Journey to the Kashi and Jaintia hills
€950
per person
This 8-day discovery tour of Meghalaya takes us through the wild landscapes of the western hills of Jaintia and the eastern hills of Khasi, where we will meet the welcoming communities of these regions.
After a short stop in Guhawati (Assam) to visit the Kamakhya Temple, we will drive to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya.We will continue to the hills of Jaintia where beautiful natural sites await us: the monoliths of Nartiang, the waterfalls of Krang Shuri, Shnongpdeng (clear water), and Dawki (the Indo-Bangladeshi border).
We will then spend two days in the village of Nohwet, where we will be staying within the Khasi community.After this peaceful stay, we will proceed to Cherrapunji, famous for its impressive waterfalls and ingenious bridges of living roots.
To end the trip in style, we will visit the sacred grove of Mawphlang and stay in a typical village of a Khasi community.
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TREK & TOUR
A 6-day journey including three famous treks in the Cherrapunjee region of Meghalaya (David Scott trail, double deck living roots bridge and rainbow waterfall) plus the visit of typical sites around.
6 days
INTO THE WILD
This 8-day tour of Meghalaya takes you through the unspoiled landscapes of the western hills of Jaintia and the eastern hills of Khasi where you will encounter the welcoming Kashi communities.
8 days
ETHNIC
A smooth journey within the Khasi community in a small hamlet nestled in the lush hills of East Khasi. You will stay in a lovely traditional house and make and taste delicious local dishes.
5 days
Day 1
Guwahati (Assam) - Shillong (capital of the Meghalaya)
Namaste! We welcome you warmly at the Guhawati Airport (Assam). While we are in Guhawati, we will visit the famous temple of the goddess-mother Kamakhya. It is one of the highest places of pilgrimage dedicated to female energy (Shakti). We will then proceed to Shillong, the administrative capital of Meghalaya. Overnight in Shillong in a bed & breakfast.
Day 2
Shillong, capital of Meghalaya - Jowai
After breakfast, we will begin the visit of the capital of Meghalaya by the 'Don Bosco Museum', a four-storey museum that gives a good overview of the way of life of the indigenous peoples of north-east India. After lunch, we will take a short walk into the bustling Lewduh market and then we head to Nartiang located in the Jaintia Hills, 1h30 drive from Shillong. Nartiang has an impressive number of monoliths claimed to be the largest in the world. These monoliths dating from 1500 AD and 1835 AD were erected to mark the reign of the ancient kings of Jaintia. After visiting the Nartiang site, we will take you to your hotel in Jowai, 1 hour drive from Nartiang. Overnight in Jowai.
Day 3
Jowai - Nohwet
This day will take us to the western hills of Jaintia to visit beautiful natural sites. We start with the Krang Shuri waterfalls with turquoise waters, then 40 km further, crossing lush tropical forests, we arrive at Shnongpdeng, a timeless place, rightly nicknamed 'clear water'. After a boat ride on the calm and crystalline waters of the Dawki River, we will drive to the Indo-Bangladesh border. Here, the blue waters of the Dawki River Meghalaya flow into the Goyain River of Bangladesh. The view out over the plain of Bangladesh is simply splendid. We will then take the road to Nohwet, a small village nestled in lush forests and inhabited by the Khasi community. We will spend two nights there, lodged in a traditional guesthouse. A delicious khasi dinner made with local ingredients will be prepared by our guests. Overnight at Nohwet.
Day 4
Nohwet and surroundings
After a tasty breakfast prepared by our guests, we will spend the day wandering in the vicinity of Nohwet, a chill out day in the wild nature of Meghalaya. We will first visit a 200 years old traditional Khasi house. We will then see the 30-meter living Root Bridge of Nohwet, which crosses the Thyllong River, which is held sacred by the natives. On the way, we will admire the view on the Bangladesh Valley. We will return to Nohwet for lunch and, in the afternoon, we will go swimming in a the clear water of a waterfall around the village. Overnight in Nohwet.
Day 5
Nohwet - Cherrapungee
We leave the lovely village of Nohwet to head to Cherrapunjee (Sohra), which is the most famous region of Meghalaya and for good reason, since it is dotted with hundreds of magnificent waterfalls and also houses several living roots bridges. The day will be devoted to the visit of the main waterfalls: Wahkaba, Dainthlen, Wei Sawdang, Noh-Kalikai, Nohsngithiang. Overnight in Cherrapunji.
Day 6
Double decker living roots bridge (Nongriat)
The highlight of the visit in Cherrapunji is undoubtedly the double deck lliving roots bridge. But it needs to be earned! It is reached by descending 3,500 steps through the villages of Nongthymmai and Mynteng. The double deck bridge stands in the village of Nongriat where our guesthouse awaits us. Overnight in Nongriat.
[Option: possibility to stay one more day in Nongriat to trek to the rainbow waterfall]
Day 7
Nongriat - Mawlang
After breakfast, we ascent the 3,500 steps to reach the car park where our car is waiting for us. We will then head to a guesthouse in Cherrapunji where we can refresh ourselves and have lunch. After that, we will drive to Mawlang, a small hamlet belonging to the Khasi community located 30 km from Shillong. En route, we will stop at the sacred grove of Mawlang: it is said that it is protected by the local deity named Labasa. While walking through the forest, we will come across foam-covered monoliths that mark the place where rituals were once practiced. Although the place is no longer active, it retains its mystical atmosphere. Right next to the sacred forest, we will visit the 'Heritage Village', showcase of the different habitats of the Khasi tribes. Overnight at Mawlang in a guesthouse.
Day 8
Mawlang - Guhawati
After breakfast, we will drive to Guwahati and drop you off at your hotel or airport. End of the trip. Looking forward to meeting you again. Namaste.
