THE SUBANSARI RIVER EXPEDITION

The Subansari “Gold River” is the biggest tributary of the Upper Brahmaputra and descends through verdant rainforests in the tribal state of Arunachal Pradesh.  It drains the waters beyond the Great Himalayan Range spanning from Tsona Dzong up to the Great Loop of the Tsangpo in Tibet slicing through the Eastern Himalayas to flow into India at Asaphila through the rugged isolated hinterland of Arunachal. It has a run of 170 km in Tibet, 250 km in the Eastern Himalayas and 86 km in the plains of Assam before joining the Great Brahmaputra at the mystic confluence of Majuli – the largest inhabited river island in the world. The river has no road artery linking it on either side of the Great Himalayan Range spanning about 150 km. Very difficult terrain with vertical rock faces with only very sparse inhabitation in the belt has kept and continue to keep the upper reaches of this challenging river isolated.  This beckoning river is challenging and demanding. It has volume, flow and adrenal flowing rapids set in a scenic breathtaking environment astride the Eastern Himalayas with its diverse warm-hearted hill people with their unique traditions and customs spread over a millennia with the inevitable change encroaching upon them rapidly.

This beautiful river has been first run twice before by Indian army teams in 1994, only once from our slated starting point.  Our 2006 trip was the first open descent of this river, and with a 116 m high hydel dam being built which would span the lower mountain mouth of this beautiful river by Sep 2010, there is little time left to savor this nature’s blessing and part take in this unique experience.  You could even pan for Gold while running the Subansiri!

For self contained team of kayakers, we can organise a higher put in from Taksing, with helicopter induction, on request.
Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi and transfer to domestic airport. Arrive Dibrugarh late afternoon by air. Transfer to hotel. Overnight Dibrugarh hotel.
Day 02 : Transfer to Boghiwheel Ghat, cross the Brahmaputra river by ferry boat and drive to Pasighat. Overnight Pasighat.
Day 03 : Drive 100 kms to Along. We drive up the Siang valley till the Siyom river meets it at Sangam and then travel up the Siyom to Along. Overnight Rest House.
Day 04 : Drive 200 kms to Taliha Camp, Overnight Camp.
Day 05 : Drive 13 kms from Taliha to KM 20 and run downriver till Taliha to Sippi. A superb Class 3+/4 trip. Spectacular wilderness section. Camp at Taliha.
Day 06 : Run from Taliha to below Sippi village. Good gorge section with the interest alive with Class 3+ rapids. Overnight Camp.
Day 07 : Today we run plenty of rapids to go past Daporijo through inaccessible wilderness. Camp at Paradise Beach.
Day 08 : We start with a spectacular gorge section. We raft down till below the confluence of the Subansiri with the Kamla river and the volume increases after the confluence. Camp below the confluence at Sunshine 51 beach. Set up Camp, tents and overnight on the river.
Day 09 : Today’s section takes us through more rapids and scenic terrain to enter the plains and camp above the North Lakhimpur bridge. Amazing bird life on this day.
Day 10 : Drive to Boghiwheel ghat and cross over to Dibrugarh by ferry boat. Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Trip ends.