Fly from Ahmedabad to Guwahati; flight schedules and connections vary, so allow roughly 10–14 hours door to door, including airport time and the drive onward. From Guwahati Airport, take a pre-booked taxi to Shillong via the Guwahati–Shillong road—usually 3–4 hours, with a private car often around ₹3,500–₹5,000. Leave time for traffic and a comfort stop, and aim to reach Shillong before dark. If your flight lands late, it’s safer to spend the night in Guwahati than to tackle the hill road at night. In Shillong, ask your driver to drop you near your hotel; Police Bazaar is busy and parking is limited.
Once checked in, take a gentle browse around Police Bazaar, Shillong’s lively central market, where shops and street stalls are most enjoyable while there’s still some daylight. Then head to Trattoria in the bazaar for Khasi dishes; budget about ₹300–₹700 per person. It can get busy at dinner, so allow for a short wait.
Finish with a relaxed stroll at Ward’s Lake, a short taxi ride or an easy walk from the bazaar, depending on where you’re staying. Check the entrance’s closing time locally before setting out: November evenings get dark early, and the lake may close before a late dinner ends. If you arrive in Shillong late, keep the market and meal unhurried and visit the lake only if it’s still open.
Start at Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Laitumkhrah. Sunday services can affect visitor access, so check the service schedule with the cathedral before setting out; allow about 45 minutes if visitors are welcome. From there, take a taxi to the Don Bosco Museum in Mawlai (roughly 20–30 minutes, depending on Shillong traffic). It deserves around two hours, but it is commonly closed on Sundays—confirm directly before you go. If it is shut, you may only be able to see the building from outside; there isn’t enough time in this day to move the museum visit elsewhere and still do the cave outing comfortably.
Continue to Mawjymbuin Cave in Mawsynram. This is a substantial excursion, not a quick stop: allow about 2–3 hours each way from Shillong, plus time at the cave, and expect winding roads. A private taxi is the practical choice; agree the fare and return arrangements in advance, and carry water and a light snack. With the cathedral, museum and drive in this order, reaching the cave and returning to Shillong before evening is unlikely—especially if the museum is open and you spend the planned two hours there. Treat the cave as the day’s main outing and be prepared to shorten earlier visits or return late.
Finish at Cafe Shillong in Laitumkhrah for a relaxed meal, around ₹400–900 per person. Check its Sunday hours and last-order time before leaving Mawsynram; after the long return drive, a late meal may not be possible. If fitting all four stops matters, confirm Sunday access in advance and consider arranging an additional night for the cave excursion.
Head first to Shillong Peak in Laitkor by taxi; allow roughly 30–45 minutes from central Shillong, depending on traffic, and about 1–1½ hours at the viewpoint. Go early for the clearest views and carry photo ID for the security checks. Access is controlled and can be affected by weather or local restrictions, so ask your hotel to confirm the same morning that visitors are being admitted.
Take a taxi back towards Lachumiere for Lady Hydari Park. Set aside about an hour for the gardens and small zoo, but check locally before you leave: opening days and access can change, and Monday access may be limited. If it’s open, admission is usually modest—confirm the current rate at the gate. From there, continue by taxi to Spread Eagle Falls in Shillong Cantonment; allow around 45 minutes to enjoy the leafy setting, and check access and water conditions locally.
Finish at Dylan’s Cafe in Laitumkhrah, a music-themed spot for dinner or a late snack; budget roughly ₹400–900 per person. Taxis are the easiest way to connect these spread-out stops, and agreeing on a wait-and-return fare can save time between visits.
Leave Shillong around 8:00–9:00 AM for Sohra (Cherrapunji); the drive is usually 2–2½ hours, but allow longer if you stop for views. Pause at Mawkdok Dympep Valley Viewpoint on the way—30–45 minutes is plenty to take in the deep gorge and, if you fancy it, try the short zipline (charged separately and weather-dependent). Once in Sohra, check in and take a breather before heading back out.
Visit Nohkalikai Falls for the viewpoint over Meghalaya’s famous plunge. Allow about an hour, and bring a light layer: the plateau can feel cool and exposed. Have a vegetarian lunch at Orange Roots; budget roughly ₹300–700 per person. It’s a handy stop between sights, but check locally for that day’s hours and any wait at meal times.
Continue to Seven Sisters Falls at Mawsmai and give the viewpoint around 45 minutes. November is outside the main monsoon, so the falls may have less water than in rainy-season photos; mist and cloud can also obscure the escarpment. Carry some cash for small local charges, and ask your driver to confirm the return-to-Sohra plan before you leave the viewpoint.
Start early at Arwah Cave, reached by taxi from central Sohra in about 15–25 minutes. Allow 1½–2 hours to follow the limestone passages and look for fossils in the cave walls; sturdy shoes with good grip are essential, and a torch can be useful in darker sections. Cave access and timings can vary with local conditions, so check with your stay before setting out. Budget roughly ₹20–₹100 for entry, plus any local guide or parking charge.
Continue by taxi to Mawsmai Cave, around 20–30 minutes away. The visit is shorter—about an hour—but some passages are narrow and low, so expect to crouch and move slowly; it may feel uncomfortable if you’re claustrophobic. Entry is commonly around ₹20–₹50, though fees and operating hours can change. Have a proper break between the caves, and carry water; November is usually drier, but cave floors can still be slippery.
Head back towards town for Eco Park, allowing about an hour for the viewpoints over the Khasi Hills and nearby waterfalls. The light is often best earlier in the day, but visibility depends on cloud and mist; check locally before making a special detour. Finish with a sit-down meal at Jiva Grill in Sohra—allow ₹400–₹900 per person. A local taxi is the easiest way to link the stops; agree on a half-day or full-day rate in advance, since rides between attractions can be limited.
Leave Sohra around 7:00–8:00 AM in your prebooked taxi, allowing roughly 4–5 hours of driving to Dawki via Pynursla. The road is winding, and village stops add time, so bring water and a light snack; confirm with your driver that the fare includes waiting time at Mawlynnong. Plan for a simple meal or tea stop along the way rather than counting on a fixed restaurant schedule.
Spend about 1–1½ hours walking through Mawlynnong, taking in its gardens and quiet lanes, then continue to Riwai for the Mawlynnong Living Root Bridge. The bridge is reached by a steep flight of steps; allow around 1–1½ hours for the return walk and wear shoes with good grip. Small local entry or parking fees may apply, so carry cash. Keep the visit unhurried, but remember you still have the drive to Dawki ahead.
Continue to Dawki Boat Point for a locally arranged boat ride on the Umngot River—usually 1–2 hours, depending on conditions and operator availability. Water clarity varies with weather and season, so treat the famous clear-water views as a possibility, not a guarantee; agree on the price and ride duration before boarding. Then drive on to Shnongpdeng, about an hour away, and settle into your riverside stay. Arrange dinner with your host or a nearby local eatery; expect roughly ₹200–500 per person, and check ahead if you’re arriving late.
Leave Dawki around 8:00 AM in your prebooked taxi, allowing 4–5 hours of driving to Shillong via Pynursla—longer with stops or slow road conditions. Pause in Pynursla for a simple local meal and refreshments; budget roughly ₹150–400 per person. Keep the stop brief, since the planned detour to Laitlum Canyons adds time.
At Laitlum Canyons, allow about two hours for the viewpoints and short walks along the escarpment; stick to marked paths, especially if it’s misty or the ground is wet. From there, continue to Elephant Falls in Upper Shillong for the three-tiered waterfall and stairway walk, around an hour. One timing snag: with an 8:00 AM departure, the drive, meal stop and Laitlum visit may push you past the falls’ usual late-afternoon closing window. Check current entry hours before setting out, and ask your driver to confirm the day’s timings; fitting both stops is not reliable unless the drive and canyon visit run unusually quickly.
Head to The Heritage Club – Tripura Castle in Cleve Colony for dinner, around ₹700–1,500 per person. Restaurant access and hours can vary, so call ahead and reserve if possible. The day is a long one; if the falls are a must, consider arranging an earlier departure from Dawki, while understanding that the canyon stop may still make the schedule tight.
Leave Shillong at least 5–6 hours before your flight and head south toward Guwahati Airport. If your schedule has a comfortable buffer, pause first at Umiam Lake for 30–45 minutes of lakeside views; skip the stop if it would make the airport transfer tight. Continue to Nongpoh for breakfast or tea at a roadside café—allow around ₹150–400 per person and a little extra time if it’s busy.
The drive from Shillong to Guwahati Airport usually takes 3–4 hours, but traffic or road delays can add time. Check in according to your airline’s recommended buffer, and book a flight to Ahmedabad that leaves enough time for the full road transfer; flight schedules and connections vary, so don’t plan around an assumed departure time.
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