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Meghalaya's living root bridges, Assam's tea estates and Kaziranga rhinos, Arunachal's last unspoiled Buddhist valleys, Nagaland's warrior hills and the rest. We plan private circuits across all eight states with operator-led permits where needed.
Why visit
Four reasons we keep coming back to North East India
Living root bridges and a wetter Cherrapunji
Meghalaya's root bridges in Nongriat — grown over decades by the Khasi from rubber-fig roots — are unlike anywhere else in India. Cherrapunji and Mawsynram see some of the wettest rainfall on Earth. Lush, green, with waterfalls everywhere from May to October.
Kaziranga rhinos and Manas tigers
Two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos live in Assam's Kaziranga. Jeep safaris give reliable rhino sightings, elephant safaris bring you closer. Manas National Park (UNESCO) adds Bengal tigers, golden langurs and wild buffaloes on the Bhutan border.
Arunachal — India's last unspoiled valleys
Tawang's 17th-century monastery, the Sela Pass at 4,170m, Ziro's Apatani villages, Mechuka's Tibetan-frontier feel. Arunachal Pradesh needs an Inner Line Permit (we handle it) and rewards visitors who want the Himalayas without crowds.
Eight states, eight cultures
Khasi and Garo in Meghalaya, Naga tribes in Nagaland, Mizo in Mizoram, Manipuri in Manipur, Tripuri in Tripura, Bodo and Ahom in Assam. Each has its own language, festivals, weave and cuisine. The diversity per kilometre is unmatched.
Best time to visit
When to come — month by month
The Northeast splits into two distinct seasons for travel: dry (October-April) and monsoon (May-September). Dry season is straightforward — clear roads, comfortable temperatures, all national parks open, festivals like Hornbill in December and Ziro Music Festival in September-October. Monsoon turns Meghalaya into its rainforest peak — Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are at their cinematic best — but Kaziranga closes in mid-May and many roads in Arunachal flood.
Best
Good
Shoulder
Avoid
Jan
Cool, clear, dry. Peak wildlife in Kaziranga, Manas.
Feb
Warming up. Ideal for all states.
Mar
Pre-spring. Best for cherry blossoms in Shillong area.
Apr
Warm. Last good month before monsoon.
May
Pre-monsoon. Kaziranga closes mid-month.
Jun
Monsoon arrives. Many Arunachal roads close.
Jul
Wettest. Meghalaya cinematic but other states difficult.
Aug
Monsoon peak. Landslides common.
Sep
Rain easing. Ziro Music Festival.
Oct
Post-monsoon clarity. Hornbill prep in Nagaland.
Nov
Hornbill Festival 1-10 December. Book early.
Dec
Hornbill, cool weather, Kaziranga at its best.
Our recommendation
October to early March is the gold window. If you want the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, book Dec 1-10 dates 4-6 months ahead — accommodation in Kohima fills out completely. For Meghalaya specifically, May-September visits are valid if you actively want the rainforest experience and don't mind getting wet daily. Avoid June-August for any itinerary covering Arunachal or Assam wildlife.
How to reach
Getting there
The Northeast is best entered through Guwahati (Assam), which has the largest airport and the rail head. From Guwahati, road and short flights reach every state.
By air
Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU) is the main hub — direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bagdogra. From Delhi it's 2.5 hours. Other airports: Dimapur (DMU) for Nagaland, Aizawl (AJL) for Mizoram, Imphal (IMF) for Manipur, Agartala (IXA) for Tripura, Shillong (SHL) — small airport with limited Bagdogra and Kolkata flights, Tezpur and Lilabari for Assam's tea regions, and Pasighat in Arunachal. IndiGo dominates the network. Most clients fly into Guwahati and drive onward.
By rail
Guwahati is the main rail head — connected to Delhi (Rajdhani, 27 hours), Kolkata (12 hours), Bengaluru via Howrah. From Guwahati there are slow trains east to Dibrugarh and northeast to Mariani for Kaziranga approach. The Bangalore-Guwahati Express runs once weekly. Rail is mostly used for Assam plains; for hilly states (Meghalaya, Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram) you'll go by road from a railhead. For Tripura, Agartala has a station now and trains from Kolkata and Silchar.
By road
Inside the Northeast, almost all inter-state movement is by road. Guwahati to Shillong is 100 km / 3.5 hours via the National Highway 6 — the easiest hill drive in the region. Guwahati to Kaziranga is 220 km / 4-5 hours. Guwahati to Tawang is 530 km / 14-16 hours over 2 days with overnight at Bomdila. Roads vary — Assam plains good, Meghalaya excellent, Arunachal patchy especially in monsoon. Inner Line Permits required for Arunachal, Nagaland (for foreign nationals only), Mizoram and Manipur (foreign nationals only). We handle all ILPs with 7-10 day notice.
—Sold on North East India?
Towns & villages
View all 0 →Towns & villages we love
Places we send travellers again and again
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
★★★★★
“We'd been to Ladakh and Kerala, but nothing prepared us for Sikkim. The itinerary felt like it was written by someone who truly loves this place — because it was.”
Priya & Kiran Nair
Bangalore, India
★★★★★
“The permit process alone would have put us off. They handled everything — inner line, protected area, Nathu La. We just showed up.”
David & Sarah Whitmore
London, United Kingdom
Popular itineraries
Sample journeys we run
Starting points, not templates. Every itinerary gets rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests.
—Found an itinerary that fits?
Typical budget
What it costs
Northeast pricing varies more than most Indian destinations because permit-area trips (Arunachal, Nagaland) cost more than non-permit ones (Meghalaya, Assam). Pricing below is per person on twin-sharing, INR, excluding flights to Guwahati. ILPs for Arunachal are included where applicable.
Budget
₹22,000 – ₹32,000
per person · twin sharing · excl. flights
- 3-star hotels / quality homestays
- Shared transfers in plains, private taxi in hills
- Breakfasts included
- All entry fees and basic safaris
- English-Hindi speaking driver
Works well for the Meghalaya-only or Meghalaya + Kaziranga combo. Arunachal adds 30-40%.
Most bookedMid-range
₹40,000 – ₹60,000
per person · twin sharing · excl. flights
- Heritage homestays, tea-estate bungalows, 4-star where available
- Private Innova or Scorpio throughout
- All breakfasts + 3-5 specials (Khasi feast, Bhutia dinner in Tawang etc.)
- Kaziranga: elephant + jeep safaris both ranges
- Cultural guide for tribal area visits
- All permits handled
Where most families and couples settle. Best value for the Northeast.
Premium
₹75,000 and up
per person · twin sharing · excl. flights
- Diphlu River Lodge Kaziranga, Mayfair Shillong, Glasshouse on Brahmaputra
- Private luxury vehicle + back-up
- All meals at heritage venues
- Private cultural performances (Naga warrior dance, Mishing weaving)
- Helicopter optionals for Tawang or remote Arunachal
- Dedicated guide throughout
Photographer trips and once-in-a-lifetime itineraries.
What's not included
What isn't included: Guwahati flights (₹6,000-15,000 round-trip from most Indian cities), Hornbill Festival entry passes (₹500 per day, daily), additional safari add-ons (boat safari Kaziranga ₹1,500 extra, Manas dawn safari ₹3,500), and tribal village home-stay donations (₹500-1,000 expected for evening meal). Tawang circuit adds 4-5 days and ₹15,000-25,000 per person to any itinerary. Ziro Music Festival weekend (September-October) — accommodation and transport at 2× normal rates.
Permit guide
Permits we handle for you
Four of the eight Northeast states require Inner Line Permits (ILP) for visitors. Indian nationals need ILPs for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Foreign nationals additionally need Protected Area Permits (PAP) for Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, and parts of Himachal. We handle all permit logistics with 7-10 day notice.
Arunachal Pradesh ILP
All Indian nationalsWhere: Online via arunachalilp.com or in person at Arunachal Bhavans in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Tezpur. We process online with your scanned documents.
Documents needed
- Aadhaar or passport
- Two passport-size photos
- Travel dates and route
Nagaland ILP
All Indian nationalsWhere: Online via Nagaland tourism portal or at Nagaland House Delhi/Kolkata/Guwahati. ILP issued for specific districts you plan to visit.
Documents needed
- Aadhaar or passport
- Two photos
- Detailed itinerary listing visited districts
Foreign National PAP
All non-Indian passportsWhere: Must be applied through a registered operator (us) at least 30 days before travel. Issued by Ministry of Home Affairs Delhi via state government.
Documents needed
- Passport + Indian visa scan
- Two photos
- Detailed day-by-day itinerary
- Confirmed accommodation bookings
How the process works
Standard timeline for Indian nationals: send us scans 10 days before departure, ILP issued and emailed within 5-7 days. Foreign nationals need 30-45 days minimum. Permits are state-specific — if your trip covers Arunachal + Nagaland you need two separate ILPs. Manipur and Mizoram permits are quicker, often 24-48 hours. Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura have no permit requirement.
Food & culture
What you're walking into in North East India
The Northeast is a mosaic. Assam is Hindu-majority with Vaishnav and Shakta traditions; Meghalaya is mostly Christian (Khasi, Garo); Nagaland is Christian; Arunachal is animist-Buddhist-Hindu mix; Manipur is Hindu-Vaishnav with significant Christian areas; Mizoram is Christian; Tripura is mixed Hindu-Christian; Sikkim is Buddhist-Hindu. Indigenous tribal cultures dominate beyond Assam — each with its own language, festival calendar and weaving tradition.
Eat this
Jadoh
The Khasi rice dish — rice cooked with pork blood, fat and spices. Found at Trattoria in Police Bazaar and at home-stays in Cherrapunji. Hearty, distinctive, not for the squeamish.
Smoked pork with bamboo shoot
Naga and Manipuri specialty — smoked pork slow-cooked with fermented bamboo shoots and Naga king chillies. Try at Ethnic Table in Kohima or Luxa in Dimapur. Hot in every sense.
Thukpa and momo (Tawang)
Tibetan-Buddhist Arunachal — thukpa (noodle soup) and momos at Dolma's in Tawang town. Pair with butter tea. Warming after Sela Pass crossings.
Pitha (Assam)
Rice flour cake — savoury or sweet variants. Bhapa pitha (steamed) and til pitha (sesame-stuffed) are traditional Bihu festival foods. Maitree in Guwahati does proper versions.
Eromba (Manipur)
Fermented fish mash with vegetables — the heart of Manipuri cuisine. Strong, complex. At Citrus in Imphal or any home-stay.
Apong (rice beer)
Mishing tribal rice beer in Assam. Mild, slightly sweet, served in bamboo cups. Mishing villages near Majuli offer authentic versions.
Customs & etiquette
Tribal culture across the Northeast is generally welcoming but requires respect. Always ask before photographing people, especially elders or in tribal villages — many communities prefer not to be photographed at all. Remove shoes before entering homes; tribal homes often have multiple ritual spaces, ask the host. Khasi and Garo societies are matrilineal — youngest daughter inherits, names pass through mother. Naga warrior culture is celebrated at Hornbill Festival but most villages are now Christian and conservative — modest dress essential. Tipping: ₹200-300 per day for drivers, ₹100-200 for guides per site. Cash matters — ATMs are scarce in tribal areas. Wear modest clothing in monasteries (Tawang) and remove shoes. Beef is widely eaten in Christian and tribal areas — common at meals — but rare in Hindu Assam. Alcohol is restricted in Nagaland (officially dry, though available) and Manipur in parts; freely available elsewhere.
Frequently asked