The Total Tons Tonnage' - possibly,
the most challenging rafting trip in the Indian Himalayas
This raft trip is truly the next level of river
running that is available in the country today. What sets
this trip apart from the other great rafting trips like
the Bio-Bio, the Brahmaputra, the Sutlej, the Bhagirathi,
the Alsek, the Futaleufu and the Zambezi, is the consistency
of quality whitewater, set in some incredible high mountain
scenery. We run several rapids ranging from Class III
to Class IV, some Class V's as well. Whitewater sections
are separated by a hundred yards or less of flat water.
In short, it’s possibly the most technical raft trip
in the Himalayas.
It aims to propagate the sheer adrenaline and magic of
taking on 120 kms of quality whitewater, in what could
possibly be, one of the finest whitewater experiences
possible in the world today.
Adrenaline pumping river days are followed by relaxed
afternoons, to be spent under leafy alders, taking short
hikes into the alpine forests and camping out near fields
of calf high mint and marijuana.
This trip was first run in expedition style in a 1986
edition operated by Jack Morison of White Magic, California.
Aquaterra Adventures, ran the first Indian descent on
the hardest section on this river (Khunigad - Tiuni),
as well as the first open departure on the Lower Tons
in the summer of 2003. We offer to run this `exploratory'
trip for the die hard rafter, and will be offering this
trip as a full expedition to be tailor-made for the early
part of May each year.
Itinerary
Day
01 :
Arrive
at Camp Lunagad (435 km from Delhi) in the
Tons valley. Overnight at camp.
Day
02-03 :
Rafting
on the Tons from Mori-Khunigad. Familiarization
with paddling commands and paddling strokes.
Overnight at camp.
Day
04-05 :
Trek
up to Ringalli Rest house and back, an old
British Rest House. Overnight stay near the
rest house. Camp. Return to Camp Lunagad by
the afternoon of Day 05 for lunch.
Day
06-08 :
Begin
rafting expedition with three days dedicated
to the 35 km section from Mori till Tiuni,
where the Pabbar River meets the Tons. This
is the more continuous part of our expedition.
Days are mixed with running several continuous
Class 4+ rapids in a day and camping by lunch
on beautiful alpine meadows above the river,
taking walks into the forest and breathing
rhododendron-scented air. It's a great mix
of high adrenaline rafting and soothing camping
in very scenic surroundings.
Day
09-11 :
Below
Tiuni, the Tons takes on more volume with
the Pabbar river joining in. We move further
downriver into the more tropical part of the
valley with excellent whitewater, more spaced
out after the frenzy of the top section, and
enter a beautiful gorge. We raft till Icchari,
where the river is finally dammed and return
to Delhi.
Note:
1) Previous whitewater experience, is a must and we recommend
it. This is the only trip where we will not take down
first time rafters.
2) It will be of immense value to undertake a few rafting
trips prior to taking this one. Ask us for more details
and costs involved.
3) We need at least 6 full-on and committed rafters to
take on this expedition with at least 3 months notice.
