Bucketlist Roadtrip in Northeast India

Across the 12 months ending 29 July 2026, our travelled groups were close to balanced, with about 55% women and 44% men. The median traveller was 34 and the median group had 9 people. That is a historical snapshot, not a promise about the mix on a specific edition.

We design each edition around the destination rather than using a standard tour template. The usual rhythm is one or two experiences a day, with room to take the place in instead of rushing through a checklist.

Yes. Anyone aged 18 or older can apply. Our groups often skew from the late 20s to early 40s, but fit, energy and the experience itself matter more than fitting a narrow age band.

Yes. You can apply solo or with someone you know.

Slow, scenic, honest. This is a road trip through two states that most Indians have never been to. Expect long drives with good playlists, hikes that earn you your lunch, rhinos at dawn, monks at sunset, and a crew that becomes a tribe by Day 3. No hard-partying, no hustle — just a good, proper, curious trip through one of India's most underrated regions.

Shillong has bike rentals if you want to explore on Day 4 evening. Majuli has cycle rentals on the island. Beyond that, we stick to our Innovas — rural Meghalaya and Assam roads aren't great for solo riders unfamiliar with terrain.

October is post-monsoon — rain is possible but usually not torrential, especially in Assam. Meghalaya is wetter by nature. Activities adjust but rarely cancel — hikes happen in light rain, safaris have covered jeeps, cave expeditions are indoors anyway. Bring waterproofs and roll with it.

8–16 people. Most ExCo BCX trips skew 25–40 in age, but we've had travellers from 22 to 55 — the vibe is curious, open, up-for-anything.

Yes. Most people add a night in Guwahati before or Jorhat after. If you're flexible, adding a couple of days in Shillong or Kaziranga is also beautiful.

Evenings in Sohra (Day 1, 3), the full Shillong evening (Day 4), and pockets of afternoon downtime in Kaziranga and Majuli. The schedule is full but not packed — you'll have moments to journal, nap, wander.

Fly out of Jorhat (JRH) after 5 PM on October 10. Jorhat has limited flights — mostly routed via Kolkata or Guwahati — so book early. If your flight out of Jorhat isn't convenient, you can add a night in Jorhat or Guwahati.

Four boutique properties — Sai Mika (hill eco-resort in Sohra), Windermere (pine-surrounded in Shillong), Habitas Rhino (luxury eco-lodge in Kaziranga), Enchanting Majuli (island resort).

Doable but you'll have to advocate for it. Dairy is heavily used (butter in dal, ghee in rotis, curd everywhere). Plan to eat a lot of rice, dal, and stir-fried veg. The Apong rice-wine tasting on Day 8 is accidentally vegan, which is a plus.

Yes. Veg is the default in most Indian kitchens, and both Assamese and Khasi cuisines handle it well. Shillong has a great cafe scene with pan-Asian and continental options too. Just flag veg when ordering — occasional regional stews use fish or meat-based broths.

A waterproof jacket is non-negotiable (this is Meghalaya, it rains at any notice). Broken-in trail shoes, flip-flops for downtime, layers for Shillong evenings, swimwear for Shella riverside, insect repellent for Kaziranga and Majuli, a power bank, and a small daypack. Full list above in Weather & Packing.

Moderate fitness. If you can comfortably do a 2-hour walk or 4–5 flights of stairs without stopping, you're set. The caving expedition (Day 4) involves crouching and crawling through tight spots, and the root bridge hike is a proper trek — but nothing requires athlete-level fitness.

Nope. If you hike occasionally or do reasonable walks, you'll be fine. The root bridge hike (Day 2) is the longest at 3–3.5 hours round trip, with some steep and slippery stone steps — so decent knees and broken-in shoes matter more than experience.