THE BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER RAFTING EXPEDITION
An exciting journey down one of the world's greatest rivers, an option only for the true adventurer. The river, after flowing gently eastwards through Tibet, cuts the Greater Himalaya and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, Namche Barwa before it enters Arunachal Pradesh, where the expedition begins, a few miles inside the line-of-control with China. The expedition takes you through remote hillsides dotted with tribal settlements in clearings surrounded by leech-infested rainforest. It negotiates the finest big volume white water in an area, which is surely one of the most inaccessible in the world. A 9 day self contained run from Tuting to Pasighat (180 kms approx.) through one of the most inaccessible regions in the world makes this one of the most premier expeditions offered.
Be an expedition member on one of the top rafting expeditions in the world !
The most exciting way to run the Upper Brahmaputra's (or Siang as its known in Arunachal Pradesh) legendary big drops, rapids, riffles, and strong eddies is on a 08-day river trip in 16 or 18 foot long hypalon paddle or oar-paddle combination rafts. Before launching from the put-in at Tuting, your guide will instruct the crew in the fundamentals of safety, paddling, white-water, and self-rescue. After your day-one plunge through a ten-mile stretch with some of the biggest rapids rafted commercially, rapids known as "Ningguing" (twice the size of "Lava Falls on the Colorado) and 'Pulsating Palsi" with 25-30 foot high waves, you'll be ready to navigate down the Ningguing and Marmong gorges. You will raft down big drops in the gorge including the 'Roaring Rikor" and "Zebra Rock" till the Class 6 "Toothfairy" at Cherring. You will scout "Moing Madness" and see huge 20 foot plus breakers within arms length. You will spend days floating down the vastness of this river, past tribal settlements, run down "Karko Killer" and brace yourself for the final drop at the "Pongging Punch".
This river changed forever after a flood of June 2000 sent the river up 150 feet, destroying everything in its path. Aquaterra Adventures ran the first open fixed departure on this river in Nov-Dec 2002, running a crew of over 50 down a path breaking trip which documented the river for all who care to join future expeditions. We followed up with a paddle raft descent in Nov-Dec 2003.
We are the only outfitter offering fixed departure trips on this river and very clearly, have the superior skills, equipment, guides and staff, who make this "real life expedition" an outstanding success.
Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi and transfer to domestic airport. Arrive Dibrugarh late afternoon by air. Visit an ethnic weaving centre & a heritage tea garden. Overnight Dibrugarh hotel.
Day 02 : Transfer to Pasighat by boat (80 km; 08 hrs). See the Ganges River Dolphin & a great variety of resdient & migratory birdlife from Siberia & Central Europe enroute. Overnight Pasighat.
Day 03-04 : Drive 02 long days along a Siang river, through Adi villages, settlements and lush tropical rainforest. Reach Tuting by teatime. Check into tents, relax.x.
Day 05 : Relaxed day to sort out gear - walk around and interface with local tribals at Jedu village, time permitting. Ready rafts in the afternoon - a comprehensive safety briefing followed by instruction on paddling commands and rescue procedures. Overnight at Tuting.
Day 06 : Raft Tuting - Pango (5 hrs). Camp. This morning, we encounter the big Class IV Ninguing rapid and continue past another Class 3 rapid at Palsi to reach Pango, where we set up Camp for the night, above yet another big rapid to be encountered the following morning. Campfire dinner and overnight Camp.
Day 07 : Raft Pango - Cherring. Camp. Today, we scout and raft down the Pango rapid and enter the Ningguing and Marmong gorges, one of the most beautiful and remote jungle gorges in the world. It has steep impenetrable forests rising into obvillion on each side past the big rapid at Rikor and Zebra Rock rapid to set up Camp above a Class 6 rapid at Cherring. Overnight Camp.
Day 08 : Raft Cherring - Ramsing. Camp. We raft past Ramsing and several rapids including a Class 3 + followed by a 3 kilometer float till Ramsing village where we make Camp for the night.
Day 09 : Rest day at Ramsing. Camp.
Day 10 : Raft Ramsing- Nubo Camp. A short day on the river - we begin with a big rapid below Alubadi beach, followed by milder ones all the way till the suspension bridge at Nubo. Camp for the night.
Day 11 : Raft Nubo - Boleng. Camp. We begin this day with a float followed by a big rapid called "Karko Killer" at Karko. After Geku, we begin a long float till a Class 3+ above the 65 Bridge at Ditte Dime. An easy day with long float sections. We pass several Adi tribal settlements on the way. We continue to Camp for the night.
Day 12 : Raft Boleng - Rotung. Camp. Today, we raft past the first major confluence of the Siang river with the Siyom river after the suspension bridge at Boling. We pass the flood rutted guest house of Yembung by late afternoon and float onto camp near Rotung village.
Day 13 : Raft Rotung- Pasighat. We begin the final run to the plains at Pasighat by negotiating the last biggie on the trip at Ponging. The Siang seems to gather a lot more volume as we float into Pasighat where we beach our rafts for the last time on this trip. Transfer to rest house at Pasighat and visit the Handicrafts Centre. Rest House / Hotel.
Day 14 : Boat ride to Dibrugarh (80 kms ; 05 hrs). Stay at Dibrugarh hotel.
Day 15 : Fly / depart Dibrugarh - Delhi. Transfer to international airport for flight home.
