15 Days Northeast Exclusive

After an early breakfast, you will drive to Cherrapunji (2 hours). Visit some of the spectacular waterfalls of Cherrapunji as time permits. Later by mid-day, leave on an extremely scenic 3 hour steep downhill hike, crossing forested hills, cascading waterfalls, streams and native hanging bridges, to arrive at the village of Nongriat, home to a very happy and sustainable community of Khasi peoples. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be in the basic village guesthouse.

For the coming two days, you will get an opportunity to live amongst the Khasi people and get to know more about their charming culture. Very educated, the Khasi people of Nongriat are almost entirely sustainable and do not depend on modern produces. An example of this is the many living root bridges which can be found around the village, which are incredible examples of bioengineering. You may also go for scenic day hikes to nearby waterfalls, caves and villages. Bonfires can be arranged in winter evenings. Your stay will be in the basic village guesthouse.

After an early breakfast and prepared for a long day, you’ll be trekking back to Cherrapunji and then leave for Kaziranga National Park (6-7 hours) in Assam for an overnight stay in Wildgrass, a boutique colonial-styled jungle lodge with standard amenities.

After an early morning elephant safari (possible only in winters on request), drive to Majuli. The island (4-5 hours), located midst the might of the Brahmaputra River, is home to traditional Assamese culture which has been preserved in the form of monasteries since medieval times. En route crosses the river in a scenic ferry ride. Your stay in Majuli will be in La Maison De Ananda, in tribal styled bamboo cottages with minimal amenities in tune with the local country lifestyle. Evening at leisure.

Spend the two days at leisure exploring the island's attractions and secrets. Early in the morning, observe the fishermen with the sunrise as they venture out for their daily catch. Also, visit some of the villages of the tribes which inhabit the island and observe the village folk as they prepare for the day or work their crafts. Go for a tour of the xatras (Assamese monasteries) of the island. Interact with the monks and priests, and learn more about the love-preaching religion of Neo Vaishnavism that is preached in the cultural institutions. You can also visit the local mask-making centre where the artisans possess unique ancient skills that create realistic figures of characters from Hindu mythology. Maybe go bicycling around the vast landscape of the island, go birdwatching or sail the sunset in a country boat. Evenings at leisure. For dinner, you should taste the ethnic cuisine and some of the local beer called 'amongst' that is prepared from rice. Your stay in Majuli will be in La Maison De Ananda, in tribal styled bamboo cottages.

Spend two-day exploring Apatani villages such as Hong, Hari and Dutta. In these villages where Apatani build houses adjoining each other, you will get closer interaction with the locals, especially the tattooed elders who still live a very traditional life. Visit the unique Apatani farms where rice and fish are harvested together. Visit the local market can be informative about knowing more about Apatani culture, customs, eating habits, attires and ornaments. Evenings will be at leisure. You may also taste their ethnic cuisine over dinner and their rice beer. Your stay here will be in a homestay.

After breakfast, you will leave for Daporijo (6-7 hours), located at the heart of the Subansiri Valley where the Tagin people live. The drive will be scenic, through the lush tropical forested areas of central Arunachal Pradesh and crossing scattered tribal settlements. En route, you will stop by the villages of Hill Miri and Nishi tribes for cultural interaction. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be in Hotel Singhik in standard rooms.

After an early breakfast, leave for Along (6 hours), home to the various Adi sub-tribes and situated near the Siyon River. En route, you will visit villages of Tagins and Gallon Adis for cultural interactions. Gallon houses are peculiar as they are built on the stone without the use of nails. Afternoon if time permits, visit the museum, craft centre and an animist temple of the Donyi-Polo religion. The evening will be on leisure. Your stay will be in a hotel with budget amenities.

Spend the day exploring villages around Along of the Adi Gallong Tribe such as Kabu, Jirdan an Kayin. Visit homes and interact with the villagers to gain more insight about the inter-relation of animist cultures present in Arunachal Pradesh. In Kabu cross a cane hanging bridge which is famous for their native ingenuity. The evening will be at leisure at Darka Village, one of the largest Gallon settlement. Your stay will be in a hotel with budget amenities

After an early breakfast, leave for a drive to Dibrugarh (6-7 hours) a pretty town located midst the large tea growing tracts of Upper Assam and beside the mighty Brahmaputra River. En route stop by the Lohit View Point where exceptional views of the Assam plains can be seen, networked magnificently by countless streams and rivulets. Also visit Mahayana Buddhist monasteries and golden pagodas of the Khampti Tribe in Chohkham and Namsai, a tribe with Burmese ancestry. The evening will be at leisure or walk around the upbeat market area of Dibrugarh Town. Your stay will be in the town’s old clubhouse, in standard rooms with good modern amenities.

After an early breakfast, leave for Mon (6 hours) in Nagaland Nagaland, located in the serene rain blessed Patkai Hills and home to the Konyak Tribe who are known for their tattooing customs, wood carving skills and gun-making. The Mon area can arguably be considered as the most remote area of India in the sense that the people here are still very traditional and were the last to leave the practice of headhunting, more than two decades ago. The evening will be at leisure. Your stay will be a farmstay at Shiyong Village.

For a day trip, drive to the Konyak village of Longwa (2 hours), where the king’s house is bizarrely located half in India and half in Burma. The king of the village, besides being an opium addict and being married to many women, rules 50 other villages on both sides of the border. The people of the area unofficially share dual citizenship with the two countries. In Longwa, you will get to visit the king’s house, interact with him and see war trophies. Observe the traditional lifestyles of the Konyaks. Return to Mon by evening for overnight. Your stay will be a farmstay at Shiyong Village

Today you will be visiting the Konyak villages of Chanmoho, Changlangshu and Chui. A visit to these villages will be a good opportunity to observe the Konyak lifestyle, daily chores, weaves, arts and crafts. In Chanmoho, it is pretty easy to see many elders with tattooed warrior faces. In Chui, an old-world charm exists as the houses are very traditional, constructed in ancient Konyak way of using palm leaves roofing and jutted main pillars. Your stay will be in the town’s old clubhouse, in standard rooms with good modern amenities..Later drive to Dibrugarh Airport. Tour ends.

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