Kaziranga & Meghalaya Explorer

Rhinos in Kaziranga, then the double-decker root bridge, waterfalls and the clear river at Dawki.

Your route

1. 1 Kaziranga 1 night
2. 2 Shillong 2 nights
3. 3 Cherrapunji 2 nights
4. 4 Dawki 1 night

1. Day 1 Kaziranga

   Arrive Guwahati, drive to Kaziranga.

   Arrive at Guwahati airport or railway station, where our representative meets you. Drive to Kaziranga National Park, about 200 km and five hours, along the Brahmaputra valley past tea gardens and paddy fields. Kaziranga is a UNESCO site and home to about two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos. Check in to your resort and relax. The park is usually open from November to April. Evenings at the resort are peaceful, with the sounds of the forest all around. Overnight in Kaziranga.

2. Day 2 Shillong

   Optional safari, drive to Shillong.

   Wake early for an optional elephant or jeep safari in Kaziranga at extra cost, to see rhinos, wild buffalo, swamp deer, elephants and, with luck, a tiger. Return to the resort for breakfast. Then drive to Shillong, about five to six hours, climbing from the plains into the green hills of Meghalaya, the Scotland of the East. Check in and rest. Safari permits are limited and need ID proof, so we book them in advance. Carry a warm layer for the early morning. Overnight in Shillong.

3. Day 3 Cherrapunji

   Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai caves.

   After breakfast, drive to Cherrapunji, also called Sohra, about 55 km away, one of the wettest places on earth. Visit Nohkalikai Falls, the tallest plunge waterfall in India, and explore the Mawsmai limestone caves with their stalactites. Stop at viewpoints over deep green gorges. Check in to your hotel or homestay in Cherrapunji and enjoy the quiet of the hills. Carry an umbrella and good walking shoes, as paths around the caves can be wet and slippery. Overnight in Cherrapunji.

4. Day 4 Cherrapunji

   Double-decker root bridge trek.

   A day of adventure. Trek to the famous double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat, grown over generations by the Khasi people from rubber tree roots. The trail has about 3,500 steps down and the same back up, so it needs good fitness, water and sturdy shoes, and takes most of the day. Swim in the natural pools near the bridge. Later, visit the local market and churches of Cherrapunji. A local guide is recommended for the trail. Overnight in Cherrapunji.

5. Day 5 Dawki

   Mawlynnong, then Dawki.

   After breakfast, check out and drive to Mawlynnong, called Asia's cleanest village, and walk across the single-decker living root bridge at Riwai. Climb the bamboo Sky View for views towards Bangladesh. Continue to Dawki, where the Umngot river is so clear that boats seem to float in the air in the dry months. Check in to your stay near Dawki. Boat rides on the Umngot river are at your own cost and run mainly from November to April. Overnight in Dawki.

6. Day 6 Shillong

   Krang Suri and Phe Phe falls.

   After breakfast, visit Krang Suri Falls, with its turquoise pool and steps down through the forest, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Meghalaya. Then see the Phe Phe Falls nearby. Swimming is allowed only where marked and with life jackets. Drive back to Shillong in the afternoon and spend the evening at Police Bazaar for shopping and food. The falls are reached by a short walk down stone steps, so wear good shoes and carry water. Overnight in Shillong.

7. Day 7 Guwahati

   Kamakhya, departure.

   After breakfast, check out and drive to Guwahati, about three hours. On the way, visit the Kamakhya temple on Nilachal Hill, one of the most important Shakti Peethas, subject to time and queues. Our driver drops you at Guwahati airport or railway station for your journey home. Please keep your tickets and ID handy, and allow extra time for the city traffic. Your journey through Kaziranga and Meghalaya ends here, with memories of rhinos, root bridges and some of the clearest rivers in India.

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