Most people who search for a North East India tour - or a Northeast tour package, the two spellings turn up the same trips - are really asking one question: how much of it can I actually see? The honest answer is that the region is enormous and the roads are slow, so a good trip picks two or three things and does them properly rather than sprinting through eight states in a week.
The combination that works from Guwahati is Meghalaya, Kaziranga and Tawang. Meghalaya's waterfall plateau and the Umngot take four to five days. Kaziranga adds two, and it is the easiest wildlife you will ever see. Tawang adds five or six, and it is the one that needs a permit, a high-clearance vehicle and a driver who has crossed Sela Pass before. We run all three with the same car and the same driver, so nothing gets handed off halfway.
What you'll see
Shillong & Laitlum
Meghalaya's capital and its best-known canyon viewpoint
Cherrapunji (Sohra)
Nohkalikai, Seven Sisters, caves and the wettest plateau on earth
Dawki & Mawlynnong
The clear Umngot River and Asia's cleanest village
Kaziranga National Park
UNESCO grassland, dawn jeep safaris, one-horned rhinos
Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
The hilltop temple above the Brahmaputra
Bomdila & Dirang
Arunachal foothill towns and the night halt before the pass
Sela Pass (~13,700 ft)
The high crossing into Tawang
Tawang Monastery
India's largest monastery, at about 10,000 ft
Route map
Every stop pinned in driving order, starting from Guwahati Airport. Your driver adjusts the exact order on the day with the weather and light.
Open the full route in Google MapsSample itinerary
A typical run of the trip - every stop, timing and order can change to suit you.
- DAYS 1–2
Meghalaya - Shillong & Laitlum
Guwahati pickup, Umiam Lake, Shillong local sights and Laitlum Canyon at first light
Day route on Google Maps - DAYS 3–4
Cherrapunji & Dawki
Sohra's waterfalls and caves, then a riverside night at Shnongpdeng and morning boating on the Umngot with Mawlynnong on the way back
Day route on Google Maps - DAYS 5–6
Assam - Kaziranga
Down to the plains and east on NH-27 to Kohora, an evening arrival and a dawn jeep safari among the rhinos
Day route on Google Maps - DAYS 7–8
Into Arunachal - Bomdila & Dirang
West to Tezpur and up into the foothills, with a night at Dirang or Bomdila to gain altitude gently
Day route on Google Maps - DAYS 9–10
Sela Pass & Tawang
Over Sela at about 13,700 ft to Tawang Monastery, the war memorial and Bumla if permits allow
Day route on Google Maps - DAYS 11–12
Return to Guwahati
Back down over the pass in two stages, with the final drop at Guwahati airport
Day route on Google Maps
What's included
- ✓One car and one local driver for the whole circuit
- ✓Fuel, parking, tolls and driver charges
- ✓Guwahati airport pickup and drop
- ✓Route planned around night halts across all three states - stay recommendations given (you book directly)
- ✓Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh arranged
- ✓A buffer day built into winter Tawang plans
Not included
- -Entry tickets, safari and boating fees
- -Meals
- -Flights to and from Guwahati
- -Protected Area Permit fees for foreign nationals
Every trip is priced to your group size, vehicle, season and add-ons - so we quote personally instead of listing one-size rates. Fuel, parking and driver charges are always included, with no hidden costs. Shorter versions work too - Meghalaya plus Kaziranga is a comfortable 7 days, and drops the permit requirement entirely.
Northeast India Tour - FAQ
Updated August 2026
How many days do I need for a Northeast India trip?+
Seven days covers Meghalaya and Kaziranga comfortably. Add Tawang and you are looking at eleven or twelve, because the drive up alone takes two days each way. Under seven days, pick one state and do it well - the region punishes over-planning.
Which states does this cover?+
Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Those three connect sensibly by road from Guwahati. We do not run Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram or Tripura - they are a different corridor and you would be better served by an operator based there.
Do I need permits?+
For Meghalaya and Assam, Indian nationals need nothing. Arunachal Pradesh requires an Inner Line Permit, which we arrange in advance from your ID and photographs. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, which takes longer - tell us early.
When is the best time for a Northeast tour?+
October to April is the broad answer. Kaziranga opens around 1 November and closes about 30 April. Tawang is best March to June and October to December, with snow closing Sela occasionally in deep winter. Meghalaya's waterfalls peak in the June-September monsoon, which is the opposite of everything else - so a monsoon trip should stay in Meghalaya.
Is it one car for the whole trip?+
Yes. One vehicle and one driver from the Guwahati pickup to the final drop, across all three states. Nothing gets handed to a local sub-contractor at a state border - which is a real difference from how many aggregator bookings work out.
Can we fly between destinations instead of driving?+
Realistically, no. Guwahati is the only airport with meaningful connections; Tawang has no commercial airport and Shillong's Umroi has very limited flights. Northeast travel is road travel, which is why the driver matters as much as the itinerary.
How much does a Northeast India tour package cost?+
There is no fixed rate card - the quote depends on how many days, which states, group size, vehicle and stay category. Send your dates and rough plan on WhatsApp to +91 98637 89990 and you will get an itinerary and an exact, all-inclusive quote.
