Heavens of the EastNorth East in 8 nights

Shillong first, then north over Sela Pass to Tawang, with Dirang and Bomdila on the way.

Day 1

Arrive Guwahati – Shillong

100 km / 03 hrs

Welcome to the North East. Your driver meets you at Guwahati airport or railway station and you drive up to Shillong (4,900 ft), the hill capital often called the Scotland of the East, stopping at Umiam Lake at Barapani, a wide, calm reservoir ringed by pine-covered hills. Check in at Shillong.

No meals included today Overnight: Shillong

Day 2

Excursion to Cherrapunjee

60 km / 3 hrs

After an early breakfast, a full day at Cherrapunjee (4,400 ft), one of the wettest places on earth. On the way, stop at Elephant Falls, the view over the Mawkdok–Dympep valley and the Garden of Caves. Then Cherrapunjee's best: Nohkalikai Falls, India's tallest plunge waterfall, the Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters) Falls, and the limestone passages of Mawsmai Cave. Back to Shillong in the evening.

Breakfast Overnight: Shillong

Day 3

Shillong Sightseeing – Tezpur

320 km / 7 hrs

After breakfast, visit the Don Bosco Museum (closed Sundays) and Ward's Lake, then drive to Tezpur and check in. The evening is free.

Breakfast Overnight: Tezpur

Day 4

Tezpur – Dirang

138 km / 5 hrs

After an early breakfast, drive into Arunachal Pradesh. On the way, visit the Tipi Orchidarium on the Bhareli river, with more than 500 kinds of orchid, and the Nag Temple, with waterfalls and big views along the road. Check in at Dirang, then visit an apple orchard and kiwi farm (in season), Dirang Monastery and the Kalachakra Gompa. Dirang is also known for its hot springs.

• Note: Every Indian visitor to Arunachal Pradesh needs an Inner Line Permit, issued at Bhalukpong against photo ID and two passport-size photographs. We arrange it with you in advance.

Breakfast Overnight: Dirang

Day 5

Dirang – Tawang

130 km / 7 hrs

After an early breakfast, the drive to Tawang, the highlight of Arunachal. Cross Sela Pass (13,700 ft) and Sela Lake, frozen for much of the winter, then stop at Jaswantgarh War Memorial, which honours a soldier who held the pass almost alone in the 1962 war. Later, Nuranang Falls, where scenes of the film Koyla were shot. Check in at Tawang; the evening is free.

Breakfast Overnight: Tawang

Day 6

Tawang Sightseeing

After breakfast, visit Tawang Monastery (Galden Namgyal Lhatse), founded in the 17th century and the largest monastery in India, high above the Tawang valley at about 10,000 ft. Its prayer hall holds an eight-metre gilded Buddha, and the library old scriptures written in gold. Then Urgelling Gompa, birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, and the Tawang War Memorial, a stupa-shaped memorial to the soldiers who fell in 1962. End at the craft centre for masks, hand-woven carpets and silver jewellery. The evening is free.

Breakfast Overnight: Tawang

Day 7

Tawang – Bomdila

170 km / 6 hrs

After breakfast, drive down to Bomdila (8,200 ft), headquarters of West Kameng and a town of Buddhist monasteries. Check in, then visit the Upper and Lower Gompas, with wide views of the snow peaks. In the evening, the local market.

Breakfast Overnight: Bomdila

Day 8

Bomdila – Guwahati

350 km / 11 hrs

After breakfast, drive to Guwahati and check in. The evening is free.

Breakfast Overnight: Guwahati

Day 9

Guwahati, Departure

After breakfast, visit the Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill (open 8 am to 1 pm and 3 pm until dusk), then transfer to Guwahati airport or railway station for your journey home.

• Note: The temple visit depends on your departure time; it can be done the day before instead.

Breakfast

Tour details

Accommodation

Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.

Hotels are listed in order of preference, or similar, subject to availability. Breakfast included (CP plan). Luxury = best available hotel at each stop.

Package cost

Price per adult on twin sharing, by the number of adults travelling together. Land only.

Vehicle: Exclusive private A/C vehicle — Dzire (2–3 guests), Ertiga (4–5), Innova Crysta (6) or Tempo Traveller (7–10), point to point as per itinerary.

Rates in INR per person, GST included. Extra adult and child (5 – 11 yrs) prices are per person sharing a room with two adults. Gala dinners on 24, 25 & 31 Dec are extra.

Tour information

Read this to prepare for your holiday.

Good to know

• Valid 1 Sep 2026 to 31 Mar 2027 for bookings confirmed at least 15 days before arrival. Festival dates (Hornbill, Ziro, Sangai, Cherry Blossom and others) are priced on request.
• These rates are for Indian nationals. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal Pradesh; ask us for those prices.
• Your car: a Dzire for 2–3 guests, an Ertiga for 4–5, an Innova Crysta for 6 and a Tempo Traveller for 7–10 (children counted), point to point as per the itinerary.
• Elephant and jeep safaris are run by the Forest Department and depend on availability; we can't guarantee a slot.
• Kaziranga safari prices follow current government rates; any increase is charged extra.
• Arunachal Pradesh needs an Inner Line Permit, which we arrange (send ID proof 10 days before travel). Bum La Pass needs a separate army permit and depends on the weather, and Sela Pass can close after heavy snow.
• Dirang and Bomdila have no Luxury-level hotels, so Luxury guests stay at the best available (Premium) hotel there.

When to go

October to April. October to April is dry and clear, the season for Kaziranga's safaris (the park is open November to April) and for the views in Meghalaya and Arunachal. December and January are cold in Shillong and freezing in Tawang, where Sela Pass can close after snow. The monsoon, June to September, fills Cherrapunjee's waterfalls but closes the national parks.

Our favourite months

Cancellation policy & payment terms

• Flights, trains and houseboats are paid in full at the time of ticketing or confirmation.
• Payments by bank transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS), UPI or cheque in favour of TripRoutes. Card payments may carry a convenience fee.
• GST 5% is charged on the package cost as per government rules. On international holidays, TCS also applies as per government rules.
• Cancellation charges are per person, counted from the date of departure.
• Cancellations must be sent in writing by email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
• Air and train tickets are refunded as per the airline / railway rules, plus our service charge.
• Visa fees, insurance premiums and non-refundable hotel or houseboat bookings (peak dates, special events) are not refundable.
• Refunds are processed within 15 working days of receiving supplier refunds.
• There is no refund for services not used during the holiday.
• Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
• Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• TripRoutes is not liable for changes caused by weather, strikes, roadblocks, flight delays or government orders; extra costs arising are payable by the guest.

Questions about this holiday