Upon arrival in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, spend a day exploring the scenic beauty and cultural richness of the city. Visit the Umiam Lake for kayaking and boating, then head to the Shillong Peak for panoramic views of the hills. In the evening, stroll around the Police Bazaar for delicious local street food.
Drive to Cherrapunji, the place that holds the record for the highest rainfall on earth. Trek to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge, an engineering marvel made by the Khasi tribe. Visit the Nohkalikai Waterfall, the tallest plunge waterfall in India. Stay in a homestay and experience the local way of living.
Drive to Kaziranga National Park in Assam for an elephant safari in the grasslands to spot endangered one-horned rhinos, buffalos, tigers and elephants. Experience the culture and cuisine of Assam in the evening.
Go for a jeep safari in the early morning for more wildlife spotting opportunities. Later, visit the Panpur Tea Estate, the largest tea garden in Assam to learn about tea processing and to taste some delicious tea.
Drive to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, located in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas. Go for white water river rafting in the Siang Valley, also known as the Brahmaputra in its upper reaches. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife sightings.
Drive to Mechuka, a stunningly scenic town in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. On the way, visit the Pangin Hanging Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in India. In Mechuka, go for a trek to the nearby hills, visit the traditional stone houses, and enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Drive to Dibrugarh airport for your return flight home, with beautiful memories of the adventure-filled trip in the North East of India.
For getting around within the cities, local taxis and shared sumos are a good option. For longer distances, self-driving or hiring a car with a driver is the most convenient option. Flights are available from Kolkata to destinations in North East India.
Estimated travel costs: INR 10,000 for flights, INR 12,000 for car rental and INR 4,000 for local travel.
If you have more time, visit the living root bridges of Mawlynnong village and the Dawki river in Meghalaya. In Assam, visit the tea estates of Jorhat and take a ferry ride in the Brahmaputra river. In Arunachal Pradesh, visit the Tawang monastery and the Ziro valley for scenic beauty.
If you have less time, skip the river rafting at Siang valley or the trek at Mechuka.
The nearest airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU) in Guwahati, which is approximately 220 km away from Shillong. Dibrugarh Airport (DIB) is the nearest airport to Pasighat and is approximately 130 km away.