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Dominated by the mighty Himalayas and bordering onto Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, North East India is one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of India. It is a region unparalleled in the world in terms of the isolation and diversity of its tribal cultures, and has also been declared one of the world’s bio-diversity hotspots.

North East India Highlights

Explore Tawang, home to the largest Buddhist monastery outside Tibet
Meet the ancient and little seen tribes of Arunachal Pradesh
Search for Unicorn Rhinos on elephant-back in Kaziranga National Park
Marvel at the ingenuity of the Living Root Bridges
Experience a pristine wilderness and one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots
Discover Majuli – the world’s largest river island with its own distinct culture
Celebrate the Hornbill Festival with the Naga tribes in Nagaland

"Travel The Unknown`s Northeast India tours have zoned in on the absolute prime attractions, visiting a string of culturally unique, scenically stunning places - and maximising every moment spent there. Their outstanding guides take great care to respect and protect indigenous lifestyles in these delicate regions."

Vanessa Betts, author of Footprint Guide to Northeast India

Arunachal Pradesh

High in the Eastern Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of India. However, travel there is a very rewarding experience. Nowhere else in the Himalayas can you find so much pristine forest and the area has been declared one of the world’s bio-diversity hotspots. Arunachal Pradesh is also rich in the diversity of its tribal cultures. Much of Arunachal Pradesh is still in acessible to outsiders. It is also home to Tawang Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery outside Tibet where the 6th Dalai Llama was born.

Western Arunachal Pradesh

Climbing high above the clouds and into the Himalayas, you will discover spectacular scenery, snow-capped peaks, Buddhist temples, yaks, shimmering high altitude lakes and get the opportunity to go rafting in Nameri wildlife reserve. You will meet some of the most friendly and hospitable people anywhere on the planet. From the scenic town of Old Dirang where time seems to have stood still to the magic and history of Tawang Monastery, this circuit is sure to satisfy all your senses.

Central Arunachal Pradesh

Deep into the heart of Arunachal Pradesh, this circuit is for the adventurous. Meet the Apatani tribes of Ziro valley, with their ancient way of life, their innovative fish and paddy cultivation and their beautiful bamboo homes. Visit Hong, the second largest tribal village in Asia and learn about the origins of the nose plugs and facial tattoos of the Apatani women. This is one circuit that will invigorate even the most world-weary traveller.

Assam

The most populated of the North East states, and influenced by ancient Indian dynasties and British rule, Assam has a culture and history unique to itself. Intersected by the mighty Brahmaputra River, its fertile soil makes it ideal for tea and rice cultivation, with mile upon mile of manicured tea estates and paddy fields decorating the low lying landscape. It is also blessed with incredible wildlife. Kaziranga National Park is host to two-thirds of the world’s population of unicorn rhino and boasts the densest tiger population on the planet, as well as being a haven for rare birds. Assam promises a fantastic experience to the first time visitor, and is the ideal gateway for exploring the rest of North East India.

Meghalaya

Also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’, this state is defined by its rolling hills, craggy cliff faces, stunning waterfalls and tartan-style fabrics. Carved out of Assam in 1972, Meghalaya provides a fascinating contrast to its neighbours. Cherrapunjee holds the distinction for being the wettest place on Earth and is home to the unique Living Root Bridges, where the roots of trees have been coaxed across rivers by villagers hundreds of year ago to form natural bridges. This feat of bio-engineering is unique in the world and these incredible bridges can survive over 800 years.

Future Generations Arunachal

Travel The Unknown is proud to support Future Generations Arunachal, an NGO that focuses on community participation. The concept is to provide skills and education to a voluntary section of the community who then act as local specialists. They in turn dispense advice and run workshops themselves in the villages, transferring these skills within their communities. Projects run on this basis include basic medical training, recognition of medicines for the illiterate, basic literacy and numeracy, fuel conservation initiatives and village-run micro-financing. Further initiatives include environmental awareness and personal development workshops for children (pictured below), and self sufficiency and conservation training for farmers. With a permanent staff of only 13, they have gained the participation of approximately 1000 volunteers. We will make regular contributions towards their projects and help to raise the profile of the organisation in the UK and beyond. For more information, please visit www.traveltheunknown.com/futuregenerations

North East India Tours