Brahmaputra Whitewater Rafting Trip India
Introduction
• Raft one of the world’s largest and least
explored rivers
• Tackle exhilarating stretches of class 6
rapids
• Travel through lush unspoilt rainforest
• Interact with the fascinating Adi tribal people
• Highly experienced raft team with top of the range
equipment
There are many big rivers, a handful of huge
rivers, and then there is the Brahmaputra. This premier expedition
by raft down one of the world's great rivers is for the true
adventurer, and only three expeditions have ever commercially
rafted the Brahmaputra before. We can expect legendary drops,
thirty-foot standing waves, rapids and riffles, and even a short
stretch of Class 6 water on this truly wild river, all set against
incomparably dramatic scenery, thick jungles and tribal peoples
virtually untouched by the modern world.
After flowing eastwards through Tibet, the
Brahmaputra, here known as the Tsangpo, cuts south through the
Greater Himalaya to enter the Indian Hill State of Arunachal
Pradesh, where it is known as the Siang. From here the Brahmaputra
enters its final dramatic section of gorges before joining the
Ganges and gently flowing out across the plains to the Bay of
Bengal.
After flying into Delhi (or Kolkatta) and
meeting in Dibrugarh, we take a ferry across the Brahmaputra to
Pasighat, an interesting temple town on the river. Here the
Brahmaputra shows its gentler side, but do not be deceived! From
Pasighat, we drive by 4WD for two days along dirt tracks through
lush rainforest that is home to over 500 species of orchid,
gibbons, leopards, elephants and tigers. It is also home to the
fascinating villages of the Adi people, until forty years ago still
headhunters, and one of the most traditional peoples in India.
The trip begins properly just a few miles
from the Inner Line, close to the border with Tibet. On expeditions
of this nature, it is imperative to have a highly experienced and
qualified support team, and you can be sure that our guides have
the necessary experience, skills and equipment to make this
expedition an outstanding success. We use the very best quality
American-manufactured self-bailing rafts made of tear-resistant
hypalon. Every raft also carries rescue bags and flip-lines to
counter any emergency, and is equipped with repair and first-aid
kits to make the run completely self-contained. Waterproof bags are
kept aboard to ensure luggage and cameras stay completely dry.
Before launching from the put-in at the
village of Tuting, we will be given a full safety briefing,
covering everything from the nature of the river and what to
expect, to paddling commands and safety procedures, and from
self-rescue to knowing what to do if you go overboard. An easy
section is rafted on the first day to familiarise everyone with
rafting techniques.
The next morning we enter a ten-mile stretch
of rapids known as Ningguing, twice the size of the famous Lava
Falls on the Colorado, before encountering another Class 4 rapid,
‘Pulsating Palsi’, with its 25-30 foot standing waves, to reach
Pango, where we will set up camp for the night. After the
exhilaration and practice gained thus far, we will be ready to
tackle the Ningguing and Marmong gorges, some of the most wildly
beautiful and remote jungle gorges in the world. We first scout and
then whitewater raft down the Pango rapids before entering the
gorges, truly a land that time has forgotten, with steep,
penetrable forests rising dizzyingly up on either side. We pass
monster rapids at Rikor and Zebra Rock, before setting up camp
above a Class 6 rapid known as the ‘Toothfairy’, with the option,
subject to conditions and our guide’s assessment, either to raft or
to portage this section. Once through, we negotiate several Class
3+ rapids followed by a float downriver to Yinkeong, our camp for
the night.
The following day sees us rafting to Geku
Twins Camp. We begin with a huge rapid called ‘Moving Madness’
followed by milder ones, all the way down to the bamboo suspension
bridge at Nubo. We then plunge down ‘Karko Killer’ before arriving
at a beautiful spot near the village of Geku, where we spend two
nights. The next day will be a well-deserved rest day, and we can
catch our breath, maybe doing a little fishing, searching for
orchids and wild elephant in the surrounding rainforest, or walking
to an Adi village and visiting an Adi dwelling, protected by the
skulls of their ancestors. We may also be privileged enough to meet
one of the village shamans, and participate in a healing
ceremony.
The next two days will be much gentler as we
drift past various tribal settlements on our way. The birdlife is
simply amazing here, and with luck we should also be able to spot
schools of Gangetic river dolphin. There is a final sting in the
tail, however, as we negotiate the last whitewater rafting biggie,
‘Pongging Punch’, before running out on to the plains at
Pasighat, where we beach our rafts for the last time.
Quick links:
whitewater rafting trip India -
itinerary
whitewater rafting trip India -
factfile
whitewater rafting trip India – dates
& prices
whitewater rafting trip India – booking
enquiry
whitewater rafting trip India – before you
go
REF: Brahmaputra Rafting Expedition (Fresh
Water) - HW0007
![]()