ChaloHoppo to an Emerald

Meghalaya

Gear up to an Emerald Meghalaya

After you have walked over the living root bridges and heard them breathe, camp beside a river where the only source of light is the

bonfire and the starry sky. Wake up and dive into the transparent the waters of that very river from a cliff. This is not even half of what this

trip offers. Swimming goggles on, please!

A hanging bridge on the trek to Nongriat village in Cherrapunjee

A trek that will make you go weak in the knees both literally and figuratively, a village that will make you lose track of time and a river

that is filled with as much adventure as fishes will make you ponder if you should cancel your tickets! Nothing is an exaggeration only an expression of what the travellers so far have felt. We haven’t yet

mentioned the butterflies that will greet you on your treks and the sweet folks who will offer you kwai. May we say that it would be a foodventure for those who like their meat and those who love their

veggies shall not go hungry either.

The brief Itinerary

5 nights and 6 days

Day 1 Drive to Jowai

After we drive from Guwahati to a cooler and greener Meghalaya, we make a diversion to drive towards Jowai. From Jowai town, a drive down a winding road and through tiny lanes atypical to Meghalayan small towns we reach Haven's cove.Haven’s cove, a 20-minute walk away will read the sign. This farmhouse is only accessible on foot.The trail resembles a broader than usual aisle through paddy fields.Haven’s cove unassumingly stands as a farmhouse in the middle of sprawling paddy fields with all amenities that would constitute a dream home for many.

Total drive time from Guwahati to Jowai will be 4.5 hours.Overnight at Haven’s cove.

Day 2 Camping beside the transparent river

Head towards Shnongpdeng, this time you camp by the riverside and enjoy water based activities such as cliff jumping, snorkelling, kayaking, etc. Crash in your tents with the million stars above you and a bonfire keeping you company.

Total drive time to Shnongpdeng will be 2 hours.

Overnight stay at campsite.

Day 3 A trek to remember

We need to wake up early. After breakfast drive to Tyrna village, the start of the famous Double Decker living root bridges trek.

In this trek you need to climb down a staircase, similar to walking from the top floor of a 100 storey building. Your knees will start to give in and you may find your thighs shaking and you will be drenched in your sweat but you will recover every drop of that sweat when you reach your destination. After you reach the end of the stairs and finally see the Double Decker living root bridge, take a dip and freshen up.

P.S. We will be only carrying a small backpack for the 2 days that we will be staying down in the village below. Specific instruction regarding the same will be given once you sign up for the trip.

Overnight at a homestay in Nongriat village.

Day 4 Blue rock pools and Rainbow falls

Wake up early in the morning & after breakfast proceed for the trek in the jungle. The morning air won’t get you tired as you cross many more living root bridges & a few hanging bridges to reach rainbow falls . The trekking time one way is approximately 2 hours. It’s better to see the rainbow falls in the afternoon as the sun moving towards west would trigger the appearance of rainbow. If you are a good swimmer then you can swim near the waterfalls or chill out in the smaller pools. Please carry a basic camera to capture the scenic beauty. If you have binoculars you could also see birdlife. There is absolutely no need for bottled water as the water from the springs is much better & purer than the packaged water. However moisturisers, warm clothing and trekking shoes are required. Let’s not talk about the butterflies now as they will mesmerise you while you are down in Nongriat.Overnight at a homestay in Nongriat village.

Day 5 A well deserved rest day in Cherrapunjee

After breakfast climb back up and proceed to Cherrapunjee. After reaching choose to relax or explore Nohkalikai Falls, Arwah Caves and Wei Sawdong Falls.

Evening will be spent jamming to some classic rock music performed live by local boys from Cherrapunji which is locally known as Sohra!

Band profile shared later*

Overnight in a handpicked resort in Cherrapunjee (Sohra).

Day 6 Bidding a reluctant goodbye

Take your own sweet time to wake up and have some delicious breakfast in the most pristine setting overlooking the endless rolling hills of Cherrapunji. If you have the energy go for a walk to the nearby stream and witness the stark blue tint in the water. The luxury of waking up lazily depends on the time you book your flight. Preferably book the last flight.

Drive time from Cherrapunjee to Guwahati airport will be 4.5 hours.

Tenny performs!

The Band profile Tonight you will be joined by the amazing talent of Tenny Gregory and Banpynshai Thabah. Tenny and Boi as we call them came into our lives on 31st December 2016, when we were welcoming the new year in Cherrapunji. A night of relentless jamming with these boys made us realise the dedication these folks have towards music. All they know is Music. Tenny and Boi aren't well to do, in fact Tenny is a mason laying bricks and works in a construction site of sorts, but if you speak to him, you will find him no less intriguing than a learned philosopher. Boi is quite and the only language he speaks is music. Some of our guests have already met them, interacted with them and lauded their skills. They don't like to be paid for music, but if people willingly give tips, then they use it to invest in small things like mics, guitars etc. In 2017, it was the first time ever they ever stepped out of Cherrapunji, and first time on a train when we took them along to be our camp band at the Ziro festival of music.

Please note a few things:

1. They are not comfortable taking requests and no they can't sing hindi songs.

2. The music they cover mostly are from the 1970s to 1980s .

3. They smoke and drink while they play..

Trip Inclusions● Breakfast● Lunch and Dinner in Nongriat (Day 3 and 4)● Accommodation in homestays, tents and a resort twin/triple● Internal Transport starting from the airport/ station (Swift Dzire/Innova)● Local guide in Nongriat and Shnongpedeng● ChaloHoppo tour coordinator● Parking, tolls, driver allowance, driver accommodation● Bonfires in Nongriat, Shnongpedeng and Cherrapunji(if required)

Trip Exclusions● Airfare charges● All food & beverages cost apart from the ones mentioned above● Trekking shoes and clothing (Any personal equipment)● Any camera fees ● Hotel & driver tips if any, since the locals earn low wages, your tips can show your appreciation)● Entry ticket fees to Museums, Parks, etc.● Any activities like kayaking, cliff jumping, boating, scuba diving ● Any personal expenditure (Toiletries, medicines, etc.)● Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors

beyond control.● Anything not specifically mentioned under the head "Inclusions".

Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya

Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya

Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya

Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya

FAQ’sQ. Which airport do we have to come to and fly out from?A: The tour begins from Gopinath Bordoloi International airport in Guwahati.

Q. What time should we land and what time should we book the return flights?A: Ideally you should land by 7 :30 am or earlier and fly out anytime after 5 pm.

Q. Do I need a Visa, inner line permit or any other kind of identity proof to enter northeast India?A: Entry to the states of Meghalaya does not require a permit.

Q.I am a solo traveller, can I come on this trip?A: A most definite yes, as long as you are okay travelling in a mixed group of other solo travellers or small group of friends.

Q.I can’t swim and the itinerary includes treks to natural swimming pools, will it be safe and will it be worth for someone who can’t swim?A: Not all travellers who sign up for a tour with ChaloHoppo are swimmers so the experience doesn’t get hampered due to lack of that skill. It is certainly an advantage for those can swim but life jackets can be rented along with a guide to ensure safety of the travellers.

FAQ’sQ. What type of bag should I carry?A: Ideally a 60 litre backpack with a rain cover should be convenient, but if you don’t have one then even a strolley or any other bag is fine. It is compulsory to carry a separate smaller bag(15 litres to 20 litres) for your trek down to Nongriat village that can fit essential toiletries and change of clothes for 1 night only to reduce the weight on your shoulders and make the trek easier.

Q. I am a vegetarian, I hear that people only consume meat there. How will I manage?A: The cultural diversity of northeast India is so vast that we can’t blame outsiders for not being aware of communities in the region who are purely vegetarians, so much so that they avoid eating onions( they are indigenous to the region, in case you are thinking about communities from mainland India who have settled here). Having said that, we must admit that the region’s food habits especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya are predominantly non vegetarian with a whole lot of red meat based preparations. But the states have warmed up to tourists recently and almost every place you visit will provide the Indian staple diet of rice, dal and sabji, even chapatis if you are lucky. Your craving for butter paneer may not be satisfied, but you will do just fine as far as maintaining your health and strength is concerned.

Cost of the experience per person

Rs 21,200/-

For further details email experiences@chalohoppo.com

AND EXPECT A PROMPT RESPONSE.

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