Drangme Chhu River Expedition (trip)
Drangme Chhu River Expedition
- Paro, Bhutan
- Active & Adventure
| from $5,200* per person | 16 Days | November |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Bio Bio Expeditions | 12 people max | |
All together, this is a world-class odyssey in a magical land. Far from being a static, restricted environment, Bhutan is a dynamic country whose development is focused on meeting the practical, spiritual and aesthetic needs of its people.
The Bio Bio Expeditions Drangme Chhu trip will introduce you to this amazing culture as we travel by van to the far eastern side of the country. Along the way we will visit fortresses (known as Dzongs), monasteries - including the famous Tiger's Nest built into the cliff, and local homes.
We will enjoy festivals and warm up on two different rivers as we make our way towards the mighty Drangme Chhu. Very few travelers have been to the far east of the country, and only a handful have run the river. Upon arrival at the put-in we will sort our gear, set our safety, and prepare to plunge into this deep and formidable canyon. Once we leave the road access at the top of the river there is no other access for 100 km. We’ll be totally self-sufficient carrying all expedition gear on our rafts as we explore one of the last untouched rivers in the world.
Although we ran the first descent in 2009, it is still relatively unknown as the monsoon floods often change rapids and we will still need to treat it as a first descent. The first few days feature the most intense whitewater and then the rapids gradually begin to soften as we make our way towards India. Along the way we will camp on sandy beaches, enjoy meeting some remote villagers, and feel the thrill of this amazing adventure.
At the journeys end we will take out in India and drive a short distance to the town of Guhawati where there are multiple daily flights to Delhi and connections back to the US. We look forward to experiencing the magic of Bhutan with you.
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Locations visited/nearby
Bhutan, Asia
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Bio Bio Expeditions:
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Reviewer: Allan Levin
located in
Futaleufu ,
Marc, you have been a pleasure to work with. We know that our vacation last year was a once in a lifetime opportunity – neither of us had ever been on a vacation that long. We put ourselves in your hands and you and Bio Bio overachieved every step of the way.
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Reviewer: Linda Parker
located in
California
The Fu is ‘FUN!’ Big water, blue skies, great group, horseback riding, kayaking, mountain biking, hot tubbing, massage, sauna, happy hours, card games, great food, and of course world class rafting…wow! Riding a horse, galloping through a meadow, surrounded by the snow-capped Patagonian peaks. I had never seen anything so beautiful. It made me cry. Thanks to Bio Bio for the excellent rafting, the in-camp luxury, and an overall unforgettable experience!
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Reviewer: Ira Shetty.
located in
Futaleufu,
Hi Marc & Lawrence. I have to begin by thanking you both so much! I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this trip was for me. I know I sound dramatic, but it was life altering for me. I had an outstanding time and can’t wait till Zambezi.Gosh. I can’t tell you what a transition it was for me to return to NYC. Sub zero temps, the fast pace, and well my cuisine has taken a huge nose dive… I miss the river, snowcapped mountians, full moons, and most importantly the members of your team. I just wanted you to know what a great crew you’ve gotten together.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Meet at the Bangkok airport early in the AM and fly on Druk Air to Paro, Bhutan. We spend the afternoon hiking to one of the most spectacular sites in all of Bhutan, the Tigers Nest Monastery. Overnight in a comfortable hotel in Thimpu. We recommend arriving in Bangkok a day or two early to have a chance to recover from flights and be fully charged for your flight to Bhutan!Day 2 – Drive to Punakha in comfortable motorcoaches, visit Punakha Dzong and stay at a riverside camp after paddling the class 4 Mo Chhu (2 hours on river). Multi-sport options after rafting include horseback riding or trekking.
Day 3 – Spend another day and night in the Punakha valley. Rafting, hiking, kayaking are all options for today.
Day 4 – Drive to Tongsa and visit the Dzong and museum. 4 hour trek across the Mangde Chhu river valley.
Day 5 – Paddle the Ema Datzi canyon of the Mangde Chhu river – a great stretch of whitewater in an absolutely dazzling river canyon straight out of a fairy tale with emerald green water contrasting the shiny black walls and verdant jungle. Overnight at the family Dzong of our Bhutanese contact and friend Ugyen Dorji at Enduchholing (Palace of the first King), with a private festival for the group. This will include traditional religious mask dances and a sumptuous feast.
Day 6 – Drive to Bumthang and overnight in a mountain lodge. Explore the colorful town of Bumthang.
Day 7 – Short drive to the mountain village of Mongar. Visit the local Dzong and trek up one of the remote valleys. Overnight at the Mountain Lodge.
Day 8 – Drive to Trashigang and visit the local Dzong. This section of road is absolutely stunning and changes from high passes to semi-tropical rainforest. We have timed this visit with the festival dates there. We will camp deluxe style – tents are set up for you, lighting, bathrooms). Note – Very few tourists travel this far east in Bhutan for the simple fact that it is a long drive to go there and back. We will only be traveling one-way with our plans for river take-out in India.
Day 9 – Enjoy the Festival of Transhigang. Camp at the river.
Day 10-15 – Drangme Chhu to Manas - This is the crux of the expedition! Once we leave the road access at the top of the river there is no other access for 100 km. We’ll be totally self-sufficient carrying all expedition gear on our rafts as we explore one of the last untouched rivers in the world. Although we ran the first descent in 2009, it is still relatively unknown as the monsoon floods often change rapids and we will still need to treat it as a first descent.
Day 15 – Our last day on the river - Take out and camp.
Day 16 – Drive to Guhawati, India and fly to Delhi for connection home.
More information from Bio Bio Expeditions:
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