Northeast India offers a very different side of the country: rhinos and wild elephants in the grasslands of Kaziranga, the pine hills and waterfalls around Shillong, the great Buddhist monastery at Tawang high in Arunachal Pradesh, and the Naga villages and war memorial of Kohima. Guwahati, on the Brahmaputra, is the gateway to all of them. It is best for families who enjoy nature, wildlife and distinct local cultures more than monuments.
Distances here are deceptive. The hills make roads slow, and short distances on a map can take many hours. Tawang in particular is a two-day drive each way over a high mountain pass, with cold, altitude and weather-related delays. Monsoon rain is very heavy, landslides can close roads, and Kaziranga's safari zones are generally closed through the rains. Permits are part of planning: Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, and foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, with other rules that vary by state.
For parents and seniors, the classic Guwahati–Shillong–Kaziranga loop is comfortable, with good hotels and jeep safaris that do not need much walking. Kohima adds culture with moderate hill roads. Tawang is spectacular but demanding, so treat it as a separate trip only for fit travellers with medical clearance for high altitude. This region rewards slow travel; trying to cover everything in one week will mostly mean sitting in cars.
- Ideal trip
- 5–10 days
- Destinations
- 5
- Best season
- October to April is the main season, with clear skies and pleasant days; November to February is cool to cold in Shillong and Kohima, and freezing in Tawang, where snow can close the Sela Pass. Kaziranga's safari zones usually open around November and close around May, depending on conditions, so check before booking. Early December brings Kohima's Hornbill Festival, which is colourful but crowded. Avoid June to September with seniors because of very heavy rain and landslides.
- Start from
- Guwahati
Destinations in this region
The region's main air and rail gateway on the Brahmaputra, and the base for reaching Shillong and Kaziranga.
Read the full Guwahati guide →- Shillong · Meghalaya
Cool pine hills, lakes and the Sohra waterfalls, just three hours from Guwahati; the gentlest hill stop here.
Read the full Shillong guide → - Kaziranga · Assam
Grassland jeep safaris with one-horned rhinos and elephants; the wildlife highlight, open roughly November to April.
Read the full Kaziranga guide → - Tawang · Arunachal Pradesh
A high Himalayan monastery town in Arunachal; spectacular but remote, needing permits and good fitness.
Read the full Tawang guide → - Kohima · Nagaland
Naga heritage, the moving WWII war cemetery and the Hornbill Festival, reached via Dimapur.
Guide coming soon — plan it with us →
Suggested routes
6 days: Guwahati, Shillong and Kaziranga
- Day 1 — Guwahati. Arrive and rest. In the late afternoon, take a gentle Brahmaputra river cruise or a drive along the riverfront. Kamakhya Temple can mean long queues and steps, so plan it only with a special darshan option or skip it.
- Day 2 — Shillong. Drive about 3 hours to Shillong, stopping at Umiam Lake for tea and views. Check in and rest, then take an easy evening stroll around Ward's Lake or Police Bazaar.
- Day 3 — Shillong. Make a day trip to Sohra (Cherrapunji) viewpoints and waterfalls. Choose points with short walks from the car park, and turn back early if mist or rain closes in. Return to Shillong for a restful evening.
- Day 4 — Kaziranga. This is a long drive to Kaziranga, roughly 6–7 hours, with breaks. Check into a lodge near your safari range and rest, with no activity planned for the evening.
- Day 5 — Kaziranga. Take an early jeep safari in the Central or Western range, which usually offers good chances of seeing rhinos, elephants, buffalo and birds. Rest through midday, then take an optional afternoon safari or a walk through the tea gardens nearby.
- Day 6 — Guwahati. Drive back to Guwahati (about 4–5 hours) for your flight, or head to Jorhat airport (about 2 hours) if its flights suit your onward plans.
10 days: Guwahati, Shillong, Kaziranga and Kohima
- Day 1 — Guwahati. Arrive, rest, and take an evening riverside walk or a short Brahmaputra cruise.
- Day 2 — Shillong. Drive to Shillong via Umiam Lake and settle in for a slow afternoon.
- Day 3 — Shillong. Head to the Sohra viewpoints and waterfalls in the morning, and be back by mid-afternoon to rest.
- Day 4 — Shillong. Spend an easy local day at the Don Bosco Museum, Ward's Lake and a café lunch. Keep the afternoon free before the long drive.
- Day 5 — Kaziranga. Long road day to Kaziranga (6–7 hours) with generous stops. Rest in the evening.
- Day 6 — Kaziranga. Take a morning jeep safari, followed by a long rest. In the afternoon, visit a tea estate or an orchid and biodiversity park near the lodge.
- Day 7 — Kaziranga. Take a second safari in a different range for variety, or keep a free day for rest and birdwatching from the lodge.
- Day 8 — Kohima. Drive to Kohima via Dimapur (roughly 6–7 hours), with the last stretch in the hills. Make sure your Nagaland Inner Line Permit, or foreigner registration, is arranged in advance. Rest on arrival.
- Day 9 — Kohima. Visit the Kohima War Cemetery, which has terraced paths with gentle steps, and the State Museum in the morning. In the afternoon, make a short drive to Khonoma or another village only if the road and your energy allow. Keep the evening quiet.
- Day 10 — Kohima. Drive down to Dimapur (about 2–3 hours) for your onward flight or train, leaving a generous buffer for traffic on the hill road.
Getting around
How long to plan: 6 days for Guwahati, Shillong and Kaziranga; 9–10 days with Kohima. Add at least 5–6 days on top for a Tawang trip.
Guwahati has the region's busiest airport and railway station. Shillong is about 3 hours by road from Guwahati. Kaziranga is roughly 4–5 hours from Guwahati, and Jorhat airport, about 2 hours away, is an alternative. Kohima is usually reached via Dimapur, which has an airport and railway station and is about 2–3 hours away by road. Tawang is typically reached by road via Tezpur and Bomdila over one or two long days, and a helicopter service from Guwahati runs subject to weather and availability. Hire a car with an experienced local hill driver; self-driving is not recommended. Allow extra time for weather, roadworks and permit checkpoints.
Travelling with parents
- Treat Tawang as a separate, high-altitude trip; the Sela Pass is above 4,000 m, so consult a doctor first if your parents have heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions.
- Arrange Inner Line Permits for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland before travel through the official state portals, and carry printed and digital copies with ID.
- Kaziranga's jeep safaris involve little walking but can be bumpy and dusty, so carry cushions, a scarf and a light jacket for early mornings.
- Hill roads are winding; carry motion-sickness medication and plan a break every 1.5–2 hours.
- Mobile signal and ATMs can be patchy outside the towns, so carry some cash and keep offline copies of bookings.
- Nights in Shillong and Kohima are cold from November to February, and heating in hotels varies, so pack thermals.
Northeast India FAQs
Do we need a permit to visit Northeast India?
It depends on the state. Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, available through official online portals. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, and rules for other states can change, so check the official state websites before travel.
Is Kaziranga open all year?
No. The park's safari ranges generally close during the monsoon, from around May to October, and reopen when conditions allow. Check the current season dates before booking.
Is Tawang suitable for elderly parents?
Only for fit seniors with medical clearance. The road crosses the Sela Pass at over 4,000 m, takes two long days each way, and winter snow can close it. A helicopter service exists but depends on weather.
When is the Hornbill Festival?
It is usually held in early December at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima. Hotels fill quickly, so book early, and expect crowds and uneven ground at the venue.
How many days do we need for Northeast India?
Around 6 days covers Guwahati, Shillong and Kaziranga at a relaxed pace. Adding Kohima takes it to about 10 days, and Tawang needs another 5–6 days on its own.
Is Sikkim part of this circuit?
Sikkim is geographically in the Northeast but is usually reached via Bagdogra in West Bengal, so it is covered separately in our Sikkim & Darjeeling Himalaya guide.
Sources and further reading
- Assam Tourism (official)
- Meghalaya Tourism (official)
- Arunachal Pradesh e-ILP portal (official)
- Nagaland ILP portal (official)
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.