Whitewater Rafting

Rafting in Kashmir happens on snowmelt rivers: the Lidder at Pahalgam and the Sindh near Sonamarg. Most stretches are gentle to moderate, which makes them a good first rafting trip for families with older children.

Where you can raft

In Pahalgam, rafting points along the Lidder run short stretches of the valley below town, with pine forest on both banks. Near Sonamarg, the Sindh is colder and a little faster in places. Both are run by local operators who provide the raft, a guide and the safety gear.

What the water is like

Most runs are mild to moderate, with a few lively rapids and calm stretches in between. The water is highest and coldest in May and June as the snow melts, still good in July and August, and lower by late September. Operators stop rafting after heavy rain, when the river turns muddy and fast.

Safety and what to wear

• A life jacket and helmet are provided. Wear them properly and listen to the guide's briefing.
• You will get wet. Wear quick-drying clothes, and keep a full change of dry clothes in the car.
• Put phones and wallets in a dry bag or leave them with the driver.
• Operators set their own minimum age. Younger children usually wait on the bank and watch.

Fitting it into your trip

A run takes about an hour, including kitting up. The easiest way to fit it in is an afternoon in Pahalgam after a morning in the valleys. Rafting is paid at the rafting point and is not included in the package price, so you can decide on the day once you have seen the river.

Ask our Srinagar team to add Whitewater Rafting to any Kashmir package. Some activities are seasonal, so tell us your month.

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