India's largest monastery
Tawang Monastery
Galden Namgey Lhatse, founded in 1680–81, above the town at about 10,000 ft.
Best for: The headline sightRead the guide
Tawang tour packages
Over Sela Pass to the monastery at 10,000 ft
Bomdila, Dirang's hot springs, a frozen lake at 13,700 ft and India's largest monastery. Private Tawang trips from Guwahati or Tezpur with a mountain driver, the ILP filed for every traveller, and days paced for the altitude.
- Curated journeys
- 4
- Places to pair
- 6
- From, per adult
- ₹19,999
- Planner on WhatsApp
- 24×7
Why travel with Breeziah
Arunachal rewards careful planning. We handle the permits, pace the altitude, and pick drivers who've crossed Sela Pass more times than they can count.
Permits handled
Inner Line Permits for every traveller, and the Bumla permit in Tawang when it's open.
Paced for altitude
Routes built so you sleep lower before going high, with spare time for the weather.
Mountain-hardened drivers
A private SUV with a local driver who knows every switchback between Bhalukpong and Tawang.
Tawang
Inside the largest monastery in India
Where you'll go
The Tawang circuit
The road climbs from the Assam plains through Bomdila and Dirang, crosses Sela Pass and drops into Tawang. Bumla and the high lakes are day trips from there.
13,700 ft
Sela Pass
The frozen lake at the top, prayer flags and snow, on the only road into Tawang.
Best for: Snow, viewsRead the guide
The high lake
Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake
Still water ringed by dead trees and peaks, on the road to Bumla.
Best for: PhotographersRead the guide
Below Sela
Nuranang Falls
A 100-metre fall near Jang on the descent into Tawang.
Best for: A stop on the driveRead the guide
The valley stop
Dirang
Hot springs, an old dzong and orchards: the last easy night before Sela.
Best for: Breaking the journeyRead the guide
First night in the hills
Bomdila
A monastery and the first big views on the way up from the plains.
Best for: Breaking the journeyRead the guide
Curated journeys
Tawang journeys we run
Every one runs privately on your dates, from Guwahati or Dibrugarh. Prices are per adult on twin sharing, permits arranged.
7D/6NSignature journey
Starts in Guwahati · Ends in Guwahati
Majestic Tawang Himalayan Escape – 7 Days of Monasteries, Lakes & Passes
- Scenic drive from Guwahati to Bhalukpong, the gateway to Arunachal Pradesh
- Explore waterfalls like Lumum, Navika & the spectacular Nuranang Falls
From, per adult₹19,999
View journey
10D/9N
Starts in Guwahati · Ends in Guwahati
Best of Northeast India – 10 Days: Shillong, Cherrapunji, Kaziranga & Tawang
- Three states in one trip: Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
From, per adult₹32,999
View journey6D/5N
Starts in Guwahati · Ends in Guwahati
Tawang & Dirang Couple Escape – 6 Days in the Snow Mountains
- Cross Sela Pass at 13,700 ft, open all year since the Sela Tunnel opened
From, per adult₹22,999
View journey
6D/5N12 Dec 2026
Starts in Guwahati · Ends in Guwahati
Tawang Snow Group Trip – 6 Days to Sela Pass, Bumla Pass & Madhuri Lake
- Winter group departures from December to March, when Sela Pass and Bumla are usually under snow
From, per adult₹19,999
View journeySample routes
Tawang itineraries, day by day
Pick a trip length to see the route, the drive times and where you sleep each night. Every route can be changed around your dates.
Tawang, the classic route
Guwahati to Tawang and back over the Sela Pass. The state's headline trip, and the shortest sensible version of it.
A long first day out of Assam and into the foothills, crossing into Arunachal at Bhalukpong where permits are checked.
A shorter, gentler day. Bomdila monastery and viewpoint, then down into the Dirang valley for hot springs and the old dzong.
The big one. Sela Pass at 13,700 ft, the frozen lake at the top, Jaswant Garh war memorial and Nuranang Falls on the descent into Tawang.
Tawang Monastery, the war memorial, Urgelling Gompa and the Craft Centre — with the altitude taken into account on your first full day up here.
A day trip to Bumla Pass on the Indo-China border (a separate permit is required and is weather-dependent), or the Sangetsar and Pankang Teng Tso lakes.
Back over Sela, stopping where the light is better than it was on the way up.
The long descent back to the plains and Guwahati airport. Take an evening flight, not an afternoon one.
A starting point, not a fixed product — we rebuild this around your dates, pace and stay category. Drive times are approximate and depend on road and weather conditions.
Tawang without the long days
The same route with the two brutal driving days broken up, plus a night at Bhalukpong or Tenga. Strongly recommended for families and anyone prone to car sickness.
A manageable first day into the foothills, on the Assam–Arunachal border by the Kameng river.
The climb proper begins — Tipi orchid centre, Tenga valley, then Bomdila.
Short hop with time for the dzong, the hot springs and the yak research centre.
Over Sela into Tawang, a full sightseeing day, and a day for Bumla Pass or the high lakes.
The descent split across two nights instead of one, which makes the whole trip far more pleasant.
An easy final morning back to the airport.
A starting point, not a fixed product — we rebuild this around your dates, pace and stay category. Drive times are approximate and depend on road and weather conditions.
Signature moments
The moments that make the long road worth it
Built into our routes, with spare time for the mountain weather.
13,700 ft
Over Sela Pass
The frozen lake at the top, prayer flags snapping in the wind, then down past Jaswant Garh into Tawang.
Jang, below Sela
Nuranang Falls
A 100-metre fall in a pine valley on the descent into Tawang.
15,200 ft
To the border at Bumla
A day on the Indo-China border with the Army, when the weather and the permit allow.
Above Tawang
The high lakes
Sangetsar and Pankang Teng Tso, still water ringed by peaks at over 12,000 ft.
Where you'll stay
The warmest stays in the mountains
Hotels in Tawang and Dirang are simple by city standards. We choose the best-run, warmest ones and name each in your plan.
The best hotels on the circuit
Signature
- The best-rated hotels in Bomdila, Dirang and Tawang
- Heated rooms and hot water, checked season by season
- Rooms facing the monastery or the valley where possible
Our standard for every Arunachal trip
Rooms with the Himalaya outside
Mountain view
- Our pick of the rooms with the best views in each town
- Quieter properties away from Tawang's main market
- Orchard and farm stays around Dirang
Limited in number, so we confirm them early in March–May and October
Homestays with tribal families
Village
- Apatani homestays in Ziro's villages
- Family-run guesthouses in Mechuka and Dong
- Home-cooked food and a real sense of place
Paired with a hotel night on either side
Honest note: Arunachal has no luxury hotels yet. What we add is planning, timing and the right rooms in each town.
What it costs
What a Tawang trip costs
Per person for two sharing, private vehicle, peak season, excluding flights.
| Trip length | Standard | Deluxe | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 days | ₹17,500 – ₹26,600 | ₹20,300 – ₹30,600 | ₹30,100 – ₹48,500 |
| 5 days | ₹22,100 – ₹33,600 | ₹25,800 – ₹38,800 | ₹38,600 – ₹62,300 |
| 6 days | ₹26,800 – ₹40,600 | ₹31,300 – ₹47,000 | ₹47,100 – ₹76,100 |
| 7 days | ₹31,400 – ₹47,600 | ₹36,800 – ₹55,200 | ₹55,700 – ₹89,900 |
| 10 days | ₹45,300 – ₹68,500 | ₹53,300 – ₹79,900 | ₹81,300 – ₹1,31,300 |
How it works
From first message to last drop
- 1
Tell us how you like to travel
Dates, who's coming and how comfortable you are with long drives and altitude. We'll suggest the right length of trip.
- 2
Send ID, we arrange the permits
A day-by-day plan with honest drive times and named hotels, then Inner Line Permits for every traveller before you leave.
- 3
Travel with a mountain driver
A private SUV from Guwahati and back, early starts for daylight driving, and our team on WhatsApp throughout.
When to go
The Arunachal year
March – May
BestSela Pass is reliably open, rhododendrons are in bloom across the Tawang road, and the valleys are green. The strongest window overall.
September – November
BestPost-monsoon clarity, the best mountain views of the year, and stable roads. October and November are excellent for Ziro and Tawang alike.
December – February
MixedSnow at Sela and Tawang, which is the draw — but the pass closes without warning and can strand you for a day or more. Only with flexible dates.
June – August
AvoidMonsoon. Landslides regularly close the Tawang road for extended periods, and the mountain views you came for are behind cloud. We generally advise against it.
Honest drive times
Guwahati → Bhalukpong
5–6 hrs
Bhalukpong → Bomdila
4–5 hrs
Bomdila → Dirang
2–3 hrs
Dirang → Tawang via Sela Pass
6–7 hrs
Tezpur → Tawang
10–12 hrs, usually split
Tawang → Bumla and back
5–6 hrs
Before you go
Permits, getting there and what to know
Inner Line Permit required
Every Indian national from outside the state needs an Inner Line Permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh, and it is checked at the Bhalukpong and other entry gates. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit instead. We arrange permits for the routes we run, but we need scanned government photo ID for every traveller well ahead of departure — permits cannot be issued at the gate, and a missing permit means the trip stops at the border. Bumla Pass requires an additional permit issued in Tawang, subject to weather and military clearance on the day.
Getting there
- By air
- Guwahati (GAU) is the practical gateway for the Tawang circuit — everything from there is by road. Donyi Polo airport at Itanagar (HGI) is the better arrival point for Ziro and the central circuit.
- By train
- Guwahati for the western circuit; Naharlagun, near Itanagar, is the closest railhead for Ziro and has a direct connection to Guwahati and Delhi.
- By road
- Everything in Arunachal is a long drive — Guwahati to Tawang is two days each way. Roads are mountain roads: 150 km can take six hours. Plan around that rather than fighting it.
Know before you go
- Altitude is real here. Tawang is at roughly 10,000 ft and Sela Pass at 13,700 ft — take the first day in Tawang gently and drink more water than feels necessary.
- Sela Pass can close at short notice in winter. Build a spare day into any December–February trip.
- Fuel stops are far apart and daylight is short. Drivers start early for good reason — a 6am departure is normal, not excessive.
- Cash is essential. ATMs are sparse beyond Bomdila and frequently out of service.
- Mobile coverage is limited and often only on one network. Tell people at home you may be out of contact for a day at a time.
- Bumla Pass is never guaranteed. It depends on weather and military clearance on the day, and no operator can promise it.
- Accommodation is simpler than in Meghalaya. Even the best properties in Tawang and Dirang are modest by city standards — that is the trade for where you are.
Questions
Tawang travel questions
Anything else, ask us on WhatsApp. A person answers, usually within minutes.
How many days do I need for Tawang?
Seven days from Guwahati is the shortest sensible trip: two days up via Bomdila and Dirang, two or three in Tawang, and two down. Eight or nine days breaks up the long driving days and is better for families.
Do I need a permit for Tawang?
Yes. Indian travellers need an Arunachal Inner Line Permit, which we file online for every traveller. Bumla needs a separate permit issued in Tawang, when the pass is open. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit and cannot visit Bumla.
What is the best time to visit Tawang?
March to May and October to November for clear roads and views. December to February brings snow at Sela Pass and in Tawang, but the pass can close for a day or two after heavy snowfall.
Is the road to Tawang safe?
The road via Sela Pass is driven daily all year, and the Sela tunnel now avoids the highest stretch when open. We drive in daylight only, with drivers who know the route, and keep spare time for weather.
Should I start from Guwahati or Tezpur?
Guwahati has far more flights and trains. Tezpur is closer to the hills and saves a few hours if you can fly or reach there easily. We run Tawang trips from both.
What's included in a Tawang package?
A private SUV with a mountain driver from Guwahati or Tezpur and back, hotels with breakfast, the Arunachal ILP, fuel, tolls and driver allowances. The Bumla permit and entry fees are arranged on the spot.
Your trip, planned around you
Send us your dates. We'll handle the ILP and the road over Sela.
A day-by-day plan with honest drive times, named hotels and an itemised price, usually the same day.
Photo credits
Photo: Dr. Ondřej Havelka / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons images are used under their Creative Commons licences; see each file on commons.wikimedia.org.
Attractions on a Tawang trip
Tawang Monastery
Tawang Monastery, Galden Namgey Lhatse, is India's largest monastery, founded in 1680–81 on a ridge at about 10,000 ft. It's the reason most people make the drive over Sela Pass.
Sela Pass
Sela Pass crosses the range between Dirang and Tawang at about 13,700 ft, beside a sacred lake that freezes in winter. Since the Sela Tunnel opened in 2024 you can skip it, but most travellers still drive over. Here's why and when.
Sangetsar (Madhuri) Lake
Sangetsar, nicknamed Madhuri Lake after a 1990s film shoot, is a high lake on the road to Bumla with dead tree trunks standing in the water. It's visited on the Bumla day from Tawang.
Bum La Pass
Bum La is the India–China border pass 37 km above Tawang, at about 15,200 ft, where the 1962 war began in this sector and where border meetings are still held. Visiting needs a special permit from the DC's office and the army.
Nuranang (Jang) Falls
Nuranang, or Jang Falls, is a 100-metre waterfall near Jang on the road down from Sela Pass to Tawang. It's a short detour and free to visit.
Jaswant Garh War Memorial
Jaswant Garh honours Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who held off the Chinese advance near Nuranang in November 1962. The army still keeps his room, and serves free tea to travellers on the Tawang road.
Tawang War Memorial
Tawang War Memorial is a stupa-shaped memorial in town to the soldiers who died defending this sector in 1962, with their names in gold and an evening light and sound show.
Bomdila Monastery
Bomdila Monastery, Gontse Gaden Rabgye Ling, was founded in 1965 as a replica of the Tsona Gontse monastery in Tibet. It's the natural first stop on the road to Tawang, with views over the Kameng hills.