There are places that reveal themselves easily, and then there are places that ask you to arrive with patience. Meghalaya, in the monsoon, belongs firmly to the latter.
Perched in the eastern Himalayas, the Khasi Hills rise straight into the path of the monsoon winds. Clouds drift low, rain arrives without warning, and the landscape responds in full force. Waterfalls swell, forests deepen in colour, and rivers carve new shapes into stone. This is the season that gives Meghalaya its name, the abode of clouds, and yet it is also the season most travellers choose to avoid.
This chapter is for those who do not.
The monsoon in Meghalaya is not about ticking sights off a list. It is about movement and pause, about reading the weather, listening to the land, and allowing plans to flex. Roads disappear briefly into mist, trails soften underfoot, and time itself seems to slow. In return, the land offers something rare: its most alive self.
Over six days, this journey moves through the Khasi Hills, from the rain-soaked edges of Sohra to the quieter forests of Mawkyrnot and Pongtung, and onward to the river landscapes of Mawlyngbna. You will walk to lesser-known living root bridges, structures grown patiently over generations to meet the demands of this very climate. You will follow forest trails to waterfalls and natural pools that exist because of the rains, not despite them. You will kayak and canyon through rivers that swell and surge, turning the landscape into a natural playground shaped entirely by water.
But this is not only a journey through terrain.
The monsoon has also shaped the lives here. It has influenced how villages are built, how paths are laid, how music is sung, and how communities gather. In the Khasi Hills, rain is not disruption, it is rhythm. You will spend time with local hosts, share meals, and sit in on a traditional music evening where songs carry both memory and everyday life, some old, some newly written, all rooted in place.
This is an outdoors-led journey, but not an adrenaline chase. It is immersive, flexible, and deeply seasonal. Days are planned with intention, but always in conversation with the weather. Some moments are expansive, others quiet. Some walks are misty and slow, others lead to sudden openings where water crashes down rock faces and rivers glow green under grey skies.
This chapter is not designed for everyone. It is for travellers who understand that the rain in Meghalaya does not spoil a journey, it defines it. For those who are willing to get wet, wait things out, and see beauty in unpredictability. For those who want to experience Meghalaya not at its neatest, but at its most honest.
In the monsoon, Meghalaya does not perform.
It simply exists.
And if you let it, it will meet you there.
This trip is designed to ensure a smooth journey for everyone. We recommend arriving by 11:00 AM. The group (guests + team) will depart from Guwahati Airport strictly by 12:00 PM on Day 1.
To avoid any inconvenience, please make sure to book your flights accordingly. If your flight arrives later than the scheduled departure time, you will need to travel to Sohra independently. For ease of travel, we recommend arriving in Guwahati a day earlier, if necessary.
We suggest booking a return flight anytime post 3:00 PM, as we aim to reach the airport by noon.
– Catch a shared/private cab from the airport to Shillong. There will be options at the parking area itself
OR
– Catch an Uber to Khanapara, from where you can book a Tempo Traveller / Sumo to Shillong
– After reaching Shillong, you can catch a shared taxi to Sohra
If you are landing a day prior to the trip, you can join the group either at Guwahati Airport, Jalukbari Junction, or near Khanapara — depending on where you are staying in Guwahati. These are the designated pick-up points en route to Sohra, as the vehicle will not stop or enter the city beyond these points.
We’ll be staying at simple homestays, and guesthouses throughout the trip. None of the properties on the trip are boutique/luxurious. They are all clean, comfortable, and hygienic and have been vetted by our team!
Note – Some of the properties have different categories of rooms and the allocation of rooms will be random and at ChaloHoppo’s discretion.
It is important to note that booking flights before reserving a slot with us does not guarantee availability. In the event that we are sold out, we cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience caused.
Rooms are shared on a double-sharing basis. In case you are a solo traveller, you will be paired up with another solo traveller of the same gender. Please note that almost all of the properties will have double bedded rooms.
While most of your expenses are taken care of, an additional Rs. 1,000 per day (upper limit) would be more than enough for all your expenses. You can take a look at our Exclusions to get a better understanding of how much money you may need. Most places along the route also accept online payments, making transactions convenient and hassle-free.
If you have a few more days to go around the Northeast, we would recommend Kaziranga, Majuli, Nagaland or parts of Arunachal Pradesh depending on the number of additional days you have in hand and the season:
3 to 5 days – Majuli / Dzukou Valley in Nagaland
5 to 7 days – Nagaland (Kohima and nearby villages or Mon Town and nearby villages) or parts of Western Arunachal Pradesh
8 to 10 days – A trip to Western, Eastern or Central Arunachal Pradesh (Note – Each region requires a minimum of 7 days on its own).
Once you sign up for the trip, we will be sending you a detailed list of Things to Carry for the season! But don’t forget your raincoat.
The roads in Meghalaya are some of the best hill roads in the country with beautiful views. Chances of motion sickness are much lesser than usual mountain roads as the number of windy roads are much lesser.
Although due to some construction work, the road from Sohra to Pongtung could be a bit bumpy.
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.
Your primary day of water activities will be at Mawlyngbna. Unless there is torrential rain, the activities will go on as it is. In the case of heavy rainfall, we will have an alternate plan for the day and the guide will take a call based on the activities open.
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.
Single occupancy requires an additional room and impacts overall group capacity. To maintain the experience quality and balance trip logistics, a limited number of single rooms are offered with a single-room supplement.
Yes, each day’s activities will be accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who will provide insights into the culture, history, and natural wonders of the region. You will also have a ChaloHoppo trip leader throughout the trip.
This trip is best suited for travellers with moderate fitness levels who are comfortable being active for multiple days in wet, outdoor conditions. The experiences include short hikes (up to 30–40 minutes at a time), walking on uneven forest trails, climbing steps near waterfalls and root bridges, and water-based activities like river canyoning and kayaking at Mawlyngbna.
None of the hikes are technical or extreme, but the terrain can be slippery during the monsoon and involves frequent movement throughout the day. You don’t need prior trekking experience, but you should be comfortable walking for a few hours in total, getting wet, and carrying a small daypack.
If you enjoy nature, don’t mind rain, and are reasonably active, you’ll be well-suited for this journey.
