After arriving and settling into your Shillong hotel, ease into the day with a stroll through Police Bazaar to soak up local life, shop for Khasi handicrafts, and sample piping hot jadoh or momos at a nearby stall. Follow this with a visit to the serene Ward’s Lake and nearby All Saints’ Church for a peaceful introduction to the town’s colonial-era charm before a leisurely lunch at a café overlooking the gardens.
Head up to Laitumkhrah to explore its tree-lined streets and visit the quiet St. Peter’s Church, then pop into local bakeries for freshly baked bread and sweet local pastries. Later, take a short drive to Shillong Peak for sweeping views over the city and the rolling hills beyond, finishing with a warm cup of tea at a nearby roadside stall as the light softens.
As dusk falls, wander up to the elegant Shillong Golf Course for a gentle sunset stroll across manicured greens with panoramic hill views, then head to a nearby rooftop restaurant in Police Bazar for a Khasi-style dinner—try tungrymbai (fermented soybean) or dohneiiong (pork curry) paired with local rice beer. Finish the night with live music at a cozy café on Lake View Road or a short drive to the candlelit Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians for a calm, reflective end to your first day.
Start the morning with a scenic drive to Elephant Falls to admire the multi-tiered cascades and photograph rainbows in the mist, then continue to Shillong Peak for panoramic views of the hill city and surrounding valleys. Afterward, visit the nearby Don Bosco Museum to explore its excellent exhibits on Northeast tribal cultures, finishing with tea and local biscuits at a hilltop café before lunch.
After a leisurely lunch, drive east to the charming village of Mawphlang to walk its sacred forest trail and learn about Khasi animist traditions from a local guide, then continue to the serene Spread Eagle Falls for photos and a short picnic by the pool. Finish the afternoon at the peaceful Lady Hydari Park—stroll manicured gardens, visit the small orchid house, and enjoy chai at the on-site kiosk as the light softens before heading back toward Police Bazaar for dinner.
As dusk settles, head to Lady’s Viewpoint for golden light over the valley, then continue to the nearby Don Bosco Church for a quiet moment and panoramic city lights. Finish the evening with a relaxed riverside dinner at a local bistro in Laitumkhrah, sampling Khasi-style thukpa and locally brewed tea while swapping stories from the day.
Leave Shillong early for a scenic drive to Cherrapunji and begin with a guided exploration of Mawsmai Cave’s limestone chambers and delicate stalactite formations, then walk the short trail to the dramatic Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters) viewpoint for sweeping cliffside vistas. Continue to a village near Nongriat and descend toward the famous living root bridge—cross the suspension bridge, meet a local guide who explains the centuries-old root-training techniques, and enjoy a tea with homemade snacks at a Khasi family homestay before returning uphill.
After your morning cave and living root bridge visit, drive to the tranquil Dainthlen Falls area for a short hike along the ridge and admire the plunging waterfall framed by dramatic gorges; pause at a roadside chai stall to sample hot sweet tea and local jhal-muri (spiced puffed rice). Continue to a nearby Khasi village to meet artisans who weave traditional bamboo baskets and try a hands-on short workshop, then finish the afternoon with a light picnic at the viewpoint above Arwah Cave, watching mist roll through the valleys as you prepare to return toward Shillong.
As twilight falls, unwind at the panoramic Eco Park viewpoint near Tyrna village to watch clouds pour into the valleys while sipping warm, spiced tea from a roadside vendor. Later, visit a local homestay in the Sohra outskirts for a Khasi evening—share a simple, freshly cooked dinner of steamed rice and pork curry, listen to stories about village life, and if the sky is clear, enjoy stargazing away from town lights before the return drive to Shillong.
Begin with an early drive to Arwah Cave for a guided walk through its mossy limestone chambers and a chance to peer down into hidden sinkholes, then continue to Thangkharang Park where you can stroll cliff-edge trails and photograph dramatic views of the Umngot valley. Finish the morning with a visit to the lesser-known Kynrem Falls’ upper viewpoint for a short picnic and hot tea while local porters share stories about seasonal rain patterns before you start the return journey to Shillong.
After lunch, head east to the mist-wreathed Arwah Viewpoint for panoramic shots of the Sylhet Plains and a short walk through nearby pine groves, then visit the serene Seven Sisters viewpoint’s lesser-known rim trail to catch different angles of the cascading falls. Finish the afternoon with a stop at a roadside Khasi village to meet local farmers, sample fresh hill-grown oranges and alang tea, and pick up handwoven shawls before beginning the comfortable drive back to Shillong as late afternoon light softens the hills.
As dusk falls, pause at the sweeping viewpoint above Krem Mawsmai’s ridge to watch mist fill the gorge and enjoy steaming cups of kahwa or masala chai from a local stall while villagers share stories of the rains. Later, stop at a family-run homestay near Tyrna for a warm Khasi meal of pork jadoh and homemade pickles, then take a slow, lantern-lit walk through nearby orange orchards before the comfortable drive back to Shillong.
Depart Shillong after an early breakfast and drive across the rolling Assam plains toward Kaziranga, stopping en route at the colonial-era town of Jorhat for a stretch and a visit to the Tocklai Tea Research Centre to learn about Assam tea cultivation and sample freshly brewed single-estate brews. Continue the scenic drive, arriving at your Kaziranga lodge in the late morning for a guided nature walk around the lodge’s wetland edges to spot resident waterbirds and swamp deer before settling in for lunch and an afternoon rest.
After lunch and a short rest at the lodge, take a guided boat trip on the Brahmaputra’s calmer backwaters near Kohora to scan riverbanks for Asian openbill storks, river dolphins and resident kingfishers, followed by a visit to a nearby Kaziranga interpretation centre to learn about local rhino conservation projects and community-led anti-poaching efforts. Finish the afternoon with a gentle bicycle ride through the buffer-zone villages around Kohora—meet Mising artisans at a riverside homestead, sample millet-based snacks, and watch the sun lower over grassy floodplains before returning to the lodge for evening tea.
As dusk settles, take a short guided walk through the lodge’s adjoining reedbeds toward the Kohora wetlands to watch buff-backed herons and marsh babblers return to roost, then stop at a nearby community-run viewpoint to sip warm ginger tea while listening to local Mising storytellers recount river folklore. Finish the night with a simple, wood-fired meal at the lodge featuring smoked fish and bamboo shoot curry, followed by a quiet spotlighting stroll with the lodge naturalist to pick out nightjars and frog calls across the floodplain.
Rise before dawn for a thrilling elephant safari in the Central Range from Kohora’s forest camp to track one-horned rhinos at close quarters, listening for grunt calls and watching them wallow at early-morning waterholes; your naturalist will point out sambar, wild boar and the morning chorus of barbets. After the ride, visit a nearby grassland hide at Bagori to scan for swamp francolins and Bengal floricans over steaming cups of chai while the plains warm, then return to the lodge for a hearty late breakfast and a conservation talk with park staff.
After a leisurely lodge lunch and debrief from the morning elephant ride, take a guided jeep safari through the eastern range’s tall grasslands to search for grazing one-horned rhinos, swamp deer and herds of barasingha while your naturalist points out pugmarks and recent wallow sites. Later, visit the nearby Kaziranga Interpretation Centre in Kohora to deepen your understanding of anti-poaching work and local community conservation, then cycle along a quiet buffer-zone track to meet Mising weavers and sample traditional rice cakes as the late afternoon light gilds the floodplain.
As dusk softens the floodplains, take a guided sunset boat cruise on the Kathalbari river channel to watch herons, painted storks and river lapwings settle along the banks while scanning for elusive hog deer at the water’s edge. After the cruise, return to your eco-lodge for a community-led cooking demonstration of pitha and bamboo shoot dishes followed by a mellow night walk with the lodge naturalist to listen for Bengal owls and the frog chorus, reflecting on the day’s sightings.
Depart Kaziranga after an early breakfast for a relaxed drive toward Guwahati, stopping en route at the historic Hajo pilgrimage complex to wander its hilltop temples and catch views across the Brahmaputra; sample steaming cheralu (local rice fritters) from a roadside vendor while locals perform morning rituals. Continue into Guwahati for a brief visit to the Assam State Museum to browse Assamese textile and tribal artefacts, then enjoy a riverside brunch at a café on Fancy Bazaar before you make your way to the airport or rail station for departure.
After brunch, drive toward Guwahati but pause at the riverside village of Satrasal to visit a traditional Assamese satra (monastic center) and watch mask-making and satriya dance rehearsals, then continue to the charming Ambari archaeological site to stroll among ancient relics and shaded lawns. Finish the afternoon with a peaceful ferry ride across a quieter channel of the Brahmaputra to Panbazar, where you can pick up last-minute silk mekhela-chadors and sample a cup of strong Assamese tea at a century-old teahouse before heading to the airport or railway station.
Before you head to the airport or station, take a late-afternoon stroll along the lively Umananda Island ferry route and visit the small hill shrine there to enjoy a final panoramic view of the Brahmaputra. Finish with a relaxed riverside meal at a local kafal-style restaurant in Panbazar, sampling smoked hilsa and sweet doi, then collect any last-minute handicrafts from nearby stalls before making your departure connections.