Great Brahmaputra Descent Siang River Expedition

An exciting, true life expedition journey into India’s tribal north – east and down one of the world's greatest rivers. The Tsang Po, 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 it is called the Chiang, Siang, and the Dihang as it descends the final 200 kms to the plains of India. Our expedition begins a few miles inside the line-of-control with China.

Your journey begins with a ferry boat ride at Dibrugarh on the mighty Brahmaputra, and up the densely forested river valley from the plains of Pasighat to our starting point. We travel through remote hillsides dotted with tribal settlements in clearings surrounded by dense rainforest with many species of ferns, palms and orchids. Bamboo and cane bridges built by the local tribes; and village visits add to the exciting experience.

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 it’s known in Arunachal Pradesh) legendary Ningguing and Marmong gorges, is on a 07-day river trip that we offer in Nov-Dec each year, at the primo time of year for this remote corner of India. We welcome first timers too, as this provides a great insight into the river valley and the tribal way of life. Before launching from our starting point, your guides will instruct you in the fundamentals of safety, paddling, white-water, and rescue. After your day-one plunge through a ten-mile stretch negotiating rapids like "Ningguing’ and 'Pulsating Palsi", you'll be ready to navigate down the Ningguing and Marmong gorges. You will raft encounter the 'Roaring Rikor" and "Zebra Rock" till the possible run / portage on "Toothfairy" rapid at Cherring. We camp on pristine beaches at night, raft down "Moing Madness" and enjoy a wonderful day of rest, relaxation, reading or learning how to kayak. We spend a wonderful day floating down the vastness of this river, past tribal settlements, and beach at Pasighat, where the magnitude of your journey will finally embrace you.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Raft through rapids from Grade II - IV
• Experince life at tribal villages and settlements
• Camping and bonfire by the mighty Brahmaputra river
• See spectacular landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh
• Opportunities to view wildlife by the river

BRIEF 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 resident & 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.

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:
Rft 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 oblivion 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 – 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 09:
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 the “karko killer” and make it to a beautiful site near geku. Camp for the night.

Day 10:
Rest day at Camp.

Day 11:
Raft ku 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 :
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 :
Drive to Boghiwheel ghat and take a ferry boat across to dibrugarh. Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Trip ends.