Arunachal Pradesh remains one of Northeast India’s most beautiful secrets, a land shaped by remoteness, protected by rugged terrain, and preserved in a way that few places in the world still are. Once part of the vast NEFA region until the early 1970s, this mountain realm slowly stepped into its identity, finally becoming a state in 1978.
With nearly 80% of its expanse draped in forests, Arunachal is a living sanctuary of biodiversity — home to rare endemic birds, newly discovered species, and landscapes that shift dramatically with altitude. It shelters the world’s northernmost tropical rainforest and nearly half of India’s flowering plant species.
Its people are just as diverse as its forests. Twenty-six major tribes and over a hundred sub-tribes call this land home, each with its own dialect, cuisine, attire, rituals, and worldview. Much of this cultural richness still lies undocumented, adding to the mystique of the region.
In this chapter, we journey across the western frontier, the land of the warm and gracious Monpas and Sherdukpens, followers of Mahayana Buddhism with deep cultural ties to Tibet and Bhutan. These mountains carry stories of shifting kingdoms, of ancient trade routes, and of the 14th Dalai Lama’s historic passage into India in 1959.
Winter transforms this region into something even more ethereal. High-altitude lakes shimmer beneath sheets of ice, waterfalls freeze mid-cascade, and mountain passes are dusted with soft blankets of snow. The air grows rarer, the silence deeper, and every viewpoint feels like a window into another world.
This is a journey for the spirited traveller, a winter expedition that takes you up to 15,200 feet and back, weaving through snow-kissed valleys, frozen riverscapes, and remote villages wrapped in quiet beauty.
Note: Owing to its proximity to the Line of Actual Control and the legacy of the 1962 Sino-India conflict, this region remains heavily militarised. Certain restrictions apply, especially for foreign nationals. Our team will assist you with all formalities to ensure a seamless journey.
If you are landing a day prior to the trip, you can join the group either at Guwahati Airport, or Jalukbari Junction — depending on where you are staying in Guwahati. These are the designated pick-up points en route to Shergaon, as the vehicle will not stop or enter the city beyond these points.
The trip starts from Guwahati Airport at 12 PM on Day 1. We recommend arriving by 11 AM to ensure a timely departure, as Day 1 includes a long drive.
We expect to reach the Guwahati airport area by 7:30 PM on the final day. Please book a flight after 9 PM or ideally the following morning, with an overnight stay in Guwahati.
Yes, you would be requiring an Inner Line Permit to travel enter Arunachal Pradesh. We will be arranging the same for you. We would need details such as your Aadhar Card/Passport, passport size photo, along with a few other details to procure this. The ILP usually takes about 7 days to process.
While most of your expenses are taken care of in the trip cost, an additional ₹1,000 per day (upper limit) would be more than enough to cover any personal expenses. Most places along the route might not accept online payments, making transactions a bit inconvenient.
We will be staying at clean, comfortable, and hygienic homestays at all the locations.
Please note, there are different room categories and sizes at all the homestays and room allocation is done at random by the Trip lead.
Once you sign up for the trip, we will be sending you a detailed list of Things to Carry for the season!
While we understand that visiting the border areas of Bum La pass is a highly sought after experience, we have skipped it in this chapter as we want our guests to go off the beaten road with us. The pass is definitely beautiful but Chumi Gyatse offers a more peaceful and spiritually enriching experience. It holds deep religious significance for Buddhists and is less crowded than Bumla Pass.
Mandala is a village that is around one and a half hours away from Dirang. It is well known amidst the birding circles. We have added a riverside hike at Bishum Phudung instead, on a shepherd’s trail with an insight about herbs found in the valley and a refreshing lunch by the river.
As for snow, you will have multiple other chances for the same as we will be taking you to altitudes even higher than Mandala in this chapter.
While Snowfall is weather dependent, you will definitely see snow and snow sheets at the high-altitude passes from November to March.
Vegetarians do not need to worry. While a lot of the local delicacies are meat-based, with the influx of tourism there are multiple vegetarian options at all places. You must also try out the seasonal fruits and vegetables in the region.
You will be visiting the Eastern Himalayan stretches in peak winters. Expect a cold and frozen time in the wonderland. There are high chances of snow in the higher altitude region during the months of February and March.
Since we travel through high-altitude regions of the Eastern Himalayas, the average drive time is longer. Some days involve extended journeys, and early winter sunsets in the Northeast may mean arriving at destinations around late dusk.
The upside? Every long drive comes with spectacular views of snow-laden peaks, high-altitude lakes, deep valleys, and winding rivers.
We recommend starting early each day and being punctual to ensure smooth travel.
You’ll find plenty of eateries and highway dhabas up to Dirang. However, as we ascend towards Tawang and beyond, food options become limited. Long drives may also lead to delayed meals.
We recommend carrying snacks or stocking up the previous day to ensure a comfortable, hunger-free journey.
Yes. During the winter months, snowfall is common in the higher stretches and mountain passes. Heavy snow may restrict access to certain high-altitude lakes or waterfalls. If that happens, we will do our best to arrange an alternative plan for the day.
We accept up to 3 people from the same group in our set departures to keep the group dynamic open and engaging. For larger groups, we recommend our Bespoke Trips — tailored to your preferences and budget.
The minimum group size for this trip is 4 participants. We recommend early travellers book flexible flight tickets. In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled due to insufficient bookings, we will inform you at least 21 days before the start date.
