Rafting Grades

Worldwide rafting grades are classified according to International Grading System & standards. Basically all the white water rapids are classified into 6 categories. Class I is considered to be the easiest and Class VI the toughest. These grades showcase the challenge and strength each of them commands. The Grade –VI is sometimes lowered to Grade –V or V+ if it has been run a several times before. Tougher grades are often portaged meaning the boat has to be carried around the hazard.

A rapids grade depends on the depth of water and the speed. Some rapids are easy to cross at high speed whereas some are remain totally washed out due to heights. During floods when the river is turbulent even the simplest rapid can be lethal. At these times the rapids can be hazardous.

Below is the classification of the grades

• Grade I: The rough patches are short and no special skills are required. No previous rafting experience is required.

• Class 2: The maneuvering comes in here as there is a little amount of roughness in the water here. You should know basic paddling.

• Class 3: The level of water gets better here. You can expect 3-5 feet drops but the real thing is yet to come. You do need to be a little more than just comfortable with paddling.

• Class 4: Here you can get the drift of actual rafting. Lots of white water, big waves, rocky terrains and a drop which is attention grabbing. Previous white water experience is helpful here.

• Class 5: This has everything from large rocky waves to hazardous rapids. Expect a massive drop and precise control. Previous white water experience is a must here.

• Class 6: This one has everything but also has some unseen dangers which give it the last classification. There are chances of you hurting yourself. This grade is dangerous you have to be an expert to do it.

Qualifications/requirements for each grade

If you are afraid of water you’d never be able to raft. But if you are a person with good health and are fearless to be in water then you can definitely give rafting a shot. Rafting is a sport which can be learnt in a few hours. There are several Adventure Tourism companies which offer rafting tours and even train you.

If you are a beginner you should start of with Grade II or III trip. If paddleboat scares you, you can choose to take a boat with oars. For the

confident, healthy and adventurous people, a class IV river is great even if they have no prior rafting experience. You will get training in safety and paddling techniques. For al grades above VI you need prior experience.

Destinations for every grade

Grade I – The Indus

Grade II – The Indus, Uptshi Khalsi Run, Beas River

Grade III – Uptshi Khalsi Run, Spiktuk-Saspol Run, Zanskar River, Phey-Nimu route

Grade IV – Teesta River

, Zanskar river, Phey-Nimu route

Grade V – Zanskar River

Grade VI – Brahmaputra River, Kali River

All these River Rafting grades and the destinations tell you that you will be spoilt for choice. As the level of rafting goes notches up and you start enjoying it more. Rafting is exciting and rafting is addictive. And you realize it once you take up more challenging rapids. The skill required to maneuver through gorges and the highs you get when you drop from a few feet is a feeling that cannot be forgotten. But as you proceed to higher grades the risks also double. You are more prone to damaging you limbs. But that is what rafting is all about. To push yourself and be safe even while you are surrounded by white water and big rapids.

9 rafting destinations for beginners in India

An escapade which is not very old in India, River rafting as an adventure sport has gained loads of popularity. Some rivers are for those who love rapids that churn the water and stomach. Lovers for rafting will love these destinations.

This water sport has been the mainstay for the foreign tourists. On the other hand Indians have adapted this sport very quickly with so much of gusto. For beginners, the thrill of floating in the rivers can be the best enjoyed experience. When you are on the waters, you perform this sport with some easy rapids. India has a large number of rivers and teemingness of locations that are perfect for white water rafting. India offers some numerous rivers, calling you to unwind with its glorious riverbeds and waters. River like Alaknanda, Ganga, kali, Bhagirathi, Kameng, Zanskar, Brahmputra, Indus, Tons, Lohit etc are ideal for first time rafters.

Here are the rafting destinations for first time rafters.

Series of varied rapids with grades for 1 to 4 at regular intervals.

River Rafting on Teesta River, Sikkim, Darjeeling: You will traverse down the rough and rutted mountain river. River Teesta offers a Rivers of Alakananda, Kaudiyala – Shivpuri: You will be rafting with the route, where you will meet with the deep, tranquil pools. The famous rapids are "3 Blind Mice, Black Money, Return to Centre, and Roller Coaster". Kaudiyala is above the road to Deoprayag. It is more craggy and tranquil than Shivpuri.

River Rafting on Zanskar River: Zanskar river rafting is performed between Padum and Nimo regions. Here you will be traversing through the Zanskar Mountain ranges and perform small roller coastal rapids.

Tehri-Shivpuri (Bhagirathi/Alaknanda): The Tehri - Shivpuri flow on the Bhagirathi/Alaknanda River has a Grade III. Take a help of guide for rafting.

River Rafting in Garhwal, Uttaranchal:

Rafting Garhwal can be the best place for beginners. There are water spprt resorts Asan Barrage, Dakpathar in the Dehradun district, set at the base of the Shiwaliks and on the banks of river Yamuna. In these rivers you raft with some rapids and grade starting from 1 to 3 with the

help of trained rafters.

River Rafting on Brahmaputra River, Arunachal Pradesh: One of the largest rivers in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra River descends down across Tibet into the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh will let you experience the exciting rafting trip for the beginners.

The Bhagirathi River Rafting: This River raft down with the lower Bhagirathi gorge, where you can use Grades III and IV with various rapids like “The Chute”, “Elephant rock”, “Sharp S”, “Confluence rapids” etc. You will meet the conflux with the Alaknanda at Devprayag to form the Ganga.

River Rafting in Ladakh ,Jammu & Kashmir: Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir is the best options for learners. Whitewater is on the Indus between Spituk and Saspol. The glacial cold and Clear River have rapids usually of I and II grades. These routes also run to Indus Zanskar.

Kali Sarda River, Kumaon, Uttarakhand: One of the ideal options for first time rafters is river Kali Sarda. The Kali Sarda River provides some classic Grade IV rafting exalts. Explore the wood land around Kaldhunga through a gorge with breathtaking grade III rapids.

Tons Valley Rafting

The Tons valley is a remote area and has a culture unlike any other in the region. The villagers in the Tons valley are believed to be descendents of the Pandavas and Kauravas from the epic Mahabharata. It also has some uncommon traditions such as that of polygamy.
Ever thought you would raft in white water set in some incredible high scenery? Tons river River Rafting is what you are looking for. A next level water rafting experience awaits as we run several rapids ranging from Class III to Class IV+/V, with whitewater sections separated by maybe a hundred yards or less of flat water.

The rafting begins from Gyunhatti and stretches 90 km up to Ichhari. The consistency of white water in this long patch makes it one of the best white water rafting experiences in the world today. Tons river is divided in "Upper", "Middle" and "Lower" sections. Since the "Upper Tons" section is not fit for rafting, people start their rafting expeditions from the Middle sections. On the Middle Tons between Lunagad and Tiuni, the river drops at an average rate of 32 feet per kilometer. This includes a drop of 78 feet/kilometer over the last three and a half kilometers before Tiuni. You don't need to imagine the mind boggling high that you would get while doing those lows amidst beautiful mountains and breathtaking sceneries.
As we go lower than Tiuni, we encounter a series of Class III+ rapids, follo

wed by Afterglow, Channel Rapid, Pillow talk, Thrice Bitten, Deadly Dedsu before we reach the bridge at Atal. There are several Class 3 rapids on the way after which we flow into a gorge where we tackle the Lone Ranger, Three Musketeers, and the Roaring Bagni.
Sliding lower, the land assumes a gentler and more tropical rhythm from the alpine valley near the base camp. The gorge splits open at the bridge near Minus and the river flows gently for the next 7 km till we reach Major Surprise, the biggest rapid. Major Surprise is followed by a series of big rapids before the river flattens out again near the dam at Icchari.