Meghalaya · Family Traveler · 5 Days
Shillong, Cherrapunji & Dawki Tour
Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki, Mawlynnong
1 / 4Overview
This Shillong, Cherrapunji and Dawki tour package is the classic 4-night Meghalaya trip from Guwahati, with a private car and driver throughout. You'll see Nohkalikai and Seven Sisters Falls and the Mawsmai cave in Cherrapunji (Sohra), go boating on the clear Umngot river at Dawki, walk through Mawlynnong village, and explore Shillong's viewpoints and Police Bazaar.
The Shillong, Cherrapunji & Dawki Tour is a 5 days river & Water Activities journey through Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki, Mawlynnong in Meghalaya. Thoughtfully paced for 2-12 travelers, it brings together nohkalikai & Seven Sisters Falls, Dawki's crystal Umngot River and Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village.
Over 5 days, you travel at a relaxed, unhurried pace with hand-picked stays, a private vehicle, and an experienced local driver who knows the routes and the seasons. Nights are spent in shillong hotels and Twin-sharing rooms, so you rest well between days on the road.
The ideal window to travel is Oct-Apr (monsoon for waterfalls), when the weather and views are at their best. No ILP needed for Meghalaya. Dawki boating depends on river clarity (best in winter and after the monsoon).
- Nohkalikai & Seven Sisters Falls
- Dawki's crystal Umngot River
- Mawlynnong, Asia's cleanest village
Day by day
Day 1
Guwahati to Shillong
Guwahati → Umiam Lake → Shillong · approx. 100 km, 3 hrs
We pick you up in Guwahati and drive up into the Khasi Hills. You stop at Umiam Lake, a wide blue reservoir about 15 km short of Shillong. After check-in, spend the evening at Police Bazaar, Shillong's busy shopping street.
Meals: DinnerStay: ShillongDay 2
Cherrapunji (Sohra)
Shillong → Sohra and back · approx. 55 km each way, 1.5–2 hrs
A full day in Sohra (Cherrapunji). You see Nohkalikai Falls, India's tallest plunge waterfall, and the Seven Sisters Falls, which are at their best in and just after the monsoon. You walk through Mawsmai Cave, which has lighting inside, and Arwah Cave, known for its fossils, and finish at the Eco Park looking towards Bangladesh.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerStay: ShillongDay 3
Dawki & Mawlynnong
Shillong → Dawki → Mawlynnong → Shillong · approx. 190 km round trip
An early start for Dawki, on the Bangladesh border, where you can take an optional boat ride on the Umngot River (paid locally); from November to April the water is clear enough to see the stones on the riverbed. You then visit Mawlynnong village, known for being spotless, and walk down to the Riwai living root bridge, a short and easy walk.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerStay: ShillongDay 4
Shillong sightseeing
Local sightseeing around Shillong
You see Elephant Falls just outside the city, then Ward's Lake and the Don Bosco Museum, which has seven floors on the cultures of the Northeast. Shillong Peak, the highest point in the area, is inside an Air Force area, so entry depends on the day's rules. In the late afternoon you drive to Laitlum Canyons for wide views over the gorges as the sun goes down.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerStay: ShillongDay 5
Departure
Shillong → Guwahati airport · approx. 120 km, 3–3.5 hrs
After breakfast you drive back down to Guwahati airport or station for your onward journey. For a flight before noon, you'll need to leave Shillong very early.
Meals: Breakfast
What's included
Included
- Hotels (twin sharing)
- Breakfast and dinner
- Private vehicle & transfers
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
Not included
- Airfare/train fare
- Lunches
- Boating, entry & camera fees
- Personal expenses
Stays & permits
Where you sleep
- Shillong
- Nights 1, 2, 3 & 4
- Shillong hotels
- Twin-sharing rooms
Permits & travel notes
No ILP needed for Meghalaya. Dawki boating depends on river clarity (best in winter and after the monsoon).
Questions people ask
Is this a private car tour of Meghalaya with a driver?
Yes. A private vehicle and driver are included for the whole trip, from your Guwahati pickup to the final drop.
How far is Dawki from Shillong?
Dawki is roughly 80 km from Shillong, about 2.5–3 hours by road. We combine it with Mawlynnong and the Riwai root bridge in one day.
When is the Umngot river at Dawki clearest?
From about November to April. During and just after the monsoon the water turns muddy, and boating can stop on high-water days.
Where does this Meghalaya tour start?
It starts in Guwahati, with a pickup at the airport or railway station; Shillong is about 3 hours away by road. You can fly or take a train to Guwahati from most Indian cities.