Meghalaya Backpacking Trip (6D/5N)

from

~~₹20,000.00~~₹16,450.00

Ex. Guwahati

The Mesmerizing Meghalaya Trip

This backpacking trip takes you on a journey to one of the most beautiful states of India: Meghalaya.

Reviews 0 Reviews
0/5
Vacation Style Holiday Type
Backpacking Trip/Trek
Activity Level Easy to Moderate
2/8
Group Size Small Group
12

All about the Meghalaya Backpacking Trip (6D/5N).

Hello travelers!

There are many amazing things about Meghalaya state like the floating clouds (that’s the first thing comes to mind), the high rise mountains, rainforests formed by wettest places on earth, stunning deep valleys, crystal clear waters of rivers and streams, gigantic waterfalls, mystical caves, living root bridges that act as harmony between humans and nature over centuries, some of the cleanest villages, diverse spread of food, colorful locals and unique culture.

As part of this backpacking trip, we at Muddie Trails handpicked destinations in the abode of clouds that will refresh your body, mind and awaken your soul. We will experience Meghalaya in full glory, create memories, and sketch beautiful stories to tell even long after.

We will start the trip with Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, which is also the highest point of the state. It boasts a cold climate most of the year. It has a unique cuisine with tasty food, friendly locals, great for shopping especially the winter wear. After exploring local attractions in Shillong, and thrilling views of Laitlum Grand Canyons, we will move deeper into East Khasi Hills towards the crystal clear blue waters of Krang Suri waterfalls, explore the transparent Umngot river of Dawki and indulge in adrenaline-pumping water activities at Shnongpdeng.

We will then head towards some of the wettest places on earth like Cherrapunji, explore umpteen viewpoints, cleanest villages, deep Mawsmai caves, pristine valleys, and numerous waterfalls like Nohkalikai or Wei Sawdong over there. We will set off on a wild & wet trek to fascinating Double Decker Living Root Bridges and magical Rainbow Waterfalls. After soul-soothing dips in the natural swimming pools of lush blue waters, we will end the trip with a pit stop at Shillong while filling our bags with souvenirs, and a mind full of beautiful memories.

All in all, Meghalaya is a natural wonder that cannot be missed in your lifetime. Come, join us to experience life at its fullest in this backpacking trip to Meghalaya.

Highlights of the Meghalaya Trip:

The Double Decker Living Root Bridges
Laitlum Grand Canyons
Crystal clear Umngot River
Dawki expedition
Shnongpdeng Water Activities with Camping
Lush Blue Krang Suri Waterfalls Dip
Cherrapunji – Wettest place on Earth
Trek to pristine Rainbow Waterfalls
Mawsmai Caves exploration
Nohkalikai Falls – World’s 4th largest Waterfalls
or
4 Layered Wei Sawdong Waterfalls
Mawlynnong – Asia’s cleanest Village
Don Bosco Museum for North Eastern Culture
Umiam – the prettiest lake
Dress up in Meghalaya traditional attire

Join us on:
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The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

Day 1 Umium, Around Shillong
- Travelers coming by Flight will get picked by our vehicle at Guwahati Airport at 11:45 AM.
- We will start our journey towards the mountain town of Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya.
- It’s a drive of 120 Km that takes 3.5 hours usually. Expect traffic congestion in Guwahati before we enter Meghalaya.
- Cross Meghalaya check post and break for Lunch at a restaurant.
- Continue journey to the extremely pretty Umium Lake and go on a boat ride. Travelers can easily spend couple of hours at this extremely pretty lake that gives a sneak peak of how beautiful Meghalaya is!
- Reach Shillong town late evening after buying some snacks and drinks (if you wish to) at Police Bazar, check into our guest house and freshen up.
- Gather at the common area, socialize, play games and music.
- Rest for the night on cozy beds.
Day 2 Grand Canyons, The Clear Blue Waterfall, Riverside Camping
- Start the day early with Breakfast.
- Visit Laitlum Grand Canyon, which offers a spectacular view of East Khasi Hills with a great sudden dip. We can go down the stairs of the valley and pose for pictures.
- Head towards Jaintia hills of Meghalaya to visit most beautiful and lush bluish Krang Suri Waterfalls.
- Break for a quick Lunch at a local food joint on our way.
- Take a dip in the chilling water of Krang Suri with life jackets that are mandatory.
- The water is so cold that going in the water pool itself is a dare! But there are some crazy people in every group, who will take this challenge.
- Continue our journey to Shnongpdeng on the banks of the Umngot river.
- River side Camping with Bonfire and social gathering.
- Rest in your assigned Tents.
Day 3 Transparent River Adventures, Dawki, Cleanest Village
- Good morning at the crystal clear waters of Umngot river. The first rays of the sun reflecting on the flowing waters is mesmerizing. There is also an eye-catching suspension bridge to explore.
- Finish Breakfast at our camp.
- Indulge in Shnongpdeng Water activities like Boating, Cliff Jumping, Kayaking, etc. based on their availability.
- Turning into a fully wet mermaid for a few hours under sunny weather of Shnongpdeng gives the best experience along with a rush of adrenaline.
- Take a pit stop at Dawki where the transparent Umngot river leaves our country, peek into the border areas, and say hi to our neighbors from Bangladesh 😉
- Post another quick Lunch, we will give a visit to Asia’s cleanest village Mawlynnong. This village boasts interesting things like a bamboo-made tower to peek into Bangladesh from a height, cleanest roads, sense of calmness and beautiful people.
- We will then head towards our next destination Cherrapunji by night
- Dinner with social hours.
- Rest on the cozy beds of guest house rooms assigned to you.
Day 4 Trek down to Heaven, Walk on Double Decker Living Roots & Spot a Rainbow!
- Start the day with Breakfast in the misty town of Cherrapunji.
- Head to base village Tyrna and trek down to Nongriat Village Double Decker Living Root Bridges.
- The 3641 steps into the valley to the Nongriat village will take us to the most offbeat place of Meghalaya where we will spend the rest of the day and night.
- After marveling at the huge Double Decker Living Root Bridges structure constructed by generations of humans by carefully bending roots of Rubber trees for centuries, continue trekking into the jungle another 1.5 hours to reach breathtaking Rainbow Waterfalls.
- Trekkers are expected to carry ample snacks like – Bananas/Dry fruits/Biscuits/Energy bars – today as there is no special place for Lunch at this remote place.
- A dip in the chilling water is absolutely delightful and refreshing after a long trek. If sun shines around 2 PM, there is every chance to spot a beautiful Rainbow in front of the Ranibow waterfalls!
- Trek back to Nongriat village, stay at village dorms overnight with basic facilities.
Day 5 Trek back to Earth, explore Caves, Waterfalls, Dress up!
- Good morning from one of the remotest part of country!
- After having early Breakfast, trek back up towards the Tyrna village (the place where we descended from yesterday).
- Climbing up 3600 odd stairs will take it’s time, but your mind is full of amazing stories and colors of what you just experienced yesterday. This hike can be done in 2 to 3 hours easily with frequent breaks.
- Explore the breathtaking maze of caves formed of limestone called Mawsmai caves. Though the caves are quite long, only a small part of open for tourists. This magnificent natural wonder is the handiwork of years of natural erosion and underground water. The fun part is – there are some tricky paths in the caves where you have to sneak through.
- Dress up in Meghalaya special Khasi tribe traditional attire and pose for cameras.
- Have leisurely Lunch at a restaurant.
- Visit Nohkalikai Waterfalls viewpoint, one of the biggest falls in India.
  or
  Visit offbeat and 3 layered Wei Sawdong waterfalls (based on season).
- Note that there would be no time to cover both waterfalls as it gets dark very early in Meghalaya. More often by 4.30 PM the sun would have already set.
- Get back to the Cherrapunji homestay and gather around Bonfire one last time. Finish Dinner.
- Well deserved rest in the assigned rooms.
Day 6 Museum of Colors & Cultures, Return journey
- Start the day early with a Breakfast at our stay. We are expected to check out before 8 AM.
- Move towards Shillong to visit very interesting Don Bosco Museum that showcases culture, colors, tools, clothing and artifacts of North Eastern states.
- One shouldn’t miss this wonderful museum on their Meghalaya trip. It will make you fall in love with North East and pull you back to explore other states like Arunachal, Nagaland and Sikkim.
- Finish Lunch enroute Guwahati.
- Stop over at Umium Lake in case it got missed on Day-1 because of local events/fests or delays.
- Journey towards Guwahati and try to reach by late evening.
- A strict timeline will be maintained today so that we can reach Airport on time to catch our return flights.
- You may book flights after 9 PM or we shall help you with a guest house contact in Guwahati for the night so that you could leave the next day.
- Note: Many travelers extend their holiday to visit Kaziranga National Park of Assam. You may check Kaziranga trip details for the same.

Generic Details

Travel:

Trip starting/ending point: Guwahati
Pick up and drop at Guwahati Airport
Tempo, Innova or similar tourist vehicle (6 days journey)
Tempo Travelers in North East are of 3 kinds,
> 13 seater, 17 seater, 25 seater
> 13 have pushback and 17,25 do not have pushback
> We may book any vehicle based on availability and group number
There is no night journey on this trip. All travel is during day time.
Note: If you are arriving by Train, pick up will be arranged at Khanapara bus stop of Guwahati.

Timings:

Start time: Day 1, 11:45 AM
End time: Day 6, 9:00 PM
Vehicle will drop guests at Guwahati Airport by 6 – 6:30 PM on Day 6.
You can book flights to/from Guwahati based on the above timings.

Booking Flight tickets:

Our team can assist you in booking your flight tickets through an agent without any fees.
Sometimes, there is a chance to get cheaper rates than online.

Stay:

Homestays on sharing basis – usually 4 to 6 members per room.
Shillong: 1 Night (comfort stay)
Cherrapunji: 2 Nights (comfort stay)
Nongriat Village: 1 Night (basic stay)
Shnongpdeng: Camping for 1 Night (basic stay)
> Common washrooms by Meghalaya Tourist Board
> 2 sharing tents for couples
> 3 sharing tents for others
Contact Booking Team if you wish to see stay pictures.

Couple stay:

Couple stay can be provided at an extra cost of 1000 per night per couple.
This is possible only in Shillong & Cherrapunji.
Contact Booking Team to check availability before booking.

Food:

Breakfasts included
Lunches & Dinners are self-sponsored
Why?
Based on feedback from previous batches, we excluded Lunches and Dinners as everyone have different food choices. Meghalaya boasts good food. There are multiple food options available at all the places that put travelers in confusion.
All homestays at Meghalaya provide pre-set food for dinner or take orders as per menu.
How much you have to spend for good food?
150 – 200 per Lunch
200 – 250 per Dinner

Miscellaneous info:

Batch size: 3 to 15
Trek Details: Double Decker Living Root Bridges and Rainbow Waterfalls on Days 4,5
Trek Difficulty: Moderate (Beginners can attempt)
Note: In a special scenario when group size is 5 or less, there won’t be a Trip Leader/Captain. An experienced driver & Operations Manager (online) will take care of the itinerary.

Kaziranga National Park Trip:

Many travelers extend their holiday to visit Kaziranga National Park of Assam.
You may check Kaziranga trip details here.

Things to pack for Meghalaya Trip:

Toiletries, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste etc.
A lightweight large Backpack for the entire trip (50-60 liters). Strictly no trolleys. Please remember this is a Backpacking trip.
A small backpack for basic items (to carry valuables, water bottle, snacks, etc. for outdoor activities).
Photo identity proof with address (Aadhar/Passport/Voter ID).
A Passport size color photograph (important for permit).
Thermal inners and warm clothes in winter (cold climate).
A rainproof jacket with a hood during monsoons (to protect from cold winds, sudden rain).
Thick socks, track pants, full sleeve t-shirts (to keep your body warm).
Cap/Hat/Sunglasses (to protect from harmful sun rays).
Sunscreen (SPF 50 or more).
Power bank, charger, camera, binoculars (if you wish to).
Hand sanitizer and liquid hand wash for Camping and outdoors.
Proper water bottle for your trip. You may fill at our stays.
Disposable garbage covers (To separate used/unused, wet/dry clothes).
Water-resistant good grip shoes for travel, extra slippers to use at stays.
Personal medications, any drugs that you may feel necessary (remember ghat roads, cold climate), basic first aid kit.
No need to carry snacks/chocolates. You may buy at local shops to support local people in Meghalaya.

What’s next after booking your trip:

Organizers will get in touch with you, or vice versa. After the confirmation, you may book your flights up and down.
A Whatsapp group will be created for all the registered folks 5 days before the event

Geography:

Max altitude: Shillong at 5,200 feet above Sea level
Climate:
Cold at Shillong, Cherrapunji
Pleasant at Nongriat village
Warm at Dawki, Shnongpdang, Krang Suri
Expect seasonal variations in Meghalaya depending on the month we are travelling.
During heavy rains, the waterfalls will be in full flow but water won’t be clear/transparent.
During winters and summers, we may get crystal clear water in the rivers and streams, but water will be less.

Special Notes:

Travelers are expected to come with open heart by appreciating complexities of Mother nature based on seasonal variations, monthly or even daily weather conditions.
There is no luxury involved in any part of this trip. This is a backpacking trip with basic facilities.

Seasonal Variations:

Jan to Mar: Winters are pleasantly cold in Meghalaya which pull tourists in good numbers. There’s still a good amount of water to play in rivers and waterfalls (Umngot, Krang Suri, Rainbow). However, those giant waterfalls meant for viewing are quiet (Nohkalikal, Wei Sawdong) this season.
Apr to Sept (Monsoons): The rains hit the mountains starting from April. Meghalaya has a long monsoon season. They start slow in April/May, consistently increase during June, peak around July/August and reduce by mid of Sept. Thick clouds all around interrupt views. With the brute force of water, one cannot take dips/play in water anywhere.
Mid Sept to Dec (Post monsoon): The giant waterfalls (Nohkalikal, Weisawdong) are at their best post monsoons with enchanting views. End of the year (Nov, Dec, Jan) is good to play in the clear waters of rivers and waterfalls (Umngot, Krang Suri, Rainbow). Temperatures may drop below 5 degrees towards the end of the year.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.

Meghalaya Package InclusionsItems that are included in the cost of tour price.

Travel (Guwahati to Guwahati)
Stay for 5 nights
5 Breakfasts
Dawki River Boating, Cliff Jumping
Meghalaya Khasi tribe dress up
All entry tickets, permissions
Trip Captain (for group size above 5)
Local guide for Double Decker, Rainbow Trekking
Airport pickup and drop (fixed timings)
Bonfire (at least 1 time)
Once in a lifetime experience visiting all places mentioned in Highlights section

Meghalaya Package ExclusionsItems that are excluded in the cost of tour price.

Lunches, Dinners
Trip Captain (if batch size 5 or less in rare scenarios)
Any kind of activities other than mentioned above
Any kind of insurance, shopping, party, medical expenses
Any misc. expenses that are not in inclusions above
Any extra cost arising due to any change in the itinerary/stay/route on account of bad weather, traffic-congestion, landslides/roadblocks, natural calamities, political disturbances and/or any other factors beyond our control.

Terms and Conditions, Cancellation Policy
What is the best time to travel to Meghalaya?

Terms and Conditions

The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Do not give advice(s) to the Trip Leader(s) to change the itinerary.
Cooperate with the organizer(s) in following the schedule set for the day (especially getting up and getting ready in the morning). This will ensure travelers won’t miss out on the real fun part that is traveling.
Every traveler is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Don’t indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to you or fellow travelers.
Do not wander into the forest away from the designated trail for treks. There may be snakes, scorpions, and dangerous animals.
Unexpected situations: It may happen we do not cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the police/forest department, delay in travel because of an issue with our group itself, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the organizer(s) will take travelers to an alternative place. But in some cases, we may have to skip a place altogether.
Absolutely no littering. We swear to protect our environment.
No alcohol & smoking during travel, treks, and other outdoor activities. There would be a separate window and space (usually at night) to have these at the campsite/homestay for interested people.
Travelers are expected to respect each other and help each other. Avoid discussing sensitive matters like sex, politics, and religion/caste/race.
Using foul or abusive language, eve-teasing, arguing with fellow travelers/organizer(s), and/or involving in the physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of being deserted by the group then and there.
The event will stand canceled if less than 8 travelers signed up for the trip/trek which will be informed 24 hours before the trip start time.
Every traveler is expected to sign a liability/waiver form given by the organizer(s) after boarding the vehicle. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

As we are amidst a pandemic, please go through the following blog of Travelling in the times of COVID-19 and COVID FAQs before deciding to join the trip.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellation by Traveler

80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date.
An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
No refund within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
No refund during/after the event.
No refund on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

Cancellation by Muddie Trails

Muddie Trails may decide to cancel the event if there are less than 3 travelers signed up for the trip/trek.

What if we don’t get the minimum number of people for the trip?
We have 2 options in this case:
Option 1: Complete refund.
Option 2: Switch to any other trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.

Cancellation due to external factors

Muddie Trails may have to cancel the event in case of external factors that are beyond our control like Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Road Blocks, Train cancellations, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc.

In these scenarios:

No Refund is allowed.
100% trip amount can be used for any other new trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.
Once you confirm your participation on the new trip, all the above Cancellation policies will apply for the same.

The best part of the year to travel to Meghalaya is from the post-monsoon season – mid-September to mid-Feb. Winters are refreshingly cold in Meghalaya (unlike the extreme climate of Himalayas) and because of the huge rainfall it receives, water remains till mid March.
It starts raining again from the month of April, which is also considered a good time to travel.

Overall Rating

0/5

Dates	Trip Status	Price
September 27, 2023 - October 2, 2023	Available (Starting Wednesday 11:45 AM - Ending Monday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
October 1, 2023 - October 6, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
October 21, 2023 - October 26, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
October 28, 2023 - November 2, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
November 11, 2023 - November 16, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
November 18, 2023 - November 23, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
November 25, 2023 - November 30, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
December 2, 2023 - December 7, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
December 9, 2023 - December 14, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
December 16, 2023 - December 21, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
December 23, 2023 - December 28, 2023	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
December 27, 2023 - January 1, 2024	Available (Starting Wednesday 11:45 AM - Ending Monday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now
December 30, 2023 - January 4, 2024	Available (Starting Saturday 11:45 AM - Ending Thursday 7 PM)	₹16,450.00	Book Now