MEGHALAYA LIVING ROOT BRIDGES, RAINFORESTS & TRIBAL VILLAGES

Best Season: October – April

Day 1 – ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi. Meet & assistance at the airport. (Check-in time 14:00 Hrs.)
Transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 – DELHI – GUWAHATI BY FLIGHT 6E5215-0740/1010 HRS.
GUWAHATI – SHILLONG 100 KMS / 03 HRS.
Upon arrival at Guwahati Airport, meet your local representative and drive towards Shillong, the picturesque capital of Meghalaya, through the scenic landscapes of the Khasi Hills.
The journey generally takes around 3–4 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.
On arrival, check in at the hotel and take some time to relax. In the late afternoon, enjoy a gentle orientation walk around Shillong city centre, including the lively Police Bazaar area, where you can explore local shops and experience everyday life in Meghalaya’s capital. If time permits, visit Ward’s Lake for a peaceful stroll around its landscaped gardens.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Walking level: Easy, approximately 1–2 km, depending on the selected visits.
Overnight: Shillong

Day 3 – SHILLONG: FOREST WALKS, PANORAMIC VIEWS AND KHASI CULTURE
After breakfast, set out to explore Shillong and its surrounding natural landscapes.
Drive towards Shillong Peak, one of the region’s best-known viewpoints, offering panoramic views of the city and the surrounding Khasi Hills when visibility is good. Continue with a gentle walk in a suitable nearby forested area, depending on local access and weather conditions.
Later, visit Elephant Falls, where a series of cascades can be admired along the designated pathways and steps.
In the afternoon, return to Shillong and explore the local market area. This is an opportunity to discover Khasi handicrafts, locally produced goods and everyday life in the city.
The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Walking level: Easy, with short walks and some steps at the waterfall.
Overnight: Shillong

Day 4 – SHILLONG – MAWLYNNONG – DAWKI – SHNONGPDENG 120 KMS / 04 HRS.
After breakfast, depart Shillong for Mawlynnong, a picturesque Khasi village known for its community-led cleanliness initiatives, traditional homes and green surroundings.
The drive generally takes around 2.5–3.5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.
On arrival, enjoy a guided walk through the village lanes, passing traditional houses, gardens and community spaces. Learn about village life and the role of local communities in maintaining their surroundings.
Continue to the nearby Riwai Living Root Bridge. Walk through the countryside and descend along the village pathway to see this remarkable example of a bridge formed from the aerial roots of living trees. Allow approximately 45–90 minutes for the visit, including the walk and time at the bridge.
Later, continue to Dawki and Shnongpdeng, situated near the Umngot River. The drive from Mawlynnong generally takes around 1–1.5 hours.
Depending on the season and water conditions, enjoy a riverside walk and admire the surrounding hills and river landscapes. Boating may be arranged locally as an optional activity, subject to weather, water levels and operator availability.
Check in at the accommodation and enjoy a relaxed evening by the river.
Walking level: Easy to moderate, with uneven paths and steps near the root bridge.
Note: Shnongpdeng offers simpler accommodation than Shillong. For guests requiring higher comfort standards, select a suitable property in Dawki or the surrounding area.
Overnight: Dawki or Shnongpdeng

Day 5 – DAWKI/SHNONGPDENG – SOHRA (CHERRAPUNJI)
After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning around the river or take a short walk through the surrounding countryside.
Later, depart for Sohra, also known as Cherrapunji, travelling through the rolling hills and rural landscapes of Meghalaya. The drive may take approximately 3.5–5 hours, including stops and depending on road conditions. The journey offers opportunities to observe village life, cultivated hillsides and the changing scenery of the Khasi Plateau.
Arrive in Sohra in the afternoon and check in at the hotel. If time and weather permit, visit a nearby viewpoint to admire the dramatic cliffs and forested valleys. The remainder of the evening is free to relax. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Walking level: Easy.
Note: We Keep this day relatively light, as the drive is substantial and the following days involve nature walks and the more demanding Nongriat hike.
Overnight: Sohra

Day 6 – SOHRA: WATERFALLS, CAVES AND FOREST TRAILS 85 KMS / 04 HRS.
After breakfast, explore the spectacular natural landscapes surrounding Sohra.
Begin with Nohkalikai Falls, one of Meghalaya’s most celebrated waterfalls. Enjoy the viewpoint and the impressive panorama of the surrounding cliffs and forested valley.
Continue towards Mawsmai Cave, where guests can experience a walk through limestone formations and narrow passages, subject to site conditions and access arrangements.
Afterwards, visit the Seven Sisters Falls viewpoint, where the cascades are particularly impressive during and after the monsoon, although their flow varies considerably with the season.
In the afternoon, enjoy a short nature walk along a suitable forest or countryside trail in the Sohra region. The walk should be selected locally according to weather, ground conditions and the group’s ability. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Walking level: Easy to moderate. Cave passages may be slippery or narrow.
Seasonal note: Waterfalls may be less dramatic during the dry season, but clearer skies can provide better views of the surrounding landscape.
Overnight: Sohra

Day 7 – SOHRA – TYRNA – NONGRIAT AND THE DOUBLE-DECKER LIVING ROOT BRIDGE
After an early breakfast, drive to Tyrna village, the starting point for the celebrated Nongriat trek.
Meet your local trekking guide and begin the descent through the forested Khasi Hills, following stone staircases, village pathways and suspension bridges. The trail passes through dense vegetation and small settlements, offering an opportunity to experience the region’s natural environment and rural life on foot.
Continue towards Nongriat village, home to the famous Double-Decker Living Root Bridge. Formed by guiding the aerial roots of living rubber fig trees over many years, this remarkable structure demonstrates the traditional ecological knowledge of the Khasi people.
Spend time exploring the bridge and its surroundings, observing the intricate root network and the forest environment.
For a soft-adventure programme, an overnight stay in Nongriat is recommended. It allows guests to enjoy the destination without having to complete the entire descent and return ascent on the same day.
Rainbow Falls can be offered as an optional extension only for guests with good fitness, sufficient daylight and suitable weather. It involves additional walking over challenging terrain and should not be included as a standard activity.

In the evening, settle into a simple village homestay or guesthouse and enjoy a locally prepared meal, subject to the facilities available.
Walking level: Moderate to strenuous, with a long descent, numerous steps and uneven surfaces.
Approximate hiking time: Allow around 2–3 hours for the descent, plus time for the bridge visit. Actual timings vary with pace, weather and trail conditions.
Accommodation note: Nongriat accommodation is basic and may have shared facilities. Advance confirmation is essential, particularly for international guests.
Overnight: Nongriat village

Day 8 – NONGRIAT – TYRNA – SOHRA
After breakfast, begin the return hike from Nongriat to Tyrna. The ascent follows the same stone steps and forest pathways, with regular rest breaks along the way.
This is the physically most demanding part of the itinerary, as the climb involves sustained uphill walking. A leisurely pace, adequate drinking water and sufficient breaks are essential.
On reaching Tyrna, meet your vehicle and drive back to Sohra.
The afternoon is reserved for rest and recovery. Depending on the group’s arrival time, energy levels and weather, a short nearby viewpoint visit may be possible, but no additional hike should be scheduled.
Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Walking level: Moderate to strenuous.
Approximate hiking time: Allow 2.5–4 hours for the ascent, with additional time for rest stops. Some guests may need longer.
Practical note: This overnight arrangement is more comfortable than attempting the entire Nongriat trek as a day excursion and then driving to Shillong. It also provides more time to appreciate the destination.
Overnight: Sohra

Day 9 – SOHRA – SHILLONG: 55 KMS / 02 HRS.
COUNTRYSIDE AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
After breakfast, depart Sohra for Shillong at a relaxed pace.
Depending on the group’s energy levels after the Nongriat hike, arrange a brief stop at a suitable Khasi village or countryside viewpoint along the route. Any village visit should be arranged respectfully, with local permission where required.
Continue towards Shillong, arriving around midday or early afternoon, depending on traffic and stops.
After check-in, the remainder of the afternoon is free for relaxation, a gentle walk around Ward’s Lake or independent exploration of the city’s cafés and markets.
In the evening, enjoy an introduction to Khasi culture through a local food experience or a cultural performance, if a suitable programme is available and confirmed in advance.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Walking level: Easy.
Note: The David Scott Trail is not included as a standard activity because its longer distance, combined with the previous day’s demanding ascent, would make the programme unnecessarily tiring. Guests wishing to hike it should ideally extend the tour or replace another activity.
Overnight: Shillong

Day 10 – SHILLONG – GUWAHATI 100 KMS / 03 HRS.
GUWAHATI – DELHI BY FLIGHT IX9510-1355/1645 HRS.
LEAVE DELHI
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Guwahati Airport for your flight to Delhi.
Upon arrival remain in transit to board the flight for onward destination.

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