Assam Meghalaya Experiential

Assam Meghalaya Experiential

Description

From Kaziranga National Park to unique living root experience, from limestone caves to the road side markets in Shillong, this exploration is ideal for family or friends. From Guwahati, take a drive to Kaziranga National Park and explore the national park which is home to the largest population of the Great One Horned Rhinoceros in the world. From Kaziranga to Meghalaya is a 6.5-hour, beautiful drive which will bring us to the Scotland of the east, Shillong. Meghalaya offers some incredible views of roaring waterfalls, limestone caves, living root bridges and a very different culture & cuisine.

Itinerary

Day 1: Guwahati to Kaziranga (225 kms; 5 hours)
Pickup from Guwahati airport and drive to Kaziranga. Overnight at Iora Retreat

Assam Meghalaya Experiential

Day 2: Kaziranga
Circumscribed by the mighty Brahmaputra towards the North and East, and by the Mora Diphlu in the South the Kaziranga National park is home to the largest population of the Great One Horned Rhinoceros in the world. The habitat of this 400 sq. kms park encompasses vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests. The landscape consists of exposed sandbars, riverine flood-formed lakes known as, beels,and elevated regions known as, chapories, which provide retreats and shelter for animals during floods.

Early in the morning go for a ride on Elephant back to get up close to the Rhinos. After a breakfast relax around your resort or visit the Orchid and Biodiversity park. In the afternoon you will go for a jeep safari in the Central Range of the park where besides the other herbivores you will also be able to see the Assam Roof turtle. Overnight at Iora Retreat

Day 3: Kaziranga to Shillong (280 kms; 6.5 hours)
By late morning commence your drive to Shillong, popularly referred to as the Scotland of the East. Relax in the luxury of your property for the remainder of the day. Overnight at Rockcliff Guesthouse or Blueberry Inn

Day 4: Shillong
In the morning drive to Mawphlang for an enticing forest walk in the sacred groves. The Khasi of Meghalaya at one time were animists who believed in the spirits of the forest. Hence every village maintained a tract of forest called Sacred Grove where they used to worship the elements of nature and perform sacrifices. The forests of Mawphlang are one of the last surviving sacred groves in Meghalaya. On the way back, you can visit Shillong Peak to enjoy panoramas of the entire city.

In the second half visit Laitlum canyons, from where you can enjoy breath-taking views of the gorge and the valley below. Overnight at Rockcliff Guesthouse or Blueberry Inn

Day 5: Shillong to Dawki
In the morning drive to Dawki, on the Indo- Bangladesh border. But you will take a different route via Jowai to visit KrangSuri, one of the most picturesque falls in Meghalaya. Thereafter continue on to Dawki on the Indo Bangladesh border. In the second half you will go for a boat ride on the crystal clear Umgot river. The water over here is so clear that you can clearly see the riverbed, and many times it feels as through the boat is gliding on glass. You will also do a thrilling zipline across the river. Overnight at Betelnut Resort

Assam Meghalaya Experiential

Day 6: Dawki – Mawlynnong – Cherrapunji
After breakfast drive to the village of Mawlynnong . This picturesque village has the distinction of being the cleanest village in Asia. You can walk around the flower laden paths of the village and interact with the locals. Walk to the root bridge in the neighbouring village of Riwai.

From here continue your drive to Cherrapunji. Overnight at Kutmadan / Cherrapunji Holiday Resort / Smokey Falls Mae Retreat

Assam Meghalaya Experiential

Day 7: Trek to Double Decker Root bridges
Living Root Bridges are unique live bridges found only in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. The secondary roots of a species of Indian Rubber Tree Ficus Elastica- are trained over 20-25 years to form these living bridges to cross fast flowing rivers and streams. Some of these bio-engineering wonders are 53 feet, 70 feet, 100 feet long. The Double Decker Root Bridge has two levels. They are very strong, can carry many people at a time and perhaps can last 500 years.

The trek passes through some verdant slopes, criss crossed by streams. At some places the stream has made some natural ponds, containing emerald blue water where you can take a dip. The trek is moderately difficult since one needs to descend 2500 feet into the valley and then climb up the same altitude again. Overnight at Kutmadan / Cherrapunji Holiday Resort / Smokey Falls Mae Retreat

Day 8: Cherrapunji to Guwahti (168 kms; 5.5 hours)
After breakfast drop to Guwahati airport

Best Season to plan the exploration: November to April

Cost Includes:
• Accommodation on a twin sharing basis in hotels mentioned in the itinerary
• Breakfast on all days
• A dedicated Swift Dzire (for 2 people) and Innova (for 4 people), 2 swift dzire (for 6 people) , 2 Innova (for 8 people) for the duration of the trip
• One jeep safari and one elephant safari in Kaziranga National Park
• Boating and zipining in Dawki
• Guides for forest walk in Mawphlang and root bridge trek

Cost excludes:
• Flights
• Entrance fees to museums, gardens and other places of sightseeing
• Lunch and Dinner
• GST
• Excess stay & meals due to bad weather conditions or strikes, resulting in delay of flights or any other form of transport.
• Soft drink charges, table drinks, bottled water, laundry, cigarettes, telephone expenses, and liquor charges
• Any other item not mentioned in “Cost Includes” section above