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Raasta
The double-decker living root bridge spanning a jungle stream in Nongriat

Journey No. 05North-east India

MeghalayaInto the Cloud Country

Walk through forests where bridges are alive.

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Duration
6 Days / 5 Nights
Route
Shillong → Cherrapunji → Nongriat → Dawki → Mawlynnong
Starting from
₹32,900per person
Best time
October to April

01The short version

Six days.Thousands of steps,one living bridge,and a river so clear it disappears.

Meghalaya means 'abode of the clouds', and it lives up to it: waterfalls pouring off misty cliffs, forests threaded with bridges grown from living roots, and a river so clear that boats seem to hang in mid-air. This is the most active journey we offer — and the one people talk about longest.

Highlights

  • Shillong
  • Waterfalls
  • Cherrapunji
  • Living root bridges
  • Nongriat
  • Dawki
  • Umngot River
  • Mawlynnong

02The route

5 stops. One unbroken line.

Starts in Guwahati, ends in Guwahati. The road gets quieter with every stop.

  1. 01 · Days 1, 6

    Shillong

    Pine-scented hill town

  2. 02 · Day 2

    Cherrapunji

    Waterfall country

  3. 03 · Day 3

    Nongriat

    The living bridges

  4. 04 · Day 4

    Dawki

    The clearest river

  5. 05 · Day 5

    Mawlynnong

    A village in the forest

03The itinerary

The story of your journey, one day at a time.

Every day can bend: slower mornings, extra nights, a detour you hear about on the road. This is the shape of it.

  1. Wooded islands in the blue water of Umiam Lake outside Shillong

    Shillong

    Day 1 of 6, Arrive: Into the hills

    Drive up from Guwahati past the wide blue sweep of Umiam Lake to Shillong, a pine-scented hill town with a famous love of music. The evening is for cafés, live music and your first plate of jadoh.

    • Umiam Lake viewpoint
    • Shillong café & music evening

    Overnight: Shillong

  2. Nohkalikai Falls plunging off a green cliff near Cherrapunji

    Shillong → Cherrapunji

    Day 2 of 6, Fall: Waterfall country

    Cross the high plateau to Sohra (Cherrapunji), one of the wettest places on Earth. Stand above Nohkalikai, India's tallest plunge waterfall, and let the cloud blow through the gorge at your feet.

    • Nohkalikai Falls
    • Seven Sisters viewpoint
    • Cave or canyon stop

    Overnight: Cherrapunji

  3. Tangled roots forming the living bridge over a clear pool at Nongriat

    Nongriat

    Day 3 of 6, Descend: Bridges that are alive

    The big day: thousands of stone steps down into the jungle to Nongriat village and its double-decker living root bridge, grown over generations by Khasi villagers from rubber-fig roots. Swim in the blue pools, then climb back with shaking legs and a full heart.

    • Guided trek with a local Khasi guide
    • Natural pools at Rainbow Falls (fitness permitting)

    Overnight: Cherrapunji

  4. A wooden boat appearing to float on the glass-clear Umngot River at Dawki

    Dawki & the Umngot

    Day 4 of 6, Float: A boat on clear glass

    Drive to Dawki, near the Bangladesh border, where the Umngot River runs so clear in the dry season that boats seem to float on air. Row out, swim, or spend the night riverside at Shnongpdeng.

    • Boat ride on the Umngot
    • Riverside stay at Shnongpdeng

    Overnight: Shnongpdeng riverside camp or Dawki

  5. A thatched bamboo hut among the trees in Mawlynnong

    Mawlynnong

    Day 5 of 6, Wander: A village in the forest

    Visit Mawlynnong, known for its spotless lanes and bamboo walkways, and the single root bridge at nearby Riwai. Lunch with a local family, then a slow afternoon in the countryside before returning to Shillong.

    • Riwai living root bridge
    • Lunch with a village family

    Overnight: Shillong

  6. Mist rising out of the forest around Mawlynnong

    Shillong

    Day 6 of 6, Linger: Cloud country morning

    One last misty morning in the hills, a final cup of tea in Shillong, and the drive back down to Guwahati for your onward journey.

    • Slow morning
    • Transfer to Guwahati

04What you'll remember

Long after the photos are sorted, these stay.

  • A living root bridge arching over a forest river in Meghalaya
    Crossing a living bridgeRoots trained across a river by generations of Khasi villagers.
  • A single boat on the emerald water of the Umngot River, seen from above
    A boat that seems to floatThe Umngot in the dry season is clear as glass.
  • A deep green valley with a distant waterfall near Cherrapunji
    Waterfalls in the cloudsCliffs that pour white into green gorges.
  • The tiered pools of Wei Sawdong falls hidden in the Cherrapunji forest
    Swimming under Wei SawdongThree tiers of falling water and a pool to yourself.

05The gallery

Meghalaya, in 12 frames.

Tap any photograph to see it full screen.

06The fine print, beautifully

What's in the bag. What isn't.

Included

  • Handpicked boutique, heritage and homestay accommodation throughout
  • Daily breakfast, plus the special dinners noted in the itinerary
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced local driver
  • Local guides for the walks and experiences listed
  • Entry fees to the monuments and sites listed in the itinerary
  • Airport or railway station transfers on arrival and departure
  • A dedicated trip designer before you go and 24/7 support on the road
  • Local Khasi guide for the Nongriat trek
  • Boat ride on the Umngot River

Not included

  • Flights or trains to the start and from the end of the journey
  • Lunches and dinners unless mentioned
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Camera fees, tips and personal expenses
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Applicable taxes — confirmed in your personalised quote

Starting from

₹32,900 per person

Demo price, based on two travelling together. Excludes flights. Final inclusions and price are confirmed in your personalised quote.

07Trip personality

Is this your kind of trip?

  • Pace

    4 out of 5 (Unhurried to On the move)

  • Adventure

    5 out of 5 (Gentle to Thrilling)

  • Culture

    3 out of 5 (Light to Immersive)

  • Nature

    5 out of 5 (Towns & cities to Wild)

  • Comfort

    2 out of 5 (Rustic to Polished)

Good to know

  • Best timeOctober to April; November to March for the clearest river at Dawki

  • Group size2–10 travellers, or completely private

  • Starts / endsGuwahati

6 Days / 5 Nights · Meghalaya

Can you see yourself here?

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