The Perfect 6 Day Meghalaya Itinerary

Six days is ideal for a first Meghalaya trip, covering Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki and Mawlynnong without rushing. Here is a tried and tested Meghalaya itinerary, starting and ending in Guwahati.

Day 1: Guwahati to Shillong

Land in Guwahati (Assam), the gateway to the northeast, and drive 3 to 4 scenic hours to Shillong, stopping at the vast Umiam Lake. Evening at the lively Police Bazar.

Day 2: Shillong Sights

Visit Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, the Don Bosco museum and Wards Lake. If you have an extra half-day, add the dramatic Laitlum Canyons.

Day 3: Cherrapunji (Sohra)

Drive to Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth. See Nohkalikai Falls (India's tallest plunge waterfall), the Seven Sisters Falls, and walk through the Mawsmai limestone cave.

Day 4: Living Root Bridges

For the fit and adventurous, trek down roughly 3,000 steps to the double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat and back, a full and rewarding day. Prefer something gentler? Visit the easy Riwai single-decker root bridge near Mawlynnong instead.

Day 5: Dawki and Mawlynnong

Drive to Dawki for a boat ride on the crystal-clear Umngot river, then visit Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village, with its bamboo sky walk. A beautiful, easy day.

Day 6: Back to Guwahati

Drive back to Guwahati for your departure. If time allows, add the Kamakhya Temple or a Brahmaputra sunset cruise.

Want More?

Add a day for Krang Suri Falls and the Jaintia Hills, or extend with a Kaziranga National Park rhino safari on the Assam side.

Pacing tip: Distances in Meghalaya take longer than the map suggests due to winding hill roads. Basing two nights each in Shillong and Cherrapunji, as above, cuts down on daily driving.

Ready to plan? See our Meghalaya tour packages and check the best time to visit Meghalaya.