The Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh road trip will take you on a journey through the enchanting Northeast India. While Meghalaya will treat your eyes with its lush vegetation and breathtaking natural formations, Arunachal Pradesh will take you by awe with its hill stations and floral diversity. On this tour, you will visit a number of waterfalls, a cave, rock formation and a hill. You will get an opportunity to learn about Tibetan Buddhism when you explore numerous monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh.

An air of grief and pride will envelope you during visits to two 1962 Indo-China War memorials. This Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh Jeep safari tour will also lead you to pristine lakes, a mountain pass, and Dzong and hill stations in the latter state. In Assam, you will have a chance to go on a wildlife safari and explore a tea farm and local villages. 

Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Guwahati | Guwahati to Shillong (approx. 100 km | 2.5 hours) Sightseeing in Shillong

On landing at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, travel to Shillong by road. After reaching the capital of Meghalaya, check-in at the hotel and rest. In the evening, head to Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, and see the Latin crosses, Biblical paintings and stained glass windows it features.

Later, move to Wards Lake – an artificial waterbody in the centre of the city. You can stroll or simply relax under the shade of tall trees in the gardens, surrounding it. Thereafter, visit Police Bazar to buy souvenirs or to relish local street food before returning to the hotel to rest at night.

Day 02: Shillong to Cherrapunjee | Sightseeing in Cherrapunjee | Cherrapunjee to Shillong

In the morning, begin the Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh road trip by travelling to Cherrapunjee. En route, stop at Shillong Peak to get panoramic views of the city of Shillong. Thereafter, move to Elephant Falls and see water cascading along a series of boulders, forming a natural staircase. Later, continue driving and on reaching Cherrapunjee – among the wettest places in the world – explore Mawsmai Falls, Mawsmai Cave and Nohkalikai Falls.

Mawsmai Falls are also called Seven Sisters Falls as it comprises seven separate streams. The artificially lit Mawsmai Cave houses hordes of natural rock formations for you to see. Among the highest in India, Nohkalikai Falls consists of one primary stream, flanked by numerous others on both sides. Following a delicious lunch in the town, head to Thangkharang Park, which overlook the vast, fertile plains of Bangladesh. Also during the day, take a trip to Ka Khoh Ramhah, a massive rock in the shape of an upside down cone. From here, move to the three-staged Kynrem Falls – the highest in the state.  After this wonderful sightseeing excursion, head back to Shillong for an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03: Shillong to Bhalukpong (approx. 295 km | 4.75 hours)

Following a tasty breakfast, check-out from the hotel and drive to Bhalukpong. On reaching here, head to the hotel to sleep.

Day 04: Bhalukpong to Dirang (approx. 140 km | 4.25 hours) | Sightseeing in Dirang

Post breakfast, continue the Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh Jeep safari tour and drive to the town of Dirang. On the way, stop at the Orchid Centre in Tipi and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary. Both these sites are engaged in researching on and conserving a variety of orchids found in the Eastern Himalayas.

After seeing the colourful flowers, move on further to reach Dirang. Here, visit the 17^th-century Dirang Dzong, which served as a refuge for the local people during times of war. Later head to the village of the Monpa people to learn something about their culture and routine. Post the excursion, travel to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 05: Dirang to Tawang (approx. 195 km | 6 hours) | Sightseeing in Tawang

Following breakfast, travel to Tawang – a famous hill station, located at an elevation of over 8000 feet above sea level. En route, visit Sela Pass, Sela Lake, Jawsantgarh War Memorial and Nuranang Falls.

Se La is an approximately 13680-feet high mountain pass and Sela Lake is adjacent to it. The Jaswantgarh War Memorial is dedicated to Jaswant Singh Rawat, a martyr of the 1962 armed conflict between India and China. Also called Jung Falls, Nuranang Falls drops from a height of around 100 feet. On reaching Tawang, check-in to the hotel to get some sleep.

Day 06: Sightseeing in and around Tawang

In the morning, begin a major sightseeing section of this Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh road trip by visiting various tourist attractions in the region. Explore Tawang and Urgelling monasteries, Ani gompa, Pankang Teng Tso and Sangetsar Lake.

Tawang Monastery – the largest in the country – houses scroll paintings and a huge gilded idol of Lord Buddha. Urgelling Monastery was the site of the birth of the Sixth Dalai Lama, and hence it is deeply revered. Ani gompa is one of the many nunneries of the local Buddhist monastic body. Pankang Teng Tso is a high altitude lake, surrounded by barren mountains. See trees, devoid of branches, growing in the waters of Sangetsar Lake. After lunch and refreshments, move to the Tawang War Memorial to pay homage to the martyrs of the 1962 war. Spend the evening at leisure before heading back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 07: Tawang to Bomdila (approx. 235 km | 7 hours)

Following breakfast, drive to Bomdila and on reaching here, check-in at the hotel to rest.

Day 08: Bomdila to Kaziranga National Park (approx. 200 km | 5 hours)

After breakfast, travel to Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once here, transfer to the resort for an overnight stay.

Day 09: Jeep Safari in Kaziranga | Local Sightseeing

Relish breakfast and then recommence the Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh Jeep safari tour by heading into the forest. Explore the jungles and grasslands of the national park on a Jeep to see one-horned rhinos, gaurs, sloth bears, monkeys and deer.

In the evening, learn the art of plucking and processing tea leaves at a local plantation, and then reach a nearby village. Thereafter, return to the resort to rest.

Day 10: Kaziranga National Park to Guwahati (approx. 195 km | 3.5 hours) | Departure from Guwahati

Post breakfast, transfer to Guwahati and after arriving here, move to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to fly to your next destination.