Tibetan Buddhism in the Mountains

Arrival Note: When you land at the Guwahati Airport, you will meet our local representative, who will hold a welcome board with your name on it. After a warm greeting, our driver will take you to hotel in our comfortable private car.

Afternoon Sightseeing: If you arrive early and have enough time after check-in, our guide will take you to visit some of the popular attractions in Guwahati to warm up for this 10-day northeast India tour. Our first stop will be the Kamakhya Temple, a famous Sakta temple dating back to the 8th century. At dusk, we will go to the Brahmaputra River and you can pay on site to rent a boat and enjoy a beautiful sunset on the river.

Accommodation: Hotel Radisson Blu, Guwahati

After breakfast, we will proceed to Bhalukpong by our private car with chauffeur. During the long ride, please feel free to let the chauffeur know whenever you need a coffee or photo break. We will arrive in the afternoon and check into the local hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Prashaanti Cottage, Bhalukpong

Private Car Transfer to Dirang (140 km; 4 hours): In the morning, we will continue our road trip to Dirang, a tranquil village covered with verdant vegetation.

Sightseeing in Dirang: Upon arrival, our guide will lead you to explore the Dirang Dzong, also known as the Dirang Fort. Built in the 17th century, it was once a prison on the hilltop, where you can now enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the village. Afterwards, we will experience a different culture in the Monpa village, where you will get close to the Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, our guide and the driver will escort you to the hotel to check in.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Norphel Retreat, Dirang

Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, we will travel to Tawang by our private car. On the way, we’ll visit some famous scenic spots. We’ll stop at the Sela Pass at an altitude of over 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), where you can enjoy a snow-covered landscape decorated with a colorful Tibetan-style gate, and a view of the Sela Lake which is considered a holy lake by the Tibetan Buddhists.

After driving on for about 20 km, we will arrive at the Jaswant Ghar to visit this war memorial with colorful Hindu-style architecture. If time permits, our guide will also take you to appreciate the 100-meter-high Nuranang Falls before reaching Tawang. Like a white ribbon on a green cliff, this picturesque waterfall was once the setting for a Bollywood film. Upon arrival at the hotel in Tawang, the guide will assist you in checking in.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Yangzom, Tawang

Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, we will set off for the 300-year-old Tawang Monastery, the second largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the world. Covering 13,500 square meters, this sacred monastery has more than 70 buildings and houses hundreds of lamas. The serene and spiritual experience here would be a perfect start of the morning. After that, we will travel to another Tibetan Buddhist site – the Urgelling Monastery, the birthplace of the Sixth Dalai Lama, and then visit the Ani Gompa, a peaceful nunnery. Next, our guide will show you the last site of the day, the Tawang War Memorial. In the evening, we will return to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Yangzom, Tawang

Sightseeing Activities: Today, we will drive to Bomdila, a beautiful city with an altitude of over 2,400 meters (7,874 feet). On the way, our guide will take you to visit the Nuranang Falls in case we’ve missed it on the fourth day, and also stop for the GRL Monastery, which is also known as the Upper Gompa. As one of the most famous monasteries for the Lamaists, this monastery is a suitable place where you will get close to Mahayana Buddhism. Upon arrival at Bomdila, the guide will take you to the hotel to check in.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Tsepal Yangjom, Bomdila

Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, we will start a comfortable drive to Tezpur, a peaceful town by the Brahmaputra River. If we still have time for sightseeing after arrival, the guide will take you to visit the Mahabhairab Temple, a Hindu temple said to be built from the legendary 'living stone'; the small hill Agnigarh, which is famous for its important role in Hindu mythology; as well as a local market where you’ll see a variety of colorful handicrafts and exotic spices that you may not have seen before.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel The Greenwood, Tezpur

Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, we will proceed to Shillong by private car. En route, we'll stop at the tranquil Umiam Lake, also known as the Barapani Lake. The mirror-like lake with no border in sight, along with the gently rolling hills and lush trees, makes for a fantastic landscape that is definitely worth some storage of your camera. After the visit, we will continue our way to Shillong and reach the hotel for check-in before dark.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Polo Towers, Shillong

Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, we will set off for Cherrapunjee, a humid town endowed with rich waterfalls and green hills by magical nature. We will stop halfway to appreciate the multiple-tier Elephant Falls among the lush trees, and climb up the Shillong Peak, the highest point of Shillong, for a fascinating panoramic view of the whole city.

Reaching Cherrapunjee, we will first head to the Mawsmai Cave to explore the marvelous oddly-shaped stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the Nohkalikai Falls with a height of over 300 meters (984 feet). In the afternoon, we will move forward to the Thankarang Park for an enjoyable stroll imbued with fresh air and soothing sounds of waterfalls. Next, the guide will accompany you to visit a huge rock – Koh Ramhah to round off the day. It would be an amazing experience to admire its unique shape while listening to the guide tell the interesting legends about it.

► Kindly Reminder: Should you wish to enjoy the most beautiful scenery of the waterfalls, you are recommended to arrange your Cherrapunjee tour during the monsoon season from June to September.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Polo Towers, Shillong

Departure Note: The 10-day trip to north east India ends here. After breakfast, our driver will escort you to the Guwahati Airport for your homeward flight. We wish you a smooth trip! Please feel free to contact us if you would like an extension trip to elsewhere in India or around the world.

Meals: Breakfast