Arrive at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi (Guwahati) airport and clear immigration/baggage; grab a chai and a quick breakfast at the airport lounge before meeting your private driver. Begin the scenic 3-4 hour drive to Shillong via NH127/40, pausing at the Umiam Lake viewpoint to stretch, take photos of the blue water and surrounding hills, and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
Check into your Shillong hotel or guesthouse and settle in, then head out to explore the local heart of the city with a late-lunch at Café Shillong or City Hut Family Dhaba to sample Khasi dishes like jadoh or tungrymbai. Spend the afternoon wandering Ward's Lake and the adjacent Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures to get a gentle introduction to Meghalaya’s art, history and the region’s living traditions.
As dusk falls, stroll along Police Bazaar to soak up the bustling market atmosphere, shop for handmade shawls or local jams, and try street snacks such as momos and roasted corn. Finish the day with dinner at Trattoria or Dylan’s Café and enjoy a relaxed evening back at your hotel — rest early to be ready for tomorrow’s waterfalls and culture tour.
After a restful night in Shillong, start the day with breakfast at Café Shillong or Dylan’s Café before driving out to Elephant Falls to enjoy the cascades and lush, fern-covered trails; take time for photos and a short walk to the lookout platforms. Continue to Shillong Peak and the nearby viewpoint at Mawphlang to drink in panoramic hill views and learn about sacred groves — a peaceful introduction to the region’s natural and cultural landscape.
Return to town for a Khasi culinary experience with lunch at City Hut or Trattoria, sampling jadoh or nakham bwiang, then explore the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures to deepen your understanding of local arts and traditions. Spend mid-afternoon wandering Police Bazaar and the Shillong Market to shop for handwoven shawls, local honey and bamboo crafts, interspersed with tea at Lamee rooftop for people-watching and relaxed city vibes.
As dusk falls, head to the lively Bara Bazaar area to try street snacks like momos and roasted corn, or opt for a refined dinner at the family-run Dylan’s Café for regional fusion dishes. Finish the evening with a gentle stroll around Ward’s Lake or a live music session at the popular Dylan’s Café/Trattoria (check schedules) before returning to your hotel to rest for tomorrow’s Cherrapunji excursion.
Leave Shillong after an early breakfast and drive 1.5-2 hours to Cherrapunji (Sohra), enjoying misty hill roads and sporadic viewpoints en route; your first stop is the dramatic Nohkalikai Falls where you can peer into the plunging gorge and feel the cooling spray while capturing iconic photos from the main viewpoint. Next, wander the nearby Seven Sisters Falls and stop at the viewpoint above Arwah Caves for quick panoramic shots of the surrounding cliffs and tea gardens.
After a local lunch at a roadside dhaba or Orange Roots café, head to Mawsmai Cave for an easy, atmospheric spelunking walk through limestone passages studded with stalactites and narrow chambers — bring a torch for the darker stretches. Continue to the Eco Park and the viewpoint at Dainthlen Falls or the Double Decker Living Root Bridge viewpoint (if time permits) for short, scenic walks that showcase Cherrapunji’s unique karst landscape and biodiversity.
Begin the return drive to Shillong in the late afternoon, pausing at viewpoints like the Khasi viewpoint and small tea stalls for chai and snacks as the light softens over the hills. Back in Shillong, unwind with dinner at Dylan’s Café or City Hut to sample comforting Khasi fare and reflect on a full day of waterfalls, caves and dramatic vistas before an early night to prepare for the Living Root Bridges trek tomorrow.
Set out early after breakfast from Shillong for the drive to Mawlynnong — touted as Asia’s cleanest village — and stroll its tidy lanes to visit the living skywalks, the famous clay viewpoint and the bamboo suspension bridge; pause at the Mawlynnong Sky View Tower for sweeping views of the Bangladesh plains and the Khasi countryside. Continue toward Tyrna and start the trek down to Nongriat, following stone steps and mossy trails past small waterfalls and villages, with the walk building anticipation for the first glimpses of the iconic single- and double-decker living root bridges.
Arrive in Nongriat village around midday and descend the steep path to the double-decker living root bridge, where you can cross, swim in the cold pool beneath the bridge and relax on flat rocks while having a packed lunch or sampling local snacks from tea stalls; explore the surrounding fungal-carpeted forest and smaller root bridges tucked into the greenery. If energy allows, take the short trek to the Rainbow Falls (or nearby Bridal Veil falls) for photos and a refreshing dip before beginning the steady climb back up toward Tyrna as late afternoon light softens the valley.
Return to Mawlynnong or your guesthouse in Tyrna and freshen up before a relaxed dinner featuring Khasi home-style dishes—try smoked pork, tungrymbai and sticky rice—while swapping stories with hosts or fellow trekkers about root-bridge engineering and village life. Wind down with a peaceful walk through lantern-lit village lanes or sit beneath the starlit sky listening to the forest chorus, ready for tomorrow’s transfer to Dawki and the Umngot River.
Depart early from Shillong after a quick breakfast and enjoy the 3-3.5 hour drive to Dawki, stopping en route for scenic photos of rolling karst hills and small tea gardens. On arrival at the Umngot River jetty, board a traditional wooden boat to glide over impossibly clear water toward the border — the riverbed is visible beneath your feet and the reflections of limestone cliffs make for stunning photos and peaceful birdwatching.
After the boat ride, stroll the riverbank through Dawki’s relaxed market area, sample fresh river fish at a local riverside shack, and visit the nearby Dawki Bridge for iconic shots of long-tailed boats against emerald water. If time permits, drive a short distance to Krang Suri or Mawlynnong’s nearby viewpoints for one last panoramic look at the Jaintia Hills before beginning the return journey toward Shillong or Guwahati.
On the drive back, pause for tea and snacks at a hilltop stall to watch the sunset dye the valleys, arriving into Shillong or Guwahati in the early evening depending on your onward plan. Finish the trip with a relaxed farewell dinner — in Shillong try Dylan’s Café for regional flavors or in Guwahati choose a riverside restaurant — and pack up memories (and photos) of Meghalaya’s waterfalls, bridges and crystal-clear rivers before tomorrow’s travel.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi (Guwahati) airport - arrival & breakfast | ₹150-400 (airport breakfast/tea & snacks) |
| Private driver transfer Guwahati → Shillong (NH127/40) with stops (3-4 hrs) | ₹3,000-4,500 per vehicle (Sedan) one-way; higher for SUVs (₹4,500-6,500) |
| Umiam Lake viewpoint stop | Free (pay for drinks/snacks if you buy anything: ₹50-300) |
| Check-in Shillong hotel / guesthouse | ₹800-4,000 per night (budget guesthouse to mid-range hotel) |
| Late lunch at Café Shillong or City Hut Family Dhaba (Khasi dishes) | ₹150-500 per person |
| Ward's Lake (wander) | Free (boat ride if available: ₹50-150) |
| Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures | ₹30-150 (entry/donation/guide may vary) |
| Police Bazaar stroll & street snacks | Snacks ₹50-300; shopping depends (shawls ₹500-2,500+) |
| Dinner at Trattoria or Dylan’s Café | ₹300-800 per person |
| Breakfast in Shillong (Café Shillong/Dylan’s) | ₹100-300 per person |
| Elephant Falls | Entry ₹10-30; parking/guide extra ₹20-100 |
| Shillong Peak viewpoint (and Mawphlang area) | Shillong Peak: Free or small parking fee ₹10-50; Mawphlang sacred grove: ₹50-200 (guide/entry) |
| Midday lunch (City Hut/Trattoria) | ₹150-500 per person |
| Lamee rooftop tea / Police Bazaar shopping | Tea/coffee ₹50-200; shopping variable (souvenirs ₹100-2,000) |
| Bara Bazaar evening snacks / live music at cafes | Snacks ₹50-300; music cover maybe ₹100-300 |
| Drive Shillong → Cherrapunji (Sohra) | If same private vehicle: included in day hire; standalone per transfer ₹1,200-2,000 |
| Nohkalikai Falls viewpoint | Entry/parking ₹10-50 |
| Seven Sisters Falls viewpoint / Arwah caves viewpoint | Free to small fee ₹10-50 |
| Roadside lunch / Orange Roots café | ₹100-350 per person |
| Mawsmai Cave (spelunking walk) | Entry ₹20-100; torch rental ₹50-100 if needed |
| Eco Park / Dainthlen Falls / viewpoint visits | Entry ₹10-50 per site; small local guide fees optional ₹50-200 |
| Return drive Cherrapunji → Shillong | Included in day vehicle hire; fuel/share contributes to above transfer cost |
| Drive from Shillong → Mawlynnong/Tyrna (for Living Root Bridges) | ₹2,000-3,500 per vehicle (day hire/transfer) |
| Mawlynnong village (Asia’s cleanest village) & Sky View Tower | Entry/ tower fee ₹20-100; small donation/tea ₹20-200 |
| Trek Tyrna → Nongriat (to Living Root Bridges) | Guide optional ₹300-800; snacks/water ₹50-200 |
| Double-decker Living Root Bridge, swimming & packed lunch | Free (tea stalls/packed lunch ₹100-300) |
| Rainbow Falls / Bridal Veil Falls (optional side trek) | Free; small donation/guide optional ₹50-200 |
| Overnight stay in Mawlynnong / Tyrna guesthouse | ₹800-2,500 per room (basic homestay to comfortable guesthouse); dinner ₹150-400 |
| Drive Shillong → Dawki (Umngot River) | ₹3,000-5,000 per vehicle one-way (depends on vehicle/season) |
| Umngot River boat ride (traditional wooden boat) | Boat hire ₹400-1,200 per boat (can be shared); per person ₹100-300 via shared rides |
| Lunch at riverside shack (fresh river fish) | ₹150-400 per person |
| Dawki market & Dawki Bridge photo stop | Free to browse; purchases ₹50-500 |
| Optional Krang Suri or nearby viewpoint visit | Entry/parking ₹20-100; guide/boat extras if any |
| Return drive Dawki → Shillong or Guwahati | Included in vehicle hire; per-transfer cost as above |
| Farewell dinner in Shillong or Guwahati | ₹300-1,000 per person (depending on restaurant choice) |
| Miscellaneous: fuel, parking, permits, tips | ₹1,000-3,000 total (trip dependent) |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ₹12,000 - ₹35,000 per person (6 days/5 nights approximate, sharing car & mid-range choices) Cost notes: Lower end assumes budget guesthouses (₹800/night), shared vehicle costs, eating local; higher end assumes mid-range hotels (₹2,500-4,000/night), private transfers, more paid guides/activities and shopping. If starting/ending in Guwahati include airport transfer costs already estimated above; exclude airfare to Guwahati/rail fares which vary separately. |