The Eastern Arch Motorcycle Tour

Take an early morning flight from Delhi to Dibrugarh, the tea capital of Assam. Dibrugarh is known for its tea gardens and the beautiful Brahmaputra River. After check-in, meet the team for an orientation session on your motorbike, safety and the route. Take a warm up ride around Dibrugarh’s tea estates to get accustomed before the journey ahead.

Start your journey with a one hour ferry ride across the Brahmaputra. The views are breathtaking and crossing this mighty river is an experience to remember. Once on the other side, take a smooth ride on the wide highway to Pasighat. One of the oldest towns of Arunachal Pradesh, Pasighat is situated by the Siang River and is a peaceful and welcoming introduction to the Adi tribe’s culture. The day is a good time to get used to the local riding conditions on Northeast India’s beautiful roads.

Today you enter the Dibang Valley, an ecologically and culturally sensitive area. Ride through the Adi and Idu Mishmi villages, see the traditional houses, bamboo work and terraced farms. The road is a mix of paved and rough. As you approach Roing, enjoy the valley views and ride over riverbeds and shallow water crossings that will test and reward you equally. The Dibang River’s meanders will be the backdrop as you end your day in Roing.

Ride through the Lohit River Valley and enter the land of the Tai Khampti tribe, a community with roots from Myanmar. The Khampti villages here are famous for their beautiful Buddhist monasteries, colorful textiles and bamboo houses on stilts. The road is mostly paved so you can enjoy the views without the stress of rough terrain. You will see a variety of landscapes today, from plains to forests. As you enter Assam, you will notice the change in vegetation and scenery as Assam is a land shaped by its tea history.

We will be riding through Tengapani, located in the Tinsukia district of Assam near the border with Arunachal Pradesh, is known for its serene village atmosphere, lush greenery, and proximity to the Tengapani Tea Estate and the Golden Pagoda in Namsa. Sivasagar is house of wonderful architectural, archaeological, engineering skills which are reflected in numerous temples, palaces, stone bridges, tanks and pyramid-type Maidams. There are more than 350 ancient monuments in Sivasagar District.

Heading deeper into Nagaland we make for Mokokchung. The bustling township of Mokokchung is one of the major towns in Nagaland and is the nerve centre of the Ao people. The day’s ride takes us on a combination of deep forested Jeep tracks and double lane state roads. A fair amount of todays riding will be in wild country with deep muddy roads. You will most likely see see no other traffic on this road.

Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, is a mix of tribal culture and war history. Famous for the WWII Battle of Kohima it is a significant place in world history. Visit the Kohima War Cemetery to pay homage to the soldiers who lost their lives fighting the Japanese forces. En route pass by Doyang Lake where thousands of Amur Falcons rest before flying to Africa. Kohima has a lively atmosphere and historical landmarks, a unique destination in Northeast India. The ‘Battle of Kohima’ and specifically the ‘Battle of the tennis court’ are examples of famous battles fought in this theatre. A good day of riding again, we take you to Kohima via the Doyang reservoir on village tracks. This area has become famous for the annual migration of the Amur Falcons who rest here for 40 days fattening up for their further flight to Africa.

This is a free day in Kohima. We will organize a small tour of places of interest in Kohima for the interested. Options include a day hike at the picturesque Dzuku Valley, visits to the Naga Heritage village, WW2 cemetery and Khonoma Village.

Today you ride back into Assam, through the Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts to Haflong - Assam’s only hill station. Pass through Karbi, Dimasa and Rengma villages and experience the diversity that makes Northeast India so unique. This is the longest day of riding during the entire tour. The second half of the day will be on newly built four lane highways which will someday connect India with South East Asia. Winding roads, green valleys and insights of tribe groups such as Karbi, Dimasa, Rengma will be highlight.

Enter Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills, ride through pine forests and cross the Umrangso Reservoir. The peaceful landscapes will take you to Jowai, famous for its Jaintia community and local culture. The ride will show you the unique beauty of Meghalaya - hill sides, reservoirs and more and leave you fresh for the next day's ride.

Drive to Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth. This route near the Bangladesh border has winding roads and traditional Khasi villages. See the natural beauty of Meghalaya and in Cherrapunji, see living root bridges and massive limestone caves formed by centuries of rain and erosion.

A day to indulge in Cherrapunji’s wonders. Trek to the living root bridges, handcrafted by the Khasi people over centuries by entwining the roots of Ficus trees. These bridges are a symbol of resilience and harmony with nature. You can also visit Mawsmai Caves or Shella town for views of Bangladesh’s plains.

The last leg of the ride takes you down from Meghalaya’s hills to Guwahati, the largest city in Northeast India, along the Brahmaputra River. Enroute stop at Mawphlang Sacred Forest, an ancient forest preserved by the Khasi tribes. Rich in biodiversity and folklore, this is a final tribute to the spiritual connection between the land and its people. Arrive Guwahati and celebrate the end of the ride and experience the city’s vibrant culture.

Goodbye Northeast India as you fly back to Delhi for your onward journey. The villages, valleys and tribes will remain etched in your memory, a souvenir of a lifetime trip to India’s wilderness.