India · Village Tours

6-Day Meghalaya Tour with Living Root Bridges and Mawlynnong

6 Days Round trip from Shillong Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit Cherrapunjee, the place that receives the highest amount of rainfall in the world
02 Hike to the living root bridges made by Khasis, entwining living trees' roots
03 Walk to the watchtower made entirely of bamboo and take in the incredible view
04 Enjoy a hike along village trails to the fishing ponds through the mist and clouds

Visit Meghalaya, the abode of clouds, a verdant land blessed with rich wildlife. Over 6 days, travel from Guwahati through Shillong, Cherrapunjee, and Mawlynnong, discovering misty hills, limestone caves, living root bridges, bamboo watchtowers, and quiet village trails. This journey brings together Meghalaya's striking natural beauty and its distinctive local culture, from Khasi matriarchal markets to community-built village stays.

Set out on a half-day hike to the living root bridges - remarkable bridges made by Khasis entwining the roots of living trees.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Mawlynnong

Languages Bengali, English, Hindi

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Guwahati Arrival and Drive to Shillong

Arrive at Guwahati and drive to Shillong (3 hours), a lovely hill station in Meghalaya. The road winds through green hills and crosses beautiful Umium Lake.
Along the way, visit the colourful local markets, run entirely by women - the Khasis are a matriarchal society - selling and chewing betel nuts, pineapples, and locally grown oranges. Overnight in Shillong.

Day 02

Shillong Plateau Journey to Cherrapunjee

Drive to Cherrapunjee on the Shillong plateau - this is the place that receives the highest amount of rainfall in the world.
Enjoy a short hike to Elephant Falls and mist-covered Shillong Peak. Explore a limestone cave with stalactites and stalagmites. Arrive in Cherrapunjee in the late afternoon for your stay. Overnight in Cherrapunjee.

Day 03

Hike to the Living Root Bridges

Set out on a half-day hike to the living root bridges - remarkable bridges made by Khasis entwining the roots of living trees. If you choose the day-long hike (8-9 hours), you can also take a dip in a natural pool.
On the way, you will see three interesting villages and can stop to interact with the locals. Return to the resort for a well-deserved rest. There are many hiking options here. Overnight in Cherrapunjee.

Day 04

Drive to Mawlynnong, Asia's Cleanest Village

Drive across the plateau to the village of Mawlynnong, considered the cleanest village in Asia. This village is a special place - the villagers have made it so clean and green that it feels like a piece of paradise.
Walk to the watchtower made entirely of bamboo and take in the incredible view. Visit the border market where goods are traded from Bangladesh. Stay at the community-built guest house, also made of bamboo and thatch, but with modern conveniences and a machan. Overnight in Mawlynnong.

Day 05

Village Trails and Fishing Ponds of Mawlynnong

After breakfast, hike along village trails to the fishing ponds (3-4 hours) through a forest path. Enjoy a picnic lunch, followed by fishing at the pond.
Take in the mist and clouds in a place like no other, still used only by the villagers. Overnight in Mawlynnong.

Day 06