32D/31N
Meghalaya - Assam - Arunachal Pradesh - Nagaland
Trip Overview
Embark on a grand road trip to the simply breathtaking distant lands of Northeast India.
A detailed exploration of the fascinating indigenous communities of Northeast India.
Learn about ancient practices of living in close relationship with the environment and nature.
Guwahati - Shillong
Upon arrival at Guwahati Airport, you will drive to Shillong (3-4 hours), a charming hill station, and the capital of the state of Meghalaya. En route, you will visit the famous Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, an important center of the Shakti sect of Hinduism that is devoted to the worship of feminine energy. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be in a boutique heritage guesthouse with standard amenities.
Shillong
After a leisurely breakfast, spend the entire day sightseeing around Shillong. You will visit the Indigenous Museum, craft centers, lakes, waterfalls, and the Shillong Peak. At noon, watch a game of Siat Khnam, the local way of gambling where archers shoot arrows on a haystack. The evening will be at leisure to explore the upbeat and fashionable market area of Shillong and maybe dine in a nice restaurant.
Shillong - Nongriat
After an early breakfast, you will drive to Cherrapunji (2 hours). Visit some of the spectacular waterfalls of Cherrapunji as time permits. Later by mid-day, leave on an extremely scenic 3-hour steep downhill hike, crossing forested hills, cascading waterfalls, streams, and native hanging bridges, to arrive at the village of Nongriat, home to a very happy and sustainable community of Khasi peoples. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be in the basic village guesthouse.
nongriat
For the coming two days, you will get an opportunity to live amongst the Khasi people and get to know more about their charming culture. Very educated, the Khasi people of Nongriat are almost entirely sustainable and do not depend on modern produce. An example of this is the many living root bridges that can be found around the village, which are incredible examples of bioengineering. You may also go for scenic day hikes to nearby waterfalls, caves, and villages. Bonfires can be arranged in winter evenings.
Nongriat - Kaziranga NP
After an early breakfast, you'll be trekking back to Cherrapunji and then leave for Kaziranga National Park (6-7 hours) in Assam for an overnight stay in Wildgrass, a boutique colonial-styled jungle lodge with standard amenities.
Kaziranga NP - Majuli
After an early morning elephant safari (possible only in winters on request), drive to Majuli. The island (4-5 hours), located midst the might of the Brahmaputra River, is home to traditional Assamese culture which has been preserved in the form of monasteries since medieval times. En route, cross the river in a scenic ferry ride. Your stay in Majuli will be in La Maison De Ananda, in tribal-styled bamboo cottages with minimal amenities in tune with the local country lifestyle. Evening at leisure.
majuli
Spend the two days at leisure exploring the island's attractions and secrets. Early in the morning, observe the fishermen with the sunrise as they venture out for their daily catch. Also, visit some of the villages of the tribes which inhabit the island and observe the village folk as they prepare for the day or work their crafts. Go for a tour of the Satras (Assamese monasteries) of the island. Interact with the monks and priests, and learn more about their love-preaching philosophy of Neo Vaishnavism that is preached in the cultural institutions. You can also visit the local mask-making center where the artisans possess unique ancient skills that create realistic figures of characters from Hindu mythology. Maybe go bicycling around the vast landscape of the island, go birdwatching, or sail at sunset in a country boat. Evenings at leisure. For dinner, you can try ethnic cuisine and some of the local beer called 'apong' that is prepared from rice.
Majuli - Ziro
After breakfast, leave for Ziro (6-8 hours), a splendid valley surrounded by farms and pine-conifer forests and home to the Apatani Tribe. Your journey will thus enter the pristine eastern Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh. Evening at leisure. Your stay here will be in a homestay, where you'll get a close interaction with the hosts and their culture.
ziro
Spend two days exploring Apatani villages such as Hong, Hari, and Dutta. In these villages where Apatani build houses adjoining each other, you will get to interact with the locals, especially the tattooed elders who still live a very traditional life. Visit the unique Apatani farms where both rice and fish are harvested. A visit to the local market will help you learn more about Apatani culture, customs, eating habits, attires, and ornaments. Evenings will be at leisure. You may also taste their ethnic cuisine and local brew over dinner.
ziro - daporijo
After breakfast, you will leave for Daporijo (6-7 hours), located at the heart of the Subansiri Valley where the Tagin people live. The drive will be scenic, through the lush tropical forested areas of central Arunachal Pradesh, crossing scattered tribal settlements. En route, you will stop by the villages of the Hill Miri and Nishi tribes for cultural interaction. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be in Hotel Singhik in standard rooms.
daporijo - aalo
After an early breakfast, leave for Aalo (6 hours), home to the various Adi sub-tribes and situated near the Siyom River. En route, you will visit the villages of Tagins and Gallong Adis for cultural interactions. Gallong houses are peculiar as they are built without the use of nails. Afternoon as time permits, visit the museum, craft center, and an animist temple of the Donyi-Polo religion. The evening will be leisure. Your stay will be at a hotel with budget amenities.
aalo
Spend the day exploring villages around Along belonging to the Adi Gallong Tribe such as Kabu, Jirdan, and Kayin. Visit homes and interact with the villagers to gain more insight into the inter-relation of animist cultures present in Arunachal Pradesh. In Kabu cross a cane hanging bridge which is famous for its native ingenuity. The evening will be at leisure at Darka Village, one of the largest Gallong settlements.
aalo - pasighat
After an early breakfast, you will leave for Pasighat (6-7 hours) which is located in the plains. The drive will be exceptionally scenic crossing through the valley of the mighty Siang River, known more popularly as the Brahmaputra. The Adi Tribe has since long-lived and thrived in this mysterious valley, carving beautiful terraced farms at places. En route, visit Adi Minyong villages such as Yaksi and Panging which is one of the largest Minyong villages with more than five hundred houses. The majority of women here are into traditional weaving. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be in a standard camp.
pasighat - roing
After breakfast, leave for Roing (7-8 hours) crossing some fertile plains silhouetted by mountains. Roing is located at the base of the Mishmi Hills and serves as a doorway to the very remote and hidden easternmost of the Himalayas. The evening will be at leisure. In Roing, the stay will be at a Mishmi tribal-styled lodge with basic amenities.
roing - hunli
After some village visits to Abango and Kuruno of the Mishmi Tribe, and also a traditional knowledge center RIWATCH if time permits, leave for a climbing drive to Hunli (4-5 hours), entering the tropical blessed areas of eastern Arunachal Pradesh. En route, cross Mayodia Pass, a biodiversity hotspot covered in snow for most of the year. The rest of the day will at leisure. The stay will be in a basic guesthouse or in tents.
hunli - anini
After breakfast, leave for Anini (9-10 hours), a neat and pretty mountaintop town inhabited by the charming Idu Mishmi people. En route, visit Mishmi villages such as New Anaya, Ranli, and Angulin. Your stay will be at a fairly standard guesthouse on the outskirts of the laid-back town.
anini
After breakfast, leave for an extremely picturesque drive through the Mishmi countryside and bamboo forests to Damben, going as far as where the last Indian road ends, about 30 miles from the border with South Tibet. The villages you will visit of the Idu Mishmis in this area are one of the remotest regions of the world and people here live a life totally disconnected from the outside world. The Idu Mishmis are also known for maintaining a venerable sense of social bonding and unity among its members through their unique socio-religious rituals in daily life, yet giving a sense of personal freedom to individuals so as to incorporate aspects of material progress in their lifestyle. Return to Anini by dusk. Bonfires can be arranged in the evening.
anini
For a day trip, you will go for another scenic drive till the road end at Mipi. Here, you will find Tibetan people who came to Mipi centuries ago in search of the Beyul of Pemako, considered in Buddhism a doorway to hidden paradisiacal realms. Interact with the locals. Return to Anini by dusk. Bonfires can be arranged in the evening.
anini - roing
Leave for a long drive back to the plains till Roing (9-11 hours). Your stay will be in Mishmi tribal-styled lodge with basic amenities.
roing - tezu
After early breakfast, leave for Tezu (5 hours), a neat small town located in fertile plains surrounded picturesquely by the Mishmi Hills. The town is quite multi-cultural as people from many tribes can be found here. The rest of the day will be spent visiting some villages of the Digaru Mishmi Tribe and the local market. Also visit the Dargeyling Tibetan Settlement, one of the biggest in Northeast India, which was established in 1964 for refugees who fled Tibet due to Chinese aggression. The evening will be at leisure. Bonfires may be arranged upon request. Your stay will be at a basic hotel or guesthouse.
tezu - dibrugarh
After an early breakfast, leave for a drive to Dibrugarh (6-7 hours) a pretty town located midst the large tea-growing tracts of Upper Assam and beside the mighty Brahmaputra River. En route, stop by the Lohit View Point where exceptional views of the Assam plains can be seen, networked magnificently by countless streams and rivulets. Also visit the Mahayana Buddhist monasteries and golden pagodas of the Khampti Tribe in Chohkham and Namsai, a tribe with Burmese ancestry. The evening will be at leisure or can be spent exploring the upbeat market area of Dibrugarh Town. Your stay will be in the town's old clubhouse, in standard rooms with good modern amenities.
dibrugarh - mon
After an early breakfast, leave for Mon (6 hours) in Nagaland, located in the serene rain blessed Patkai Hills and home to the Konyak Tribe who are known for their tattooing customs, wood carving skills, and gun-making. The Mon area can arguably be considered as one of the most remote areas in India in the sense that the people here are still very traditional and were the last to leave the practice of headhunting, more than two decades ago. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be at a farm stay in the Shiyong village.
mon
For a day trip, drive to the Konyak village of Longwa (2 hours), where the tribal king's house is bizarrely located half in India and half in Burma. The king of the village, besides being an opium enthusiast and being married to many women, rules 50 other villages on both sides of the border. The people of the area unofficially share dual citizenship with the two countries. In Longwa, you will get to visit the king's house, interact with him and see his war trophies. Observe the traditional lifestyles of the Konyaks. Return to Mon by evening for an overnight stay.
mon
Today you will be visiting the Konyak villages of Chanmoho, Changlangshu, and Chui. A visit to these villages will be a good opportunity to observe the Konyak lifestyle, daily chores, weaves, arts and crafts. In Chanmoho, it is pretty easy to see many elders with tattooed warrior faces. In Chui, an old-world charm exists as the houses are very traditional, constructed in the ancient Konyak way of using palm leaf roofing.
mon-tuensang
After an early breakfast, you will leave for Tuensang (8-9 hours) in interior Nagaland, an area less frequented by tourists due to its remoteness. En route, if time permits you will be visiting the villages of Changlangshu and Monyakshu of the Konyak Nagas. Both these villages have sustainable housing and traditional lifestyles. At an altitude of 4,491 feet, the town is also unique as it hosts people from 6 different tribes, namely Changs, Yimchungers, Khiamungans, Sangtams, Semas & Phoms. These tribes have a rich cultural heritage and their traditional dresses are very colorful. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be at a budget guesthouse.
tuensang
Starting early morning, spend the entire day visiting nearby villages of Yakor and Sangphur where the Yimchunger Tribe lives. You can also visit Noklak and Pansao (if time permits) to see the Khiamungan Tribe. by visiting these villages, you will come across their unique tribal culture and traditions, followed especially by the elders. Return to Tuensang by evening for an overnight stay.
tuensang - mokokchung
After an early breakfast, you will leave for Mokokchung (5 hours), the cultural hub of the Ao Naga Tribe. En route, visit the Chare Village of the Sangtham Tribe who despite embracing Christianity has managed to retain much of their traditional beliefs. Mokokchung is a vibrant town of the Ao’s who are famous for their arts. The afternoon will be spent visiting Ungma which is the oldest and biggest Ao village. The log drum of the village is very large. One can also photograph the locals in their ethnic dresses upon request. The evening will be free at leisure in Mokokchung. A visit to the market area can help you learn more about the Ao culture. Your stay will be at a budget guesthouse with basic amenities.
mokokchung
After an early breakfast, leave on a full day excursion to the Ao villages of Mongsenyimti, Moponchuket, and Langpangkong. In Mongsenyimti, it is still possible to see old ladies with tattooed chins. You can also see the two beautiful log drums of the village. Langpangkong is significant historically as an Assamese (Ahom) king had once taken refuge in the village after fleeing from court rivals. Interestingly, the cave that sheltered him still exists. The village of Mopongchuket on the other hand is famous for the story of Jina and Etiben, the Ao version of Romeo and Juliet. A tower still exists commemorating their love. The Time Pillar, the indigenous museum, morungs, and other monuments are worth a visit while in the village. Return to Mokokchung by evening for an overnight stay.
mokokchung - jorhat
After an early breakfast, you will leave for Jorhat Airport (4-5 hours) for a departure flight. Tour ends.
Where you will stay?
When you travel with us, we make sure that you stay in the best available accommodations in the places you visit, especially since many areas in Northeast India are remote and do not have many options to stay.
These properties are highly reviewed by our team of experts and are aesthetic in nature when possible.
Our itineraries are flexible, highly customisable, and you can always choose a different property depending on budget and style.
cafe b&B, shillong
RATING: LUXURY
STYLE: boutique b&B
A standard boutique property housed in a typical old British India bungalow, offering a charming stay to visitors who come to the ‘Scotland of the east’. Belonging once to the Kharpuri family, the place has colorful character and rooms and facilities are updated to the comforts of modern hospitality. There’s a front-yard garden, a quiet spot for a morning tea or an evening drink.
village guesthouse, Nongriat
RATING: basic
STYLE: guesthouse
The community run village guesthouse is where visitors can stay in Nongriat. Situated close to a giant living root bridge, it has very simple basic rooms which are clean. Food is cooked homely by a village lady or can be had at charming Byron’s diner located next door.
infinity resort, kaziranga NP
RATING: LUXURY
STYLE: COTTAGES
This is a small and compact resort of about eighteen rooms. The rooms, all of them built on stilts, are comfortable, luxurious and situated roughly in a ring around a central green area including a swimming pool and bonfire areas. From the reception to the rooms, the main path leads past the restaurant, the games room, the souvenir shop, spa room, and a conference room. From near the restaurant, there’s also a short nature trail of a couple of hundred yards or so, along a water body with a paddle boat.
la maison, majuli
RATING: basic
STYLE: COTTAGES
La Maison De Ananda, the 'house of happiness', was built by a French couple who fell in love with Majuli and gifted it to a local family as a source of income from likeminded travelers who visit the island. The stilt cottage is built in local ways using bamboo and cane. Interiors are clean and basic, in tune to the village life existing around. There's a sit-out where one can relax or have pleasant conversations.
homestay, ziro
RATING: basic
STYLE: homestay
Homestays are important in promoting sustainable tourism in Ziro, the land of the ancient Apatani culture, while also engaging visitors to have an authentic experience of staying with an Apatani family and learning about their ways. The rooms are simple, airy, clean, with fairly standard amenities.
singhik hotel, daporijo
RATING: standard
STYLE: hotel
In a town as remote and badly administered as Daporijo, Hotel Singhik comes as a savior, a business hotel offering clean modern rooms and standard amenities.
reyi homestay, aalo
RATING: standard
STYLE: homestay
The beautiful Reyi Homestay is one of the best places to stay in Aalo. The host is warm and hospitable. The property is expansive with plenty of flowers and nature. The rooms are airy and comfortable.
jungle camp, roing
RATING: standard
STYLE: COTTAGES
Set in the midst of lush orange orchards and private forests, the Camp has comfortable and spacious cottages built on stilts and a grand dining hall with panoramic views.
guesthouse, anini
RATING: standard
STYLE: COTTAGES
It is almost heavenly to find a comfortable abode in a place as remote and faraway as Anini in the deep eastern Himalayas. The property is surrounded by a dreamy landscape of bamboo forests and provides clean rooms with fairly standard amenities. Run by a local Idu Mishmi priest and his wife who are most welcoming and hospitable to see strange faces from our modern world.
clubhouse, dibrugarh
RATING: standard
STYLE: hotel
With a small town open atmosphere, The Gymkhana Clubhouse in Dibrugarh is run by enthusiastic town folks and provides splendid modern rooms and amenities such a pool and a gym. The clubhouse which was built in 1923 consists of a restaurant and a well stocked boutique barroom.
konyak retreat, mon
RATING: standard
STYLE: homestay
The Konyak Tea Retreat is a farm-stay located at Shiyong Village near to Mon town. Run by an enthusiastic Konyak lady who is passionate about responsible tourism and her culture, the highlight of the property is its located midst verdant hills, villages, tea estates and fruit orchards. Rooms have a unique decor, are spacious and fairly modern.
guesthousose, mokokchung
RATING: standard
STYLE: guesthouse
Wishpering Winds, located in the verdant hills of Mokokchung, is a cozy minimalistic guesthouse run by enthusiastic locals. Rooms are clean and with standard amenities.
The tours listed in this website are our own well-researched itineraries that come with a great degree of flexibility and customization. Each tour is therefore individually costed around your requirements and budget. This provides you with a sense of choice and reliability, and also helps us meet customer expectations much more closely, making your travel experience all the more memorable.
Please fill out the form below to tell us more about the tour you are interested in and a response with costs and information will be sent to you.
