Meghalaya Itinerary: The Perfect 5-Day Trip Plan from Guwahati

A realistic 5-day Meghalaya itinerary covering Shillong, Cherrapunji's waterfalls, the Nongriat root bridge trek, Dawki and Mawlynnong — with drive times and where to stay.

By Meghalaya Team

Five days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Meghalaya. It is long enough to see Shillong, the waterfalls of Cherrapunji, the clear river at Dawki and the living root bridges without spending your whole holiday in a car. Here is a Meghalaya itinerary that works, with realistic drive times and where to sleep each night.

Before you start: how to get here

Almost every Meghalaya trip begins at Guwahati, in Assam. Guwahati has the nearest airport and the nearest major railway station. From there it is roughly 100 km and about three hours by road to Shillong. A pre-booked private taxi is the simplest way to do it, and the same vehicle can stay with you for the whole trip — on these hill roads a driver who knows the route is worth far more than a cheaper fare.

Day 1 — Guwahati to Shillong

Drive up to Shillong in the morning. Stop at Umiam Lake on the way, where the road opens out over a wide blue reservoir ringed by pine hills. Reach Shillong by afternoon, settle into your stay, and spend the evening at Police Bazar for food and shopping. Night in Shillong.

Day 2 — Shillong to Cherrapunji (Sohra)

Sohra is about 55 km from Shillong, a two-hour drive through some of the prettiest country in the state. Spend the day on the classic circuit: Nohkalikai Falls, India's tallest plunge waterfall; the Seven Sisters Falls viewpoint; Mawsmai Cave, which you can walk straight through; Arwah Cave with its fossils; and Wei Sawdong Falls, a three-tiered turquoise drop reached by a steep bamboo staircase. Night in Sohra.

Day 3 — The living root bridge trek

This is the day most people remember. Drive to Tyrna and trek down roughly 3,500 steps to Nongriat, home of the double decker living root bridge — two bridges of grown fig roots stacked one above the other. Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours down and 2.5 to 4 hours back up, and start early. If you would rather not do the full climb, swap in the easy single-decker root bridge at Riwai instead. Night in Sohra or Shillong.

Day 4 — Dawki and Mawlynnong

Head to Dawki, about three hours from Shillong, where the Umngot river runs so clear in winter that boats appear to float on air. Take a boat ride, then drive thirty minutes to Mawlynnong, widely called Asia's cleanest village, with its bamboo sky walk and the Riwai root bridge next door. You can see the Bangladesh plains from the border viewpoint. Night in Shillong, or in a homestay near Dawki if you want an early start on the river.

Day 5 — Shillong's edges, then home

Keep the last day close to Shillong. Laitlum Canyon in the early morning is a vast green amphitheatre that fills with cloud; Mawphlang sacred forest is a centuries-old grove the Khasi have protected for ritual reasons and never cut. Then drive back to Guwahati for your flight or train, allowing at least four hours including stops.

When to go

October to April is the easiest window: clear skies, dry roads, and the Umngot river at its clearest. June to September is monsoon — the waterfalls are at their most dramatic and the hills are impossibly green, but expect rain most days, slippery trails and a muddy river at Dawki. November brings the Shillong cherry blossom season.

How much should you budget?

Costs vary with season and group size, but the three things to plan for are your vehicle, your stays and entry fees. A private vehicle with a driver is usually the largest single cost on a trip like this and is charged per kilometre, so a five-day loop adds up — splitting it across a group of four or more makes a big difference. Stays range from simple hostels and homestays to resorts. Entry fees at waterfalls, caves and viewpoints are small but frequent, so carry cash.

Making it easier

Every vehicle and stay listed on this site is verified by us, with per-kilometre pricing and per-night rates shown up front, so you can price the whole route before you commit. If you would rather not plan the logistics at all, our tour packages cover the same ground with the driving and stays already arranged.

A shorter trip?

With three days, do Shillong, Sohra and Dawki and skip the Nongriat trek. With seven, add Mawsynram, Laitlum, Jowai and the Garo Hills in the west, which almost no first-time visitor reaches.