North East India
North East India is best from October to April, when the monsoon has cleared and Kaziranga is open. We plan private journeys across Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim, with a car, a guide and the best rooms each place offers. Allow 8 to 14 nights and sort permits early.
- No payment to startPay a deposit only when you book
- Itemised written quoteEvery hotel, car and guide listed
- One plannerFrom first call to last transfer
- Change anythingEvery route is a starting point
North East India, in brief
North East India is the part of the country that sits east of Bangladesh, joined to the rest of India by a narrow corridor near Siliguri. Within a two-hour flight of Delhi or Kolkata you reach limestone plateaus that catch more rain than almost anywhere on earth, grassland where the one-horned rhinoceros grazes in the open, and Buddhist valleys at 2,700 m under the eastern Himalaya. Few international visitors come, and the region rewards those who do.
We work in five of the eight states. In Meghalaya we base guests at Umiam Lake above Shillong and walk the living root bridges below Sohra. In Assam we pair Kaziranga with a planter's bungalow in the tea gardens near Tezpur, and Majuli with its Vaishnava monasteries. In Arunachal Pradesh the long road climbs to Dirang and Tawang, and a shorter one reaches the Apatani rice valley at Ziro.
Nagaland is Kohima, Khonoma and the Hornbill Festival each December. Sikkim, reached through Bagdogra, gives you Gangtok, the monastery ridge at Pelling and the Lachung valley near the Tibetan frontier. Each state has its own languages, food and permit rules, which is why most travellers choose two or three states rather than five, and why planning matters more here than in Rajasthan or Kerala.
Luxury in the North East is quieter than elsewhere in India. There are no palace hotels; instead there are a handful of excellent lodges, a planter's bungalow or two, a lake resort built in Khasi style, and in Sikkim two or three hotels of real polish. Between them, the best rooms are often a well-run family hotel. We are honest about that, and we fill the gap with private guides, good drivers and time.
Why go
Reasons to go, plainly
Below Sohra, the Khasi village of Nongriat keeps a two-tier bridge grown from the roots of rubber fig trees. The path is about 3,000 concrete steps each way. We walk it with a registered local guide in the cool dry months, when the pools beneath are clear.
Kaziranga holds the largest population of greater one-horned rhinoceros anywhere. From October or November to April we book private jeeps in the Central and Western ranges, where tall elephant grass gives way to open wetland and you can watch rhinos, wild buffalo and swamp deer at close range.
At Wild Mahseer, on the Addabarie tea estate near Balipara, you stay in restored heritage bungalows inside working tea gardens. Walk the bushes with the estate team at plucking time, taste first and second flush teas, then drive 45 minutes to Nameri for a river walk.
Two days of mountain driving from the Assam plains bring you to Tawang at about 2,670 m. Its seventeenth-century monastery is the largest in India. On the way you cross the Sela Tunnel near 4,000 m and pass Monpa villages, yak pastures and the old dzong at Dirang.
For ten days each December, Kisama Heritage Village outside Kohima hosts the Naga tribes in their morungs, with songs, log drums, wrestling and food stalls. We arrange quiet morning visits before the crowds, an evening in Khonoma village and a historian on the Kohima War Cemetery.
Gangtok's ridge-top hotels look across to Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain. From there we drive west to Pemayangtse and the ruins of Rabdentse at Pelling, or north up the Teesta to the Lachung valley and the rhododendron meadows of Yumthang, subject to permits.
The map
Where to go in North East India
- 1Balipara Tea Country
- 2Dawki and Shnongpareng
- 3Dirang
- 4Gangtok
- 5Guwahati
- 6Kaziranga National Park
- 7Kohima and Khonoma
- 8Majuli
- 9Mawlynnong
- 10Nongriat
- 11Lachung and Yumthang, North Sikkim
- 12Pelling
- 13Shillong
- 14Sohra (Cherrapunji)
- 15Tawang
- 16Ziro
Planters' bungalows, tea gardens and the river at Nameri
The glass-clear Umngot river on the Bangladesh border
A Monpa river valley halfway to Tawang
Sikkim's ridge-top capital, facing the Kanchenjunga range
Gateway city on the Brahmaputra, with Kamakhya on its hill
Home of most of the world's one-horned rhinos
Naga hill capital, war memorial and the Hornbill Festival
Vaishnava monasteries on a great Brahmaputra river island
A tidy Khasi village with a root bridge on its doorstep
The double-decker root bridge, about 3,000 steps below Sohra
A high Sikkim valley of rhododendrons near the Tibetan frontier
Monastery ridge with the closest view of Kanchenjunga
Pine ridges, Khasi markets and a lake resort at the edge of town
Waterfalls, limestone caves and the rain capital of India
India's largest monastery, high in the eastern Himalaya
The Apatani rice valley and its September music festival
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginJourneys
Routes through North East India
Indicative prices per person, twin sharing, at the hotels named. Every route can be changed.
Experiences
Hours worth planning around
Where we book
Stays in North East India
A lakeside resort on the wooded shore of Umiam Lake, about 20 km north of Shillong, with cottages built in the Khasi manner of timber and …
The former Shillong summer residence of the royal family of Tripura, now a small heritage hotel in the leafy Cleve Colony area. It suits travellers who …
A modern IHCL hotel at Khanapara on the southern edge of Guwahati, on the road to Shillong. It is the most reliable large hotel in the …
The leading safari lodge at Kaziranga, with stilted cottages along the Diphlu river on the park's southern boundary. Stays are full board, with park jeep drives …
A group of restored British-era planters' bungalows inside the Addabarie tea estate near Balipara, north of Tezpur. Rooms open onto lawns and tea gardens, the food …
A recent Taj resort and spa in the hills around Gangtok, named after the guras, Sikkim's rhododendron. It brings Taj service to Sikkim, with mountain-facing rooms, …
A large resort on the hillside below Gangtok, built in Sikkimese style with a monastery-inspired main building, a spa, an indoor pool and a casino. Rooms …
Gangtok's heritage hotel, built in 1932 as a guest house for the Chogyal, the former king of Sikkim, and now run by the Elgin group. Rooms …
A heritage hotel on the ridge below Pemayangtse Monastery near Pelling, run by Elgin Hotels, with a lawn and rooms that face the Kanchenjunga range. It …
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginMonth by month
North East India through the year
North East India by travel style
The calendar
Festivals worth the dates
Nagaland's festival of festivals, held from 1 to 10 December at Kisama Heritage Village, 12 km from Kohima. The Naga tribes gather …
An outdoor independent music festival held over four days each September in the Apatani valley of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, with artists from …
Assam's spring festival and new year, celebrated from about 14 April with Bihu dances, songs, feasts and family gatherings across the state. …
The Tibetan and Monpa new year, celebrated in Tawang, Dirang and Bomdila with prayers at the monasteries, new prayer flags, family feasts …
A great annual gathering at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, marking the goddess's yearly menstruation. The temple doors close for three days, and …
Majuli's great festival of devotional theatre, held over several nights around the full moon of Kartik, when satras and villages stage plays …
The Khasi spring dance of thanksgiving, held over three days each April at the Weiking ground in Shillong. Young women in rich …
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginGetting there
Arriving in North East India
Most journeys begin at Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), about 28 km from the city, with non-stop flights from Delhi (2.5 h), Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru and a new terminal opened in December 2025. Shillong is 3 to 3.5 hours by road from the airport. For Sikkim, fly to Bagdogra (IXB) in West Bengal and drive about 4.5 hours to Gangtok. For Nagaland, use Dimapur (DMU), 74 km from Kohima. Jorhat (JRH) suits Majuli and eastern Kaziranga; Tezpur (TEZ) suits the tea country and the Tawang road; Donyi Polo Airport at Itanagar (HGI) is the gateway to Ziro. Flight routes in the region change often, so check current status before you travel.
Permits
Paperwork to know
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, applied for online on each state's portal; Arunachal's tourist eILP costs roughly ₹300–500 and Nagaland's ₹200 for 30 days. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, and since December 2024 for Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur too, arranged through a registered operator. Sikkim needs a Restricted Area Permit for foreigners and extra permits for North Sikkim, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La. Meghalaya and Assam need none. Check current status before you travel.
Guides
Read before North East India
Assam grows more than half of India's tea on the flat Brahmaputra plain. Visit between March and May for first and second flush plucking, …
Brahmaputra river cruises run from about November to March on small ships between Guwahati and the Jorhat or Dibrugarh area, with shore visits to …
The Hornbill Festival runs from 1 to 10 December every year at Kisama Heritage Village, 12 km from Kohima in Nagaland. Fly to Dimapur, …
Kaziranga has four safari ranges: Central (Kohora), Western (Bagori), Eastern (Agaratoli) and Burapahar. It opens in phases from October and closes around May. Stay …
Meghalaya's living root bridges are grown by Khasi and Jaintia villagers from the roots of rubber fig trees. The famous double-decker bridge at Nongriat …
For a first visit, spend 12 days and 11 nights in Assam and Meghalaya: one night in Guwahati, three at Kaziranga, two in the …
North East Indian food is light on spice and heavy on fermentation, smoke and fresh herbs. Try masor tenga and duck in Assam, jadoh …
Visit North East India between October and April for dry roads, clear mountain views and open parks. November to February is driest. The monsoon, …
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for those four …
Fly to Bagdogra and drive 4.5 hours to Gangtok. Spend three nights there, three in Pelling for Kanchenjunga, and two in Lachung if North …
Shape your own journey Tell us your dates and what you hope to feel. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the land to your month, your pace and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an indicative price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginQuestions travellers ask
Questions about North East India
What is the best time to visit North East India?
October to April is the best time. Rain is low from November to February, mountain views are clearest in October and November, and Kaziranga is open from October or November until about April. March and April suit Sikkim's rhododendrons and the tea gardens. June to August brings heavy monsoon rain, park closures and landslides, so we avoid it except for short Shillong stays.
Do I need a permit to visit North East India?
It depends on the state and your passport. Indians need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, and a Restricted Area Permit for Sikkim. Assam and Meghalaya need no permit. We arrange all permits as part of the journey. Check current status before you travel.
How many days do I need for North East India?
Plan at least 7 nights for one state and 10 to 14 nights for two or three. Distances are short on the map but roads are slow: Guwahati to Shillong takes about 3 hours, Guwahati to Kaziranga about 5, and the Tawang road needs two days each way. Our most popular first journey is 11 nights across Meghalaya and Assam.
Is North East India safe for tourists?
The states we cover, Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim, receive steady tourist traffic and are generally calm. Strikes, called bandhs, can close roads for a day without much warning, and monsoon landslides are a real hazard. We do not currently plan trips to Manipur, and we recommend checking your government's travel advisory before you travel.
How do I get to North East India?
Fly to Guwahati (GAU), which has non-stop flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru and a few international links. For Sikkim, fly to Bagdogra (IXB) and drive about 4.5 hours to Gangtok. Dimapur serves Nagaland, Jorhat serves Majuli and Tezpur serves the tea country and the Tawang road. Routes change often, so check current status before you travel.
Are there luxury hotels in North East India?
Yes, but fewer than in Rajasthan or Kerala. The best include Ri Kynjai at Umiam Lake near Shillong, Diphlu River Lodge at Kaziranga, Wild Mahseer in the tea gardens near Tezpur, Vivanta Guwahati, and in Sikkim the Taj Guras Kutir, Mayfair and Elgin Nor-Khill in Gangtok and Elgin Mount Pandim at Pelling. In Tawang, Ziro and Majuli we use the best well-run local hotels and homestays.
Can foreigners visit Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland?
Yes, with a Protected Area Permit arranged in advance through a registered Indian operator. For Arunachal the permit usually needs at least two travellers on a fixed itinerary and a royalty of about USD 30 to 50 per person. Nagaland's permit regime was reimposed in December 2024 and was relaxed for Hornbill 2025. Rules shift, so check current status before you travel.
Which states do you cover in the North East?
We plan journeys in Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim. These have the best mix of sights, roads and rooms for private travel. We do not currently sell Manipur because of the security situation there, and we include Tripura and Mizoram only on request. Darjeeling, although often paired with Sikkim, is in West Bengal and sits outside this region.
Can I combine Sikkim and Meghalaya on one trip?
Yes. Sikkim's gateway is Bagdogra and Meghalaya's is Guwahati, and there are direct flights between the two that take under an hour, though schedules change. Allow at least 11 nights: five or six in Sikkim and five in Meghalaya. October, November and March are the best months for both, with clear mountain views and dry walking paths.