Manali is blessed by the holy presence of the Beas River. Beas flows year around and starts from Beas Kund, which is around 13,000 feet high and is also a trekking destination.
Although the water flow decreases in the months of the winter, specifically October and November, the rafting is done round the year. During Monsoon, the possibility of a flood stops this activity.
River rafting is one of the most memorable experiences every participant of the Invincible Trekking Camps carries with. The activity is not included in the package and costs around 300 Rupees per head, which is a subsidized amount, especially for Invincible Participants.
Whether it be a summer or winter snow trekking camp, the team takes the participants to the rafting point on their last day at Manali. The bus/tempo travelers stop at the starting point and then receive them from the rafting endpoint. There are 2 types of rafting done in Manali: Short Rides, which are 3 km, and Long Rides which is 7 to 9 km. We go for the long rides only.
The feel and the thrill of this activity is incredible. The first splash of the cold water literally shakes everyone on the raft. It is like the first round of ice breakers, after which you are all set to face the adventure thrill.
The experienced and certified guide first brief the participants about the safety measures and basic Code of Conduct. They are also aware of the Dos and Don'ts and then take them to the raft. The rafts are mainly made of rubber kind of fabric and are inflated ones. The maximum capacity of a raft would be around 7 to 8 people.
Here is the video of River rafting in Manali. Feel the thrill!
There are multiple agencies available in Manali that offer rafting. The average rate would be 1000 Rupees per head. You can bargain with them to get good rates.
Gather Memories
Rafting is something that is full of joy, thrill, excitement, and reactions. This is something very unique which you would do with your friends. The raft man would ask you if you want a GoPro recording of your journey. They may charge you 100 extra per head for that, but to me, that is worth it!
I could not resist sharing one old video, recorded on my mobile back in April 2016.
This 9 km ride makes you forget the temperature and you just dive into this pool of happiness.