Detailed itinerary
Meghalaya Grand Tour — Khasi & Jaintia Hills 7N/8D
From
₹31,900
The full Meghalaya, including the Jaintia hills that almost no itinerary reaches. You sleep by the Umngot at Dawki or Shnongpdeng instead of driving back, spend a day at Krang Suri's turquoise plunge pool and the Nartiang monoliths, and finish at Laitlum with a buffer day in Shillong.
Trip at a glance
- Riverside night at Dawki/Shnongpdeng
- Krang Suri Falls in the Jaintia Hills
- Nongriat double-decker root bridge
- Mawlynnong and the bamboo sky walk
- Laitlum Canyon and Nartiang monoliths
Day by day
8 days, start to finish — travel, activities and where you sleep each night.
- 1
Day 1
Guwahati to Shillong via Umiam Lake
Met at Guwahati airport or railway station and driven up onto the Khasi plateau. Halt at Umiam Lake, the reservoir set in pine hills that announces you've arrived in Meghalaya (boating optional, weather permitting). Check in at Shillong and spend the evening in Police Bazaar among the cafés, bakeries and street food. Overnight in Shillong.
- 2
Day 2
Shillong local sightseeing
An easy day in the hill station: Shillong Peak for the view over the whole plateau, Elephant Falls, a walk around Ward's Lake in the middle of town, and the Don Bosco Museum for a genuinely good introduction to the seven states of the Northeast. Afternoon for cafés and the live music Shillong is known for. Overnight in Shillong.
- 3
Day 3
Shillong to Cherrapunji
Breakfast, check out and take the road south, stopping at the Mawkdok Dympep Valley viewpoint where the gorge falls away on both sides. In Sohra: Nohkalikai Falls, the Seven Sisters Falls (seasonal), and Mawsmai Cave, an easy lit limestone passage you can walk through. Check in and take the sunset viewpoints if the cloud lifts. Overnight in Cherrapunji.
- 4
Day 4
Nongriat trek to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge
The centrepiece of the trip and a full day. Early breakfast, then the descent to Nongriat — roughly 3,000 steps down through rainforest, over steel wire bridges above the river, to the double-decker root bridge the Khasi have grown from living ficus roots over generations. Time at the natural pools before the climb back up. Moderate to challenging; take it slow. Overnight in Cherrapunji.
- 5
Day 5
Cherrapunji to Dawki and Mawlynnong — riverside night
Breakfast and check-out, then to Dawki for boating on the Umngot. Continue to Mawlynnong for the village, the bamboo sky walk and the living root bridge. Tonight you stay by the river at Dawki or Shnongpdeng rather than driving back — the quietest evening of the trip, with the option of a riverside camp. Overnight in Dawki/Shnongpdeng.
- 6
Day 6
Jaintia Hills — Krang Suri Falls
Early breakfast and check-out for the Jaintia Hills. Krang Suri is the reason: a wide turquoise plunge pool under a curtain of water, with a short stepped walk down to it and safe swimming when the flow allows. Optional stop at the Nartiang monoliths, the tallest megaliths in the region. Long drive back to Shillong; start early. Overnight in Shillong.
- 7
Day 7
Laitlum Canyon and a leisure day
Morning at Laitlum Canyon for the panorama over the gorges, with an easy walk along the ridge. The rest of the day is a deliberate buffer — cafés, Police Bazaar shopping and rest, or an extra sight if the group is up for it. Overnight in Shillong.
- 8
Day 8
Shillong to Guwahati — departure
Breakfast and check-out for the drive down to Guwahati. If time permits, a stop at the Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill before your drop at the airport or railway station.
Inclusions & exclusions
What's included
- Accommodation on double sharing in hotels, homestays and riverside camps
- Daily breakfast, plus dinner where specified
- Private vehicle for the full circuit with all transfers and sightseeing
- Pick-up and drop at Guwahati airport or railway station
- All sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
- Local guide for the Nongriat living root bridge trek
- Boating at Dawki on the Umngot river
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and permits
Not included
- Airfare / train tickets to and from Guwahati
- Lunches and meals not specified
- Entry tickets to caves, parks and viewpoints
- Zipline, kayaking, scuba and other optional activities
- Camera charges where applicable
- Personal expenses, tips and shopping
- Costs arising from weather, landslides or itinerary changes
- Travel insurance and medical expenses
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Inclusions
Where you stay
Hotels in Shillong, valley-view stays in Cherrapunji, and a riverside camp or homestay at Dawki/Shnongpdeng on the longer plans.
Good to know
How hard is the Nongriat trek?
It is around 3,000 steps down and the same back up, roughly 6–7 hours in total with breaks. Moderate to challenging — knees feel it more than lungs. Trekking shoes and a walking pole help enormously.
When is the Umngot river at Dawki clearest?
November to April, when the water runs glass-clear. During and just after the monsoon (June–September) it turns muddy and boating may be suspended.
Is it always raining in Cherrapunji?
It holds the record for the wettest place on earth, so carry a poncho year round. October to April is comparatively dry; June to September is genuinely heavy rain, which is also when the waterfalls are at their most spectacular.
Can we skip the trek?
Yes. Anyone who prefers can stay back for Arwah Cave, Mawsmai Cave and the Sohra viewpoints while the group treks — just tell your coordinator in advance.
Do we need permits for Meghalaya?
Indian nationals do not need an ILP for Meghalaya. Foreign nationals must register at the Foreigners' Registration Office; we assist with the process.
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