This is a 7-day plan for Meghalaya and Kaziranga together. You get the Sohra plateau, Dawki and Mawlynnong, then the rhinos of Assam.
We cover the route day by day, the long drive between the two, the safari slots and the best months to go.
Why these two fit together
Meghalaya and Kaziranga are both reached from Guwahati. Meghalaya lies south, up in the hills. Kaziranga lies east, along the Brahmaputra valley.
You do not need to go back to Guwahati between them. The road from Shillong drops to Jorabat and turns east to Kaziranga. That saves a day.
Neither state needs an Inner Line Permit for Indian citizens. Carry photo ID for the hotels and for the safari.
The two halves feel nothing alike. Meghalaya is cliffs, caves and cold mornings. Kaziranga is flat grass, wetland and big animals. That contrast is the reason to pair them.
The 7-day plan, in brief
Day 1: Guwahati to Sohra. Day 2: Sohra's caves and falls. Day 3: Dawki, Riwai and Mawlynnong.
Day 4: up to Shillong. Day 5: Shillong to Kaziranga. Day 6: two Kaziranga Safaris. Day 7: back to Guwahati and home.
That is three nights in Sohra, one in Shillong and two at Kaziranga.
Days 1 to 3: the Sohra plateau
Day 1: land in Guwahati in the morning and drive into the hills. Stop at Umiam Lake, which locals call Barapani. Past Shillong, the road runs south onto the plateau, with the Dympep valley below you at Mawkdok. Shillong is about three hours from Guwahati, and Sohra about two more.
If the light holds, end the day at Nohkalikai, the tallest plunge waterfall in India. If you arrive after dark, it moves to the next morning.
Day 2: a full day close to your base. Walk through the lit limestone cave at Mawsmai. See the Seven Sisters Falls, then look out over Bangladesh from the Eco Park on the rim. Finish at Arwah Cave.
Day 3: south-east to Dawki and the Umngot river. Take a boat out on the clear water. On the way back, walk to the Riwai living root bridge, a short and easy walk from the road. Then see Mawlynnong next door, and drive back to Sohra.
Days 4 and 5: Shillong, then down to Assam
Day 4: up the road to Shillong, with a stop at Elephant Falls in its three tiers. Visit the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, walk round Ward's Lake, and spend the evening at Police Bazar.
Ward's Lake is closed on Tuesdays. Shillong Peak sits inside an Air Force area and can close without notice.
Day 5: a slow breakfast, then the longest drive of the trip, about six hours. The road drops to Jorabat and turns east along the valley. Past Nagaon the tea gardens begin. You reach Kaziranga by evening.
Day 6: two Kaziranga Safaris
Day 6 is the reason you came down. Take the morning safari in the Central range at Kohora. It is the easiest range to reach and a strong first look at rhinos.
Rest at the resort over the middle of the day. Then take the afternoon safari in the Western range at Bagori. It is more open country, and also good for rhinos.
Two ranges in one day show you far more of the park than one drive. They also give you a second chance if the first is quiet.
Our guide to which Kaziranga range to choose explains the others, including Agoratoli for birds.
Day 7: back to Guwahati
After breakfast, drive west along the valley to Guwahati. It takes four to five hours.
So book an afternoon or evening flight, or a night train. A morning flight will not work from Kaziranga.
Kaziranga Safari: slots and season
Kaziranga reopened for the 2026-27 season on 3 October. It closes each monsoon, when the Brahmaputra floods the grass, and runs roughly October to May.
Two slots were announced at the reopening. The morning slot runs from 7:30 to 10:00 am, and the afternoon slot from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Timings can change in the season.
Private cars cannot enter the park. Every safari uses a licensed jeep, booked through the jeep associations. Fees are paid at the range office, and we confirm the current rate before you travel.
Carry the original photo ID you used for the booking. Elephant safaris had not restarted at the reopening and are expected later in the season.
Our Kaziranga Safari guide has the full detail.
Where you sleep
In Sohra we use a small family-run homestay in a village below the plateau. Three nights there means you unpack once for the falls and the Dawki day. Evenings are quiet, which is the point.
In Shillong we use a guesthouse in a quieter part of town, a short drive from Police Bazar.
At Kaziranga we use a resort on the highway stretch near Bokakhat. Two nights there means the safari day is not also a travel day.
Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book. Vegetarian food is easy in Shillong and Kaziranga, and needs a little notice in Sohra.
On the safari
Wear layers you can peel off as the sun comes up. Pick muted greens, browns and greys over bright colours. A cap and a scarf help with the dust.
Bring binoculars and water. A small bag that sits at your feet is easier than a big one.
Stay seated and keep your voice low. Never ask the driver to get closer to a rhino. It is huge, and it can charge.
Sightings are never guaranteed. This is a wild park, not a zoo.
When to go
November to April is the window this trip is built for. The Umngot runs clear, the Meghalaya viewpoints sit above the cloud, and Kaziranga is open.
Assam Tourism names November to April as the best time for Kaziranga too. In the monsoon the park is shut, so the Kaziranga half cannot run.
It is cold on the Sohra plateau and in Shillong after dark. An open jeep at dawn is colder than you expect. Pack warm layers, and a rain jacket, because Sohra can rain in any month.
The other way round
You can run the trip in reverse: Kaziranga first, then Meghalaya. The six-hour drive between them is the same either way.
Going Meghalaya first means the last drive is from Kaziranga. Going Kaziranga first means the last drive is from Shillong, about three and a half hours to the airport.
Choose by your flights. We set the order to fit them, and to keep Mawlynnong off a Sunday.
Seven days or nine?
Seven days is tight but it works. Days 3 and 5 are long in the car, and Day 7 needs a late flight.
Our Meghalaya and Kaziranga package runs nine days at an easier pace. It adds a night in Guwahati at each end, a sunset on the Brahmaputra and an early morning at Kamakhya.
It also gives Kaziranga two nights with a free afternoon. With the last night in Guwahati, any flight time works.
Only want the rhinos? Our Kaziranga Wildlife Escape is three nights and three safaris in three ranges.
Plan this trip with us
Start from Meghalaya and Kaziranga, and tell us if you want it in seven days. Our Kaziranga page has the stays and how we run the safaris.
Send your dates on Plan My Trip. We reply within 24 hours, and we book your safari slots as soon as you confirm.
