Question 1

How easy is it to visit Northeast India?

Accepted Answer

The region is not easy to visit independently. Tourism here is low-scale with lack of options for transportation, hotels and infrastructure. Some states require special permits that are hard to get for solo travelers.

It is recommended to use a local tour operator. This not only makes the travel smooth but also helps in understanding the region and its vast array of cultures on a deeper level. Tour guides are very important as communication becomes a problem as languages spoken are way too numerous.

Question 2

Do you run group tours or fixed departures?

Accepted Answer

No. Every trip we run is private. You travel with your own party and your own guide and driver, on the dates that suit you, and we do not sell seats on a set departure or put strangers together.

It means the route can be built around what you want to see and changed while you are here if the weather or a festival date moves. It also means the cost depends on how many of you are travelling, which is why we quote each trip rather than list a price.

Question 3

How much does a trip cost?

Accepted Answer

We do not publish fixed prices. Every trip is put together for the people travelling, so the cost depends on where you go, how long you stay, the season, the group size and the kind of places you want to sleep in. The same route can be run simply or comfortably, and the difference is large.

Tell us what you have in mind and we will send a price for it. The booking form on any tour page asks a few questions and reaches us directly, or you can email info@thegreenerpastures.com or message us on WhatsApp at +91 60031 47459.

Question 4

Is it safe to travel to Northeast India?

Accepted Answer

Northeast India has been at the center of ethno-political movements and conflicts for decades. Tourism was almost non-existent right till the early 2000s and regulations were heavy.

Conditions have improved a great deal since then, and the areas we travel in are calm and well used to visitors. The situation is not uniform across the region, though, and it changes. A few areas are best avoided, and we do not take guests to them: the Karbi and Bodo territories in Assam, the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, and Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh.

We are not currently operating tours in Manipur. Our Manipur pages are a travel guide to the state, not an offer to take you there. When that changes we will say so here.

Before you book, check your own government's travel advice for India — it is the source your travel insurance will be judged against. Then talk to us. We live here, we know which roads and valleys are fine this month and which are not, and we would rather move an itinerary than take a chance with it.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Question 5

What is the best time to visit and how is the weather?

Accepted Answer

The best time to visit Northeast India is during the northern winters from November to March. Day hours are then warm and sunny making the season ideal for exploring the outdoors, while nights remain cold.

The rains start as early as April and end around October, peaking in the summer monsoon months from June to September. Travel during these months becomes difficult as landslides and floods are a threat. Though with careful planning, traveling in these months can be rewarding with lush green landscapes and beautiful dramatic skies. The climate during these months is generally quite hot and humid, though regular rains provide relief.

Question 6

What are the formalities for permits and visas?

Accepted Answer

All states require a valid Indian visa. There are different permit rules for Indians and foreigners in some states. No permits are required to visit the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura for either Indians or foreigners.

Foreigners need a special permit called the Protected Area Permit (PAP) for all four of these states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. It must be arranged before you arrive, and it is not issued on the spot. Foreign visitors are also required to check in at the local police station or the FRRO office in some places.

Indians need a special permit called Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. These can be obtained from the respective state House or government offices located at important centers across India.

It can be wise to involve a tour operator to get the permits if one wants to skip the hassles of official work or if one wants to travel independently in a state such as Arunachal Pradesh.

Question 7

How do you get to Northeast India?

Accepted Answer

Guwahati, the riverine capital of Assam and the only large city in the region, is the gateway to Northeast India, with good regular rail and air connections to other parts of India. It is suitable as an entry point when visiting Meghalaya, Assam and western Arunachal Pradesh.

Dibrugarh, the riverine tea town of eastern Assam, has decent rail and air connections to other parts of the country, and is appropriate as an entry point when visiting Assam, eastern Nagaland and all other parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura have their own capital-based airports which have fairly routine flights from selected main cities across India.

Question 8

Where should you go in Northeast India?

Accepted Answer

The region comprising seven states is a really vast and remote expanse of land stretching from the great plains of the Brahmaputra to the northern high mountains of the eastern Himalayas and the thick jungles of the southern hills.

With the long distances between destinations and poor infrastructure, multiple trips are definitely needed if one wants to explore all the states. Assam and Meghalaya are easiest of access with good infrastructure and roads. All other states currently have poor tourist infrastructure and a deeper level of planning is required to visit them.

A visit to the region can last anywhere from five days to a month depending on the time one has and the number of states one would like to see.

Question 9

How do you travel within Northeast India?

Accepted Answer

With poor infrastructure common in most states, road travel between destinations though necessary takes a long time and is uncomfortable with bad roads especially in the mountain states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Public and shared transport options have limited timings in most states and are unavailable during 'bandhs' or strikes which can be common. The best and safest option is to travel in a private vehicle or join a tour.

Question 10

How are the accommodations?

Accepted Answer

With tourism infrastructure slowly growing, there is a lack in quality and choice when finding an accommodation, especially as most destinations are offbeat and not popular.

A good tour operator often has the best knowledge about nice places to stay and it is advisable to use their help if possible. Selected popular destinations in Assam and Meghalaya have a variety of options from luxury to basic.

However, most places in the remaining states have accommodations ranging from basic to fairly standard, where one can expect power outages, small rooms, bucket hot showers and limited eating options.

Question 11

What languages are spoken in Northeast India?

Accepted Answer

Northeast India is a treasure trove of hundreds of languages as most religions, tribes and sub-tribes have their own. General communication is mainly done in Hindi and Assamese between different cultures. English is commonly spoken in many areas.

Question 12

How about phone and internet reception?

Accepted Answer

Mobile data covers the towns and a good deal of the countryside, but it thins out in the high valleys and the deep forest and disappears altogether in parts of Arunachal and Nagaland. Wi-Fi at homestays and smaller lodges is there more often than not, and slow when it is.

It is recommended to carry an Indian SIM card when visiting the region to make and receive calls. In our tours, we do arrange SIM cards on request or allow guests to use the guide's phone.

Frequently Asked Questions