All eight states, one guide
Most people arrive at “Northeast India” without knowing which part they actually want — and the states are far more different from each other than the label suggests. This page compares all eight on the things that decide a trip: what each suits, how long you need, when to go, what permits you'll need and roughly what it costs.
Written and operated from Guwahati — we run these trips ourselves rather than reselling them.
The honest short answer: Meghalaya if it's your first trip, Arunachal if you want mountains and have the days, Assam if you want wildlife, Sikkim if you want comfort with Himalayan views, Nagaland if you're going for culture. Here is the longer version.
| State | Best for | Typical trip | Best months | Permit | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meghalaya | First-timers, couples, waterfalls | 5–7 days | Oct–Dec, Mar–May | None | ₹28,000 – ₹42,000Cost it out |
| Arunachal Pradesh | High mountains, monasteries, offbeat | 7–10 days | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Inner Line Permit | ₹38,000 – ₹58,000Cost it out |
| Assam | Wildlife, tea, river culture | 4–6 days | Nov–Apr | None | ₹22,000 – ₹34,000Cost it out |
| Sikkim | Himalayan views, honeymoons | 5–8 days | Mar–May, Oct–Dec | Protected Area Permit for some zones | ₹30,000 – ₹46,000Cost it out |
| Nagaland | Tribal culture, Hornbill Festival | 5–7 days | Oct–Dec (Hornbill: 1–10 Dec) | Inner Line Permit | ₹32,000 – ₹48,000Cost it out |
| ManipurAdvisory only | Loktak Lake, classical culture | 4–6 days | Oct–Mar | Inner Line Permit | On request |
| MizoramAdvisory only | Green hills, quiet travel | 4–6 days | Oct–Mar | Inner Line Permit | On request |
| TripuraAdvisory only | Palaces, heritage, short trips | 3–4 days | Oct–Mar | None | On request |
Indicative per-person cost for two people sharing, Deluxe stays, private vehicle, excluding flights. Ranges shift with season and group size — use the trip cost calculator for your own dates. States marked advisory only are ones we help plan but do not currently operate.
The Northeast's most popular circuit, and the easiest first trip — living root bridges, the clear Umngot river at Dawki, and the wettest place on earth, all within a few hours of Guwahati.
The most dramatic and least crowded state in the region. Long mountain drives, Sela Pass at 13,700 ft, Tawang Monastery, and the rice-terrace valley of Ziro — it asks for more days and rewards them.
Your gateway state, and worth more than a transit stop. One-horned rhinos at Kaziranga, tea estates around Jorhat and Dibrugarh, and Majuli — the largest river island in the world.
The most polished Himalayan experience in the region — Kanchenjunga views, high-altitude lakes, and better roads and hotels than most of the Northeast. The easiest sell for a honeymoon.
Go for the culture, and ideally go in December. The Hornbill Festival brings together all of Nagaland's major tribes in one place — book it many months ahead, because everything in Kohima sells out.
Every one of these is a trip we currently run. Prices are starting points per adult — the final cost depends on your dates, group size and stay category.
The most common planning mistake here is underestimating drive times. Northeast roads are mountain roads — 150 km can take five hours. These shapes assume a realistic pace.
Meghalaya's Shillong–Cherrapunji–Dawki circuit, or Assam with Kaziranga. Enough for a genuine trip without rushing.
See these trips →6–7 daysMeghalaya at a comfortable pace with time for the double-decker root bridge trek, or Meghalaya combined with Kaziranga.
See these trips →8–10 daysEnough to reach Tawang and back, cover Ziro and central Arunachal, or pair Meghalaya with Assam without a single rushed day.
See these trips →12–15 daysAssam, Meghalaya and Arunachal in one journey, or a Sikkim and Nagaland combination. For travellers with time who want the region, not a slice of it.
See these trips →| Months | Season | Weather | Good for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October – December | Peak | Clear skies, cool days, low rain | Everything. Best mountain visibility, Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, ideal for first trips. | Highest rates; book stays 2–3 months ahead |
| January – February | Winter | Cold, crisp, occasional snow at altitude | Assam wildlife, Sikkim and Tawang snow, quiet sightseeing without crowds. | Lower rates outside the New Year window |
| March – May | Peak | Warm days, rhododendrons in bloom, building humidity | Arunachal and Sikkim high passes reopening, Ziro, blossom season across the hills. | High rates, especially over school holidays |
| June – August | Monsoon | Heavy rain, cloud, landslide risk on mountain roads | Meghalaya waterfalls at full force, dramatic green landscapes, budget travel. | Lowest rates of the year — roughly 15% below peak |
| September | Shoulder | Rain easing, landscapes still green | Near-peak conditions without peak crowds or pricing. The value pick. | Baseline rates |
The single thing that catches travellers out. Permit fees are small — the deadline is what matters, because none of these can be arranged at the last minute.
Inner Line Permit (ILP)
All Indian nationals. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit.
Applied for online or through us, typically issued within a few days. We need your ID details well before departure — permits cannot be issued at the last minute.
Inner Line Permit (ILP)
All Indian nationals from outside the state.
Straightforward to arrange, but essential — you will be asked for it at entry checkposts.
Inner Line Permit (ILP)
All Indian nationals from outside the state.
Arranged in advance. Ask us for current conditions before planning.
Protected Area Permit for specific zones
Everyone visiting Nathu La, Tsomgo Lake, Gurudongmar and North Sikkim.
Zone permits are issued locally and can be affected by weather or border conditions on the day.
No permit needed
Indian nationals travel freely.
Carry original government photo ID regardless — hotels across the Northeast require it at check-in.
Per person for two people sharing, private vehicle, peak season, excluding flights — using Meghalaya as the reference. Other states scale from here: Assam runs a little lower, Arunachal noticeably higher.
| Trip length | Standard | Deluxe | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 days | ₹15,500 – ₹23,500 | ₹18,100 – ₹27,100 | ₹26,800 – ₹43,300 |
| 5 days | ₹19,700 – ₹29,800 | ₹23,000 – ₹34,500 | ₹34,500 – ₹55,600 |
| 6 days | ₹23,800 – ₹36,100 | ₹27,900 – ₹41,900 | ₹42,100 – ₹68,100 |
| 7 days | ₹27,900 – ₹42,300 | ₹32,800 – ₹49,300 | ₹49,800 – ₹80,400 |
| 10 days | ₹40,300 – ₹61,200 | ₹47,500 – ₹71,400 | ₹72,700 – ₹1,17,600 |
Meghalaya, for almost everyone. It has the region's most striking landscapes — living root bridges, the clear Umngot river at Dawki, and Cherrapunji's waterfalls — it needs no permit, and it is only a few hours from Guwahati airport. Assam pairs with it naturally if you want Kaziranga's rhinos as well.
Five to seven days covers one state properly. Eight to ten lets you reach Tawang in Arunachal or combine two states without rushing. Twelve to fifteen days covers Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal in a single journey. Anything under four days is really a long weekend in one place, which can still be worthwhile.
October to December is the strongest window overall — clear skies, cool weather and the best mountain visibility, plus the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland in early December. March to May is the other peak, when the high passes into Tawang and Sikkim reopen. September is the value pick: near-peak conditions at baseline rates.
It depends on the state. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur require an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals. Parts of Sikkim need a Protected Area Permit. Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura need no permit at all. We arrange permits for the states we operate in, but we need your ID details well in advance.
For two people sharing with Deluxe stays and a private vehicle, budget roughly ₹22,000–₹34,000 per person for a shorter Assam trip, ₹28,000–₹42,000 for a week in Meghalaya, and ₹38,000–₹58,000 for Arunachal, all excluding flights. Our trip cost calculator gives you a breakdown for your own dates and group size.
The tourist circuits across Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal and Nagaland are well travelled and generally safe, including for solo travellers and families. The real planning risks are practical rather than personal — mountain roads, monsoon landslides and permit deadlines. Conditions in a few states change from time to time, so ask us for a current read before you commit to dates.
Not comfortably. The distances are large and the roads are slow — attempting all eight in one trip means most days are spent driving. Two or three states over twelve to fifteen days gives a far better experience. Most travellers who fall for the region come back rather than trying to finish it in one go.
For most of the region, yes. Guwahati is the Northeast's main air hub and the natural starting point for Meghalaya, Assam and western Arunachal. Sikkim is usually reached via Bagdogra instead, and Nagaland via Dimapur.
Tell us your dates, roughly how long you have and what you enjoy, and we'll tell you honestly where to go — including when the answer is “wait for a better season.”
Northeast India travel specialists
Our team lives here. Lachit Nagar, Guwahati — not a call centre in another state.
We book the stays, vehicles and permits ourselves, so there's no middleman markup or broken telephone.
Licensed local drivers who know these mountain roads, in vehicles we've checked ourselves.
You get an itemised itinerary and price in writing before you pay anything.
Reachable 7 days a week, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm ist — and on call if something changes on the road.
Routes planned around your dates, pace and interests instead of a fixed template.
Booking terms, cancellation charges and refund timelines are published in full — read our terms before you pay.
