MeghalayaOctober to April

Meghalaya

Starting Point: Guwahati

Trip Overview Facts

Trip NameMeghalaya

Duration6 Days / 5 Nights

Adventure TypeBackpacking Trip

Starts FromGuwahati

Best SeasonsWinter, Spring, Autumn

CountryIndia

Max AltitudeApprox. 5,250 ft / 1,600 m (Shillong)

Trip GradeEasy-Moderate

Trail TypeMountain Trails

Group SizeAs per departure; private, women-only and corporate batches on request

Location StateMeghalaya

Ends AtGuwahati

Nearest Rail HeadGuwahati Railway Station (GHY)

Nearest AirportLokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International, Guwahati (GAU)

Free rescheduling up to 15 days before batch start

Registration Fee

₹17,999+5% GST/ person

The Double Decker living root bridge at Nongriat
Nohkalikai Falls, the tallest plunge waterfall in India
Elephant Falls and the Shillong viewpoints
The transparent Umngot river at Dawki

About Meghalaya

Six days in the Scotland of the East, starting and ending at Guwahati. Misty hills on the drive up to Shillong, the cascades of Cherrapunji, a day down thousands of stone steps to the Double Decker living root bridge at Nongriat, the glass-clear Umngot river at Dawki, and the limestone caves and canyon viewpoints in between — run at an easy pace with Khasi hosts and one proper trekking day.

Highlights

The Double Decker living root bridge at Nongriat
Nohkalikai Falls, the tallest plunge waterfall in India
Elephant Falls and the Shillong viewpoints
The transparent Umngot river at Dawki
Mawsmai and Arwah limestone caves
Seven Sisters Falls and the Cherrapunji canyon views
Khasi village hospitality and local markets
Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village, on the Dawki circuit

Why this trip

One real trek, no expedition commitment

Day 3 is a genuine 6–7 km return hike on stone steps to Nongriat. The rest of the trip is road transit and short walks, so a beginner gets the root bridge without signing up for a multi-day trek.

Permits and transfers handled end to end

Airport or railway pickup at Guwahati, every transfer on the itinerary and all state and entry permits are arranged for you.

Three bases, no backtracking

Shillong, Cherrapunji and Dawki in sequence, each a short drive from the last — the circuit closes back at Guwahati without repeating a leg.

A trip captain with the group throughout

A dedicated driver and trip captain travel with the batch from pickup to drop, handling stays, routing and the day plan.

Places you will see

Shillong: The Khasi hill capital at about 1,600 m, and the base for the first and fifth nights. Elephant Falls, the viewpoints above town, Ward's Lake and Police Bazaar for the evening markets.

Cherrapunji: Sohra, 50–60 km south of Shillong on the edge of the plateau. Nohkalikai Falls, Seven Sisters Falls, the Mawsmai and Arwah limestone caves, and canyon views down into the Bangladesh plains.

Nongriat: A village in the gorge below Tyrna, reached only on foot down a long flight of stone steps. The Double Decker living root bridge — two tiers of ficus roots trained across the stream over generations — stands here.

Dawki & the Umngot: On the Bangladesh border, about 85 km from Cherrapunji. The Umngot runs clear enough in the dry season for a boat to look like it is floating on air; boating is charged directly at the ghat.

Mawlynnong: Asia's cleanest village, on the Dawki circuit — bamboo walkways, a sky view platform, and another single-span living root bridge nearby at Riwai.

Ideal for: Beginners, backpackers, solo travellers, couples, families and corporate teams who want the Northeast's waterfalls, caves and root bridges with only one demanding walking day.

Day 3 descends and re-climbs roughly 3,500 stone steps to the Double Decker root bridge. It is the one strenuous day of the trip — come prepared for it, or arrange with the trip captain to wait at Tyrna. Local guide charges for that trek and boating fees at Dawki are paid on site.

Day-by-day Schedule

On arrivalPickup from Guwahati airport or railway station and briefing with the trip captain.
Drive to Shillong on NH 6 — about 100 km, 3 hours, with a stop at Umiam Lake.
EveningCheck in, then free time at Police Bazaar and the local markets.
Overnight in Shillong (about 1,600 m). No meals on this day.

What's Included & What's Not

Airport or railway station pick-up and drop at Guwahati
5 nights accommodation in hotels or guesthouses on a sharing basis
Daily breakfast from Day 2 to Day 6
Dinner on Day 4 at Dawki
All transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary
All state and entry permits required for the tour
Dedicated driver and trip captain with the group throughout

Eligibility & Fitness

Trip DifficultyEasy-Moderate

Group As per departure; private, women-only and corporate batches on request

Preparation Guidelines

Graded Easy-Moderate. Days are built around drives, sightseeing stops and short walks, so a baseline level of everyday fitness is enough — no prior trekking experience is required.

There is no fixed age limit on this itinerary. Travellers with a cardiac history, chronic knee trouble or reduced mobility should tell us at the time of booking so we can plan the pace and the stops around them.

Eligibility

Open to beginners, backpackers, solo travellers, couples and families
Day 3 needs the stamina for roughly 3,500 stone steps down and back up — the rest of the trip is light walking
Original government photo ID is mandatory — driving licence, Aadhaar or voter ID; foreign nationals must carry passport and a valid Indian visa
Winding hill roads on every transfer day, 2–3 hours at a time
Tell the team in advance about any chronic condition, joint problem or respiratory concern, and carry your own medication

Fitness Requirement

Able to descend and climb a long flight of stone steps — about 6–7 km return over 4–5 hours
Two weeks of regular cardio and stair-climbing practice before the trip makes Day 3 far easier
Light stretching beforehand, and motion sickness tablets if ghat roads affect you

Meghalaya Departure Batches

Choose your preferred 6-day departure batch.

Departure dates for this itinerary are set on request — tell us when you want to travel and we will confirm a batch.

How to Reach Meghalaya

The trip starts and ends at Guwahati. Pickup from the airport or railway station is included — share your arrival details in advance so the transfer can be timed.

By AirNearest AirportLokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), Guwahati

Well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Airport pickup on Day 1 and drop on Day 6 are part of the package.

By TrainNearest Railway StationGuwahati Railway Station (GHY)

Connected to most major Indian cities. Station pickup and drop are included on the same terms as the airport transfer.

By RoadRouteGuwahati → Shillong → Cherrapunji → Nongriat → Dawki → Shillong → Guwahati

About 100 km from Guwahati to Shillong on NH 6, 50–60 km on to Cherrapunji, 85 km to Dawki and 80 km back up to Shillong. Cabs and shared transit also run on the Guwahati–Shillong leg for anyone joining late.

Road Route

Guwahati
Shillong
Cherrapunji
Nongriat
Dawki
Mawlynnong
Shillong
Guwahati

Duration6 Days / 5 Nights

Highest pointShillong — about 5,250 ft / 1,600 m

TrekkingAbout 6–7 km return on Day 3; 3–6 km of walking on the other sightseeing days

PickupGuwahati airport (GAU) or Guwahati railway stationDay 1, on arrival — share your flight or train details in advance

DropGuwahati airport or railway stationDay 6, afternoon

Book the return flight or train with at least a 3-hour buffer after the scheduled drop.

Trip Essentials Packing List

What to carry

Hat or cap
Light jacket, and a warmer one for the winter months
Thermal innerwear, top and bottom, for December to February
Comfortable travel clothes and quick-dry tees
Extra pairs of socks and undergarments

Gloves for the colder departures
Sturdy trekking or running shoes with grip for the Nongriat steps
Slippers or sandals for the stays
20–30L daypack for the day excursions
Reusable water bottle

Umbrella or raincoat — Meghalaya rains out of season too
Power bank
Personal medication and a basic first aid kit
Original government photo ID — passport and Indian visa for foreign nationals

Trip Photo Album

Trail, campsite and summit shots from past batches.

2 Photos

Cancellation & Voucher Policy

The ₹5,000 advance is non-refundable under any circumstances. Cancel 7 days or more before departure and 50% of the balance is refunded. No refund is given for cancellations made less than 48 hours before the trip. If Trip My Soul cancels for weather, political unrest, low participation or another unforeseen situation, you receive a full refund less any transport cancellation charges. Rescheduling to a later batch is at management discretion and subject to seat availability.

Verified Feedback

Trek Reviews & Videos

Ananya RoyVerified Trekker • Jan 2026

"Summiting Meghalaya with TripMySoul was a dream come true! The guide team carried oxygen tanks and checked our SpO2 twice daily. Food at high camp was fresh and hot!"

Vikramaditya SinghExperienced Hiker • Dec 2025

"The campsite management and safety protocols on Meghalaya are top notch. Triple-layer sleeping bags kept us warm even at -8°C at night!"

Pooja SharmaWomen Only Batch Trekker • Nov 2025

"Joined the Women-Only batch and felt completely safe and empowered! Our female trek leader was super supportive during steep incline sections."

Rohan KulkarniSolo Traveler • Oct 2025

"Clear instructions from base camp to summit ridge. TripMySoul's logistics and transport coordination made the journey seamless."

Official Trip Guide

Trip Article & Written Guide

The Complete Guide to Meghalaya: Trail Contours, Campsites & Preparation

Everything you need to know about preparing for Meghalaya. Deep-dive analysis of altitude sickness prevention, terrain contours, camp temperature ranges, and gear checklist.

⏱️ 6 min readRead Full Article