First, 2 nights in Shillong
Ri Kynjai – Serenity by the Lake
A luxury resort of Khasi boat-roof cottages on a pine ridge above Umiam Lake, 18 km from Shillong — a herbal spa, lake views, and complete quiet.
Shillong · Resort · Luxury★★★★★
Luxury Accommodation5 NightsLuxuryAdventure
Crystal Rivers & Clean Villages — Luxury
About This Journey
Crystal Rivers & Clean Villages — Luxury
Dawki's river runs so clear that boats on it look like they are floating in mid-air. Nearby, Mawlynnong has been called Asia's cleanest village for its swept lanes and bamboo dustbins. This five-night route is built around those two facts, adding a proper trek to a living root bridge along the way.
From Shillong, you head to Cherrapunji for the Mawkdok Canyon and a day of waterfalls, then trek down to the Double-Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat — a structure grown from a fig tree's roots over generations. The route closes at Mawlynnong and the Riwai Root Bridge, ending with a short boat ride on the glass-clear water at Dawki before you return to Shillong.
- 01
A boat ride on Dawki's clear river
The Umngot River at Dawki is genuinely transparent — boats appear to hover over the riverbed. A short, calm ride on it closes out the trip's final full day.
- 02
Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village
You walk through Mawlynnong on foot, past its bamboo waste bins and living root bridge at nearby Riwai — a village that has earned its reputation, not just claimed it.
- 03
The trek to the Double-Decker Root Bridge
A guided descent through the Nongriat valley leads to a genuine two-tier living root bridge, grown and shaped by the Khasi people over more than a century. It involves several hundred steps each way, at a manageable pace.
- 04
Five nights, two proper bases
Ri Kynjai – Serenity by the Lake in Shillong, then Polo Orchid Resort in Cherrapunji (Vivanta Meghalaya and Jiva Resort at the premium tier), giving you a full base for both the root bridge trek and the Dawki day.
Chapter Two — Where You'll Stay
2 Real Stays, In Order
Handpicked along your own route — not a hotel chain repeated city to city.
Finally, 3 nights in Cherrapunji
Polo Orchid Resort, Cherrapunji
A canyon-edge resort near Nohkalikai Falls on the Sohra plateau — gorge-view rooms, an edge-of-the-cliff restaurant, and the closest good base for the falls.
Cherrapunji · Resort · Luxury★★★★
Chapter Three — Day by Day
Real Meghalaya Attractions in This Itinerary
4 of your 6days — the full itinerary follows below. Scroll to travel the route.
Day 2 · Shillong
Shillong — the City, the Peak and Elephant Falls
A full day around the capital. Elephant Falls first, a short walk down through the trees to a three-tier cascade. Then Shillong Peak, the highest point, for the view over the whole city and the hills. The Don Bosco museum lays out the cultures of all seven Northeast states across seven floors, and ends on a rooftop walkway. The afternoon is for Ward's Lake, the cathedral, and the lanes of Police Bazar and Laitumkhrah, where the city's coffee culture lives.
Day 3 · Shillong → Cherrapunji
Shillong to Cherrapunji via the Mawkdok Canyon
The road south to Sohra runs across a high, open plateau that gets barer and windier as you go. The Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint, about halfway, looks down a deep V-shaped gorge and has a zipline for anyone who wants it. You reach Cherrapunji by early afternoon. Nohkalikai Falls, India's tallest plunge waterfall, is the first stop: a short walk to a viewpoint over a three-hundred-and-forty-metre drop into a blue-green pool. Check in on the canyon rim for the evening.
Day 4 · Cherrapunji
The Double-Decker Root Bridge Trek at Nongriat
The big walk of the trip, and a hard one. From Tyrna village a stone staircase of about three thousand five hundred steps drops into the gorge, over two long steel footbridges, to the hamlet of Nongriat and its double-decker living root bridge, two woven spans stacked over the same stream. Strong walkers carry on to Rainbow Falls and its blue pool. The climb back out is the real effort. Start at first light, carry water, take a guide, and keep the rest of the day clear.
Day 5 · Cherrapunji
Mawlynnong, the Riwai Root Bridge and the River at Dawki
A long, rewarding loop from Cherrapunji toward the border. Riwai first, where a single-span root bridge crosses a clear stream a short walk from the road. Then Mawlynnong, the village called the cleanest in Asia, for a slow walk through swept lanes and flower gardens and a climb up the bamboo sky-view tower. Dawki is last: a wooden-boat ride on the Umngot, so clear in the dry season that the boat seems to float on air. Back to the plateau by evening.
Chapter Four — The Full Itinerary
6 Days, In Full
Every day, start to finish — including the transfers the day-by-day chapter above skipped.
Shillong
Arrive in Shillong via Umiam Lake
The drive up from Guwahati airport takes about three hours, climbing out of the Assam plains into pine hills. The road runs along Umiam Lake, and there is a viewpoint to stop at for the first real look at Meghalaya. You reach Shillong in the afternoon. The rest of the day is easy: Ward's Lake, the cafes around Police Bazar, or just a rest after the flight. The evenings here are cool all year.
Shillong
Shillong — the City, the Peak and Elephant Falls
A full day around the capital. Elephant Falls first, a short walk down through the trees to a three-tier cascade. Then Shillong Peak, the highest point, for the view over the whole city and the hills. The Don Bosco museum lays out the cultures of all seven Northeast states across seven floors, and ends on a rooftop walkway. The afternoon is for Ward's Lake, the cathedral, and the lanes of Police Bazar and Laitumkhrah, where the city's coffee culture lives.
Shillong → Cherrapunji
Shillong to Cherrapunji via the Mawkdok Canyon
The road south to Sohra runs across a high, open plateau that gets barer and windier as you go. The Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint, about halfway, looks down a deep V-shaped gorge and has a zipline for anyone who wants it. You reach Cherrapunji by early afternoon. Nohkalikai Falls, India's tallest plunge waterfall, is the first stop: a short walk to a viewpoint over a three-hundred-and-forty-metre drop into a blue-green pool. Check in on the canyon rim for the evening.
Cherrapunji
The Double-Decker Root Bridge Trek at Nongriat
The big walk of the trip, and a hard one. From Tyrna village a stone staircase of about three thousand five hundred steps drops into the gorge, over two long steel footbridges, to the hamlet of Nongriat and its double-decker living root bridge, two woven spans stacked over the same stream. Strong walkers carry on to Rainbow Falls and its blue pool. The climb back out is the real effort. Start at first light, carry water, take a guide, and keep the rest of the day clear.
Cherrapunji
Mawlynnong, the Riwai Root Bridge and the River at Dawki
A long, rewarding loop from Cherrapunji toward the border. Riwai first, where a single-span root bridge crosses a clear stream a short walk from the road. Then Mawlynnong, the village called the cleanest in Asia, for a slow walk through swept lanes and flower gardens and a climb up the bamboo sky-view tower. Dawki is last: a wooden-boat ride on the Umngot, so clear in the dry season that the boat seems to float on air. Back to the plateau by evening.
Shillong
Depart Shillong for Guwahati
A last morning in the hills before the drive down to Guwahati airport, about three hours. If the flight is later, there is time for a final stop at Umiam Lake, a coffee in Laitumkhrah, or the shops of Police Bazar for Khasi weave and orange-blossom honey. The road loses height quickly, and the air warms as the plains come back into view.
Guest Stories
What Our Travelers Say
Real words from real journeys — rated 5.0 across 310 Google reviews.
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Nothing short of magical. Brijesh crafted a seamless itinerary that balanced sightseeing, culture, and relaxation, making our journey truly special.
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Everything went beyond our expectations. Our driver Rajesh kept us comfortable in every city, and Vicky was endlessly knowledgeable.
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From the moment we landed until we left, our driver Manish made us feel so taken care of — he made the trip even more memorable.
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Brijesh is a super good man! A comfortable journey through six cities, exactly to our desires and limits.
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Mentions guide Brijesh & Manish
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Excellent hotels and tour guides. Our driver Manish was superb in every way — reliable, and full of local knowledge.
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Chapter Five — Terms & Conditions
Straightforward, In Writing
Cancellation windows, refund timing, and rescheduling terms for this journey follow our one sitewide policy — nothing package-specific to dig through.
Read the Return & Refund PolicyFrequently Asked
Before You Book
How difficult is the root bridge trek?
It involves a long stepped descent and the same climb back up, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. The pace is set by you, and it is walked, not rushed.
Is the water at Dawki really that clear?
Yes, in the right season. The Umngot River runs remarkably transparent for much of the year, though heavy monsoon rain can cloud it temporarily.
What makes Mawlynnong worth visiting beyond the root bridge?
The village itself — its cleanliness, bamboo architecture and quiet, orderly lanes — is as much the draw as the nearby root bridge at Riwai.
Chapter Six — Similar Journeys
More of Meghalaya, Privately
Before you go
Planning Meghalaya
Travel Tips
Private Tour or Group Tour in India? An Honest Comparison
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Getting Around India: Trains, Flights or a Private Car?
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Eating Well in India Without Getting Ill: A Practical Guide
First-Time IndiaFood & CulturePlanning Guide
Why Choose Us
The Same Trust, Sized to This Trip
01
Planning, Built Around You
This route was shaped around Meghalaya's real places, not lifted from a fixed template.
13 years — Brijesh Sharma, Bespoke Itinerary Specialist
02
Handpicked Hotels
Every stay on this trip was chosen in person, not off a ratings page.
2 real stays, 4–5★
03
A Private Fleet, Always Yours
One driver, air-conditioned, for the whole route — no shared shuttle.
Premium sedans & SUVs · One driver, the whole trip
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
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