Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Allow roughly 5–8 hours door-to-door for the journey from Varanasi to Guwahati: reach Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport with enough time for check-in, security, and any connection, then allow about 45–75 minutes from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to central Guwahati, depending on traffic. A prepaid airport taxi or app cab is simplest; confirm your hotel’s exact drop-off point, as central streets around Pan Bazaar can be busy. Keep the afternoon light after the flight, and treat the ferry visit as conditional on your actual arrival time.
Head first to Umananda Temple from Uzanbazar, where ferries cross the Brahmaputra to the island. The crossing is usually short, but services can be weather- and river-condition dependent, so ask locally about the next return boat before going ashore. Allow about 1½ hours including waiting and the temple visit; the island is compact, with uneven steps, and modest clothing is appropriate. If the ferry timing does not work, do not force the visit—continue to the Assam State Museum at Dighalipukhuri, where a one-hour visit gives a useful introduction to Assam through archaeology, textiles, tribal objects, and local history. Check the museum’s current weekly closure and last-entry time before setting out, since operating days and hours can change.
Take a short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride to Guwahati War Cemetery in Silpukhuri, allowing around 30 minutes for the quiet grounds and memorials. It is best visited before dusk and is a place for respectful, unhurried wandering rather than a rushed photo stop. Finish in Pan Bazaar with dinner at Khorikaa, known for Assamese preparations such as khar, tenga, pitika, and regional meat dishes; budget approximately ₹400–800 per person. Reserve or arrive early if dining on a busy evening, and use a taxi back to your accommodation rather than relying on late public transport.
After arriving in Shillong, settle your bags at the hotel and head first to Shillong Peak in Upper Shillong. Allow about an hour here for the wide views across the city and surrounding hills; visibility is best before cloud builds, though the viewpoint can close temporarily in poor weather or for security reasons. A private taxi is the easiest way to cover the hill sights, with little reliable public transport between them.
Continue a short drive to Elephant Falls, where a stepped path descends through a wooded ravine to several cascades. Give yourself roughly an hour, and wear shoes with a good grip—the steps are often damp. Entry is usually inexpensive, around ₹20–50, but keep small cash handy. From here, allow 30–45 minutes by taxi to reach Don Bosco Museum in Mawlai, depending on Shillong traffic.
Spend around two hours at Don Bosco Museum, one of the most rewarding introductions to Northeast India’s many communities, textiles, architecture, music, and everyday traditions. It is generally open Tuesday–Sunday during daytime hours and closed on Mondays, so confirm the current schedule before setting out; admission is commonly around ₹100–200. Have a late lunch nearby or return toward the central city rather than trying to fit in another major stop—Shillong’s roads are slower than distances on the map suggest.
Continue into the centre for a relaxed walk around Ward’s Lake and its gardens, allowing about an hour. The landscaped paths are pleasant in the late afternoon, and paddle boats are sometimes available subject to weather and operating conditions; expect a modest entry or boating fee. From Police Bazaar, take a short taxi ride to Laitumkhrah for dinner at Café Shillong Heritage, a comfortable local-style restaurant where a meal generally costs ₹500–900 per person. Reserve or arrive early if possible, as the dining room can fill up, and use a taxi back to your hotel after dinner rather than relying on late public transport.
Leave Shillong after breakfast, ideally around 7:00–8:00am, in a pre-arranged private taxi for Cherrapunji (Sohra). The drive generally takes 2–3 hours, but allow longer for hill traffic and short photo stops. Your first stop is Mawkdok Dympep Valley Viewpoint, about 30 minutes from Shillong: walk to the railings for the canyon panorama and watch the zip-line activity below. Keep small cash for the viewpoint fee and snacks, and avoid lingering too long if mist is building.
Continue toward Nohkalikai Falls, allowing roughly an hour from the viewpoint depending on road conditions. The main viewing area is close to the parking zone, with dramatic views of the plunge waterfall and blue-green pool; visibility can change quickly in the monsoon-influenced cloud. From here, drive toward Mawsmai Cave for the accessible limestone section. Wear shoes with good grip—the floor is damp and uneven, and some passages are low. Set aside about an hour, including the short walk from the entrance and possible queues.
After the cave, continue to the Seven Sisters Falls viewpoint, around 45 minutes away. The cascade is most impressive after rain, although heavy cloud may partly hide the cliffs; the broad valley views are worthwhile even when the falls are thin. If you are staying overnight in Sohra, check in before dinner; if returning to Shillong, confirm your driver’s waiting arrangement and do not leave the final return too late, as mist and darkness slow the road considerably.
Have dinner at Orange Roots, a reliable vegetarian stop in Cherrapunji known for simple Khasi-style meals and filling thalis, usually around ₹250–500 per person. Service can be unhurried, so allow about an hour and carry a light layer—the plateau becomes cool after sunset. Keep some cash, as card and mobile-payment connectivity can be inconsistent around the viewpoints and smaller eateries.
Start from your Cherrapunji accommodation around 6:30–7:00am and have your driver take you to Tyrna, the trailhead for the Nongriat trek and Double Decker Living Root Bridge. Allow roughly 5–7 hours round trip: the descent is long, with hundreds of uneven steps, and the return climb is considerably more tiring than it first appears. Carry at least 1.5–2 litres of water per person, snacks, a rain jacket, and shoes with reliable grip; wet steps and moss are common even when the sky looks clear. A local guide is useful, particularly if trail conditions are poor. Bring cash for small refreshments and any local access or guide fees, as card payments are unlikely.
After returning to Tyrna, allow time to wash up and eat a simple packed lunch before visiting Duwan Sing Syiem View Point, about 30 minutes away. This is a short, low-effort stop with broad valley views, but keep it brief: aim to leave the Cherrapunji area by 3:30–4:00pm for the 2–3-hour drive back to Shillong. Confirm the taxi the previous evening and ask the driver to wait during the trek; finding a replacement car late in the day can be difficult. The Shillong–Sohra road is scenic but winding, and evening rain or mist can slow the final stretch, so do not add further sightseeing.
Check in and rest after arriving in Shillong, then take a taxi to Police Bazaar—roughly 10–20 minutes depending on traffic—for dinner at Trattoria. It is a dependable choice for Khasi and Northeast Indian dishes, with a typical bill of about ₹400–800 per person. Try a local meat preparation or a traditional Khasi-style plate, and expect a relaxed one-hour meal rather than fast service. Trattoria usually operates into the evening, but confirm current hours with your hotel before setting out; after dinner, return by taxi rather than walking the busier roads with trekking gear.
Leave Shillong around 5:30–6:00am in a private car with driver for Kohora, the main gateway to Kaziranga National Park. Allow 6–8 hours door-to-door, including the descent from the hills, breakfast, fuel, and traffic near Nagaon and Bokakhat. Keep water and light snacks in the car; road conditions are generally manageable, but the final approach can be slower than expected. Your lodge will usually arrange parking and check-in, so confirm the property’s latest check-in time before departing.
Pause at the Umiam Lake viewpoint in Barapani, roughly 45 minutes from Shillong, for tea or breakfast and a short lakeside look. Early light is the best time for the broad reservoir views, and a 30–45-minute stop is enough without making the long drive feel rushed. Small roadside stalls may be open, but carry cash and do not rely on them for a full meal. Continue toward Kohora after the break, with one or two practical roadside stops as needed.
After lunch and check-in near Kohora, use the remaining daylight for an easy drive through the Assam-type villages and tea-estate scenery on the outskirts. This is deliberately a gentle arrival afternoon rather than another major attraction: look for betel-nut palms, paddy fields, small ponds, and tea gardens along the rural roads, stopping only where your driver can pull over safely. Avoid pushing farther into the park area late in the day, and ask your lodge to confirm the next morning’s safari reporting time and permit or vehicle arrangements.
Have dinner at the Nature’s Hunt Eco Camp restaurant in Kohora, a convenient choice near the lodge cluster for straightforward Assamese-style food. Allow about an hour and budget approximately ₹400–800 per person, depending on what you order. Keep the evening quiet and prepare an early night: safari departures can be before sunrise, and advance booking or lodge confirmation is important because entry gates, vehicle allocation, and reporting times vary by zone and season.
Begin with the pre-booked Kaziranga National Park jeep safari from the Central/Kohora Range, usually a 3–4-hour outing beginning around sunrise. Be at the designated entry point early; permit checks, vehicle allocation, and the drive to the forest gate all take time. Book through an authorised safari operator or your accommodation, since the permit and range are subject to availability. Carry water, binoculars, a light layer, and cash for small charges; sightings are never guaranteed, but the cooler hours are best for rhinoceros, swamp deer, elephants, and birdlife.
After returning to Kohora, have a quick breakfast and drive to Kaziranga Orchid and Biodiversity Park in Durgapur, allowing roughly 20–30 minutes each way and about 1.5 hours on site. The orchid displays and ethnobotanical area are a pleasant change of pace after the safari, while cultural performances run only when scheduled, so check locally rather than assuming one will be on. Keep this stop focused: you need to return to Kohora for the onward road journey.
If you are committed to the second safari, return for the separate authorised Kaziranga National Park jeep safari in the Western or Central Range, generally around three hours. In practical terms, this makes today too tight for a comfortable transfer: leaving Kohora after an afternoon safari can put you into Guwahati late at night after the 5–6-hour NH715 drive. The safer plan is to add one night in Kohora or Guwahati, or drop the afternoon safari and leave around 1:00–2:00pm in a pre-arranged private taxi; confirm the vehicle, luggage space, and final fare with your lodge. Once in Guwahati, finish at Khorikaa for Assamese dishes such as tenga, khar, and seasonal vegetables—allow about an hour and roughly ₹400–800 per person, with a short auto-rickshaw or app-cab ride from your hotel.
For Nehru Park, head to Pan Bazaar after breakfast, ideally around 8:00–9:00am. Allow about an hour for a quiet final walk through the landscaped gardens, where traditional Assamese sculptures and shaded paths make this a pleasant contrast to Guwahati’s busy streets. It is a short auto-rickshaw or cab ride from most central hotels; expect roughly ₹80–200 by auto depending on distance. Opening hours can vary, so confirm locally before setting out.
If your flight is late afternoon or evening, continue to the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden on RG Baruah Road, allowing 2–3 hours including the transfer from Pan Bazaar. A cab is the most practical option, usually taking 20–40 minutes depending on traffic; the zoo is spread out, so wear comfortable shoes and carry water. Check the current entry hours and weekly closure before leaving—zoo schedules can change—and allow extra time for ticket queues and the long internal walk. If your flight is earlier, skip this stop rather than risk compressing the airport transfer.
Leave central Guwahati roughly three hours before your scheduled departure, and longer if travelling during peak traffic or from the zoo. The airport is at Borjhar, around 25–35 km from central areas, with the route commonly taking 45–90 minutes by taxi depending on traffic and road conditions. Pre-book a cab through your hotel and keep a buffer for check-in, security, and a possible connection: the Guwahati–Varanasi journey is typically 5–8 hours door-to-door rather than just the time in the air. Check the airline’s live schedule before leaving, since nonstop availability and connection patterns vary.
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