The most common mistake with the north east is trying to see all of it. Distances that look modest take a full day, because the roads follow rivers and ridges rather than any straight line, and a fortnight spread across four states becomes a fortnight spent in a vehicle.
Guwahati is the hub. From there most trips go one of two ways: Meghalaya for waterfalls, caves and living root bridges, or Assam and Arunachal for Kaziranga and the long climb to Tawang.
Why go to North East India
Two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos
Kaziranga holds them, along with wild buffalo, swamp deer and one of the densest tiger populations anywhere.
Living root bridges
Khasi communities train fig roots across streams over decades. Nothing else like it exists.
Water you can see the bottom of
The Umngot at Dawki runs transparent from November to March, and the photographs are not edited.
Genuinely few visitors
Outside Kaziranga and Cherrapunji you will meet very few other travellers, even in season.
What people come for
-
Kaziranga National Park
Grassland and wetland on the Brahmaputra. Open November to mid-May only.
-
Cherrapunji
One of the wettest places on earth, on a plateau that falls away in cliffs.
-
Dawki and the Umngot
Clear water on the Bangladesh border, best December and January.
-
Shillong
The Khasi hill capital at 1,500m, and the base for all of Meghalaya.
-
Tawang
India's largest monastery at 3,048m, two days' drive from Guwahati over Sela Pass.
Full guide: the best places to visit in North East India →
Before you book
How long you need
Eight nights covers Meghalaya and Kaziranga properly. Tawang needs four or five more on top, because the drive from Guwahati is two days each way. Combining Meghalaya, Kaziranga and Tawang under a fortnight does not work.
Who it suits
Travellers comfortable with long driving days and simple accommodation outside the main towns. The Nongriat root bridge trek, roughly 3,500 steps each way, rules itself out for anyone with knee trouble.
What to watch for
Kaziranga closes from about mid-May to mid-October. Arunachal needs an Inner Line Permit. Manipur's security situation should be checked close to your dates.
North East India — Meghalaya & Assam
Cherrapunji's living root bridges, Dawki's clear water, Mawlynnong, then Kaziranga for the one-horned rhino. Long distances handled by drivers who know the road conditions.
From₹32,999
See the full itineraryBest time to visit North East India
| When | What it is like | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| November – February | Dry and clear, the only window the Umngot runs transparent. Kaziranga open. | Best overall |
| March – April | Still dry, warmer, and the best wildlife months before Kaziranga closes. | Best for Kaziranga |
| May – September | Monsoon. Kaziranga shut, Arunachal roads cut, extraordinary rain in Meghalaya. | Avoid |
| October | Rain easing, everything green, Kaziranga reopening mid-month. | Good shoulder |
Getting to North East India
By air. Guwahati has direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Bagdogra. Tezpur, Lilabari and Pasighat cut long drives into Arunachal. Shillong has limited services.
By rail. Guwahati is the main railhead. Jorhat and Furkating serve upper Assam and Majuli; Naharlagun serves Itanagar and Ziro.
Permits and entry rules
Assam and Meghalaya need no permit. Arunachal Pradesh requires an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals, applied for online or at state offices, and a Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals travelling in a group of at least two. Nagaland and Mizoram also require ILPs. Kaziranga safaris need range-specific permits, which we book with the itinerary.