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 Himalayas 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 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. Between 2002-11, The operator on this river ran 10 very successful expeditions on the Upper Brahmaputra, and several people bear testimony to their operational expertise in one of the toughest logistical operations in the Indian Himalayas.
BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER – ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
Arrive Delhi and transfer to domestic airport. Arrive Dibrugarh late afternoon by air. Transfer to hotel.
Overnight Dibrugarh hotel.
Day 2: Pasighat
Transfer to Boghiwheel Ghat (45 mins) and ferry across the river to cross onto the northern bank. Drive 3 hrs to Pasighat by road.
Day 3-4: Scenic Drive to Purang for camping
Drive 2 long days along a Siang river, through Adi villages, settlements and lush tropical rainforest. Reach our campsite at Purang by teatime. Check into tents, relax.
Day 5: Purang
Relaxed day to sort out gear – walk around and interface with local tribals at the nearby village, time permitting. This afternoon we will get the rafts ready and will have a comprehensive safety briefing followed by instruction on paddling commands and rescue procedures.
Overnight at Camp.
Day 6: Rafting to Pango
Raft to Pango (5 hrs). Camp. This morning, we encounter the big monster Class IV+ Ningguing rapid and another Class 4 rapid, Pulsating Palsi to reach Pango, where we set up Camp for the night.
Campfire dinner and overnight Camp.
Day 7: Rafting Pango – Cherring
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 oblivion on each side past the big rapid at Rikor and Zebra Rock rapid to set up Camp above a Class 6 rapid “Tooth fairy” at Cherring.
Day 8: Raft Cherring – Yinkeong/Alubadi
Raft Cherring – Yinkeong / Alubadi. Camp. After a portage around the Class six rapid, we raft out of the Marmong gorge negotiating several Class 3+ rapids followed by a float till Yinkeong / Alubadi where we make Camp for the night.
Day 9: Geku Twins
Rest day at Geku Twins. Camp.
Day 10: Geku Twins Rafting
Raft to Geku Twins Camp. We begin with a big rapid below Alubadi beach, called ‘Moing Madness” followed by milder ones all the way till the suspension bridge at Nubo. We raft down “Karko” and make it to a beautiful site near Geku. Camp for the night.
Day 11: Rafting
Raft Geku Twins till below Sangam. After Geku, we begin a long float till the 65 Bridge at Ditte Dime. An easy day with long float sections. We pass several Adi tribal settlements on the way and float past the confluence of the Siang river with the Siyom river after the suspension bridge at Boling. We pass the flood-rutted guesthouse of Yembung and float onto camp near Rotung village, in time for hot lunch. Transfer all gear onto our travel bags from the dry bags, and a chance to wash up near a fresh water spring.
Day 12: Rafting to Pasighat
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.
Day 13: Trip Ends, Flight to New Delhi
Drive to Boghiwheel Ghat and take a ferry boat across to Dibrugarh. Transfer to airport for flight to New Delhi. Trip ends.
Note : 1. We reserve the right to begin the rafting trip at Purang Nallah, 20 mins by river downstream of Tuting, if guide discretion demands that the Ningguing rapid be excluded from the run. This right will be exercised in the best interest of the trip, and everybody’s safety.
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