dinner — the best meal. Paneer/chicken, dal, rice, roti, salad. Cooked on-site. Tastes incredible by the bonfire.
- Breakfast — paratha, poha, or bread-omelette. Chai is unlimited at every camp worth visiting.
AActivities (varies by camp)
- Rafting — 9 or 16 km route, usually included. Confirm which route before booking.
- Cliff jumping — included as part of the rafting stop (20-25 ft).
- Bonfire — every camp has one. Some provide music systems, some have guitars, some have neither.
- Volleyball / badminton — most camps have a net set up on the beach.
$What costs extra (always)
Bungee jumping — ₹3,550 at Jumpin Heights. No camp includes this. It's a separate facility 15 km away.
ATV / quad biking — ₹500-800 for 15-30 minutes. Available at Shivpuri camps. Fun but overpriced.
Zip-line (long) — ₹600-1,000. The short zip-lines (100-200 m) at some camps are free. The 1 km one at Jumpin Heights is ₹2,500.
GoPro footage — ₹500-800 for rafting video. The kayaker films you. Honestly worth it for the rapid shots.
What to bring (and what to leave behind)
PPack This
- Warm layers — a fleece or hoodie minimum. Even in October, nights drop to 10-12C by the river. December-February you need a proper jacket.
- Headlamp / torch — camp paths are unlit after 10 PM. Walking to the toilet in the dark on a rocky riverbank is not fun. Your phone torch dies fast.
- Insect repellent — Odomos or Good Knight patches. Mosquitoes near the river are aggressive at dusk. The bonfire smoke helps but doesn't eliminate them.
- Power bank — most tents don't have charging points. A 10,000 mAh bank is enough for one night.
- Personal toiletries — toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, sunscreen. Camps provide soap at best. Don't expect shampoo, towels, or anything you'd find in a hotel.
- Plastic bags — for wet clothes after rafting, dirty laundry, and keeping your phone dry during transport to the rafting point.
XLeave Behind
- Expensive jewelry — rings, chains, watches. Between rafting and the river beach, there are a dozen ways to lose them. Every camp operator has stories about engagement rings at the bottom of the Ganga.
- Laptop — there's no WiFi, no charging, and sand gets everywhere. If you're bringing a laptop to a riverside camp, you're missing the point.
- White or expensive clothes — river sand stains permanently. Wear dark, expendable clothes for rafting and anything outdoors.
- Bluetooth speakers — please. The river and the bonfire crackling is the soundtrack. Nobody at the neighboring tent wants to hear your Bollywood playlist at midnight.
- Heels or fancy shoes — you're on a sandy riverbank with rocks. Flip-flops or sports sandals are fine for camp. Strapped sandals for rafting.
How to book without getting ripped off
Common questions, honest answers
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