Embarking on a North East India tour was always on my bucket list. This mystical region is a fascinating part of India that boasts of pristine natural beauty, diverse culture, and rich history. So when I got a week off from work combined with an extended weekend, I lapped up the opportunity and jet-setted off to explore this adventurous destination.
The vast region that comprises 7 states called the “Seven Sisters” with countless idyllic travel destinations requires you to spend months there to be able to explore the region well but in reality, this is not something everyone can do. But setting aside 7 days in a year to head to the rather unexplored part of India is something doable. If you are someone who has always wished to wander through the winding roads in the Northeast and jump into the pools of hidden waterfalls but never found a perfect itinerary to make the best out of your available time, this itinerary is for you.
Hence, I have compiled a day-wise itinerary taking ideas out of my 7 day and 6 night budget North East India tour, specifically covering Assam and Meghalaya. Go ahead to read and plan your next trip to the North East. Please read my post till the end to learn tips for completing this trip under Rs. 30,000 per person. I took this trip with my family and for the 7 day and 6 night long trip, I spent just about Rs.85,000 all-inclusive. So read till the end!
North East India Tour – Day Wise Itinerary
Day 1 – Mumbai to Guwahati, night at Guwahati Hotel
You can start early morning by taking a flight from your city at about 5 or 6 am. I took mine at 5.10 am from Mumbai. A flight from Mumbai takes 3 hours & 15 minutes whereas a flight from Delhi takes 2 hours & 10 minutes to reach Guwahati. This long flight ensured I could catch up on my sleep. You can too!
Depending on where you start from, you will reach Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport in Guwahati by about 8.30 or 9 a.m. Checked-in baggage collection and taxi booking will take about half an hour. I had booked my hotel in the Paltan Bazaar area which is at the center of Guwahati so that I can easily access transport and food options. This is a great option even if you travel by train to Kamakhya Railway Junction.
Guwahati city traffic is bad on a weekday, weekends, and public holidays there is a respite from traffic. I reached the hotel one hour later. None of the hotels provide early check-in as a facility but as a special request, they do let you in. Post a heavy breakfast, I went to visit the Assam State Zoo. This takes about 2 hours. Post this take you can take an auto and visit Sualkuchi – a lovely quiet village on the banks of river Bramhaputra. This will take about 3 to 4 hours including the travel.
Late evening, you can visit the market area of Paltan Bazaar and Pan Bazaar.
Day 2 – Sightseeing in Guwahati, Night at Guwahati Hotel
Today, visit the famous Kamakhya temple, which is a highlight of any North East India tour. A visit to this temple takes 6 to 7 hours in a normal queue and 4 to 5 hours in a VIP queue. If you want to know the process of visiting this famous and revered temple, check my post on Kamakhya Temple Visit. For further details on temple timings check this link. Next, visit the Bogola Devi mandir that is located on this same Nilachal Hill, this should take about 30 mins.
Next, take an auto or cab and visit the boat landing on the Brahmaputra River. From here take a boat to visit Umananda temple, which will take 2 to 3 hours. In the late evening, visit Fancy Bazaar and GS Road. These are the famous shopping markets of Guwahati.
Day 3 – Guwahati to Shillong – Night at Shillong Hotel
Today, start for “Scotland of the East” aka Shillong. Travel time is 3 hours and the road is good. It is a toll road that costs Rs. 95 for one way. You can book a full taxi from Paltan Bazaar or take shared cabs/taxis from the same market. Be prepared to deal with traffic once you reach Shillong since the roads here are too narrow.
Stay in a hotel or homestay in the Police Bazaar area, which is the most happening and centrally located area in Shillong. After check-in and post-lunch, you can head out to Ward’s Lake and enjoy the serene calm waters. You can also go boating here. This will take 1 hour.
Next, you can head to the Shillong Museum and then Lady Hyadri Park, all popular destinations in Shillong. Most of the sightseeing places close during sunset which happens early in these parts i.e. by 4.30 pm in winter and 5 pm in summer. Rest in the hotel for the night.
Day 4 – Shillong to Cherrapunji – Night at Cherrapunji Hotel/Homestay
Today, rise early, check out from the Hotel, and head to Laitlum Canyon and Shillong Peak. This is about 15km from Police Bazaar, however time taken will depend on traffic which should be less early morning. After taking in the breathtaking views of the lush green valley head to Cherrapunji.
On the way visit Elephant Falls, this should take an hour. It will take 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach Sohra in Cherrapunji where you can check into a homestay. There are a handful of hotels and multiple homestay options available here. Next on the way, check out Arwah Cave which will take about 2 hours, and Garden of Caves which will take 1 hour, both popular tourist attractions in Cherrapunji.
Rest in Cherrapunji hotel/homestay for the night.
Day 5 – Cherrapunji to Tyrna to Nongriat to Tyrna – Night at Tyrna
Rise early and head to Tyrna Village situated at a distance of 22 km from Sohra. This should take about 45 minutes to reach. Trek to Nongriat village which houses several Living Root Bridges. The Trek down will take about 2 hours, however, you can reach faster based on your speed.
You can hire guides from Tyrna village near the car parking area, who charge Rs. 700 to guide your trek crossing many suspension and root bridges to one of the highlights of the North East India tour – the Double Decker Living Root Bridge. This is one of nature’s marvels, an exemplary sample of how beautiful and powerful nature can be if utilized well. Sit by the natural pool and soak in all the energy of the forest.
You can also ask your guide to take you to the Rainbow Waterfall, located a short hike away from Nongriat village. This route boasts of some beautiful natural pools that are untraceable and only known by the locals. If time permits, visit these natural pools to make your day even more exciting.
By afternoon, start your upward hike back to Tyrna. The upward hike will take a much longer time. Reach back to the starting point and stay at Tyrna, to get an experience of the rural side of Meghalaya.
Day 6 – Tyrna to Dawki to Mawlynnong to Cherrapunji- Night at Cherrapunji
Rise early and head to Dawki village which is another highlight of any North East India tour in Meghalaya. The travel to Dawki will take over 3 hours and the road is narrow and terrible. The road is not maintained well and is full of craters which makes travel very difficult. However, all the trouble taken is worth it when you arrive at Dawki and take a boat ride on Umngot River.
Head further to reach the cleanest village in Asia, Mawlynnong. Spend time in the peaceful and beautiful surroundings in the lap of Mother Nature. Post afternoon, head back to Sohra in Cherrapunji.
Day 7 – Cherrapunji to Shillong to Guwahati
Start early and check out the remaining popular tourist spots in Cherrapunji – the Nohkalikai Falls and Mawsmai Cave on the way to Shillong. Nohkalikai Falls, which has a height of 350 meters is the tallest plunge waterfall in India. There is an entry gate from where you can reach the mouth of the waterfall by following the trail. The viewpoint of the waterfall is about 5 km from Sohra and the total visit time will be about 45 minutes.
Mawsmai Cave – This is a cave system made of limestone and is home to unique flora and fauna. Situated at about 6 km from Sohra, it is a popular tourist attraction. Tourists can walk through the cave that is, entry and exit points are different.
Take the same route to head back to Guwahati via Shillong, a journey that will take about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Board your flight home with loads of happy memories.
Budget Tips & Tricks
- Do not book hotels in advance, especially if you are traveling in off off-season. The locals here give better discounts when you speak to them directly, making it much cheaper than any aggregator website.
- Take a flight to Guwahati and take a cab/taxi to Shillong. A direct flight to Shillong is much more expensive.
- Do not book hotels or homestays bundled with meals. The hotels and homestays here almost never provide food printed on the menu and on time. Keep yourself flexible, and eat at joints on the way for a better cost-effective trip. Also, keep dry fruits, energy bars, and chocolates handy.
- Hire taxis or shared cabs from a tour operator in Guwahati. The locals in Shillong charge exorbitant rates for the same travel route.
If you are looking for options in Kashmir, check out my posts on Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Snowfall in Kashmir, and Best time to Visit Kashmir. If you are looking for options in Ladakh, check out Ladakh Weather, Nubra Valley, 5 Days Kashmir Itinerary, Best Packing tips for Ladakh & best tourist places in Ladakh.
If you are looking for places to visit in the Andaman Islands, please check my post on Radhanagar Beach & Ross Island.
If you are looking for other seaside options, check my posts on Murud Janjira, Kashid, and Kihim Beach in Maharashtra or Malshej Ghat. Alternatively, if you are interested in some Religious tourism, please check my posts on Golden Temple, Kamakhya, Trimbakeshwar, and Kashi Vishwanath. If you are looking for North East Adventure tours, check my posts on Shillong, Meghalaya, Dawki, Double Decker Living Root Trek, and 7 Day North East Itinerary.
If you are planning visit to Sikkim, check out Tsomgo Lake.
If you are looking for some spirituality, you can check out Ganga Aarti in Dashashwamedh Ghat or Ghats in Varanasi.
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