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Arunachal Pradesh Cultural Tour – Monasteries, Tribes & Tawang | Guided India Round Trip

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Monasteries & indigenous peoples in Arunachal Pradesh round trip

Duration: 17 Days / 16 Nights

Tour Style: Cultural & Scenic Exploration

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (Suitable for most travelers)

Maximum Altitude: 4,115 m (High-altitude travel involved)

Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
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Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
Assam Arunachal Tour Image
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Private tours – Nature/ culture/ hiking options

We also offer all of our tours as private tours – at your best time and with your desired program.
Contact us – we will be happy to help you.

Translated from Sanskrit, the name of India’s northeasternmost state, Arunachal Pradesh, roughly means “land of mountains lit by the dawn”. And even if this description gives you a first hint of the beautiful mountain panoramas that you will admire on this tour, the reality is indescribably more impressive. One of India’s most sparsely populated regions, Arunachal Pradesh stretches over 84,000 km², from low-lying subtropical rainforests and cloud forests to eternally snow-covered heights of over 7,000 m above sea level.

Just as diverse as the landscape and nature is the culture of this dramatic region, which clearly shows the fine line between the mighty past and the progress of modernity. This sometimes inhospitable mountain world was first settled by indigenous peoples descended from the Tibetans, such as the Monpas and Sherdukpen, who continue to live predominantly in the Buddhist tradition and built some of the most powerful monasteries in India. Between 500 and 700 monks, for example, still live and teach at an altitude of 2,800 m in Tawang Monastery, the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama.

The nearby women’s monastery Ani Gompa shows that the nuns here are also friendly towards Western visitors and are happy to provide an insight into their everyday life. And even though many monasteries used to function as forts and are still known today as dzongs, or monastery fortresses, today it is the smiles of the friendly and warm people that lend warmth to the cold walls and leave the most lasting impression on travelers.

The second part of the tour focuses on encounters with various tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. In the wide valley of Ziro, for example, live the Atapani where a special form of aquaculture is still practised today and the older women have face tattoos and wear nose plugs.
We will round off our round trip through Arunachal Pradesh with a visit to the river island of Majuli in Assam and the land of the Konjaks in Nagaland.

Although the Konyaks have renounced headhunting, every visit to their village is nevertheless surrounded by an air of pioneering spirit and a thirst for adventure. Our stay on the river island of Majuli in Assam, surrounded by the flowing waters of the mighty Brahmaputra, gives us an insight into the Mishing tribe’s way of life and the birthplace of Vishnuism.
A tour to Arunacha Pradesh requires a good dose of adaptability! Due to the remoteness, an simple standard of accommodation must be expected. We constantly check the possibilities and will integrate the best options into your travel program.

Tour Highlights

  • Lively city life in Guwahati
  • Buddhist cultural heritage, impressive monastery fortresses in the Tawang and Dirang region
  • Beautiful mountain panoramas and natural landscapes – mystical waterfalls, cloud forests
  • Experience the diversity of indigenous peoples, also in the lower regions
  • Visit Tawang Monastery – a major Himalayan Buddhist landmark
  • Experience authentic tribal cultures (Apatani, Monpa & more)
  • Explore the scenic Ziro Valley cultural landscape
  • Discover Majuli Island, the world’s largest river island
  • Travel through stunning Himalayan landscapes & remote villages
  • Enjoy a guided, well-organized offbeat journey in Northeast India

Best Time To Travel

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
  Best Time   Good Time   Off Season

In Arunachal Pradesh, you will experience the best travel climate from October to April, with ideal conditions in the period from October to November and from March to April.

Day Wise Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Guwahati airport (50 m above sea level) and transfer to a hotel. First sightseeing. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 2

Onward journey to Bhalukpong (165 m above sea level) on the border with Assam and exploration of the town. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 3

 Driving to Dirang (1,580 m above sea level). Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 4

Visiting the surrounding indigenous villages, such as Thembang and Sangti. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 5

Visiting to the Dirang monastery and onward journey to Tawang (2,800 m above sea level). Overnight stay in hotel.

Day  6

Visiting the Tawang monastery and meet the monks. On the way back to Tawang visit the women’s monastery Ani Gompa. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 7

We will visit various villages in the surroundings of Tawang. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 8

Continuing to Bomdila (2570 m above sea level) with a visit to various monasteries. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 9

Transfer from Bomdila to Seppa

Option: Day 9

Transfer from Bomdila to Tezpur (75 m above sea level); Day 10: Return flight from Tezpur to Guwahati

Day 10

Driving on from Seppa to Ziro, a pretty valley surrounded by pine-covered mountains. Ziro is the heart of the Apatani tribe. The older women wear special nose decorations and facial tattoos. Older men wear their hair in knots on their heads and have facial tattoos on their chins. The new generation of Apatani men and women, however, have not continued these old traditions since the 1970s. The agricultural tradition that is still practiced includes rice and aquaculture. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 11

Sightseeing in Ziro. Visiting the villages of the Apatani tribe, the handicraft workshop and the local museum.

Day 12

Ziro – Majuli (travel time approx. 5 hours + 30 minutes by ferry) Our journey today ends with an adventurous ferry ride across the Brahmaputra river to the largest inhabited river island in the world: Majuli in Assam. This is where the culture of Vishnuism, which is still alive today, originated. “Belonging to Vishnu” is one of the three most important branches of Hinduism. Here Vishnu is accepted as the supreme all-being. All other gods are subordinate to him or emerge from him.

Option: Day 12

Transfer to Gogamukh (travel time 6 hours) in Assam and overnight stay in a camp on the banks of the Subhansiri River; Day 13: Onward journey via Pasighat and across the Siang River. Overnight stay in a guesthouse or homestay; Day 14: Aalo: Excursion to the villages of the Adi Galo tribe in and around Aalo at 300 m above sea level. Walk along the Siyom River and over a suspension bridge to a Galo village on the other side with a view of the pretty hilly landscape. Overnight stay in a guesthouse or homestay; Day 15: Transfer to Dibrugarh airport (travel time approx. 5.5 hours) and then return flight.

Day 13

We will take time to visit villages of the indigenous people and discover the Vishnuism culture. The Assamese reformer St. Shankardeva founded Vishnuism monasteries here in the 15th century, so-called “Satras”. We have the opportunity to experience a dance performance and immerse ourselves in the art of mask making. In the afternoon, we visit villages of the Mishing tribe from the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh. The traditional Mishing houses are built on stilts. Mishing are excellent fishermen and are skilled at navigating the boats along the ever-changing banks of the Brahmaputra. Overnight stay in an simple bamboo house.

Day 14

Majuli – Mon (travel time approx. 6 hours + 1 hour ferry). We will cross the Brahmaputra again by ferry and then drive to Nagaland. On the way we visit a local market.
– Mon lies at the heart of the tradition-conscious Konyak tribe. They gave up headhunting a long time ago, but otherwise they live more traditionally than all the other 15 Naga tribes. The Konyak are gifted craftsmen and artists. Beautiful wood carvings, doas (machetes), headdresses and necklaces are evidence of this living tradition. Overnight stay at a hotel in Mon.

Day 15

Today we will visit the village of Longwa where traditions are still lived authentically. Meet the villagers of this Konyak village, which lies on the border between Myanmar and Nagaland. The “Angh” – village chief – watches over 50 villages in Nagaland and Myanmar. Tribesmen with impressive facial tattoos can still be found here today. The village also offers a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding hills and Myanmar (Burma). Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 16

Mon – Dibrugarh

Day 17

Dibrugarh – Return flight to Guwahati, Kolkata or Delhi

Additional options

  • Shorten this tour by focusing on Arunachal’s cultural heritage in and around Tawang or just visiting the lower-lying settlement areas of various indigenous peoples around Tezpur, Ziro, Daporjio, Aalo and Dibrugarh
  • Combine this tour with our travel module “Assam” and visit the Kaziranga National Park, which is well worth seeing, or switch off for a few luxurious days in a tea garden.
  • This travel module can also be ideally combined with other destinations in northeast India, such as our travel modules “Meghalaya” and “Nagaland“

The journey is led by an experienced English-speaking local guide who provides cultural insights, assists communication with local communities, and ensures smooth coordination throughout the tour.

  • Easy to moderate hikes (1–6 hours optional).
  • Good hiking shoes recommended.
  • Participants carry personal daypacks.
  • Overland travel stages of 1–5 hours.
  • Flexibility and openness to local conditions required.

Comfortable guesthouses or mid-range hotels in major towns such as Delhi, Rumtek and Gangtok. Simpler guesthouses are used in remote regions, offering authentic local experiences.

Homestays provide cultural immersion rather than luxury comfort. Facilities are simple, meals are home-cooked, and travelers gain insight into authentic local lifestyles.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available. Hiking days usually include packed lunches. Drinks are not included except breakfast beverages. Boiled water or tea may be available during hikes for an additional cost.
Services Included
  • International & domestic flights (economy class)
  • All transfers and overland transport
  • Hotels and homestay accommodation
  • Meals during the tour
  • Sightseeing entrance fees
  • Sikkim permits
  • English-speaking guide
  • Emergency support equipment
  • Visa assistance
Services Not Included
  • Personal drinks and beverages
  • Lunch & dinner in Delhi
  • Restaurant drinks
  • Personal expenses
Sikkim CH

On Request

Per Person
On Request