Meghalaya in 3 or 4 Days From Guwahati: Itinerary by Bike, Scooty or Car (Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki)

Three days gets you Shillong and Cherrapunji. Four gets you Mawlynnong and Dawki as well. Fewer days than that and you spend the trip on the road.

Short answer: take 4 days if you want the river at Dawki. Take 3 if you'd rather ride less and see fewer places properly. Anything under 3 is a long weekend drive, not a trip.

Before you pick

It's about 100 km from Guwahati to Shillong, and 3 to 4 hours on NH6 via Nongpoh and Umiam Lake.
Cherrapunji is about 55 km past Shillong, and Dawki is 80 to 90 km south of Shillong. Both roads start from Shillong, so you pass back through it.
You don't need a permit for Meghalaya.
Our fair-use limit is 300 km a day, so 1,200 km over four days. The whole loop is about 450 to 500 km, so you're fine.
Pickup and drop are in Guwahati, so the plan has to loop back.

3 days: Shillong and Cherrapunji

Day 1: Guwahati to Shillong. About 100 km. Leave early, because you want to be on the hill section before the afternoon fog. Stop at Umiam Lake. Night in Shillong.

Day 2: Cherrapunji and back. About 55 km each way by the ridge road, with the Mawkdok viewpoint on the way. Spend the day on the waterfalls, such as Nohkalikai, Dainthlen and Kynrem (our waterfall ride post has the loop). It's about 110 km there and back if you stay in Shillong. You can also sleep in Sohra instead. Want the double-decker root bridge? That's a separate full day from Sohra: read the Tyrna and Riwai guide first.

Day 3: Back to Guwahati. Leave Shillong in the morning and you're back with daylight to spare.

4 days: add Mawlynnong and Dawki

Day 1: same as above.

Day 2: Shillong to Cherrapunji, and stay the night in Sohra.

Day 3: Sohra back through Shillong, then south via Pynursla. Stop at Mawlynnong, then on to Dawki and the Umngot River. Night at Dawki or Shnongpdeng. This is a long day. Start early.

Day 4: Dawki to Guwahati. 180+ km, so you want an early boat and an early start. Be off the hills before dusk.

If you have 6 or 7 days, our Meghalaya loop is the slower version of the same trip.

Bike, scooty or car?

Bike: the best for this trip. Short hill days and easy parking.
Scooty: allowed on all of it. For 4 days, take 5, and travel light. Our scooty or bike post shows which places suit one.
Car: the better choice for a family. The long last day to Guwahati is easiest this way. See our family trip plan.

4 days	Rent
Yamaha RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid Street Rally	₹3,196
Yamaha FZ-S FI V2	₹3,996
Suzuki Ertiga 7-seater	₹11,196

What gets people

Fog. It comes up on the ridges in the late afternoon, and visibility can drop to nothing. If it does, slow right down, put your headlights on low beam, and focus on the white line. Don't try to beat it.
Rain. Sohra is one of the wettest places on Earth. Pack a rain layer in every season.
Fuel. Fill up in Guwahati and in Shillong. After that, pumps are few.
Parking. Tight in Shillong's centre and at the busy viewpoints. Start early.

Best months

October to April is the dry season, and the Umngot is at its clearest from November. June to September has the biggest waterfalls, but also wet roads, fog and cloudy water at Dawki. More on costs in How much does a Meghalaya trip cost? and on the road in Driving in the Northeast hills.

Our vehicles

Helmet included on two-wheelers, no vehicle deposit