After your morning departure from Chirawa, plan to arrive in Shillong mid-to-late afternoon; use the morning for a relaxed journey with a scenic stop at Guwahati for a hearty Assamese lunch (try khaar and masor tenga) and a short walk along the Brahmaputra riverfront to stretch your legs. Continue to Shillong, checking into your hotel and taking a gentle orientation stroll around Police Bazar to pick up a local SIM, snacks, and a quick cup of hot Khasi tea before settling in for the evening.
Arrive in Shillong mid-to-late afternoon and head up to Lady Hydari Park for a peaceful stroll among manicured gardens and a quick visit to the small zoo—perfect for stretching after your journey. As daylight fades, make your way to the historic Bara Bazaar area to browse local handicrafts and sample steaming momos from a popular roadside stall before returning to your hotel to freshen up for the evening.
As night settles, head to Cafe Shillong on Police Hill for a cozy dinner of smoked pork, red rice, and local craft beers while enjoying panoramic city lights; it’s a relaxed spot to compare notes about the day. Afterward, take a short drive to Laitumkhrah’s lively lanes for a casual walk among street cafes and live music, or return to your hotel for an early night to recover from travel and prepare for a full day of sightseeing tomorrow.
Begin your day with breakfast at City Hut Family Dhaba, then take a short drive to Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture to explore immersive exhibits on Khasi heritage and catch any morning demonstrations or craft workshops. From there, head up to Shillong Peak for sweeping panoramic views of the Khasi Hills and a brisk walk along the ridge before descending to the nearby Wards Lake for a relaxing paddle-boat ride amid lotus beds and morning birdsong.
After a morning among Don Bosco and Shillong Peak, spend the afternoon wandering the charming lanes of Police Bazar and Bara Bazaar to shop for Khasi shawls, bamboo crafts and organic honey; stop at Cafe Shillong’s sister bakery for a slice of local jadoh-inspired savoury pie. Later, visit the nearby Elephant Falls’ quieter upper cascades for a short nature walk and photo stops before returning to town to catch sunset views from the Shillong Golf Course terrace while sipping hot tea.
As dusk falls, take a short drive to Police Bazar’s rooftop cafés and settle in at Dylan’s Café for local Khasi thali bites and a ginger-lemon hot toddy while watching the market lights come alive; afterward stroll to the nearby Lady Hydari Park bandstand where local musicians sometimes gather for impromptu performances. Finish the night with a visit to the lively Redrock Café for live folk music or, if you prefer something quieter, enjoy a slow walk along the lit pathways of Ward’s Lake to soak in the evening calm before returning to your hotel.
Set out early from Shillong toward Cherrapunji and stop first at Seven Sisters (Nohsngithiang) viewpoint for dramatic cliff-and-valley vistas, then stretch your legs with a short guided walk through the clean, mossy trails to see the lesser-known, misty Twin Falls upstream. Continue to the eco-friendly Mawkdok Dympep valley viewpoint to watch cloud rivers spill across the gorge and enjoy a hearty roadside Khasi breakfast of chutney-pork and rice before heading deeper into Sohra’s waterfall circuit.
After a misty morning at the high viewpoints, head to Nohkalikai Falls’ nearby plateau to peer over the world’s tallest plunge waterfall and walk the short seaside-like cliff trail to catch dramatic spray-filled rainbows. Continue to the quiet, fern-carpeted Eco Park for a guided nature walk among ancient living root bridges and then stop at a family-run homestay café to sample hot Khasi pork curry with bamboo shoot chutney while watching lowland clouds roll through the valleys.
As twilight deepens, settle into the relaxed atmosphere at a family-run eatery near the village of Mawsmai for a dinner of piping-hot ka mehkha (spiced pork with wild greens) and steamed rice, enjoying stories from local hosts about seasonal rains. Afterward, take a short, lantern-lit walk to the limestone caves in Mawsmai for a guided night-time exploration of stalactites and the echoing chambers before returning to Shillong or your nearby homestay for a well-earned rest.
Leave Shillong early and drive to Mawlynnong to begin with a guided stroll through the village lanes, visiting the famed living root bridge near the village entrance and the community-run Sky View tower for panoramic vistas over the Bangladesh plains. After exploring local homestead gardens and the village’s bamboo craft stalls, continue to Dawki for a short boat trip on the crystal-clear Umngot River near the riverbank jetty, pausing at a riverside eatery for a breakfast of piping-hot jadoh pancakes and freshly brewed local tea.
After a village morning, take a short drive to the Dawki riverside and board a traditional wooden canoe for a guided glide along the crystalline Umngot, pausing to snorkel-like peer at the riverbed and photograph the glassy reflections; follow this with a riverside lunch at a popular family-run shanty that serves smoked river fish and bamboo shoot curry. Later, explore the nearby suspension bridge and walk the shaded trail to the border lookout point for sweeping views into Bangladesh before returning toward Mawlynnong to catch late-afternoon light on the village’s manicured gardens.
As dusk falls, head to a family-run homestay near the village green for a Khasi home-cooked feast—try the smoky pork kynjam and bamboo shoot stew—while swapping stories with hosts about village life. After dinner, take a short guided walk to the nearby community stargazing platform and listen to elders recount local legends as the clear highland skies reveal constellations over the plains.
Start your final morning with a leisurely breakfast at Café Shillong’s quieter sibling, Café Garrison, then visit the Mawphlang Sacred Grove for a guided walk through its ancient shamanic forest and a short talk on Khasi customs and medicinal plants. Finish with a stop at the Shillong Cultural Centre to catch a hands-on pottery or weaving demonstration and pick up last-minute handmade souvenirs before returning to your hotel to pack.
Spend the afternoon exploring the quieter side of Shillong with a visit to the Mawphlang Craft Market to meet artisans making traditional Khasi bamboo baskets and pick up woven shawls, then head to the Shillong Heritage Walk starting from the Old Secretariat to discover colonial-era architecture and neighbourhood stories led by a local guide. Finish with a relaxed tea-and-snack stop at Café Shillong’s terrace-adjacent sister, Dylan’s Rooftop, where you can review photos, confirm transport details for departure, and enjoy one last view of the rolling Khasi hills.
As evening falls, take a short drive to the Pine View Hotel rooftop bar for sundowners and sweeping blue-hour views of the Khasi hills while sampling a plate of local smoked pork fritters and fermented bamboo chutney. Afterwards, enjoy a slow, curated dinner at Bamboo Hut Restaurant where you can try regional specialties like khasi jadoh and tangy fish tenga, then stroll past the candlelit lanes of the nearby Shillong Market to pick up last-minute edible souvenirs before returning to your hotel to finalize departure plans.