River Rafting

The Siang is the Brahmaputra before it has that name — it crosses in from Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo and drops through the last Himalayan foothills at Pasighat. The commercial run from Tuting or Boleng down to Pasighat is a multi-day expedition through grade III–IV rapids with names the rafting crews have given them over the years; a shorter half-day section near Pasighat gives you the feel of the water without the commitment.

This is cold, high-volume water, so it runs in the dry season when levels are lower and visibility is better. Trips are fully supported with safety kayakers, and no prior experience is needed for the day sections — just the ability to swim and follow instructions in fast water. The multi-day expeditions ask for more: you camp on beaches, carry everything, and are a long way from a road.