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12 Days
Availability : October - April
Kolkata/ Guwahati
Max People : 15

The Folk Tales of Meghalaya

Experiences with the Khasi tribe
The Folk Tales of Meghalaya Title Image
What to Expect

Meghalaya is a tiny state in North East India. It is the land of the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes each having its own cuisine, textile patterns, festivals, and traditional building styles.

On this tour, you get to spend time with the Khasi community, getting to know their folk tales and possibly participating in some of their festivals.

  • Live with the indigenous Khasi people in their traditional houses.
  • Taste local cuisine and spices sourced fresh from the forest.
  • Hands on experience with the weavers.
  • Hiking to remote living root bridges.
  • Participate in traditional dances and songs with the community.
  • Seasonal birding experience.

Recommended Airport(s)

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, Guwahati

Inclusions

  • Accommodations on twin sharing basis.
  • Breakfast & one major meal.
  • Private car (including toll and parking fee).
  • Airport/ railway station transfers.
  • Fee of the storyteller and all activities.
  • Taxes applicable.

Exclusions

  • Entry tickets wherever applicable.
  • International & domestic flights/ trains.
  • Storyteller gratuity.
  • Anything else not mentioned in the inclusions.
Photos
Itinerary

Day 1 & 2Arrive in Shillong + City tour

We will meet you either at Guwahati or Shillong airport with a warm welcome to our beloved land. We then drive to Shillong city with a brief meal break. We recommend that you spend the first day taking a meandering evening walk through Shillong’s charming streets and get acquainted with the city and us over dinner.

Shillong is well known for its cozy cafes and music culture. We spend the next day visiting some of these along with farmer markets and the museum of indigenous arts and culture of the tribes. Do expect some surprise visits to quaint restaurants serving local cuisine of the North East if the time permits.

Travel medium: Private car/ walking | Difficulty: Easy

Day 3 & 4Sacred groves + Village life

Your stay for the next few days is with a charming Khasi family. During your stay, you will witness beautiful grasslands, farms, and village life. We do recommend morning walks to nearby pine forests and potato farms as the locals prepare for their morning chores before you return for a hearty homemade breakfast.

We go for guided tours of the Khasi sacred forests and day tours of Sohra. En-route, we visit some stunning waterfalls that are on non-touristy trails. Depending on the season, you can extend the number of days here and opt for birding experiences.

Travel medium: Private car/ walking | Difficulty: Easy

Day 5David Scott's trail

For those who want to get off the human habitat and in the midst of the wilderness, we do a guided walk of David Scott’s trail. It is a transport route of the British era named after the administrator who operated in this region.

The trail meanders up and down through fern forests, streams, and an occasional sparsely populated village. Cross the valleys over steel hanging bridges and old stone arch bridges as we narrate stories of how the local community and British influenced each other culturally. This is a great experience for nature lovers interested in ferns, butterflies, and in seeing a glimpse of life before the roads were laid.

Travel medium: Walking | Difficulty: Medium

Day 6 & 7Hiking to the living root bridges

Living root bridges are perhaps the most beautiful marvels of Meghalaya. The indigenous people built bridges to cross rivers and valleys by entwining the roots of rubber trees patiently and lovingly. Over the years, the roots grew bigger and stronger making the bridge stronger with time.

During the next two days, we visit 2-3 such living root bridges as we hike through the dense forests and stay with local families. We also share and show you how the tribes depend on the forests for their food and spices.

Travel medium: Private car/ walking | Difficulty: Medium

Day 8 & 9Experiences with the animist Khasi community

A sizeable population in Meghalaya follows their ancient Donyi-Polo practices which involve worshiping the energies of the sun and the moon along with other elements of nature. Over the next few days, we go off-grid and stay with a community in their traditional houses. Khasi traditional houses are made of wood, bamboo, and straw and usually have a fireplace in the middle of the house to cook food and to keep warm. The houses you stay in will be hygienic and comfortable while still maintaining their indigenous characteristics.

This experience is best done by getting involved in the daily activities of the locals such as seasonal farming, beekeeping, honey harvesting, and even witnessing how a living root bridge is made.

Travel medium: Private car/ walking | Difficulty: Easy

Day 10 & 11Cullinary and weaving experiences

We spend the next two days seeing and possibly participating in the weaving activities with the Khasi community. Hop from one village to the other to see and learn about the whole life-cycle of weaving from a yarn.

End the tour with a generous spread of Khasi dishes cooked over a woodfire and sourced directly from the farms and forest.

Travel medium: Private car/ walking | Difficulty: Easy

Day 12Departure

Having collected beautiful memories, say goodbye to Meghalaya as we complete the tour. Drive back to Guwahati or Shillong airport for onward journey.

Sustainable Travel
  • 100% plastic-free tour. We provide safe and healthy alternatives to plastic plates, packaged items, and bottles.
  • The fee is paid directly to the homestay owners and self help groups we work with.
  • Locally sourced raw material for meals.
  • We leave behind zero waste.
  • Propagating and reviving local folk tales through storytelling.
FAQs

What kind of accommodations are available on this tour?

We have and recommend a mix of hotels and homestays. Special attention has been given to hygiene and hospitality in the homestays.

I'm a solo traveller, can I do this tour?

Yes, it is safe and feasible for solo travelers also. We help you with the necessary arrangements and set-up the budget as per your preferences.

Which currencies do you accept?

We accept all currencies worldwide. However, the most common ones our guests pay in are – Indian Rupee (INR), Euro (EUR), Swiss Franc (CHF), Pound Sterling (£), and US/ SG/ AUS/ NZ Dollars ($).

Can you help me book the tour end-to-end?

Yes, if you are an international traveler you would land in Kolkata. We can help you set up the entire tour in India after your arrival till departure. This includes domestic flights, trains, accommodations in the arrival/ departure city, and any other tours that you want to add to this experience.

We usually don’t do international flights, travel insurance, and visas, but we can give you good recommendations for all of it.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please refer to our terms and conditions page.

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