Complete Kayak Coursein Rishikesh
One week, seven mornings, from your first capsize to leading yourself down Class III whitewater. You'll learn the combat roll, eddy hopping and how to scout a rapid, and you'll get video feedback after every session.
₹2,999/dayper person
₹20,993 for the full 7 days
- Duration
- 7 days
- Grade
- Up to Class III
- Group
- 2-5 per instructor
- Route
- Marine Drive → NIM Beach
- Season
- Mid-September to end of June
Overview
What the course covers
This is our longest course and the one most of our returning paddlers started with. In seven mornings it takes you from your first wet exit to a final trip down Class III water where you choose every line and your instructor follows behind. After this course you can go kayaking without a school.
The first half builds the foundations slowly: how to capsize and get out, how to steer, how to read current, and then the two skills every river runner uses all the time, eddy turns and ferries. The Eskimo roll gets most of a morning to itself, first in still water and then in a gentle flow.
From day five the water gets harder. On Class II+ the eddies are smaller and the current is faster, so you learn to hop down a rapid from eddy to eddy and to read the hydraulics before you're in them. Day six brings Class III and the combat roll: rolling up in foaming water when you've been knocked over unexpectedly. Before running the Class III rapid, you walk the bank and scout it the way experienced kayakers do.
On the seventh morning there's no lesson. You run the river from Marine Drive toward Shivpuri and make the decisions yourself. You finish with a certificate and the skills to keep paddling.
Why is each day ₹500 cheaper than on the 4-day course? The slower pace lets us teach a wider mix of people per group, and the extra days give the roll time to sink in, which is usually the hardest part. The full week costs ₹20,993 per person.
Day by day
Itinerary
- 1
Day 1 — Strokes, steering and the wet exit
Riverbank lesson on the boat, the paddle, posture and how a river moves. Then flat water for steering practice and wet exits until capsizing doesn't bother you.
- 2
Day 2 — Into the current
First time on moving water. You'll see how rocks make eddies and learn to work with the flow instead of fighting it. You'll do wet exits in mild current and make your first attempts at the roll in a calm pocket.
- 3
Day 3 — Eddies, ferries and a first Class II
A full session on eddy turns and ferries. In the afternoon you run your first Class II rapid, with the instructor in front and the safety kayaker behind. The video review looks closely at your lean and paddle angle.
- 4
Day 4 — A morning for the roll
The whole morning is roll practice, first in still water and then in a gentle current. Most students have a reliable flat-water roll by noon. In the afternoon you run a longer Class II section and pick your own way down.
- 5
Day 5 — Class II+ and reading water
Faster current and tighter eddies. You'll practise eddy hopping down a rapid and ferrying in strong flow. Your instructor sets a route and you paddle it without any coaching on the way down.
- 6
Day 6 — Class III and the combat roll
The hardest day of the week. In the morning you practise the combat roll in Class II+ water. In the afternoon you scout a Class III rapid from the bank, then run it with your guide. Afterwards we talk through when to run a rapid and when to walk it.
- 7
Day 7 — You lead the river
A final trip on mixed Class II and III water from Marine Drive toward Shivpuri. You scout, choose lines and recover from any capsize, while your instructor follows instead of leading. You get your certificate at the end.
Good to know
When classes run
8–11 AM in summer and 9 AM–12 PM in winter. Each day's video review is part of the course.
Clothes
Shorts or leggings that dry fast, a T-shirt or rash vest, and sandals or water shoes. We hand out wet suits in winter.
Fitness and swimming
You don't need kayaking experience. You do need basic swimming and reasonable fitness, because days five to seven are tiring.
After you finish
Graduates can join our guided Class III river days or take the advanced course. Plenty come back every season just to paddle.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Which kayak course should I choose, 4 days or 7 days?
If you want a taste of whitewater and to run Class II water by yourself, the 4-day course is enough. If you want to reach Class III, learn the combat roll and come back later to paddle on your own, take the 7 days. The longer course is also the better choice if you expect the roll to take you a while.
Can I learn kayaking in Rishikesh with no experience?
Yes. Both courses start on dry land with how to sit, hold the paddle and get out of an upside-down boat. Nobody touches moving water until they're comfortable on flat water.
What time do classes start?
Mornings, for 3–4 hours. We start at 8 AM in the summer months and at 9 AM in winter, when the water is colder.
Where do I stay during the course?
Stay isn't part of the price. Most students book a guesthouse in Tapovan near our office; expect ₹400–₹1,500 a night. We pick you up from the office each morning.
Is swimming required for kayaking?
You need to be comfortable in water and able to swim a little. You'll wear a Type V life jacket the whole time, so you won't sink, but you will end up in the river during wet-exit practice.
Get on the water
Small groups,
limited spots.
Pick a course and you'll book and pay securely on Sea Hawk Adventures, our parent company. Questions first? Call or WhatsApp us.
Book your course
Booking and payment open on seahawkadventures.com.
- Basic Kayak Course4 days · Up to Class II₹3,499/day
- Complete Kayak Course7 days · Up to Class III₹2,999/day
- Kayak Expedition2N / 3D · Grade II – IIIFrom ₹25,000
Accommodation and meals are not included in the courses. The expedition needs at least two days of prior instruction.