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When it comes to a relatively lesser known states of North East India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and the neighbouring sisters, it becomes quite hard to plan a trip owing to the lack of correct guidelines and information available online. In regions like these, planning becomes painful and tiresome even for the solo traveller.
It is easier in other popular destinations in India to land with a plan to play it by ear and figure each day as it comes. While this would definitely be an adventure on its own here, you would need a lot of time and luck on your hands to truly experience and learn what the region can teach – from its seasons to its diverse cultures
WHY SET DEPARTURES?
At ChaloHoppo, we limit our groups to a maximum of 12 guests to ensure intimate and immersive experiences.
Our itineraries are handpicked and carefully curated keeping in mind the interests and needs of the 21st century traveller- one who likes to travel hassle-free without compromising on quality. The trips are led by well-versed tour leaders who are supported by experienced local guides throughout the journeys, both of whom make sure that you have a memorable experience in the North East of India.
1. Regional Expertise
Our groups tours are curated through a lot of research, frequent visits and knowledge on the region. As locals from the North East of India, we are always proud and excited to share every diversity of culture, food, nature and experiences the region has to offer. We want to ensure that you experience the best of what is on offer so that you keep coming back and recommending us to your friends and family. From your permits, to your stays, experiences and transportation, to your food preferences, everything is looked after by our passionate travel and operations team.
Our experienced tour leaders not only coordinate the finer details of the tour but also are the storytellers and translators who ensure you go back home actually learning about and truly experiencing the places that you visit.
You just need to hop on board and put your learning cap on! Your days with us will be memories that we guarantee that you will cherish forever.
2. Convenience!
Yes, We take care of everything, so you can focus on what truly matters. You may be unable to find the time to plan and organise a trip from scratch but extremely keen to try new experiences. We understand that your days of travel are hard earned. The last thing that you should be facing are more challenges- whether it be during the planning of the holiday, or during it.
We make sure to find the best stays, guides and drivers to work with. We chalk out itineraries according to what works best for the season (there may be a local festival that you didn’t know about!). Finally, we book the properties, guides and drivers well in advance. Without this step, it would get difficult during peak seasons. This entire process is revisited and checked thoroughly because we understand the hard work that it takes to earn a holiday. If you are trusting us with those few days in the year, we will leave no stone unturned to make sure you have one of the most memorable holidays of your life.
3. Meet new people with similar interests
One of the best reasons to join a group set departure is that these trips often prove to be a space for like-minded people to meet each other. It is an amazing experience meeting people from different parts of the world, from all walks of life, of all ages – all interested in the same things as you.
In these fast paced times that we live in, it is extremely refreshing to break away
from our normal, our comfort zone, and go into a space where nobody knows you and vice versa. To top that, to go into a space with new people, all of the same interests and from different parts of the world, is an experience that we can guarantee that you will love. Certain trips are immersions into local culture whereas others are action packed adventures. Pick your chapter based on your interests and meet others who have done the same.
Although the idea of coming together with strangers to go on an adventure might seem strange at first, it’s actually a great way to meet new people you’d never meet otherwise. There’s a good chance you’ll come home with lifelong friends from all over the world!
We take great pleasure in saying that in the 7 year journey of ChaloHoppo, we have not just made, but also facilitated countless friendships that have extended well beyond the trip, a couple of which have even grown into stories of happily ever after.
4. Alone but not alone
Being in its nascent stages of tourism, there are quite a few challenges when it comes to travelling alone in the region. For example, transportation and taxi services mainly exist within the circuits that are important for the work and movement of the local communities and mainstream tourism. A lot of the hidden gems are off these circuits and organising private taxis for these getaways prove to be complicated and expensive for travellers due to the lack of an organised sector for the same. Moreover, shared taxis mostly leave at dawn so it becomes quite a rushed holiday. Also, with only limited properties to stay, places get booked out early and the best local guides (crucial to truly understand the beauty and culture of the region you visit) are hard to find.
Considering these factors, among many more, we believe that one of the best ways to travel around and truly experience the states of the North East of India, especially if you are a solo traveller or someone who is travelling with a friend or loved one, is to join a Set Departure. We have had the pleasure of hosting quite a network of solo female travellers who keep returning to travel and explore the North East with us!
5. Travel with friends without organizing anything
6. A smaller hole in your wallet with no compromise on quality
Apart from flights, the most significant expenses while travelling (especially solo) are generally local transportation, accommodation and experiences.For transportation, the luxury of having your own reserved vehicle to take you to the best of spots along your journey, in a way so as to make the most of your day makes a huge difference to the overall experience. Similarly for stays, the North East of India does not really have too many backpacker accommodations or hostels. It is hard to find lodges offering separate rates for single occupancy. In a Set Group Departure, all of these costs (and other advantages such as a knowledgeable tour leader and guides) are shared amongst the different travellers. As local travel experts, we get the best deals for top properties and vehicle rentals (along with smart, responsible drivers). With all these factors, it is safe to say that group set departures with ChaloHoppo are the most economical way to experience North East India without compromising on comfort and qualit . Value for money? Absolutely.
7. Safety and Reassurance
Travelling alone can be a little intimidating. Most people don’t feel comfortable traveling on holiday alone, especially on a trip to one of the most unexplored regions of India. Many of our travellers often like to plan those last-minute solo holidays to the North-east, but don’t feel safe, and at that point of time, it’s quite difficult to find a travel partner. To add to that the travel restrictions in certain areas as well as COVID-19 safety measures, planning a thorough trip can get tricky and overwhelming.
Joining our set-departures, you can rest easy that all your logistics are taken well care of.
8. Hidden Gems, secret stops and new experiences
As a locally run tour company, we have a team of experienced local guides who know the best hidden spots along the different trails. To maintain a difference, it is important that all the fun is not exposed in the itinerary. Some things are best left off the internet. We also tell our guests to treat it the same way. Get ready because you will get to experience a few surprises along the way!
Also, our tips for the best food and experiences in the region are unbeatable. With local experts like Tenny the rockstar in our team, serenading you with his musical genius by a waterfall, it really does not get better than this.
9. Re-discover yourself
10. A small group tour to ensure you have intimate and in-depth experiences in the region, with the region.
With maximum sizes of 12 people per group tour, we make sure that you can have experiences on an intimate level – whether it is sharing a bowl of local alcohol and fire-cooked food with your local host, or jamming to guitar songs next to a waterfall in Meghalaya with your new friends. We strive to create meaningful bonds with the region and its people through travel – we believe it is not the time spent together but the depth of each experience and value of shared conversations that matter. We simultaneously work on creating awareness amongst our guests on how they can be responsible travellers who can give back positively to a region that hosts them, no matter where they travel to.
So what are you waiting for?
As proud advocators of the region and everything it has to offer, we know that between the 8 states, there is something or the other for everybody’s interest. Whether it be the white sand by the mighty Brahmaputra in the Assam plains, or the frozen streams and the white snow at 15,200 ft in Arunachal Pradesh, or sunlight seeping through the dense green forests of Meghalaya – the terrains and landscapes of the region hold within them immense cultural and natural heritage that is yet to be fully seen and understood through our hearts. With that, let us take you on a journey of a lifetime through our favourite itineraries and show you how it’s done! What are you waiting for? Here is a list of our group trips!
