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Arunachal & Tawang Sacred Tour

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Upon arrival at Guwahati your team will meet you and assist in your transfer to the hotel. When time permits, the bikes will be allocated and whatever adjustments to be made will be taken care of by the Mechanic following which we will have a briefing regarding the days to come. Towards evening head out for a cruise on the Brahmaputra and dinner.
Activity: Arrival, Bike allocation, Briefing, River cruise
Overnight: Hotel

We start quite early, since it is imperative, we don’t waste much time in the Guwahati traffic. The first 140 Km takes through rural Brahmaputra valley, dotted with lush tea plantations that Assam is known for. The second stretch are the mountains as we steadily climb for most parts along the Bhutanese border. Enroute you will see typical sub-alpine villages and orchards, mainly of Kiwi. This region is home to the Sherdukpen and Monpa people, the tibetan origin Buddhist tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.


Activity: Ride: 280 Km / 8-9 hrs

Overnight: Lodge

Leaving the Buddhist belt today you will enter the Animist belt. Here on, all the tribes you come across till Mechuka are animist of the ‘Tani’ clans. The main belief of this region is ‘Donyi Polo’ (Sun and Moon). The first tribe you come across are the Aka following which you enter the territories of the Nyishi tribe. Nyishi are the largest tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. For almost the entirety of the days ride you will be along the Kameng and Bichom rivers.
Activity: Ride 250 Km / 8-9 hr
Overnight: Lodge
One of the longest days of riding gets you to Ziro Valley. This is home to the Apatani tribe. Perched at an average elevation of 1650 mts, Ziro valley with its pine clad surrounding hills is quite unique geographically as well as culturally. Apatani are perhaps one of the only tribes who have been settled on one geographical location and whereas the other tribes practice slash and burn cultivation, the Apatani have over eons practiced fixed agriculture. Historically, due to the fiercer and more numerous neighboring tribes, the Apatani have tightly packed villages and the women in a way practiced self-mutilation with facial tattoos and piercings to make themselves less alluring to the invading tribes.
Activity: Ride 250 Km / 8-9 hr
Overnight: Lodge
We ride further into Central Arunachal Pradesh as we make our way east towards Daporijo. Today we enter the territories of the Tagin, who are concentrated in and around Daporijo. The day’s ride takes us through river valleys and scattered stilted villages amidst the dense forested hills.
Activity: Ride 165 Km / 7-8 hrs
Overnight: Hotel
Our destination for this day is the township of Along lying at the confluence of the Sipu and Siyom Rivers. Along, also called ‘Alo’, is the headquarters of the West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. Along is home to the Galo tribe, one of the most populous tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. It is popularly believed that the Galo migrated from Tibet and the fringes of the Indo-Tibetan Frontier. It is also popularly believed that the Galo have descended from Sisi-The Earth Mother. The Galo prefers to live on the high spurs of hills which are uneven and undulating. The houses are raised on struts of bamboo or wood, the floor and the walls are made of split bamboo. The roof is thatched with leaves or straw. Though expert in hunting big and small animals and birds, the Galo are now mainly agricultural people.
Activity: Ride 195 Km / 6-7 hr
Overnight: Homestay
One of the best routes of Arunachal Pradesh takes you to far flung Mechuka. Mechuka (meaning medicinal water of snow), is a Buddhist Himalayan hamlet situated a mere 29 kms from the Indo-Tibetan border, in the West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal’s ‘Forbidden Valley’ became accessible by road only in 2003, in preparation to welcome the Dalai Lama to the 400-year-old Samten Yongcha Monastery. Nestled at 6000 ft above sea level, it is home to the Memba, Ramo, Bokar, Lingbo and Ta gin tribes of Arunachal who have a strong history of connections and roots with Lhasa, Tibet.
Activity: Ride 195 Km / 6-7 hrs
Overnight: Homestay
Free day in Mechuka. There is much to see around here, from sites associated with Buddhist legends, to panoramic views. We also can use day for a ‘Gin Tonic’ type of raft ride. An easy meander down between the meadows.
Activity: Local Exploration
Overnight: Homestay
Today we retrace our route back to Along. Again, very exciting to ride as the change in direction brings about a new prospective.
Activity: Ride 190 Km / 6-7 hr
Overnight: Homestay
The first section brings us to Pasighat, the oldest town of Arunachal Pradesh and home to the Adi tribe. From here on we enter the vast mouth of the Brahmaputra Valley. Phenomenal views of the high Himalayas on three sides and the Brahmaputra valley on the other. Our destination for the day is the Golden Pagoda at Tengapani. Home to the Tai Khamti tribe. Tai Kamti people migrated here from the Myanmar- Thailand border some 550 yrs ago and are ardent followers of Theravada Buddhism.
Activity: Ride 260 Km / 7-8 hrs
Overnight: Resort
Saying goodbye to Arunachal we ride back into the Brahmaputra valley of Assam. This day takes us through the oil, gas and tea belt of Assam for the first part. Our destination for the day is a bungalow located in a 600-hectare tea plantation close to the city of Jorehat. After a long time, we will be back on busier national highways today.
Activity: Ride 280 Km / 7-8 hrs
Overnight: Tea Bungalow
An easy day of riding takes us to Kaziranga National Park, home to the world largest population of One horned Rhinoceros. We have a jeep safari lined up this afternoon.
Activity: Ride 90 Km / 2-3 hrs, Jeep Safari
Overnight: Safari Resort
Starting early, we take to elephant backs on a safari of the central range of the park. This provides a beautiful opportunity to spot wildlife up close. Following this, breakfast and we hit the saddle. Our destination for the day haflong is the district headquarters of the North Cachar (Dima Hsao) district, one of the only two hill districts of Assam.
Activity: Ride 310 Km / 6-7 hrs, Elephant Safari
Overnight: Lodge
A beautiful day on the road as we make our way through the North Cachar hill tract to the Jaintia Plateau. NC hills is home to the Dimasa tribe whereas the Jaintia Plateau as the name suggest is home to the Jaintia tribe. Enroute visit the beautiful Umrangso reservoir.
Activity: Ride 185 Km / 7-8 hrs
Overnight: Hotel
Riding south we first hit the Bangladesh border at Dawki. Here we enter the Khasi hills of Meghalaya. For most parts of the day till we hit the plains we will be in the Khasi hills, which is home to the majority Khasi tribe of Meghalaya. Enroute we vist the natural root bridge at Mawlynnong village.
Activity: Ride 270 Km / 7-8 hrs
Overnight: Hotel

Your port of departure is the Guwahati airport.