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the brahmaputra drift: teang (8 days)
introduction
about
The Brahmaputra Drift is a series of journeys carefully designed to explore a network of tributaries and waterways that form the catchment of the great Brahmaputra river.
The Brahmaputra is the 15th longest river in the world. Rising in the Trans-Himalayan belt of Tibet, it enters India at Arunachal Pradesh, before reaching the plains of Assam and completing its journey in Bangladesh at the Bay of Bengal.
For this edition of the Brahmaputra Drift, we explore the Teang River, a lively, meandering waterway flowing through the lush landscapes of eastern Arunachal Pradesh. The Teang winds through Tai Khampti and Singpho country, which reflects in glimpses the larger world of Indo-Burmese heritage.
Teang is a meandering ribbon of water, a forest stream sheltered on both sides by bamboo groves, green forest canopies, and tall golden grass.
From your packraft, you drift at the playfully agile pace of the river, gliding past bends, thickets, and overhanging branches with butterflies and dragonflies, skimming alongside.
The Brahmaputra Drift paints a portrait of diverse cultures, old traditions, and the breathtaking beauty of the river’s path.
Like every Knowhere Travel experience, this one comes with a laid-back personality. We dabble in adventure, wildlife, culture, and, of course, relaxation. Embark on a voyage that transcends the ordinary and delves into a realm where the river serves as both a lifeline and a storyteller, weaving tales of generations and fostering a deep connection between the river and its people.
itinerary
days 1,2,3
Day 1
Welcome to Arunachal Pradesh! Once you arrive, we’ll receive you at the airport and drive you past the foothills of the Eastern Himalaya into the lush countryside. Settle into a peaceful lodge along the banks of the river.
We’ll make introductions, share stories about the landscape, and have a detailed orientation on safety, followed by a visit to a pagoda-style Buddhist temple built in the Tai architectural tradition of the region.
Day 2
We drive to a remote village, marking our entry into Singpho country, a journey of about two hours as the landscape gradually shifts. On arrival, we meet our local team and settle into simple village homes. Spend time getting to know the community, sharing conversations with village elders, before heading out on a gentle walk along village paths with our local companions.
Day 3
We follow an old riverside trail once used by the community to travel to Sadiya on bamboo rafts for the salt trade. The walk is gentle, with a few river crossings on foot. Along the way, we pause for a picnic to feast on Singpho delicacies, take dips in the river, watch for birdlife, and arrive at camp – set up and waiting.
days 4,5,6
At long last, take to the river with your packraft. After a short practice run, we ease into the final stretch. The Teang winds, bends, and carries us gently through the countryside, intimately showing you her home and inhabitants.
Drift through pebbled beds, beneath forest canopies and golden fields, on crystal blue waters. There are quiet pools to take a dip in, playful rapids, and stretches where the current slows to a peaceful glide.
These waterways remain largely untouched — the only signs of life are the occasional fisherman casting a line, elephants grazing nearby under the watch of their keepers, wildlife in its natural habitat, and birds circling high above the valley.
Each evening, you’re welcomed by a camp set up along the riverbanks, with hearty feasts, a bonfire, and star-lit skies.
days 7&8
Enjoy the final stretch of the river and return to the riverside lodge.
We’ll spend the afternoon returning equipment, performing the last phase of gear maintenance, and relishing a well-deserved Khamti feast.
Lounge by the riverbanks, soaking in the calm surroundings with your newfound friends.
Say goodbyes and share reflections at a small dinner party. We hope to see you on the river again!
accommodation
days 1,7&8: riverside lodge
Stay at a riverside lodge, tucked away, with the very river you’ll be paddling down, flowing right in front of you.
We occupy 3-4 separate rooms at the property, each with double beds, attached bathrooms, and modern amenities. Lounging spaces and sheltered spots are set along the riverbank where you can spend time unwinding by the water.
days 2-6: village homes and camping
food
Mealtimes offer a variety of fresh and delicious options.
Mornings start with an energizing breakfast featuring fruits, juices, tea, coffee, spreads like jam, butter, peanut butter, and an assortment of bread and eggs. For a quick snack, there are cookies, local treats, and chai.
Lunch and dinner showcase regional dishes from the Singpho community collaborating with us on this expedition. Seasonal vegetables, curries, and rice are steamed in aromatic leaves and cooked over wood fires with spices ground by hand on stone, make preparations like kayie (meat or vegatables steamed in leaves), sapong (meat or vegetables steamed in bamboo) and phalap (traditional tea). The meals feature soups, bamboo shoots, roasted pork, river fish, and poultry, alongside a variety of foraged leaves, herbs, fermented pickles, and freshly ground chutneys.
Fresh fruits, and refreshments will keep you nourished through the day.
At the riverside lodge, you’ll also have the opportunity to taste the cuisine of the Tai Khamti community, which carries its own distinct character, mustard greens, dried fish, pickled vegetables, fried pork, other meat and vegetables cooked with chillies and aromats.
region and the community
The Teang River flows through the lowland valleys of eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Part of the greater Brahmaputra basin, the river feeds into the Noa Dihing and eventually into the Lohit River before it spreads across the plains of Assam.
The landscape here is a mosaic of tropical semi-evergreen forests, bamboo groves, wetlands, and cultivated fields—home to a biodiverse bunch. Some wildlife you can expect to encounter are wild cats, otters, deer, flying squirrels, dragonflies and butterflies, wetland birds, the great Indian hornbill, and an extraordinary diversity of wild orchids.
These lands are home to the Tai Khamti and Singpho communities, whose origins trace back to present-day Myanmar, migrating across the Patkai hills into these fertile valleys several centuries ago. Their histories remain closely linked to the cultural world of their homeland, shaping the traditions and landscapes of the region today.
Their deep cultural knowledge remains preserved and finds expression in their cuisine, festivals, oral traditions, attire, architecture and everyday practices. The river remains central to life here, sustaining the surrounding forests and the livelihoods they support—from farming and fishing with woven bamboo traps to tea gardens and the region’s long tradition of elephant keeping.
This expedition is a rare glimpse into the vibrant tapestries of culture and tradition of this region.
packrafting
Knowhere Travel Co has been studying and working on the concept of river exploration with packrafts since 2020.
Packrafting is a fusion of backpacking and rafting, bringing you an amphibious adventure like no other.
Originating as a lightweight, inflatable raft designed for backcountry travel, packrafts unlock access to remote rivers, serene lakes, and untouched wilderness.
Since they are highly manoeuvrable, packrafts can give you the freedom to navigate water bodies that are otherwise difficult to access.
guides
The Brahmaputra Drift is a fully supported and guided expedition. Our guide-to-guest ratio is 3:6 to ensure a high standard of safety while on the water.
Two experienced KTC river and safety guides will accompany guests on packrafts, along with a local guide from the region. A support raft crafted in the traditional manner from bamboo will glide alongside led by a local team.
Our guides are trained in Wilderness First Aid.
safety & equipment
At Knowhere Travel, safety is of paramount importance. We leave no stone unturned, nor do we make any compromises when it comes to the quality and maintenance of the gear we provide you with.
Our packrafts are not toys. They are compact, yet highly robust boats. Our crafts are sourced from an internationally acclaimed manufacturer and have been tested across the world in a variety of conditions.
Our paddles are made of fibreglass and carbon fibre – making them light to carry but super strong too!
Our team has spent over 2,000 hours in different nautical conditions, guiding and training with these boats to understand them at a highly technical level. Our PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices) are 50N life vests, EN ISO 12402-5 with multiple adjustable straps, multiple pockets for accessories, and a water bladder so you can paddle handsfree.
We provide water gloves and water shoes for comfort both in and out of the water, and a water-proof bow bag to access your personal gear.
As for support, we will have two big rafts alongside us. One ferrying our kitchen team, camping equipment, and cooking rations. This raft will move ahead and set up your campsites.
A second raft with backup gear and refreshments will paddle alongside our guests. We will also have a support vehicle at the nearest road head for any emergencies.
Our teams are equipped with comprehensive field-repair kits and medical kits. For ease of communication, our teams would be hooked onto walkie-talkies.
how we work
This is a region with little to no tourism footprint. Our entire support team is drawn from the region, including members of the Singpho and Khamti communities, ensuring the journey remains rooted in local knowledge and lived experience.
In partnership with Further & Beyond, we’ve worked to build capacity within local communities—training and supporting guides and collaborating with women-led SHGs.
Our logistics partners, Further & Beyond, have spent over a decade working in North East India on sustainable development in the renewable energy space, and are currently advancing waste management and recycling initiatives through the Himalayan Fringes Project. Through this partnership—and the networks and trust it brings—we are able to conduct this expedition with a strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and a near zero-waste approach.
Our packrafts are Bluesign certified, which guarantees that environment-friendly material is used at the time of production.
Our river journey is 100% non-motorised. We are certified LNT practitioners and follow the Leave No Trace principles as part of all of our experiences.
is this for me?
This is a surreal holiday experience. We’re saying, “Hey! Come have an adventure — chill on river islands, eat yummy food, and float on crystal clear waters… there are no crowds, no 9-5, traffic, neon lights, billboards, loud noises, or pollution.”
Are you looking for that kind of holiday? If so, there are a few prerequisites.
You weigh lesser than 90 kgs (non-negotiable) and are not taller than 6 feet and 6 inches.
You are fit — not athlete-level fit, but you will be paddling for long durations over 5 days.
You are comfortable camping in the wilderness.
You are curious about the world — both communities and wildlife. You will be actively engaging with a small group — so bring your heart and your soul.
You are comfortable in the water. Knowledge of swimming is good, but not mandatory. The river is not very deep, averaging only 3-10 feet. But expect moments where we need to wade in the water to cross certain sections.
We do not recommend this holiday if you have a phobia of the water. That said, you can rest assured that if you join us, there’s no safer environment to face your fears. We’ve got your back.
You are 21 years and above.
pricing & dates
This is our pilot season and we are only running two trips this year for a group of 6 guests per trip.
Dates for 2026
1 Nov to 8 Nov (invite only)
12 Dec to 19 Dec (open for all)
Since this is a group holiday, we can only run the trip if a minimum of 4 guests sign up.
Pricing (Pilot trip Nov 1 to 8):
Indian nationals: Rs. 87,620 + 5% GST = Rs. 92,000 per person
Foreign nationals: Rs. 104,762 + 5% GST = Rs. 110,000 per person
Pricing (Dec 12 to 19):
Indian nationals: Rs. 104,762 + 5% GST = Rs. 110,000 per person
Foreign nationals: Rs. 130,953 + 5% GST = Rs. 137,500 per person
Includes (ex-Dibrugarh): Lodging for 7 nights, all meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 8, tea/coffee and local beverages, all transportation, all rafting and camping equipment, safety guides, support team, permits, service charges, and 5% GST.
Excludes: Tickets to Dibrugarh and back, gratuities, trip extensions, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, any personal purchases, a change in the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances, and anything not mentioned under ‘includes’.
Get in touch and we’ll see you on the water!
