Anirban Guha
Head of Risk Analytics
BucketlistAlmost full
Bucketlist Roadtrip in Northeast India
An 8-night road trip through Northeast India's most underrated landscapes, from the living root bridges of Meghalaya to the one-horned rhinos of Kaziranga and the river monasteries of Majuli.
Kaziranga · Shillong · Sohra
Bucketlist Roadtrip in Northeast India
An 8-night road trip through Northeast India's most underrated landscapes, from the living root bridges of Meghalaya to the one-horned rhinos of Kaziranga and the river monasteries of Majuli. This is India as most people have never seen it.
Two states, four properties, one incredible road trip. We fly into Guwahati and drive up into the Khasi hills of Meghalaya, spending three nights in Sohra (Cherrapunji), where we hike to living root bridges grown by Khasi farmers over generations, explore limestone caves underground, and watch Nohkalikai Falls plunge into the mist. Then one night in Shillong, the rock capital of India, before crossing into Assam.
In Kaziranga, we wake before dawn for jeep safaris through grasslands that hold more one-horned rhinos than anywhere else on earth. Then we ferry across the Brahmaputra, one of the great rivers of Asia to Majuli Island, where neo-Vaishnavite monks have preserved classical Sattriya dance for 500 years, and where a Mising family will teach us to make Apong, their traditional rice wine.
This isn't a highlight reel. It's a slow, honest journey through two states that most Indians have never been to. Long drives with good playlists. Hikes that earn you your lunch. A crew that becomes a tribe by Day 3.
Highlights
Hike to centuries-old Living Root Bridges woven by the Khasi people
Day 2
Sunset at Nohkalikai, India’s tallest plunge waterfall
Day 3
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in Kaziranga - rhinos, elephants, tigers
Day 4
Explore Meghalaya’s underground on a caving expedition at Lymput
Day 2
Learn to make Apong rice wine with the Mising community on Majuli Island
Day 4
Classical dance performance at a 500-year-old Vaishnavite monastery
Day 8
Hands-on bamboo crafting workshop with Khasi artisans
Day 3
Free evening in Shillong, India’s Rock Capital, cafés, live music, nightlife
Day 3
✦ CROSS THINGS OFF YOUR BUCKETLIST ✦ ✦ CROSS THINGS OFF YOUR BUCKETLIST ✦
Experiences
8 nights in boutique properties (Sai Mika, Windermere, Habitas Rhino, Enchanting Majuli)
All ground transport in private Innovas (3-4 pax/vehicle) with drivers
Trip coordinator throughout
Fuel, tolls, parking, driver expenses, and ferry charges (Jorhat-Majuli both ways)
All airport transfers (Guwahati arrival, Jorhat departure)
8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners (welcome dinner Day 1, lunch Day 2 trailside, lunch Day 8, dinner Day 8)
Hike to Ummunoi Living Root Bridges with local guide
Boating at Shella riverside, bamboo crafting workshop at Mawyir, caving expedition at Lymput with gear
Two jeep safaris in Kaziranga with naturalist guide, Kohora Orchid Park cultural show
Uttar Kamalabari Satra visit with classical dance and music performance, Apong rice wine making and tasting with Mising community, entry tickets to all scheduled sightseeing points, local guides wherever needed
Ferry charges (Jorhat <> Majuli, both ways)
The Gameplan
DAY 01
Into the Clouds
The name “Meghalaya” literally means “abode of clouds” and from the moment you land in Guwahati, the drive north tells you why. We meet at the airport by 11 AM, bundle into Innovas, and head for the hills. First stop is Nongpoh for a proper lunch pit stop, then Umiam Lake where the Khasi hills start folding in around you and you’ll want to just stand at the viewpoint with a cup of chai for a bit. If the light’s still good, we swing into Laitmawsiang the Garden of Caves for a quick walk-through mossy rock formations that look like they belong in a fantasy novel. By evening we roll into Sai Mika Resort in Sohra (yes, Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on earth), check in, crack open the welcome dinner, and let the clouds do their thing outside the window.
DAY 02
Where the Trees Build Bridges
Big day. We drive down toward Shella, the border town that looks across the river into Bangladesh - the landscape here shifts from hills to wide, lazy rivers, and the air gets thicker. Spend the morning by the riverbank: boat ride, swim, or just lie on the warm stones and zone out. Lunch happens trailside. Then comes the main event - a hike to the Ummunoi Living Root Bridge. These aren’t built, they’re grown. Khasi farmers have been training the aerial roots of rubber fig trees across rivers for generations. It’s a 3–3.5 hour round-trip hike, moderate but real, with slippery stone steps and a jungle canopy overhead. We drive back to Sai Mika by evening.
DAY 03
Waterfalls & Wisdom
Sohra in October is waterfall country. We start with a short hike to Rangsokham Falls, less crowded than the famous ones, more beautiful than most people realize. Afternoon we slow things down with a bamboo crafting workshop at Mawyir - hands-on, guided by local artisans who’ve been working bamboo for decades. You’ll leave with something you made. Evening: sunset at Nohkalikai Falls, one of the tallest plunge waterfalls in India. If you want, there’s an optional Khasi Highland Cheese & Wine tasting table set up for the view. (Not included, a treat-yourself add-on.) Dinner back at the resort or at a café in Sohra town.
DAY 04
Underground First, Cafes After
Morning starts underground. We drive to Lymput for a caving expedition, proper helmets, headlamps, a bit of crawling, tight squeezes, the works. It’s the kind of thing you’ll be telling people about for months. Scrub off the cave mud, grab breakfast, then it’s a scenic 2.5-3 hour drive to Shillong, the so-called “Scotland of the East." Check into Windermere in the late afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours. Shillong has the best cafe scene in Northeast India, a live music culture that built itself on rock, blues, and jazz, and enough bars to keep everyone happy. Wander Police Bazaar, grab dinner somewhere random, find a pub with a band on.
DAY 05
Enter the Wild!
Long drive day, 5.5–6 hours from Shillong to Kaziranga. The terrain shifts completely: from pine hills to tea estates to the wide floodplains of the Brahmaputra. We’ll break the drive with stops. Arrive at Habitas Rhino by late afternoon. This is where the trip shifts into a different gear, the property sits on the edge of one of India’s most iconic national parks, and the vibe is all slow-living, jungle sounds, open sky. Walk the property, settle in, and then we head to Kohora Orchid Park in the evening for a cultural show with local tribal music and dance - a good warm-up for the safari days ahead.
DAY 06
Jeeps & Rhinos
Two safaris. One day. This is the day you came for. Alarm’s early, we’re out for the dawn jeep safari, when Kaziranga is at its most alive. You’re looking for one-horned rhinos (there are more here than anywhere else on earth), wild water buffalo, swamp deer, and if you’re lucky, a glimpse of a tiger. Our naturalist will read the landscape for you. Back for breakfast, some pool time, maybe a nap. Afternoon safari goes out again - different zone, different light, different animals out feeding.
DAY 07
Cross the Brahmaputra
We pack up and drive to Nemati Ghat, where the ferry to Majuli is waiting. The crossing itself is the experience - loaded cars, bikes, people, livestock, and you on the upper deck watching one of the world’s great rivers stretch out in every direction. Majuli is the world’s largest river island, home to neo-Vaishnavite monasteries (satras) that have been running since the 1500s. The whole place moves differently. Slower. Older. We check into Enchanting Majuli, and if the weather and light cooperate, we’ll catch sunset from the riverside - the Brahmaputra at dusk is unforgettable.
DAY 08
Monks, Dances, Rice Wine
This is the cultural heart of the trip. We start at Uttar Kamalabari Satra, one of Majuli’s most important monasteries, where celibate monks have preserved Sattriya classical dance and music for over 400 years. You’ll sit in on a performance - their living tradition. Lunch, then we drive to Jengraimukh village for a Missing community experience. The Missing are one of the main tribes of the island, and today you’ll get hands-on with Apong - their traditional rice wine made and tasted with a family who’s been doing this for generations. Afternoon opens up into cultural interaction and storytelling with local artisans. A slow, unhurried afternoon that you rarely get on a structured trip. Return to the stay for dinner together, last proper night of the trip.
DAY 09
The Last Ferry
One last ferry. We board late morning from Majuli ghat, cross back to the mainland, and drive ~2 hours to Jorhat Airport. Somewhere on that ferry you’ll realise the trip’s actually ending - which is the right moment to trade numbers and Instagram handles with your tribe before you scatter back to your cities. Departure from Jorhat.
Already in the room
The executive chairman of Wissen Infotech felt the timing was right, so did the head of Data & AI at Mercedes-Benz navigating a season shift, and the head of risk analytics at Aditya Birla Capital. You'll also meet a skincare brand co-founder who loves fashion and wholesome cooking, a film producer ready to expand his world, a senior manager curating customer experience at Nestlé, an analyst chasing creative inspiration, and others spanning tech, finance, creative, and equity trading.
This is Aarthi's roadtrip edition through Northeast India, and it's now full. Fourteen people who said yes to mountain highways, unplanned detours, and the kind of loud laughter that only happens when you're crammed in a car with strangers who get it. You'll leave with stories you can't rehearse and friends you didn't expect.
Akhil
HoD at Mercedes
Subhakar Kurly
Executive Chairman
Stays
Sai Mika Resort
Perched in the Khasi hills overlooking the plateau, the property is the destination, not a base for walking out to cafes. Nearest village is a short drive. You’ll be here for the silence, the clouds rolling through, and the stone cottages.
Open map
Windermere Resort, Shillong
Tucked into the pine-covered outskirts of Shillong, 15–20 min from Police Bazaar and the cafe/music scene. Scottish-hill-station vibes — cooler, quieter, less chaotic than central Shillong. We’ll drive in for the evening out.
Open map
Habitas Rhino, Kaziranga
Sits on the edge of Kaziranga National Park in traditional-style cottages. You’re deep in tea-country-meets-grassland territory — no town walking, no nearby cafes.
Open map
Enchanting Majuli Resort
Majuli is the world’s largest river island — the whole island runs on its own rhythm, cycle-rickshaws, dirt roads, neo-Vaishnavite monasteries. The resort is your base for visits to satras and Mising villages. Don’t expect urban conveniences.
Open mapFee & inclusions
Included
- Once in a lifetime Adventure
- Invites max 14 Curated People
- Handpicked Inclusive Experiences
- 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- Gorgeous Airbnbs & 4-star Hotels
- Modes of Transport None
- Stay in twin-shared rooms
- Vibe facilitator with you throughout the experience
Not included
- Flights to Guwahati (in) and from Jorhat (out)
- Travel insurance
- Most lunches and dinners (12 out of 16 meals)
- Alcohol and soft drinks (beyond included tastings)
- Optional elephant safari
- Optional Khasi Highland Cheese Wine tasting
- Tips
- Personal shopping
- Anything not explicitly listed in “What’s Included”
₹1,09,000
14 people
2 payments · next ₹23,368
Payment 1 (20%) · 25 Jul 2026₹23,368
Payment 2 (80%) · 3 Aug 2026₹93,471
Notes for you
Every edition is curated to 14–17 people across professions, cities, and stages of life — never 14 from the same industry. Once you confirm, you get an anonymized cohort snapshot covering roles, cities, and why each person is coming. The full WhatsApp group goes live around 30 days before departure. Median age is typically 28–38; gender ratio targets 50:50 within applicant-pool constraints. If a destination skews younger or older, the edition page says so.
Stays, on-ground transfers, curated experiences, breakfast and one other meal a day, and the host being with you for the whole edition. Not included: flights, visa fees, alcohol, and meals on free evenings. The exact inclusions/exclusions split is in the two-column section on each edition page. No surprise add-ons at checkout.
Cancellation outcomes depend on your edition's category and how close you are to departure. In the early window you receive 90% as ExCo Wallet credit (or 80% as a bank transfer if you've paid ₹50,000+); in the late window 50% wallet (or 40% bank). A flat ₹7,000 administration fee applies. ExCo Wallet credit is valid at full value for 12 months and is transferable to a friend or family member once. Wallet credit cannot be converted to cash. Insurance premiums and third-party costs already incurred remain non-refundable.
A 10% deposit at booking locks your spot — this applies across all edition categories (Visa-Heavy, Mid-Adventure, and Easy-Visa / Domestic). The remaining balance is split into scheduled payments based on the category's payment timeline, with the final payment due before the edition's cut-off. The exact schedule is shown above the deposit button on each edition page. You can pay by UPI, bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.
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.
We're not picking the “best” applicants — we're building a room that works. Range across professions, life stages, and intent matters more than credentials. We read every application. The lens is simple: would this person make the group better, and would the group make this person's edition better.
Yes — both of you go through the same curation flow. The group balance matters more than the headcount, so we apply the same lens to your plus-one. Often both get in. Sometimes only one of you is the right fit for that specific edition, in which case we'll recommend a different edition for the other. Spot transfers between friends or family aren't allowed directly — the original booking has to be cancelled first, and any wallet credit can then be used toward a new booking.
Edition dates are fixed — the host, the cohort, and the on-ground vendors are all locked. Edition transfers are not permitted directly. If your plans change, you'll need to cancel your current booking and use any eligible ExCo Wallet credit toward a new booking. The credit is valid at full value for 12 months.
The number on the edition page is the all-in program fee for what's included — stays, on-ground transfers, curated experiences, breakfast and one other meal a day, and the host. Flights, visa fees, alcohol, and meals on free evenings are excluded. GST applies where relevant; checkout shows the final number. Editions priced in USD/EUR/JPY may convert at the prevailing rate when each scheduled payment is processed; once a payment has been processed it isn't retrospectively adjusted.
If you've confirmed for your edition and applied for your visa but are still waiting on results, you can make a partial payment of 30% and settle the balance once the visa is approved. If the visa is rejected, ExCo deducts 20% of the amount paid and the rest is credited to a future edition. If your visa status remains uncertain 31 days before the edition, you can either reschedule to a future edition free of charge, or hold your spot — in which case the 50% advance becomes non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
A prior rejection (US, UK, Schengen, or otherwise) doesn't automatically disqualify you, but it does mean we'll spend more time on documentation. Flag it during the application — our visa team has a separate intake for travellers with prior rejections so you get an honest read on your odds before you commit financially. Note: passports must remain valid for at least six months beyond the end of the edition.
About 70% of every edition comes solo. By the second dinner, no one remembers who arrived knowing whom. The whole format — shared villa, shared transport, anchor experiences — is built so groups form fast and naturally.