White water rafting holiday in India

India is home to two incredible white water adventures.

On the legendary Siang River-system we spend 10 days on what was only fully explored in 2003 by a team of National Geographic-sponsored kayakers. We begin our descent of the Siang just inside the border with Tibet.

Many villagers in this region have only seen pictures of foreigners, let alone rafts, kayaks, lifejackets, and helmets. It is not unusual to see members of the Mishmi tribe with their ornamental, feathered head-dresses carrying hatchets known as "daos". The Siang River Expedition mixes action-packed whitewater with pristine pools, scenic side hikes, and captivating culture.

India's Zanskar River, a remote Himalayan tributary of the Indus, harbors one of the most spectacular navigable gorges in the world. Hailed as the "Grand Canyon of the Himalaya," a journey down the Zanskar features an excursion through a geologic paradise, submersion into a culture (Zanskari) virtually unknown throughout the contemporary world, and a thrilling whitewater adventure.

The trip, however, is not for the faint of heart - or for those short on time. Paddling the Zanskar consists of four days' air time, a bone-jarring multi-day jeep ride through spectacular Himalayan wilderness, and at least five days of intense rafting, not counting layovers.

See below for both expedition itineraries.

Siang Itinerary

Day 1:	Starting at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, we will fly to Dibrugarh, Assam. Upon arriving in Dibrugarh, we will transfer to our hotel, settle in and have a welcome briefing over tea.
Day 2:	We start today with a ferry crossing of the Brahmaputra River affording us glimpses of the Brahmaputra’s freshwater dolphin. Next, we take private jeeps to Pasighat where we enjoy a Tribal Cultural Festival and traditional dinner with tribals.
Day 3:	This morning we will drive by private jeep to our put-in near Yingkiong. After rigging and preparing the boats and covering a detailed safety orientation, it’s time to get on the water for a short run to camp.
Day 4:	Today we raft several class 3-4 orientation rapids such as Good Morning and Initiation followed by a scenic float to dry off through steep, jungle covered canyons.
Day 5:	Today is a great day on the water with strong rapids and incredible scenery. Tonight we will set camp near the village of Rui.
Day 6:	Confluence Day! Today we float past the confluence of the Upper Brahmaputra and the Yambo and Siyom rivers. Now the Brahmaputra, the river picks up volume and steam as we breeze by high-wire bamboo bridges.
Day 7:	Today is a mellow day on the water to relax and enjoy the many sites along the river.
Day 8:	Layover Day! Today is our rest day to enjoy hiking, resting and relaxing. There will be time to play in the kayak, throw horseshoes and enjoy a great bar-b-que.
Day 9:	Today we encounter a large class 4 rapid, Ponging followed by numerous class 2-3 rapids. This will be our final night on the river above Pisighat.
Day 10:	We wake early this morning to catch the ferry to Dibrugarh. Its time to say our goodbyes to the guides and overnight in Dibrugarh.
Day 11:	Our flight for Delhi leaves today in line to catch your connecting flight back home or onto the next exciting destination in India.

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Zanskar Itinerary

Day 1:	Your trip leader meets you this morning at the Delhi International Airport. Awaiting transport will transfer us deluxe accommodations in the heart of Delhi. The remainder of your first day in India will consist of sightseeing, relaxing, and an exquisite trip orientation dinner.
Day 2:	We awaken early and depart Delhi on a one hour flight over the Greater Himalayan range to Leh, a charming mountain town in the northern state of Jammu-Kashmir, region of Ladakh. From the airport we transfer to a comfortable hotel and have the rest of the day to check out the extraordinary market center of Leh, where charismatic shops, restaurants, and taverns aligns the streets; where people of at least a dozen different languages and cultures intermingle; and from where one can view spectacular mountain vistas, the precariously perched Leh Monastery, and the Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist icon that overlooks the village.
Day 3:	There’s no better place to spend a day acclimatizing to Himalayan altitude than in Leh. Several local monasteries welcome visitors to explore their ancient dwellings; cultural expositions are regularly held in the market and at the Ladakh Women’s Alliance Center; the local cuisine is extraordinary; and Tibetan refugee villages surround the town, beckoning visitors to peruse their quaint shops. This day is all yours - whether you choose to explore Buddhist sites, relax in the sun on the hotel deck, or just do some people-watching in the market, your day in Leh will be a great one!
Day 4:	Today we depart Leh in jeeps and drive the Surgren-Leh Road over two mountain passes, the highest of which, Fotu La, is over fourteen thousand feet in elevation. Along the winding course we stop at the Lamayuru monastery, one of the oldest gompas in the Himalaya. After eight hours on the road, we reach Kargil, where we check into a nice hotel-restaurant, have a healthy dinner of Indian cuisine, and rest up for another day of travel.
Day 5:	This is one of the most spectacular drives in the world! Heading out of Kargil, we ascend up the Suru River Valley, passing through quaint farmlands stretched out beneath colossal glaciated peaks, the highest of which, Mounts Nun and Kun, reach over seven thousand meters in elevation. Tonight we make our first camp in a vast meadow, surrounded by dazzling geologic formations, high in the upper reaches of the Suru drainage. Three miles across the meadow we can make out the remote Rangdum monastery, perched precariously atop a minute crag at 13,000 feet.
Day 6:	The last leg of our drive takes us over 14,500 foot Pensi-La Pass, affording breathtaking views of the Zanskar Mountain Range and of the Zanskar River headwaters. Tonight we set camp at our put-in location on the river, framed by the massive peaks of the Himalayan Zanskar Range, eat a spectacular dinner of Indian fare, and rest up for the river portion of our expedition.
Day 7-11:	We spend these days rafting the Zankar River! This is one of the most dramatic river canyons in the world. We begin our downstream journey with small rapids, drifting through spectacular mountain backdrops and alongside remote Zanskari villages. The whitewater becomes progressively more difficult as we move downstream. We’ll navigate several narrow Class III and IV mini gorges; and will scout at least one section aptly named 'The Pinch!' The scenery is spectacular, with massive cliffs opening up to lush side valleys, waterfalls streaming directly out of the canyon walls, and glimpses of glaciated mountaintops in the distance. Each afternoon we’ll set up camp on the riverbank and work together to create delicious meals. Every camp allows opportunities for hiking and for further exploration of the gorge and its many side canyons. We’ll also spend one layover day exploring Neiraq, an ancient Zanskari village and monastery accessibly only afoot.
Day 12:	Today we encounter the last of the Class III and IV whitewater, and float past the enormous and dramatic confluence with the Indus River. We take-out, load up, and drive a short distance and hike up to the thousands’ year-old Alchi Monastery. After a quick visit we drive back to Leh (1 hr.) and to our deluxe accommodations. Tonight, at a local restaurant, we will celebrate with our final expedition banquet and party!
Day 13:	Today we return to Delhi by way of a short domestic flight and transfer to the airport for your return flight home or onto your next destination in India.