After landing at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at 8:30 am, allow time for baggage and your pre-arranged car. The drive to Shillong via NH6 usually takes around 3½–4½ hours, but budget 4–5 hours door to door for airport formalities, traffic and the hill road. Ask your driver to pause at Umiam Lake on the way into town; 30–45 minutes is enough for the views and a short lakeside break. It can be breezy, so keep a light layer handy.
Continue into Shillong, check in and take a breather before heading to Ward’s Lake in the city centre. Its garden paths make for an easy hour of walking; check the current gate hours before you go, as the last entry is typically in the late afternoon, and keep a little flexibility in case the drive runs long. There’s usually a modest entry fee, with boating charged separately. From the lake, take a taxi to Dylan’s Cafe in Laitumkhrah for dinner—an easygoing, music-themed spot, with meals typically around ₹400–800 per person. If traffic or the journey pushes you late, prioritise checking in and dinner; you’ll enjoy the lake more with daylight.
Assuming you reached Shillong yesterday as planned, start at the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Laitumkhrah. Give yourself about 45 minutes for the hilltop church and grounds; visiting access can vary around services, so check locally before setting out. A taxi from central Shillong usually takes around 10–20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Take a taxi onward to the Don Bosco Museum in Mawlai—allow 1.5–2 hours for its exhibits on Northeast India’s communities and cultures. It is generally open Wednesday, but check current hours and any entry arrangements before you go; budget roughly ₹100–₹200 for admission. Grab lunch nearby or back in town, then leave time for the trip to the centre.
Spend 1–1.5 hours wandering Police Bazaar: browse the lanes, try local snacks, and expect the busiest stretches to feel crowded. Finish at Cafe Shillong Heritage for Khasi and other regional dishes in a relaxed, heritage-style setting; budget about ₹500–₹1,000 per person. One itinerary note: the outline lists the Guwahati–Shillong transfer on Day 1, while another note places it on Day 2. If you are only arriving in Shillong today, this full sightseeing sequence would be too rushed—confirm your travel day and move or trim activities accordingly.
Leave Shillong around 6:30–7:00 am with a hired taxi for Sohra (Cherrapunji). The drive is roughly 2–2½ hours each way on winding roads; allow longer if there’s rain, fog or roadwork, and agree on the full-day fare and waiting time with your driver beforehand. Go first to Nohkalikai Falls for about an hour at the dramatic escarpment viewpoint. October views can be clear, but clouds may roll in quickly, so keep your plans flexible and bring a light rain layer.
Continue to Mawsmai Cave, allowing 45–60 minutes to walk its accessible limestone passages. The floor can be wet and uneven, so wear shoes with good grip; check locally for the day’s visiting hours and any entry fee. Then stop at Seven Sisters Falls for 30–45 minutes at the viewpoint. Water flow and visibility vary with recent rain and cloud, but the broad valley panorama is worth the pause even when the falls are less dramatic.
Have a vegetarian lunch at Orange Roots in Sohra before setting out for the drive back to Shillong. Budget roughly ₹300–700 per person for the meal, and don’t linger too long if you want to avoid arriving late: with the return drive, this is a full day on the road. Carry water and a little cash, and let your driver know you’d like brief photo stops only where it’s safe to pull over.
Set off from Shillong around 5:30–6:00 am in a pre-arranged car; Dawki is roughly 3–4 hours each way, and the winding roads can take longer in rain or fog. Agree on the full-day fare, waiting time and route with your driver the day before, and carry water and a snack. This is a very long outing once you add the onward stops and return drive, so keep your schedule flexible.
Continue to Shnongpdeng, near Dawki, for the Umngot River. Allow about 1–2 hours for the riverside and, if the weather, water conditions and local operators permit, a boat ride; confirm the price and safety arrangements directly with an operator before boarding. The water’s clarity varies with season and recent rain, so enjoy the river even if it isn’t glass-clear.
Drive on to Riwai Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong. Allow 1–1½ hours for the walk down and back—the steps can be steep and slippery, so shoes with good grip are helpful. Then have a simple lunch at a local restaurant in Mawlynnong; expect roughly ₹250–600 per person, but ask what’s being served before settling in, as options can be limited.
Head back to Shillong after lunch, allowing around 3–4 hours or more depending on road conditions. With the early start, the long distances and several stops, expect to reach town late; check in with your driver about fuel, meal breaks and the return plan, and don’t add extra detours.
Hire a taxi for the day and set out around 7:30 am; doing these stops by separate taxis is awkward, and you’ll want your driver to wait. Start at Elephant Falls in Upper Shillong, where paths and stairways lead down to several viewpoints. Allow 1–1½ hours, and wear shoes with grip—the steps can be slippery after rain. Entry is usually a modest fee, often around ₹50 for Indian visitors, but check the current rate at the gate.
Continue to Shillong Peak, roughly a 20–30-minute drive away. Give yourself 45–60 minutes for the views, weather permitting. Access can be restricted or affected by cloud and local security rules, so ask your driver to confirm conditions before you leave town; bring photo ID in case it’s requested. Saturday traffic may slow the return drive, so keep the stop flexible rather than rushing.
Head on to Laitlum Canyon in Smit, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes from the peak and 1½–2 hours at the ridge. The open valley views are the reward, but fog can roll in quickly and the paths are exposed—carry water, a light layer and rain protection. There are limited facilities nearby, so don’t count on finding a full lunch there; have your driver pause for a simple meal or snacks on the way. Expect to return to Shillong in about an hour, longer if the roads are busy.
Finish at Jiva Grill in Laitumkhrah, a lively choice for Indian and regional dishes; budget roughly ₹500–1,000 per person. Saturday evenings can be busy, so call ahead if you’re a larger group. Keep some time in hand after the canyon for the drive back and a breather before dinner.
Leave Shillong early, with your shared taxi arranged through your accommodation the day before. Allow 4–5 hours door to door and build in a buffer for Sunday traffic and any road delays; an early start gives you the best chance of fitting in both temples. Once in Guwahati, head to Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill. Allow at least 2–3 hours for the hilltop visit and queues, which can be lengthy. Check current access arrangements before you go; special darshan may require advance booking, and entry timings can vary.
From Kamakhya, continue to the riverfront and take a ferry to Umananda Temple on Peacock Island. Budget 1.5–2 hours for the boat transfers and visit, but confirm ferry services and timings locally—river conditions can affect sailings, and you may need to adjust the temple visit if the last return boat is earlier than expected. Keep some flexibility rather than rushing through the queues at Kamakhya.
Finish at Paradise Restaurant in Ulubari for Assamese specialties; set aside an unhurried meal and budget roughly ₹500–1,000 per person. Use a local taxi or app cab between the sights and restaurant, as the riverfront and Ulubari are not a comfortable walk apart. If the temple queues or ferry schedule run late, check the restaurant’s current hours and prioritize getting there before closing.
No packing list attached yet.