October is one of the best months of the year for camping in Rishikesh. The monsoon has gone, the camps have just reopened, the forests are still green, the waterfalls are still running and the nights are cool enough for a bonfire without being cold. It is also festival season, so the long weekends fill fast. This guide covers the weather at the camps (not just in town), the exact October 2026 festival dates, crowd levels, prices and what to pack, from a team that runs its own camps at Goolar and Shivpuri.
Yes, and for first-timers it is arguably the best. Here is why October works so well, and the two things to watch.
Compared with other months: November is cooler and quieter, December to February are cold at night (around 5°C at camps), and March to June are hot by day but best for big rafting water. Our month-by-month guide compares the whole year.
October averages in Rishikesh are about 28°C by day and 16°C at night, with roughly 18 mm of rain over 2 days. Camps in the valleys are 2–4°C cooler at night than town, and the change from the start to the end of the month is noticeable.
| Period | Day (town) | Night at camp | Rain | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 October | 29–31°C | 17–20°C | Occasional late shower | Warm, humid afternoons; T-shirt evenings |
| 11–20 October | 28–30°C | 15–18°C | Mostly dry | Clear skies, crisp mornings |
| 21–31 October | 26–28°C | 13–16°C | Dry | Light jacket at night; perfect bonfire weather |
The river: the Ganga is still higher and faster than in winter, and the water is cold (it is snow-fed). Early in the month the authorities may pause rafting on some days if the level rises after rain upstream. By late October the water usually settles to a steady, bouncy Grade III flow.
Before you travel: check the IMD forecast for Dehradun and Tehri districts and our live rafting status page, which we update whenever the rafting rules change.
October 2026 is packed with festivals, and they decide how busy the camps are. Diwali falls on 8 November this year, so the Diwali rush is in November, not October.
| Dates | What’s on | Crowd at camps | Our tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–11 Oct (Sat–Sun) | New moon around 10 Oct; Navratri begins 11 Oct | Medium | Darkest skies of the month: best for stargazing |
| 11–19 Oct | Sharad Navratri; temple crowds at Neelkanth and Kunjapuri | Medium on weekdays | Ask for sattvik (no onion, no garlic) Navratri meals when you book |
| 17–20 Oct (Sat–Tue) | Dussehra on Tue 20 Oct; take Monday off for a 4-day weekend | Very high | Book 2 weeks ahead; Ravan Dahan at town grounds on the 20th |
| 24–26 Oct | Sharad Purnima, the brightest full moon of autumn | High | Moonlit bonfire nights; book a night walk |
| 29 Oct (Thu) | Karwa Chauth | Low to medium | Couples’ getaway the weekend after (31 Oct–1 Nov) |
| Weekdays | Regular season | Low | Best value and the quietest river |
For the full-moon weekend, our moonlight trip pairs well with a night at camp.
October also brings out butterflies and fresh green growth, and the forest trails are firm again after the rains. Migratory birds arrive later, in November and December.
Most visitors in October book rafting and camping packages together, because the camps sit right next to the rafting start points. The water is stronger than in winter, so pick your stretch carefully.
| Stretch | October feel | Who it suits | Combo price (camp + rafting) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 km (Brahmpuri) | Gentle, a few lively rapids | Families, first-timers, ages 14+ | ₹2,150 |
| 16 km (Shivpuri) | Fun Grade III rapids, splashy | Most groups | ₹2,550 |
| 26 km (Marine Drive) | Big rapids, opens once levels allow | Fit swimmers and adventure groups | ₹3,550 |
| 35 km (Kaudiyala) | Full day, Grade III–IV | Experienced rafters | ₹4,550 |
Our pick for October is the 16 km rafting + camp combo: enough thrill, safe at October levels, and back in town by lunch. Longer stretches open in phases after the monsoon, so check our rafting in Rishikesh page for what is running. Read the rafting safety guidelines before you go.
These are our prices for October 2026, per person, with meals included. October is peak season, so weekend and festival dates sell out first; weekdays have the best availability.
| Package | Where | Price from | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-night forest tent stay | Goolar, 21 km | ₹1,550 | Dinner, breakfast, bonfire |
| 1 night / 2 days camp with activities | Goolar | ₹2,000 | Meals, waterfall walk, games |
| Forest camp 1 night / 2 days | Goolar | ₹2,500 | Meals, trek, bonfire |
| Wondrous Camp | Kathya Badal, Shivpuri | ₹2,500 | Meals, forest and mountain views |
| 2 nights / 3 days camping | Goolar | ₹3,500 | All meals, treks, village walk |
| Rafting + camping combos | Shivpuri and Goolar | ₹2,150–₹4,550 | 1 night camp + 9 to 35 km rafting |
See every option and the latest rates on our camping in Rishikesh price page. We need a 30% advance to confirm. Groups get discounts, and add-ons such as kayaking, ziplining and a flying fox are available at extra cost.
Short on time? A single night camping in Rishikesh stay (check-in from 5 PM) fits after a day of sightseeing, or you can book a camp with activities for a fuller day. New to all this? Start with our Rishikesh camping guide.
Day 1 drive from Delhi and check in to camp. Day 2: 16 km rafting and a lazy afternoon. Day 3: Kunjapuri sunrise and a second camp night. Day 4: Ganga Aarti or the Ravan Dahan in town, then home.
Visit Neelkanth Mahadev in the morning, when queues are shorter, then check in to a forest camp and ask for sattvik vrat meals.
Camp on Saturday, with a bonfire and a moonlit night walk. On Sunday morning, take a 9 or 16 km rafting run, then head home.
Planning a trip a little later? The Rajaji Tiger Reserve usually opens for safaris on 15 November, and our Rajaji safari fits well with a November camp stay.
Yes. October is one of the best months for camping in Rishikesh: the monsoon has ended, there are only about 2 rainy days, days are 27–31°C and nights at the camps are 13–19°C. The forests are still green, waterfalls are full and the rafting season has restarted.
Rishikesh in October averages about 28°C by day and 16°C at night, with around 18 mm of rain over 2 days. Early October is warm and slightly humid, while the last week is crisp, with nights at forest and riverside camps dropping to about 13–16°C.
Pack a light fleece or jacket. Days are warm enough for T-shirts, but camp evenings cool quickly after sunset, and after 20 October nights can drop to about 13°C in the valleys. You do not need heavy winter clothing until December.
Yes, the 2026-27 rafting season is open in October, but the authorities can pause rafting on specific days if the Ganga rises after rain upstream. Shorter stretches such as Brahmpuri (9 km) and Shivpuri (16 km) usually run first, and longer stretches open in phases. Check the live status before you travel.
Dussehra is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Taking Monday off creates a four-day weekend from Saturday 17 to Tuesday 20 October, which is the busiest camping period of the month. Book 10–14 days ahead for these dates.
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 October to Monday 19 October, followed by Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. Temples like Neelkanth Mahadev and Kunjapuri are busier during Navratri, and many camps can serve sattvik (no onion, no garlic) meals if you ask in advance.
At White World Expeditions, camping in October 2026 starts at ₹1,550 per person for a 1-night forest tent stay with dinner, breakfast and a bonfire. Shivpuri camp stays start at ₹2,500, 2 nights / 3 days at ₹3,500, and rafting + camping combos cost ₹2,150–₹4,550 per person.
Weekdays are quiet, but weekends are busy, especially the Dussehra long weekend (17–20 October) and the Sharad Purnima full-moon weekend (24–25 October). Diwali 2026 is on 8 November, so the Diwali crowd arrives in November rather than October.
Not on your own. In October the Ganga is cold, snow-fed and still flowing fast after the monsoon, and currents are strong even near the banks. Swim only during a rafting trip, wearing a life jacket, in the calm stretches your guide picks.
Some, especially in early October in forest and riverside areas, because of standing water left by the monsoon. Bring repellent, wear full-length clothes in the evening and keep your tent zipped. They reduce as nights get cooler in late October.
Forest camps are at their best in October because the valleys are green, streams and waterfalls are full and nights are calm. Riverside camps reopen as the river drops, so in early October choose approved camps set well back from the water. Shivpuri is a good middle ground for rafting groups.
Two days and one night is enough for camping, a bonfire and a rafting run. Three days and two nights lets you add Kunjapuri sunrise, the Neelkanth temple trek or the Ganga Aarti, which suits the Dussehra long weekend well.
Forest tents from ₹1,550 and rafting + camping combos from ₹2,150 per person. Dussehra (17–20 Oct) and full-moon (24–25 Oct) dates are going fastest.
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White World Expeditions, 1st Floor, Badrinath Marg, Tapovan, Rishikesh. Drop in to plan your camp, or call +91-9411397294.