Drive from Guwahati to Shillong, stopping at Umiam Lake on the way — a wide blue reservoir ringed by hills that's a good first taste of what Meghalaya looks like. Arrive in Shillong and settle in for the days ahead.

Take a relaxed day to get to know Shillong — walk around Ward's Lake and Lady Hydari Park, spend time at the Don Bosco Museum which tells the story of Northeast India's indigenous cultures in a way that's genuinely worth a few hours, and end the evening browsing the busy lanes of Police Bazar.

Trek 16 kilometres along David Scott's Trail, the oldest trekking route in Meghalaya, originally built as a bridle path by a British administrator in the 1830s. The trail passes through streams, open valleys, and forested ridges that see very few tourists, making it one of the most peaceful walking experiences in Northeast India. Drive to Cherrapunjee by evening.

Drive to Tyrna and trek down to the iconic Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat — a full day of steep steps, river crossings, and dense forest before arriving at one of the most extraordinary natural structures in the world. Head back to Cherrapunjee by evening.

Take a well-earned easy day exploring Cherrapunjee's natural highlights. Visit the Mawsmai and Arwah Caves, walk to the viewpoint at Seven Sisters Falls, and stand at the edge of Nohkalikai Falls — one of the tallest plunge waterfalls in India — before ending the day at the Eco Park.

Drive to Kongthong, a remote Khasi village where every person is given a unique hummed tune at birth that family members use to call them — a tradition found nowhere else in the world. Take a guided walk through the village, and if time allows, add a short root bridge trek nearby before driving back to Cherrapunjee for the night.

Trek through the Wahkhen bamboo forests, a dense and atmospheric trail that feels completely unlike the rest of the trip. The bamboo grows thick enough overhead to block out the sky in places, making it one of the more unusual walks in Meghalaya. Drive straight to Shillong by evening.

After breakfast, drive back to Guwahati for your flight or train home — eight days of trails, caves, whistling villages, and living bridges that most people don't know exist.