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Umiam Lake near Shillong, Meghalaya
Our speciality

Curated North East India

We live here. That means honest advice on seasons and road times, stays we've seen for ourselves, and permits handled before you land.

Photo: Prof. Vikramjit Kakati · credits
Why plan the North East with a local team

Beautiful, remote — and easy to get wrong

Distances look short on a map but mountain roads take time, some areas need permits, and the weather decides more than any plan. We build itineraries around that reality, so your days are spent seeing places — not stuck in a car.

  • Realistic driving times with buffer days where the hills demand them
  • Inner Line Permits and protected-area permits arranged in advance
  • Experienced local drivers who know the passes, not just the highway
  • Homestays, tea-estate bungalows and boutique stays we've checked
  • Festivals timed right: Hornbill, Ziro, Bihu, Losar, Wangala
Mawlynnong village, Meghalaya
Sample journeys

Signature North East itineraries

Every trip is tailor-made — use these as a starting point. Durations can stretch or shrink and any two can be combined.

Tea garden in Upper Assam
Our backyard

Upper Assam Hidden Trails

4 nights / 5 daysFrom DibrugarhBest: Nov – Apr
  1. Dibrugarh arrival, tea-estate bungalow stay and garden walk
  2. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park by boat — feral horses, river dolphins, birdlife
  3. Maguri-Motapung wetland birding at sunrise; Digboi oil heritage and WWII cemetery
  4. Margherita tea country and Stilwell Road history; optional day towards Namdapha
  5. Departure from Dibrugarh
Enquire about this trip
Majuli river island, Assam
Assam

Assam Classic: Kaziranga, Majuli & Tea Country

6 nights / 7 daysGuwahati → DibrugarhBest: Nov – Apr
  1. Guwahati — Kamakhya temple and Brahmaputra sunset cruise
  2. Drive to Kaziranga; evening tea-garden walk
  3. Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in Kaziranga's Central and Eastern ranges
  4. Ferry to Majuli — satras, mask-making and Mishing villages
  5. Majuli at leisure, cycling and village homestay
  6. Sivasagar's Ahom monuments en route to Dibrugarh tea estate
  7. Departure from Dibrugarh
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Nohkalikai Falls near Sohra, Meghalaya
Meghalaya

Meghalaya: Clouds, Caves & Root Bridges

5 nights / 6 daysGuwahati returnBest: Oct – May
  1. Guwahati to Shillong via Umiam Lake
  2. Sohra (Cherrapunji) — Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai cave, Seven Sisters Falls
  3. Trek to the double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat
  4. Mawlynnong village and the clear waters of Dawki
  5. Shillong — Ward's Lake, Police Bazaar, Laitlum canyons
  6. Return to Guwahati
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Tawang Monastery
Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang over Sela Pass

7 nights / 8 daysGuwahati returnBest: Mar – Jun, Sep – Nov
  1. Guwahati to Bhalukpong or Tezpur
  2. Through Bomdila to the apple orchards of Dirang
  3. Over Sela Pass (around 4,170 m) to Tawang
  4. Tawang Monastery, war memorial and Urgelling
  5. Excursion to Bum La / Madhuri (Sangetsar) Lake — permits and weather permitting
  6. Back to Dirang, hot springs and Sangti valley
  7. Bomdila monastery, then down to Bhalukpong
  8. Return to Guwahati
Enquire about this trip
Green valley of Ziro
Arunachal Pradesh

Ziro Valley & Apatani Culture

4 nights / 5 daysNorth Lakhimpur / ItanagarBest: Mar – May, Sep – Nov
  1. Arrive North Lakhimpur (Lilabari) or Itanagar, drive up to Ziro
  2. Apatani villages of Hong and Hari, pine and rice-field walks
  3. Talley Valley or Kile Pakho ridge; local food trail
  4. At leisure — or the Ziro Festival of Music if you're here in September
  5. Return and depart
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Hornbill Festival, Kisama
Nagaland

Hornbill Festival & Kohima

4 nights / 5 daysDimapur returnFestival: 1 – 10 December
  1. Dimapur arrival, drive to Kohima; War Cemetery
  2. Full day at Kisama Heritage Village — the Hornbill Festival
  3. Khonoma, Asia's first "green village"; festival evening
  4. Optional Dzükou Valley day hike or a second festival day
  5. Return to Dimapur

Festival stays sell out early — enquire by September for the best options.

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Kanchenjunga from Gangtok
Sikkim

Sikkim: Gangtok, Lachung & Darjeeling

6 nights / 7 daysBagdogra returnBest: Mar – May, Oct – Dec
  1. Bagdogra to Gangtok
  2. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir (permit day)
  3. Into North Sikkim — Lachung
  4. Yumthang Valley; optional Zero Point; back to Gangtok
  5. Gangtok to Darjeeling
  6. Tiger Hill sunrise, toy train, tea estates
  7. Return to Bagdogra
Enquire about this trip
Paro Taktsang, Bhutan
Add-on

Bhutan: Thimphu, Punakha & Paro

5 nights / 6 daysVia Bagdogra–Phuentsholing or Paro flightsBest: Mar – May, Sep – Nov
  1. Enter at Phuentsholing (or fly into Paro)
  2. Thimphu — Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong
  3. Over Dochula Pass to Punakha Dzong
  4. Paro — National Museum and Rinpung Dzong
  5. Hike to Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
  6. Depart

Bhutan charges a Sustainable Development Fee per night; Indian citizens need a valid passport or voter ID. We'll confirm current fees and rules when you enquire.

Enquire about this trip
When to go

Best seasons at a glance

RegionBest monthsGood to know
Assam (Kaziranga, Majuli)November – AprilKaziranga's safari ranges usually close for the monsoon (around May/June to October). Bihu festival in mid-April.
MeghalayaOctober – MayJune – September is the wettest time on earth here: waterfalls are spectacular but roads and treks are slow.
Arunachal (Tawang, Ziro)March – June, September – NovemberSnow from December to February can close Sela Pass for a few days at a time. Ziro Festival in late September.
NagalandOctober – MayHornbill Festival every year from 1 to 10 December.
SikkimMarch – May, October – DecemberMonsoon landslides can shut North Sikkim roads; rhododendrons bloom in April – May.
Permits

Permits, made painless

Parts of the North East need permission to enter. We arrange these for our guests as part of the trip.

Indian citizens

An Inner Line Permit (ILP) is needed for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. In Sikkim, areas such as Tsomgo Lake and North Sikkim need a protected-area permit. Carry a government photo ID.

Foreign nationals

A Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is needed for several areas, including much of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Some areas require travelling in a group through a registered operator.

Approximate guidance — verify before travel. Permit rules, fees and processing times change. We confirm the current requirements for your exact route when you book. Last reviewed November 2026.

Let's plan your North East journey

Tell us how many days you have and what you love — wildlife, culture, mountains or slow village stays.

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