The Northeast is not a destination. It's a discovery.
India's eight northeastern states sit between Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar and Bangladesh, and most visitors to India never reach them. Come for rhinos at dawn, bridges grown from living roots, monasteries above the clouds and festivals found nowhere else. We live here, and we'll take you there.
8states, each with its own languages, food and festivals
4UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kaziranga, Manas, Khangchendzonga and the Ahom moidams
2/3of the world's one-horned rhinos live in Kaziranga National Park
17major Naga tribes gather at the Hornbill Festival every December
Photo stories
Six places that stay with you
Moments from across the Northeast, with what you need to know to see them yourself: when to go, how to get there and which permits apply.
Fresh snow on a mountain road in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal in winter
The Himalayan road to Sela Pass and Tawang
From December to February, snow settles on the fir forests and mountain roads of western Arunachal. The classic journey climbs from the Assam plains to Sela Pass at about 4,170 m (13,700 ft), then descends to Tawang, home to India's largest Buddhist monastery. Since the Sela Tunnel opened in 2024, Tawang can be reached by road all year.
Best time
March–June and September–November for clear views; December–February for snow.
Getting there
Fly to Guwahati, then a two-day drive with a night in Dirang or Bomdila.
Permits
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit; Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit. We arrange both.
High on Nilachal Hill above the Brahmaputra, Kamakhya is one of the oldest and most revered of the 51 Shakti Peethas, the great shrines of the Hindu goddess. Its beehive-shaped domes are typical of the local Nilachal style, and the main temple was rebuilt in 1565 under the Koch king Nara Narayan. Pilgrims, sadhus and tantric practitioners come from all over India, above all for the Ambubachi Mela each June.
Best time
October–March is cool and comfortable. Arrive early in the morning to avoid long queues.
Getting there
About 30 minutes from central Guwahati, our home city, and an hour from the airport.
Good to know
Dress modestly and leave your shoes at the entrance. During Ambubachi Mela the inner sanctum closes for three days and the crowds are huge.
Northeast India's largest freshwater lake is famous for its phumdis, floating islands of grass, soil and roots. The rings you see here are athaphums, circular phumdis that fishing families build to hold fish. On the southeastern shore lies Keibul Lamjao, the world's only floating national park and the last natural home of the sangai, Manipur's endangered dancing deer.
Best time
October–March, for clear mornings and soft light on the water.
Getting there
Fly to Imphal; the lake is about 50 km south, roughly 1.5 hours by road.
Before you plan
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Manipur, and some governments currently advise against travel there. Ask us for an honest update for your dates.
At around 2,450 m (8,000 ft), Dzükou is a hidden valley of rolling hills carpeted in dwarf bamboo and threaded with clear streams. The hike in takes 4–6 hours from Viswema or Jakhama village, and most walkers spend a night at the trekkers' hut to watch sunrise over the valley. In June and July the valley floor fills with wildflowers, including the rare pink Dzükou lily.
Best time
June–September for green hills and flowers (expect rain); October–March for clear skies and frosty mornings.
Getting there
Fly to Dimapur, drive about 3 hours to Kohima, then 45 minutes to the trailhead.
Good to know
Facilities are basic (dorm beds and tents), so bring warm layers. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Nagaland.
Kisama Heritage Village, near Kohima · 1–10 December
Every December, Nagaland's 17 major tribes gather at Kisama for ten days of song, dance, games and ritual, which is why it's known as the Festival of Festivals. Each tribe hosts its own morung, a traditional meeting house, where you can watch warriors in full regalia, taste smoked pork and bamboo-shoot dishes, and stay on for the evening music. The festival is named after the hornbill, a bird found in the folklore of most Naga tribes.
When
1–10 December every year, opening on Nagaland Statehood Day.
Getting there
Kisama is about 12 km from Kohima. Fly to Dimapur, then drive about 3 hours.
Good to know
Rooms in Kohima sell out months ahead, so book early. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit; ask us for the current rules.
Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava, carved into the hillside at Unakoti
Tripura
Unakoti
Near Kailashahar, northern Tripura
In the forest of northern Tripura, giant faces of Shiva and other deities are carved straight into the hillside, dated to between the 7th and 9th centuries. The central Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava is about 9 m (30 ft) tall, including a 3 m headdress. Legend says Shiva turned 99,99,999 gods to stone here when they overslept, which gives the site its name: Unakoti, one less than a crore (ten million). In 2022 it joined UNESCO's World Heritage tentative list.
Best time
October–March. The Ashokastami Mela each April draws thousands of pilgrims.
Getting there
Fly to Agartala; Unakoti is about 180 km north, 4–5 hours by road.
Good to know
No special permit is needed for Tripura. Wear sturdy shoes for the steep steps down to the carvings.
Small groups, local guides, honest pricing. Every itinerary can be tailored to your dates, pace and interests; these are just where most people start.
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4 days · Wildlife
Kaziranga Rhino Safari
Jeep safaris through the grasslands and wetlands of a UNESCO World Heritage park that is home to about two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos. The park is open from November to April.
Cherrapunji (Sohra), the double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat, the glass-clear Umngot River at Dawki, and Mawlynnong, often called the cleanest village in Asia.
December at Kisama: Nagaland's 17 major tribes, log drums, warrior dances, smoked-pork feasts and bamboo cuisine at one of India's great cultural festivals.
The Yumthang Valley of Flowers, the hot springs near Lachung and nights in mountain homestays. Indian passport holders can add Gurudongmar Lake at 5,430 m (17,800 ft).
Gurudongmar Lake is closed to foreign nationals, so we plan international guests' routes around Lachung and Yumthang.
The practical part, in one place. Rules change, so we check the current requirements for your nationality and dates before you book.
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Getting here
Fly into Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru, then take a domestic flight to Guwahati (GAU), the main airport for the Northeast and our home base. For Sikkim, fly to Bagdogra (IXB).
Kolkata → Guwahatiabout 1 h 15 min
Delhi → Guwahatiabout 2 h 30 min
Guwahati → Shillongabout 3 h by road
Your visa
Most nationalities can apply online for India's e-Tourist Visa. Apply at least 4 days before you arrive (and up to 120 days ahead). Your passport needs at least six months' validity and two blank pages.
Use only the official government site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. Look-alike sites charge extra fees.
India time
India Standard Time is GMT+5:30 all year. We reply on WhatsApp seven days a week, usually within a few hours.
Permits by state
Some Northeast states protect border areas with special permits. Here's what applies to you.
State
Foreign nationals
Indian citizens
Assam · Meghalaya · Tripura
No permit
Your Indian visa is all you need.
No permit needed.
Sikkim
RAP
Restricted Area Permit: free, issued at entry points such as Rangpo and Bagdogra or online. Gurudongmar Lake and Nathu La are closed to foreign nationals.
No Inner Line Permit. Local permits for some high-altitude areas, arranged by us.
Arunachal Pradesh
PAP
Protected Area Permit, applied for through a registered tour operator before you arrive. We arrange it.
Inner Line Permit (ILP), applied for online.
Nagaland · Manipur · Mizoram
PAP
Protected Area Permit, reintroduced in December 2024. Apply in advance and register with local authorities within 24 hours of arrival. We guide you through it.
Inner Line Permit (ILP), applied for online.
Citizens of a few countries need extra clearance from India's Ministry of Home Affairs for any Northeast state. Send us your nationality and route, and we'll confirm exactly what applies to you.
When to go
October to April is dry and clear across most of the region. The monsoon (June–September) turns everything green but brings heavy rain, landslides and park closures.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Weather
Dry & clearJanuary to April: dry and clear.HotMay: hot and humid.MonsoonJune to September: monsoon.Dry & clearOctober to December: dry and clear.
Kaziranga openAssam
January to April,and November to December.
Snow at TawangArunachal Pradesh
January to February,and December.
Rongali BihuAssam's new year, mid-April
April.
Ashokastami MelaUnakoti, Tripura
April.
Ambubachi MelaKamakhya, Assam
June.
Dzükou liliesNagaland
June to July.
Hornbill Festival1–10 December
December.
Dry & clearHot & humidMonsoonSeasonFestival
Why Ardent Tours
Born in Guwahati. Built on trust.
We live here
We're not a big-city agency reselling packages. Our office is in Guwahati, our guides are locals, and our phone numbers actually get answered.
Permits, sorted
Protected Area Permits for international guests and Inner Line Permits for Indian travellers, handled before you land. You arrive, and the paperwork is done.
One person, start to finish
You'll plan your trip with a real person on WhatsApp, not a ticket system, and the same person stays with you until you're home.
Questions from travellers
Good to know before you book
Is Northeast India safe to visit?
Thousands of international travellers visit Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Tripura every year. Conditions differ from state to state, and some governments currently advise against travel to Manipur, so check your own government's travel advice too. We'll always tell you honestly what we recommend for your dates.
Do I need a visa?
Yes. Most nationalities can get an e-Tourist Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, the only official site. Apply at least 4 days before you arrive; your passport needs six months' validity.
Which permits do I need?
It depends on the states you visit; see Permits by state above. Send us your nationality and route, and we'll tell you exactly what's needed and help you get it.
How far ahead should I book?
Two to three months ahead for the Hornbill Festival or Tawang in peak season. If your route includes Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur or Mizoram, start at least 4–6 weeks before travel so there's time for permits.
What's the food like?
Expect rice, fresh river fish, smoked pork, bamboo shoot, local greens and, in Nagaland, the fiery king chilli. Vegetarian food is easy to find in Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim. Tell us about any dietary needs and we'll plan around them.
Money, cards and phone signal?
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Cards work in cities and most hotels, but carry cash for villages and markets. Mobile data is good in towns and patchy in remote places such as Dzükou Valley or North Sikkim.
Plan my trip
Tell us your dates. We'll do the rest.
Talk to the core team
Mousumi and Sangeeta plan every Ardent itinerary themselves: routes, stays, permits, food stops, all of it. Message either of them directly and get a draft plan within a day. WhatsApp is the quickest way to reach us from anywhere in the world.
