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Crossing Border – The rivers on the Siang & Brahmaputra
ASSAM * ARUNACHAL PRADESH
11th – 20th November 2022 | 9 nights/10 days
The Brahmaputra is the third largest river in the world and the largest in India. It originates from the northern side of the Himalayas, in Burang County of Tibet and flows through the ranges before breaking through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam finally entering Bangladesh.
Through its journey it has different names – Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, Jamuna in Bangladesh, and the Brahmaputra in Assam.
The Tsangpo flows into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang on which we will raft.
Highlights:
- Hosted by Anita & Mandip Singh Soin.
- Stay at an eco-lodge in a tropical forest in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Day rafting on the River Siang with Grade 4 rapids.
- A 5-night river cruise downstream on the Brahmaputra from Jorhat to Silghat near Tezpur.
- Explorer-style deluxe boat – the Charaidew II, varied cuisine and knowledgeable local guides with evening presentations, including a moonlit sandbank barbecue dinner.
- A chance to view the Himalayan peaks of 22,000 feet high of Arunachal Pradesh. (Weather permitting)
- Visit Majuli Island, one of the largest islands in the world and see the potters and the traditional mask-making process by the local community.
- Visit a monastery with an eclectic museum and a Sattriya performance by the ‘dancing monks’ at Kamalabari monastery, Auniati.
- Stay at the boutique Wild Mahseer Lodge, visit Mishing tribe and tree planting to make this journey Carbon Neutral.
- Jeep safari in Kaziranga National Park – a world heritage site.
- Wildlife viewing through float rafts on the Jia Bhoroli River.
- Visit a biodiverse haven of the Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark.
- Walk-in Nameri Sanctuary for Birdwatching & visit the Hoollongapar Gibbon WLS for Hoolock Gibbons sightings, India’s only ape.
- Contribute to the Give Back to Nature programme of the WWF India
11 Nov Delhi – Dibrugarh – 3-hour drive to Pasighat
Friday On arrival at 1140 hours, we will drive to Pasighat and check into the Aborcountry River camp located on the banks of the mighty River Siang. Traditional tribal dancers of the Ayeng tribe, will welcome us.
The suggested flight is via Vistara departing at 0750 hours from Delhi and arriving at 1140 at Dibrugarh via Bagdogra.
(All arrivals from other parts of the country should be at the same time, no later than 1200 hrs. Arriving a day earlier is recommended should flight timings not match.)
Pasighat is the headquarters of East Siang district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Situated at the Eastern foothills of the Himalaya at 155 metres above mean sea level, Pasighat is Arunachal’s oldest town.
The Aborcountry River camp is an eco-lodge and is located on the banks of the Siang River in the middle of a tropical forest.
Dinner at the Lodge-Camp.
Temperatures: High 25 and low 10 Celsius
12 Nov Aborcountry River camp – Rafting 4-5 hours – AR Camp
Saturday Drive 2 hours north along the Siang River to Rottung and put in for a half day rafting section of almost four hours or more. Encounter big class 4 rapids along the way. We will stop enroute on the banks for a packed lunch. The Put-out is at Aborcountry beach, welcomed with snacks and tea. Return to camp.
An exciting journey down one of the World’s greatest rivers. The river, after flowing gently eastwards through Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo, cuts into the Greater Himalayas and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, Namche Barwa before it enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang.
Temperatures: High 25 and low 10 Celsius
13 Nov Aborcountry River camp – Neamati Ghat – Charaidew II
Sunday After breakfast, we drive to Neamati Ghat at Jorhat, a journey of 5 hours to board your vessel. Time permitting, if we arrive by noon, we can also visit a local village at Neamati. Lunch on arrival on the boat.
After a relaxed evening enjoy a welcome dinner onboard.
The Charaidew is one of the longest boats on the river.
The cabins have balconies and views of the passing river. We will do excursions to see historical, cultural, and natural wonders.
Temperatures: High 28 and low 14 Celsius
14 Nov Charaidew II
Monday Early morning, we will disembark and drive to Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary at Mariani. We will walk through the forest with a local forest guard in search of Hoolock Gibbons, India’s only species of ape as well as a wealth of birdlife. Enjoy a simple breakfast surrounded by nature just outside the sanctuary.
Once back at the vessel, we will cruise to visit a riverside village – Salmara of Majuli Island.
The village is famous for preserving a unique way of pottery making. Villagers here still practice the old beaten clay process of making earthen pots.
After a relaxed evening enjoy a traditional instrumental performance onboard followed by dinner.
Temperatures: High 28 and low 14 Celsius
15 Nov Charaidew II
Tuesday Whilst we enjoy our breakfast this morning, we will cruise down to Kamalabari Ghat at Majuli, one of the world’s largest river islands.
A microcosm of Assamese culture, Majuli represents rural idyll in Assam.
A stronghold of the peaceful religion of neo-Vaishnavism, the elegant island satras for celibate monks at the island highlight a unique way of life where the faithful live simply, offering worship through gayan-bayan (Songs and musical instruments) and recitation of holy scriptures.
We will visit a monastery at Auniati with an eclectic museum, and then enjoy a Sattriya performance by the ‘dancing monks’ at Kamalabari monastery. If possible, we shall also see the traditional mask-making process at Majuli before cruising downstream for an hour or two.
During our time at Majuli, we will also come across wetlands and water bodies that are home to various migratory and resident birds during the winter months.
Tonight, we will enjoy a BBQ on a deserted sandbank of the Brahmaputra River under the open sky.
Subject to river and weather conditions.
Temperatures: High 28 and low 14 Celsius
16 Nov Charaidew II
Wednesday Today will be a full day of sailing. We shall take time to pause and walk through the bankside village of Jamugiri.
Your accompanying guide and naturalist will brief you as you observe the simple riverine lifestyle of the locals in Assam.
In the afternoon, Kaziranga National Park will be on the port side, and you may have sightings of wild elephants, water buffalos and other mammals from the vessel. You may view the endangered Gangetic dolphin.
Temperatures: High 28 and low 14 Celsius
17 Nov Charaidew II
Thursday Early morning cruise down to Silghat. After a relaxed breakfast we proceed to enjoy a riverside lunch at Diphlu River Lodge.
Post lunch, experience a jeep safari through its Western Range of Kaziranga National Park with good woodland as well as its grassland and wetlands.
Covering an area of approximately 430 sq km, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kaziranga National Park is home to the world’s largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros as well as the Indian Wild water Buffalo.
It has also earned the distinction of having the highest density of Royal Bengal tigers making this park an incredibly rich biodiverse hotspot. With its marshy swamps and thickets of elephant grass, this park supports large populations of Indian elephants, Indian bison, swamp deer, and capped langur.
Kaziranga National Park is also a birding paradise. Bird species found are the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, and more.
Temperatures: High 28 and low 14 Celsius
18 Nov Charaidew II – Wild Mahseer lodge
Friday We disembark from the boat and drive to the Wild Mahseer Lodge, an hour away.
Wild Mahseer is a unique heritage stay for visitors to experience mindful tourism while living within the biodiverse haven of the Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark.
Unravel the mystique of tea and history on the tea garden tour and hear the story of how tea was introduced in India over “ChaiKiBaat” and a tea tasting session with tea experts.
Trees planting in and around the property.
Tea gardens walk 4:00 pm
Temperatures: High 28 and low 16 Celsius
19 Nov Wild Mahseer Lodge
Saturday Today, we will leave at 6 am for Nameri National Park, a birders’ paradise, with photographers, ornithologists who have spent days in this forest studying behavior patterns of these birds.
Temperatures: High 28 and low 16 Celsius
20 Nov Wild Mahseer Lodge – Guwahati airport
Sunday This morning, we will walk the Botanic Trail through the botanic ark (EHBA) with our naturalist. We will also experience tree hugging and visit the spice hub.
Check out after lunch at 12:00pm and take a scenic drive enroute Guwahati Airport. We will all ideally take the evening flight back to Delhi.
This journey is limited to 36 participants of Ibex Expeditions will have the Charaidew II as an exclusive chartered boat.