Overview

Northeast India is a Mecca for adventure lovers. From the treacherous rapids of the Brahmaputra to arduous trekking trails across the Himalayas, the region is a treasure trove of thrills guaranteed to get your pulse racing. Unfortunately, most of the northeast remains unexplored even today and so do its thrills. Our Meghalayan Adventure tour takes you on an unforgettable journey to the Land of Clouds to discover some of its hidden gems. Visit the Ranikor Beach Festival for a full day’s adventure with angling, bungee jumping, swimming, rafting and other water sports. Our tour also takes you to the famous David Scott’s Trail. While the full trail is over 100 km, we have tailored it to a day’s trip that can be covered in 5 to 6 hours. Suffering from arthritis? A dip in the sulphur waters of Jakrem hot spring might be just the thing for you. Fancy a night on a secluded island? We’ll travel to Nongkhum Island and spend the night in tents.  If you love adventure and love the outdoors, this is a trip for you.

Best time to visit: mid- February

Please Note: The trek of David Scott’s Trail is recommended for seasoned trekkers and those in good physical fitness. It is not recommended for those under 18 years of age.

5 Nights 6 Days Available on request
Inclusions/Exclusions
What we'll give. What we won't

What is included in the tour

  • Hotel accommodation in Shillong
  • Hotel accommodation in Ranikor
  • Accommodation in deluxe tents (twin- share basis) in Nongkhum
  • All meals as specified in itinerary
  • Airport transfers to and from Guwahati
  • All local transport in luxury sedan/SUV

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Water sports at Ranikor Beach Festival
  • Boating in Umiam Lake
  • Travel Insurance
  • Any meal not specified in itinerary
  • Air travel
  • Personal expenses like alcohol, shopping, medication etc
Highlights
What makes this tour special
  • Enjoy exciting water sports at the Ranikor Beach Festival
  • Get a taste of the outdoors while camping in Nongkhum Island
  • Enjoy a rejuvenating hot bath at Jakrem Hot Springs
  • Challenge yourself on a trek to David Scott’s Trail
Itinerary
Day 1 (Guwahati- Shillong- Police Bazaar) (-, L, D)
  • Arrive at Guwahati in Assam where our staff will meet you at the airport. From here, we will drive to Shillong in a luxury sedan/SUV. The drive takes us along a scenic route along NH 40 over a distance of 122 km that we cover in 3 hours. Wet towels and complimentary mineral water bottles are provided for your comfort. En route, we will stop at Umiam Lake, a reservoir commonly known as Barapani Lake and a popular tourist destination in Meghalaya. Located in the hills, just 15 km from Shillong, Barapani Lake offers some great options for water sports like boating, kayaking etc. If you’re not too exhausted from your journey, you could enjoy one of these activities for a nominal fee. Otherwise, enjoy an al fresco lunch by the water, soaking in the beauty of the surroundings. After this we continue our onward journey to Shillong and check into our hotel in the early evening. You can take the rest of the day to spend at leisure. Walk down to the famous Police Bazaar and check out a colourful assortment of tribal handicraft. Pick up a souvenir or two before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 2 (16 km Trek on David Scott’s Trail) (B, L, D)
  • Today we have a full day’s trekking ahead of us. Have an early breakfast at the hotel and then drive to David’s Scott’s Trail. The drive takes just 30 minutes and the easiest route leads us to the Exit Point of the Trail. David Scott’s Trail is situated at an altitude of 4892 ft. in the picturesque East Khasi Hills and is named after the British officer who discovered it in the 19th century. The full route extends for 100 kilometres and takes up to 5 days to complete. However, we will be covering a 16 kilometre route between Mawphlang and Lad Mawphlang villages. We begin our trek from Mawphlang. This is a muddy trail that takes us across streams, forests and plain land. It is advisable to wear sturdy walking shoes, preferably water- resistant for this trek. We will walk north of the village up to a spot called Ka Kor Ka Shonmai which is the starting point of the trek. From here we follow a muddy trail for one and a half kilometres to a place called Mawsahep which has a tomb dedicated to the memory of a child, dating back to 1843. There is a tap here for you to refill your flasks. Next, we follow a winding route looking over Umiam River, the Simpanghang Falls and Mawphlang Dam. We cross a stream here, with knee-deep water and then walk on a descending trail of 3 kilometres to a bridge that leads to the forest. After crossing the bridge, we walk for another 15 minutes to reach even ground at the same level as the river. Here, we take a short break for lunch. A simple packed lunch is provided and you can catch your breath for sometime before we get back on the trail. We cross the river by stepping over boulders. Make sure to watch your step to avoiding slipping. The trail continues across a field to the villages of Step Lakrai and Laitsohma. Make sure to check out the curious rock formations here particularly one monolith that resembles a human face. From here we continue walking over some winding trails to reach a hilltop that leads to Lad Mawphlang. The last leg of the trail takes about 45- 60 minutes. On reaching Lad Mawphlang, we drive back to Shillong and reach our hotel in the early evening. You can spend the rest of the evening at leisure, just relaxing in your rooms after the day’s exertions.
Day 3 (Shillong- Ranikor Beach Festival) (B, L, D)
  • Today we set off for the second leg of our tour. After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Ranikor, situated 56 kilometres away ne ar the Indo- Bangladesh border. This charming little village has recently come under the radar for its annual Beach Festival held in the third week of February. The river Kynshi flows through Ranikor and is a favourite haunt for adventure junkies because of the variety of water sports it offers. The drive from Shillong will take about 4 hours and we’ll check into our hotel in Ranikor just in time for lunch. Post lunch it’s time to head to the beach and check out the various water sports and other activities arranged for your entertainment. Try river rafting or kayaking in Kynshi River for a nominal fee. The river is full of the elusive Golden Mahseer fish and you could try your hand at angling and test your mettle against the catch before releasing it back into the river. For those who like adventure, there’s snorkelling and scuba diving. This is a great day out for the whole family with some great sporting and eating options. Enjoy a game of volleyball on the beach or just take a stroll around the place, taking in the many sights and sounds of this colourful festival. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant selling a variety of gastronomical delights before returning to the festivities on the beach. After a full day’s outing, we return to the hotel where you can retire to your rooms after dinner.
Day 4 (Ranikor- Nongkhum Island overnight camp) (B, L, D)
  • Our water adventure continues today with a trip to the picturesque island of Nongkhum. W e set off after breakfast and drive for about 3 and a half hours to reach Nongkhum Island by noon. Touted as the largest river island in Meghalaya and the second largest in Asia after Majuli, this is a popular picnic spot for tourists who drive down from Shillong for a day of fishing, golfing and relaxing on the island. The Kynshi River in the West Khasi Hills district bifurcates into the Namliang and Phanliang rivers to form Nongkhnum Island.  The place where the Namliang and Phanliang rivers diverge has a pretty sandy beach that covers an area of 100 sq. km. This is where we set up camp for the day. Enjoy a simple lunch at the campsite before setting off to explore the island. Nongkhum is home to several tall trees and open grasslands, ideal for enjoying outdoor sports like golfing and football. The island is full of rare and exotic flowers that create a beautiful backdrop for the many waterfalls that lie dotted around it. There are natural pools called Wei Phanliang near the shore, filled with fish. Enjoy swimming or angling in the pools. For those who enjoy trekking, there are some great trekking trails across Nongkhum. We don’t follow a fixed itinerary here. You are free to do as you please and experience the outdoors the way you want. In the evening, we return to the campsite and enjoy dinner around a bonfire. This is a great time for exchanging stories and getting to know your fellow travellers. After dinner, you can retire to your cabins for the night.
Day 5 (Nongkhum- Shillong) (B, L, D)
  • Today we make our way back to Shillong. After a simple breakfast at the camp, we drive to Shillong stopping at Jakrem on the way. The small town of Jakrem is known as the land of hot springs. The sulphur water of the springs is believed to have medicinal effects for a variety of ailments like arthritis and is gaining steady popularity among tourists from across the world. Designated bath compartments are built around the springs for those to wish to take a dip in the water. The surrounding area is a great spot for picnics and for those of you who don’t want to get into the water, you can just sit by the springs and enjoy the scenic views of the surroundings. From Jakrem we drive on to Shillong and check into our hotel. You can take the last day of the tour to do as you choose. Relax in the hotel or explore the town. After the farewell dinner at the hotel you can retire to your rooms for the night.
Day 6 (Shillong- Guwahati departure) (B, -, -)
  • Have breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Guwahati. Enjoy the drive and take in the beautiful views of the surroundings as you leave behind the hills and descend to the plains. Our car will drop you off at Guwahati Airport where you trip comes to an end.
Route Map