Cultural and rural tour of North East India
Description of Cultural and rural tour of North East India
Have you ever seen a living bridge? The living root bridges of North-East India are made with intertwined roots of rubber trees, bridging the villages that were once accessible only through mountain trails.
You can start in Kolkata – touring the city by its history, its cuisine, its artisan markets, or its temples. As you will be travelling without a group, you have the freedom to choose and design the trip that fits your interests.
Next, you move to Meghalaya, exploring the markets of Shillong, the sacred forests of the East Khasi Hills, villages, living root bridges, and the walking trails, waterfalls, and caves.
Customisation - This itinerary can be taken AS-IS, or customised according to your areas of interest and budget. Regardless of how long you intend to travel, you will have an authentic and insightful travel experience.
Storytelling over sightseeing - This trip is fantastic for immersing yourself in a unique culture, thanks to the community-based tourism model. One of the unique things is the matrilineal society structure that the tribes follow, according to which the women inherit the property and pass down their names.
This tour offers opportunities for hands-on experiences, whether you want to learn to weave, participate in agricultural activities on the small farms, or do food and street photography – but there’s also time spent simply meeting people and speaking to them about their lives.
Responsible Travel - Be it environmental or cultural, this tour aims to leave as little a trace as possible. We facilitate interaction rather than mere sightseeing, with opportunities to participate in daily conversations and activities with locals.
About us - Over the last decade, we have worked hard to create exceptional storytelling-based responsible travel experiences in India. We come from a background of travel writing, photography, and corporate, and are well-traveled. This helps us understand the villages and communities in India. During the planning phase, we make everything transparent, including expenditure, so there are no hidden costs later on.
Hope to host you in India soon.
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Reviews
6 Reviews of Cultural and rural tour of North East India
Reviewed on 03 Mar 2026 by Shaun Hetherington
Extremely good. The organisational skills and attention to detail were very good as was the level of care and support. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Feb 2025 by Simon Ward
We had always wished to visit the living root bridges this trip did not disappoint, an excellent holiday. The time spent with the villagers in Kong Thong was also special. Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Dec 2022 by Geoff Cruickshank
We had a great time and are already contemplating another trip to India next year. We would also like to thank Gaurav of the tour operator who arranged parts of the holiday for us. He went way beyond the call of duty Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Mar 2019 by Kwok Ha
Thank you Gaurav for arrangement of the whole holiday. I can know some of the culture and the living of the people in North East India. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Apr 2018 by Pat Willis
A wonderful experience so rare to find such an unspoilt country and nothing done just for tourists. If you are looking for an authentic experience off the beaten track this is the tour for you! Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
1. Our vehicles are of the latest emission standards applicable in India.2. The drivers drive responsibly in the mountains. This not only ensures your safety but also reduces fuel consumption.
3. During the hikes and village walks, we follow waste management and source supplies from the locals. Plastic waste (if any) is collected in a bag and disposed of properly.
4. Meghalya is one of the cleanest states of North East India. To continue keeping it that way, we provide alternatives to plastic bottles and carry bags to collect waste.
5. Local guides are trained in responsible tourism and are carefully chosen depending upon their commitment to environmental conservation. Some of your accommodations are built using traditional materials like bamboo. This helps in controlling temperature, and they are durable. CFL & LED lighting is preferred over tungsten bulbs to reduce electricity consumption.
6. Food is sourced from the same region and prepared using local recipes. This reduces the cost and environmental impact of transporting it over long distances.
7. Wood fire is replaced by cooking gas in most villages to reduce air pollution and the cutting of trees.
People
1. We operate small private tours of 2-10 people to be conscious about the consumption of natural and human resources of the village.2. We are providing direct access to the artisans of handicrafts via tourism, where you can buy (if you choose to).
3. Your activities are designed with local SHGs, with equal skill-based work opportunities, giving you an immersive experience.
4. The homestays are run by families, not by front desk staff, ensuring economic benefits to the last mile.
5. We do not encourage treating tribes as objects of amusement. Rather, we educate and act as a bridge between the locals and the visitors for mutual respect and cultural exchange.
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