Rafting down Brahmaputra
Rafting Expedition Highlights
Big drops, grade 4-5 rapids, riffles, strong eddies, dense forests, inaccessible gorges, remote tribal settlements and much more on this 08-day white water expedition that covers 180 km.
Akshay Kumar of MHE has designed the trip; who was the first to descend this river in 1990 and has been down several times since then. BBC has even made a film on the first American decent with Akshay in 1991.
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 river, where the magnitude of your journey will finally embrace you.
The 2009 Brahmaputra Expedition is being jointly conducted with Aquaterra Adventures, an internationally recognized rafting company in India.
The Brahmaputra originates at Lake Mansarovar in Western Tibet as the River Tsang Po. It runs 2000 miles across the Tibetan plateau at an altitude of 11,000 - 12,000 feet.
Duration: 13 days (8 days of actual rafting)
Season: November - February
Fixed Departure:
25th December 2010 to 06th January 2011
20th November to 02nd December 2010
Highest Grade: 4 – 5+ rapids
Cost:
Single room supplement Rs 10, 000/-
Rs 1, 30, 000/- per person for rafters and Rs 1, 10, 000/- per person for Kayakers.
Day by Day Itinerary
Nov 20th & Dec 25th: ARRIVE DIBRUGARH
The airstrip at Dibrugarh is located in a quaint little village outside Dibrugarh called Mohanbari. This area of Assam is famous for its strong tea and its age-old tea gardens. Meeting an assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Dibrugarh hotel. L
Nov 21th & Dec 26th:DIBRUGARH - PASIGHAT (BY BOAT - 75KM ; 8HRS)
The only way across the width of this river is by ferry boat. The spectacular ride takes about seven hours to complete as the river is spread across almost 12 km and interspersed by shallow sand banks. One will have enough opportunity to admire the rich migratory bird life and if we are lucky, we might even be followed by fresh water Ganges dolphins. The ferry ride culminates with a short 45 minutes drive to the small town of Pasighat at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.
Overnight at Pasighat in tents/ local guest house. B, L, D
Nov 22nd – 23rd & Dec 27th – 28th: PASIGHAT - TUTING
A 2-day long drive to our put in point - Tuting. A drive along the lower sections of the Siang that runs parallel to the famous Namdapha National Park.
Tuting is the starting point of our raft trip. The road to Tuting has been opened very recently. All the initial expeditions on the Siang had to trek for four days to get till this point.
Overnight in Guest House/ Tents. B, L, D
Nov 24th & Dec 29th: TUTING.
A rest day to relax after the long drives, sort out gear and walk around the Tuting bazaar and village and interface with local tribals. Use the spare time to identify your rafts and gear. Also, go through a safety briefing.
Overnight in expedition tents. B, L, D
Nov 25th & Dec 30th: RAFT TUTING - PANGO (6 HOURS)
This morning, we encounter the big monster grade 4+ Ningguing rapid and continue past another grade 4 rapid - Pulsating Palsi to reach Pango where we set up camp for the night. The camp is located above yet another big rapid to be encountered the following morning.
Overnight in expedition tents. B, L, D
Nov 26th & Dec 31st: RAFT PANGO - CHERRING
Today, we scout and raft down the Pango rapid and enter the Marmong Gorge, one of the most beautiful and remote jungle gorges in the world. It has steep impenetrable tropical forests on each side. We negotiate the big grade 4 rapid at Rikor followed by the Zebra Rock rapid and set up camp above a grade 6 rapid - "Tooth Fairy" at Cherring.
Overnight in camp. B, L, D
Nov 27th & Jan 01st 2011: RAFT CHERRING - YINKIONG / ALUBADI
After a portage around the class six rapid, we raft out of the Marmong Gorge negotiating several grade 3+ rapids followed by a float till Yinkiong / Alubadi, where we camp for the night.
Overnight in expedition tents. B, L, D
Nov 28th & Jan 02nd: RAFT YINKIONG - GEKU (6 HOURS)
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.
Overnight in expedition tents. B, L, D
Nov 29th & Jan 03rd: REST DAY AT GEKU.
Spend the day at leisure in Geku.
Overnight in expedition tents. B, L, D
Nov 30th & Jan 04th : RAFT GEKU - CAMP NEAR ROTTUNG VILLAGE
After Geku, we begin a long float till a grade 3+ rapid above the 65 Bridge at Dite Dime. An easy day with long float sections. We pass several Adi tribal settlements on the way and past the first major 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 to our camp near Rottung Village in time for a hot lunch.
Overnight in expedition tents. B, L, D
Dec 01st & Jan 05th: RAFT ROTUNG - PASIGHAT.
We begin the final run to the plains at Pasighat by negotiating the last rapid 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.
Overnight at rest house / hotel. B, L, D
Dec 02nd & Jan 06th: PASIGHAT- DIBRUGARH
Drive to Bogiwheel Ghat, which will take you around 2 to 3 hrs and catch the downstream ferry service to Dibrugarh. On arrival at Dibrugarh transfer to airport for flight to New Delhi. B ,L
COST INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
The Trip cost includes:
- Local transportation
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner on each day except Delhi
- Rafting equipment: rafts, wetsuits, life jackets, helmets, dry bags
- Camping equipment: tents, camping mats
- Group escort, guides and safety kayakers
- Accommodation on twin share basis in either tents, guest house or hotel as per itinerary
- Airfare from Delhi/Bagdogra and back.
- Escort vehicle on all days.
- Transfer from the airport and back.
- To and from Ferry charges.
- All permissions and permits
- All applicable service taxes.
Price does not include:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Expenses arising from unexpected fuel hikes, and other situations beyond our control such as landslides etc.
- Medical or travel insurance
- Costs towards evacuation of customers for medical or any other reason
ADVENTURE GEAR LIST
- T-Shirts.
- Shorts/tights for rafting and trekking
- Swimming trunks/Costumes
- Sun Hat/Cap
- Track Pant
- Sports shoes for trekking
- Sport Shoes/Floaters/River Sandals with ankle straps for Rafting.
- Sun Glasses
- Sun Glass/spectacle retainers/Croakees
- Torch
- Thermal underwear recommended for winter months (December, January, February)
- Water proof Sun Block lotion.
- Personal First Aid Kit. (Also available in camp)
- Personal Toiletries.
- Camera and film.
- Binoculars (recommended).
- And most important: A sense of adventure.
- Please bring not more than one bag per person. Do not bring hard suitcases and carry only soft bags.
PAYMENT TERMS
25% at the time of booking
50% 30 days prior to the group departure.
25% one week before group departure.
CANCELLATION CHARGES
- From confirmation up to 30 days prior to departure: 10%
- 15 - 20 days prior to departure: 30%
- 10 days - 48 hours prior to departure 75%
- Less than 48 hrs or no show 100%
Please note that cancellation charges also apply to reductions in group size, not only for cancellations of entire bookings
MHE reserves the right to change or modify the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances. If any costs increase due to this change, the client will be asked to pay the additional amount on the spot. |
