The Sangti valley, old Dirang, the lakes above Tawang and a tea-estate bungalow at either end: western Arunachal at an unhurried pace.

From ₹1,08,000 for two, for the whole trip

Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
States: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
Pace: Moderate
Vehicle: SUV. Essential for Sela Pass and the lake roads above Tawang.
Best months: March to June and September to November.
Ideal for: Explorers with time, and travellers who want the mountains without the rush.

Route

GuwahatiBaliparaDirangSangtiSela PassTawangDirangBaliparaGuwahati

About 1,180 km in all, with no single day over 8 hours.

Permits

Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, applied for online before the trip. Pankang Teng Tso and Sangetsar lake need an extra permit, which we arrange in Tawang.

Local vehicles only

Arunachal Pradesh has many sensitive areas, such as Bum La Pass, where only locally registered vehicles are allowed. Visiting them needs a local vehicle, which we help you arrange; it is not part of the estimated price.

Altitude

Sela Pass is about 4,170 m and Tawang about 3,000 m. Day 3 in Dirang is for acclimatising; drink water, go slowly and skip alcohol on the first day up.

Day by day

Day 1
A tea-estate bungalow
Guwahati to Balipara · Drive: 5 hours, 200 km
North across the Brahmaputra to a British-era tea-estate bungalow near Nameri. A short walk in the garden before dinner.
Overnight in Balipara
Day 2
Into Arunachal
Balipara to Dirang · Drive: 7 to 8 hours, 200 km
Through Bhalukpong and the Kameng river valley, climbing to Dirang. Your Inner Line Permit is checked at the border.
Overnight in Dirang
Day 3
The Sangti valley
A day for acclimatising: the wide, quiet Sangti valley with its river and orchards, the stone houses of old Dirang Dzong, and the hot springs.
Overnight in Dirang
Day 4
Over Sela Pass
Dirang to Tawang · Drive: 6 hours, 140 km
Up to Sela Pass at about 4,170 m and its lake, past the Jaswantgarh memorial and Jang's Nuranang falls, into Tawang.
Overnight in Tawang
Day 5
Tawang monastery and the old town
The great monastery above the town, Urgelling, the birthplace of the Sixth Dalai Lama, and the war memorial. Rest well; tomorrow goes higher.
Overnight in Tawang
Day 6
The high lakes
Drive: A full day on high roads
With the extra permit arranged in Tawang, drive up to Pankang Teng Tso and Sangetsar lake, among the most beautiful high-altitude lakes in the Northeast. Roads close at short notice, so we keep a plan B.
Overnight in Tawang
Day 7
Back over the pass
Tawang to Dirang · Drive: 6 hours, 140 km
Retrace the road over Sela with the light on the other side of the mountains.
Overnight in Dirang
Day 8
Down to the plains
Dirang to Balipara · Drive: 7 to 8 hours, 200 km
A long, downhill day back to the tea-estate bungalow for a last quiet evening.
Overnight in Balipara
Day 9
Back to Guwahati
Balipara to Guwahati · Drive: 5 hours, 200 km
Breakfast in the garden and the drive back for your flight.

Where you stay

Nights 1 and 8: Wild Mahseer, Balipara (heritage tea-estate bungalows).
Nights 2, 3 and 7: Pemaling Lords Inn, Dirang (3.5-star).
Nights 4, 5 and 6: Timilo Boutique, Tawang (3-star), or Hotel Vivid Tawang (3-star).

The suggested price of ₹1,08,000 for two does not include these exact hotels. Ask us and we will price the stays listed here.

What’s included

A private car with a Smarto driver for the whole journey, hotel stays as listed or equivalent, daily breakfast, all transfers and sightseeing on the route, and end-to-end planning by Smarto.

Not included

Flights and trains, lunches and dinners, entry and activity fees (safaris, boats, kayaking, guides), permits where needed, and personal expenses.

Smarto Exclusive pricing

From ₹1,08,000 for two, for the whole trip.

Your final all-in quote depends on your dates, hotels and group size. No hidden costs.

Request a quote

Sangti and the quiet Tawang road

Day by day

A tea-estate bungalow

Into Arunachal

The Sangti valley

Over Sela Pass

Tawang monastery and the old town

The high lakes

Back over the pass

Down to the plains

Back to Guwahati

Where you stay

What’s included

Not included

More journeys nearby

Gibbons, Majuli and the Ahom kings

Manas, Nameri and Kaziranga

The Meghalaya highlights