Key hubs
Ziro airport and railway station
- Airport
- Donyi Polo Airport (HGI) at Hollongi near Itanagar, or Lilabari Airport (IXI) in Assam, about 120-125 km away; Ziro's own airstrip is an Indian Air Force advanced landing ground, not a commercial airport
- Railway station
- Naharlagun (NHLN) in Arunachal Pradesh, about 100 km away by common accounts, or Harmuti in Assam; Guwahati is the major rail hub
- Getting around
- Hire a local car or taxi with a driver from Hapoli; short stretches inside the villages and the paddy fields are best done on foot
How to reach Ziro by air
Donyi Polo Airport (HGI) at Hollongi near Itanagar is the closest airport within Arunachal Pradesh, followed by a long road journey. Lilabari Airport (IXI) in Assam is about 120-125 km away. Ziro has an Indian Air Force advanced landing ground that is not a commercial airport.
How to reach Ziro by train
Naharlagun (NHLN) in Arunachal Pradesh is the nearest railhead by common accounts, about 100 km away. Harmuti in Assam is another option, and Guwahati is the main rail hub for onward travel.
How to reach Ziro by road
Ziro is on the tribal circuit from Itanagar towards Daporijo, about 115 km from Itanagar by one common estimate, though road time is long because the route is winding. From Guwahati it is roughly 445-470 km. Landslides can delay travel in the monsoon.
Getting around Ziro
Hire a local car and driver from Hapoli for villages, ridges and the lake. Inside villages and paddy fields, walk with a guide.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Ziro
- Allow a full day for the road in. The route from Itanagar or Assam is winding and can be slowed by rain and landslides, so do not schedule a tight connection on the day you leave.
- Carry warm layers even in spring and autumn. Evenings at this altitude are cool, and winter nights can be cold.
- Choose accommodation with a heater or hot water bucket and ask about steps, bathrooms and the distance to the car.
- Carry regular medicines and a basic first-aid kit. Hospital facilities in Hapoli are limited compared with Itanagar or Guwahati.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.