Ancient Trails Through a Hidden Meghalaya

Guwahati, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, Assam, India.

Places covered

• Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Kongthong, Shnongpdeng, Langkawet, Rangthilliyang

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Step in the Abode of Clouds
  
  Your trip starts from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, Guwahati at 9 am. Meet your Guide and board your vehicle to leave Assam and enter Meghalaya. You can choose to have breakfast near the airport or have brunch on the way in a pure vegetarian restaurant.
  Pass through the traffic stuck Shillong after making a stop at Umiam lake viewpoint to enjoy some Lal Cha and Bhutta. Enter the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, enjoying the scenic views on the way to Sohra (Cherrapunji). If there are still signs of hunger left, have lunch at a known restaurant of Sohra.
  Check-in your cosy abode of the day and leave for to visit the triple-decker waterfall, Wei Saw Dong. Enjoy the views on offer and spare time to take down the thoughts that pop up.
  Return to your abode and head to the world of English Classic Rocks with the talented local band, Tenny & Boi.
  
  Highlights
  Drive Time- 5 hours.
  Stay- Sai Mika Resort, Sohra.
  Meals Included- Lunch at Orange Roots.|
  
  Day 2
  Whistle away your day at the Whistling Village.
  
  Wake up to the cold misty mornings of Sohra(Cherrapunji), post breakfast prepare yourself for a short but rough road trip. Leave by 9 am for Kongthong village. It will take you about 3-4 hours to reach the village. The last 2 hours will give you the worst Meghalayan road experience but with a surreal view outside the windows. Don’t hesitate for asking the driver to stop time and again to capture the beauty outside.
  Enjoy the serene property in the village overlooking mountains all around. Greet the friendly tail wagging hosts while you enjoy the lunch to the eye-pleasing views. Post settling in, leave for a village walk with accompanied by an English speaking local guide. Take a walk around the village echoing with whistling names. Get hosted by a local to enjoy some tea and know about the history behind this unique practice. Make your way to a hidden spot below the village to witness sky changing shades embracing the surreal sunsets of Meghalaya.
  Make your way back to dine at your abode with some bonfire around.
  Highlights:
  Drive Time- 4 hours.
  Stay- Kongthong Traveller’s Nest, Kongthong.|
  
  
  Day 3
  Camp by the Transparent River.
  
  Wake up early and go for a small hike to the nearby hill to greet the rising sun. This will take you about 2 hours till you reach back for breakfast at the Traveller’s Nest. Post breakfast prepare yourself for a long road journey towards the south. Cross the busy Dawki catching glimpse of Bangladesh on the way to reach Shnongpdeng.
  Your lunch will be on the way, at a Dhaba. It will take us about 6 hours today on the winding roads through green valleys to small villages surrounded by Betel Nut Trees. Reach the small village settled by the Umngot river and check-in your campsite by the river.
  Prepare your songs and gather around the bonfire to spend this night under the stars.
  
  Highlights:
  Drive Time- 6 hours.
  Stay- Camping in Shnongpdeng.|
  
  Day 4
  An adventurous day in Transparent water.
  
  Unzip your tent to the view of free-flowing transparent Umngot river. Freshen up and change into your swimwear to experience the natural water park in Meghalaya. Boat in traditional Khasi boats on the transparent waters of Umngot River and cliff jump into the water. You can even try swimming and kayaking. Come back to have lunch and pack up to leave for your next destination, Langkawet.
  Reach your resort surrounded by hills built by the side of a lake. Spend time with your thoughts around the secluded setting, capturing another magical Meghalayan sunset. Settle in your cottages and get some much-needed rest in the cosy beds.
  
  Highlights:
  Drive Time- 3 hours.
  Stay- Langkawet Resort.|
  
  Day 5
  Trek to Explore the Living Root Bridges.
  
  Wake up early to freshen up and prepare yourself for a trek to remember. Post breakfast we leave for Rangthilliyang, 30 minutes away from the resort. Tie your laces and check your shoe grips for this trek is going to be on Khasi ancient trails.
  It will be a rugged, rocky trail with no concrete steps. We will be going from one village to the other through the dense forest. On the way, we will go through 5 root bridges, from the highest in the state to the longest.
  It will take us about 5 hours to complete the trek. Our local guides are the ones who are working to save the root bridges and will not be guiding you narrating the history and info on these wonders of man-nature architectures.
  Our lunch will be a traditional Khasi one, packed in leaves, as authentic it gets. From lunching on root bridges to swinging in the strong roots like Tarzan, there are a lot of surprises awaiting on this trek.
  Post trek we will have tea and snacks at a local’s house. A half an hour drive back and you end your tiring but memorable day in your cosy beds at the resort.
  
  Highlights:
  Drive Time- 1 hour.
  Stay-Langkawet Resort, Langkawet.
  Trek Time- 4-5 hours, depending on the group’s pace.|
  
  Day6
  ‘Khublei!'
  
  Our transport will be waiting to get us to Guwahati airport post breakfast. Bid your goodbyes to this other side of Meghalaya until you come back
  *Please book your return flights post 3 pm.
  Highlights:
  Drive Time- 5 hours.

Inclusion

• All accommodations on a twin sharing basis in tents, homestays and resort.
  One 6 sharing Khasi hut for Men and one for girls in Kongthong.
  Transport from Guwahati Airport and back.
  Breakfast on all days except Day 1.
  Lunch on Day 2, 4 and 5
  Dinner on Day 2 and 3.
  Transport in an Innova/Dzire/Tempo depending on the number of people on the trip.
  Guide to lead the trip.
  Local English Speaking guides at Kongthong, Shnongpdeng, Mawrynkot.
  Boating at Shnongpdeng.
  Local vehicles to travel to Kongthong.
  Village Fees and tokens given to local hosts.
  

Exclusion

• Airfare charges
  All food & beverages cost apart from the ones mentioned above
  Any camera fees
  Hotel & driver tips (if any)
  Lunch on Day 1,3 and 6
  Breakfast on Day 1.
  Dinner on Day 1, 4 and 5.
  Activities at Shnongpdeng.
  Any personal expenditure (Toiletries, medicines, etc.)
  Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control.
  Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “Inclusions”.
  

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