Remote North East India Itinerary
Explore the pine forests and unique living root of bridges of Meghalaya followed by safaris in Kaziranga National Park, home to two thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos.
11 days from £2700pp plus international flights.
Full itinerary
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Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
Day 1
Arrive In Delhi
Your flight arrives at Delhi, where you are met and transferred to your nearby hotel, the Radisson Blu Plaza. Relax after your journey, maybe enjoying a massage at the spa or a swim in the pool.
Day 2
Meghalaya And Umiam Lake
Today you return to the airport for the three hour flight to Guwahati. Here you will be met by your private car and driver and taken to the little-known state of Meghalaya. The name means 'Abode of the Clouds' and you're soon travelling through forested hills to your hotel, Ri Kynjai, set beside Umiam Lake.
Full board
Day 3
Umiam Lake
Today has been left free for you to spend as you wish after your long day travelling. Ri Kynjai, whose name means 'Serenity by the Lake', is a perfect place to relax and admire the photogenic scenery. If you're feeling energetic, you can walk around the lake, or kayaks are available for rent nearby. Whatever you decide to do during the day, this evening you can unwind by the bonfire, chatting to other guests at Ri Kynjai.
Full board
Day 4
Drive To Cherrapunjee
Following breakfast you set off on your travels once more. Today's drive takes about three hours and passes through the East Khasi Hills with their pine and oak forests, ferns and orchids. There's a lot to see, from gorges to waterfalls and caves. Your destination is Cherrapunjee, where a sign 'the rainiest place on planet Earth' greets you. Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort is about 45 minutes drive out of Cherrapunjee itself in the midst of the hills, and is your home for the next three nights.
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Day 5
Cherrapunjee
Cherrapunjee's most notable attractions are the living root bridges, unique to this area. Over the centuries local Khasi people have learned how to use the thick roots of the ficus tree to form bridges across streams and rivers, which are strong enough for people to cross. There are many examples near your hotel and today you join a local guide to trek to one or more of these remarkable structures. Treks range in duration from one to five hours, with some taking in viewpoints and villages.
Full board
Day 6
Cherrapunjee
After breakfast you accompany a guide on a trek to another root bridge, possibly the amazing double decker. As well as being impressive spectacles these root bridges are practical, used on a daily basis by people living in local villages. Each bridge take a minimum of 15 years to become functional and they are thought to last around 300+ years.
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Day 7
Shillong And Homestay
This morning you leave Cherrapunjee and drive to Shillong, a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya. The drive takes around two hours and there should be time to visit Bara Bazar, one of the oldest markets in North East India. Walk among the stalls and admire the wide variety of fresh produce as you get a glimpse into everyday life. Later the drive continues for another two hours or so to Rosie's Homestay. Here you will receive a warm welcome from Rosie and she'll be happy to chat to you and teach you how to cook a local dish if you're interested. She's an excellent cook.
Full board
Day 8
Drive To Kaziranga
After breakfast at Rosie's, you have a lengthy drive to Kaziranga National Park. It takes around six hours with opportunities to stop along the way and stretch your legs. Journey's end is Diphlu River Lodge. As the name suggests, the lodge is beside the river, lending it an air of tranquility. Relax on the veranda as you sip a drink from the bar, take in the views and look forward to the next few days here.
Full board
Day 9
Kaziranga National Park
You have the next two days to explore Kaziranga. Your stay includes two open jeep drives a day led by the lodge's own naturalist guide. Kaziranga is known for its one-horned rhinos and is home to about two thirds of the world's population so there are excellent chances to spot these during your safaris. It has the highest density of tigers of any proetcted area on the planet, though these can prove elusive so a sighting should be considered an added bonus. Elephant, water buffalo, deer, gibbon, wild boar can be seen. Bird lovers are in their element in this designated Important Bird Area. Look out for the great Indian hornbill, Indian rollers, Blyth's kingfisher, bee-eater, fish eagle and parakeet, to name a few. You'll want your camera to hand!
Full board
Day 10
Kaziranga National Park
A second day in Kaziranga. The park has four main game-driving routes - central, eastern and western and far west. The guide aims to tailor your visits to your interests, taking in as much as the park as possible in the time you have. Each of the areas tends to be better for certain wildlife. If you fancy dropping one of the game drives a boat trip on the Brahmaputra River to search for Gangetic dolphins should be possible.
Full board
Day 11
Drive To Guwahati Airport
After breakfast and with bags packed, you head back to Guwahati airport, a drive of some five hours, for your flight to Delhi, where this holiday ends.
Breakfast
Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
