A turquoise river canyon most of India has never heard of, the caves of Siju and the forests above Tura: Meghalaya's far west, done properly.

From ₹72,000 for two, for the whole trip

Duration: 5 nights / 6 days
States: Meghalaya
Pace: Active
Vehicle: SUV. Needed for the rough last stretches to Emangre and Siju.
Best months: November to April, when the river is calm and clear.
Ideal for: Adventure seekers and fit friends who want somewhere truly untouched.

Route

GuwahatiTuraBaghmaraWari ChoraSijuTuraGuwahati

About 850 km in all. The longest driving day is the return from Siju to Tura.

Day by day

Day 1
West to the Garo Hills
Guwahati to Tura · Drive: 5 to 6 hours, 200 km
Leave Guwahati after breakfast and follow the Brahmaputra west through Goalpara before the road climbs into the Garo Hills. Evening in Tura, the region's hill capital.
Overnight in Tura
Day 2
Down to the Simsang river
Tura to Baghmara · Drive: 3.5 hours, 106 km
A slow, green drive south to Baghmara on the Simsang river, close to the Bangladesh border. Afternoon by the river and an early night before the canyon.
Overnight in Baghmara
Day 3
Wari Chora, the hidden canyon
Baghmara to Emangre and back · Drive: 2 hours each way, plus the walk
Drive to Emangre village, ride the local off-road vehicle to the trailhead, then walk about 1.5 km down to the Rongdik river. Glide between sheer rock walls on a bamboo raft or kayak, with a local guide, in water the colour of glass.
Overnight in Baghmara
Day 4
Siju caves, then back to Tura
Baghmara to Siju to Tura · Drive: 1 hour to Siju, then about 4.5 hours
Morning at Siju, one of India's longest limestone caves, by the Simsang river and its bird sanctuary. Then the long, scenic drive back to Tura.
Overnight in Tura
Day 5
Tura's forests and rivers
An easy day: Pelga falls and its bamboo bridge, Chibragre where the Ganol and Rongram rivers meet, and, for those who want it, the walk up Tura Peak for the view over the plains.
Overnight in Tura
Day 6
Back to Guwahati
Tura to Guwahati · Drive: 5 to 6 hours, 200 km
Breakfast and the drive back to Guwahati, in time for an evening flight or train.

Where you stay

Nights 1, 4 and 5: Polo Tura Hotel, Tura (3-star), or Hotel Rikman Continental (3-star).
Nights 2 and 3: the best available stay in Baghmara, Meghalaya Tourism's tourist cottages or a vetted homestay. There is no 3-star hotel this deep in the Garo Hills; rooms are simple, clean and private, and these two nights are what make Wari Chora possible.

The suggested price of ₹72,000 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.