9 Places to Visit in North East India to Must Explore

If you are a rider then the engine hums must be going beneath you, and the open road thrill pulls you forward. You have spent your weeks being stuck in traffic, hearing the same horns, seeing the same buildings, living the same routine. But what if this time the road took you to a different place? A place where mountains rise like giants, clouds touch your skin and rivers run wild and free- It is North East State, Land of Seven Sisters. Find best of the best places to visit in North East India for a wonderful trip.

List of 9 Tourist Places in North East India to Must Explore on a Motorcycle

The North East states of India are not like the highways you are used to. They will challenge you with unpredictable terrain, test your endurance with hairpin bends and reward you with views that are out of this world. A North East India Motorbike Trip is not just a ride, It’s an experience where every km of road has a story to tell. So, are you ready to listen?

Tawang – Arunachal Pradesh

There are hardly any places in India where you can ride above 10,000 feet with roads passing through some of the highest mountain passes. Tawang is one such place. The journey to this town isn’t easy. You’ll ride through fog-covered roads where visibility is sometimes less than 10 meters. The weather can turn bad in an instant and the wind will chill you even during the day. But that’s exactly what makes the ride so awesome.

Tawang is in western Arunachal Pradesh, close to the Indo-China border. The town is famous for its Buddhist heritage and has one of the largest monasteries in India. The landscape is a mix of frozen lakes, towering mountains, and valleys. If you ride further, you’ll reach Bum La Pass and Sela Pass as these are the high-altitude border post which requires special permission to visit.

• Duration of trip: 3 to 4 days
• Key attractions: Tawang Monastery, Sela Pass, Bum La Pass, Madhuri Lake
• Best time to visit: March to June, September to November
• Ideal Route: Guwahati → Tezpur → Bomdila → Tawang
• Travel tips: Carry extra fuel as petrol stations are limited. Wear layers as temperatures drop unexpectedly.

Ziro – Arunachal Pradesh

Riding to Ziro Valley feels like entering a world where time moves slower than the rest of the world. The roads here pass through thick forests, wooden bridges, and small villages where the locals will greet you with curiosity. This valley is home to the Apatani tribe, which has preserved its culture and traditions for centuries. The people here still live in traditional bamboo and wood houses and their lifestyle is purely connected to nature.

Ziro is famous for its paddy fields. Choose your North East India Tour Package during the Ziro music festival season, it will add a different level of experience to your ride. The Ziro Music Festival is one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in the country and it happens right in the middle of the valley surrounded by hills.

• Duration of trip: 2 to 3 days
• Key attractions: Ziro Music Festival, Apatani villages, Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
• Best time to visit: September to April
• Ideal Route: Itanagar → Naharlagun → Yazali → Ziro
• Travel tips: Network connectivity is weak in this region. It is best to book your stay in advance.

Majuli – Assam

Not every day do you get to go on a bike trip to an island in the middle of a river. Majuli is the world’s largest river island and reaching here is an adventure in itself. The journey begins with a ride to Jorhat and then a ferry ride across the Brahmaputra.

Majuli is not just open landscapes and flowing rivers. This island has a culture that has been untouched for centuries. It has Satras – monasteries that preserve ancient Assamese traditions.  The tribal communities still live in wooden houses on stilts to protect themselves from floods.  If you love offbeat travel then riding through the dirt roads of Majuli and staying in a bamboo hut near the river is an experience you will remember for a long time.

• Duration of trip: 1 to 2 days
• Key attractions: Satras (monasteries) - Kamalabari, Dakhinpat, Auniati
• Best time to visit: October to March
• Ideal Route: Jorhat - Nimati Ghat - Majuli
• Travel tips: Carry waterproof bags for your belongings.

Dawki and Mawlynnong – Meghalaya

Ride right next to a river that is so clear you can see the bottom even at great depths. The ride to this town takes you through the green valleys of Meghalaya and the roads are smooth but full of sharp curves. It os one of the most visited and beautiful Tourist Places in North East India.

Dawki is near the India-Bangladesh border and the biggest attraction here is the Umngot River. The water is crystal clear and the boats floating on it look like they are suspended in air. Just a short ride from Dawki is Mawlynnong, a village that has got international recognition for its cleanliness. The pathways here are lined with flowering plants and every house has a beautifully maintained garden. If you ride further into the forests, you will find living root bridges which are naturally formed by the intertwining roots of ancient trees.

• Duration of trip: 1 to 2 days
• Key attractions: Umngot River, Living Root Bridges, Mawlynnong Village
• Best time to visit: October to April
• Ideal Route: Shillong → Pynursla → Dawki → Mawlynnong
• Travel tips: Local guides can take you to hidden spots near the river.

Sikkim

A Trip to Sikkim is heaven for riders who love high altitude roads. The whole state is filled with roads that will test your skills and endurance. The ride to Gurudongmar Lake is one of the toughest yet most epic rides on a Motorbike in this region. The roads take you above 17,000 feet where oxygen levels drop and temperatures are low even in summer.

Apart from Gurudongmar, another exciting route is the old Silk Route in Zuluk. This stretch has 32 hairpin bends that will test your riding skills and patience. Every turn opens a different view of the snowcapped mountains and deep valleys below. If you love long distance riding then Sikkim will give you an experience that few other places can match.

• Duration of trip: 4 to 5 days
• Key attraction: Gurudongmar Lake, Nathula Pass, Zuluk, Tsomgo Lake
• Best time to visit: March to June, September to November
• Ideal Route: Gangtok → Lachen → Gurudongmar Lake → Lachung → Zuluk
• Travel tips: Permits are required for certain areas so better to travel with permits.

Kaziranga and Haflong – Assam

Riding through vast grasslands where wild elephants and rhinoceroses roam free is something you will not find in many places. The roads to Kaziranga pass through tea gardens, open fields and small Assamese villages. The highway is good but the occasional wildlife crossing reminds you that this place belongs to the animals as much as to the humans.

Kaziranga is most famous for one-horned rhinoceroses but the park is also home to tigers, elephants and wild buffaloes. Unlike other national parks where safaris are only done in jeeps, here you can take an elephant safari. After Kaziranga, a long drive to Haflong is a different experience altogether. This is Assam’s only hill station and the roads here take you through misty mountains and forests where the only sound is of waterfalls.

• Duration of trip: 3 to 4 days
• Key attractions: One-horned rhinoceros, tea gardens, Haflong Lake, Jatinga (a mysterious village known for bird migration)
• Best time to visit: November to April
• Ideal Route: Guwahati → Nagaon → Kaziranga → Haflong
• Travel tips: Safari bookings should be made in advance. Wildlife sightings are best in the early morning or late afternoon.

Cherrapunji – Meghalaya

If you love riding through roads where clouds descend so low you can barely see a few meters ahead then Cherrapunji should be on your bucket list. This place is one of the wettest on earth and rain here is not a seasonal event but an everyday affair. The roads are surrounded by thick forests and every few kilometers you will find a waterfall cascading down from the cliffs.

The living root bridges here have been developed over centuries by local tribes who train tree roots to form strong walkways over rivers. The ride to Nohkalikai Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in India, is another highlight of this journey. During the monsoon, the entire region transforms into a land of countless streams and waterfalls.

• Duration of trip: 2 to 3 days
• Key attractions: Nohkalikai Falls, Double-Decker Living Root Bridge, Seven Sisters Falls
• Best time to visit: October to April
• Ideal Route: Shillong → Cherrapunji
• Travel tips: Rain gear is essential. The roads can be slippery so ride carefully.

Loktak Lake – Manipur

Have you ever seen a lake where small islands float on the water? Loktak Lake is the only place in India where you will find this. The lake is famous for its Phumdis which are floating patches of vegetation that move with the wind. Riding to Loktak is an experience of long open roads with a glimpse of traditional Manipur villages.

Apart from its floating islands, the lake is also home to Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park in the world. This park is the last refuge of the endangered Sangai deer. If you take a boat ride on the lake you will see local fishermen living in huts built on these floating islands.

• Duration of trip: 2 to 3 days
• Key attractions: Floating islands, Sangai deer, Keibul Lamjao National Park
• Best time to visit: October to March
• Ideal Route: Imphal → Moirang → Loktak Lake
• Travel tips: Sunrise boat rides offer the best views.

Tripura and Unakoti

Tripura is the least explored state in India but the roads here will surprise you at every turn. The ride here takes you past ancient temples, dense forests and roads that lead to places not touched by mass tourism. One of the biggest highlights here is Unakoti, a place where massive rock carvings of Hindu deities are hidden deep in the hills.

Apart from Unakoti, a ride to Neermahal is another experience that stands out. This is a palace built in the middle of a lake and reaching here by bike is an opportunity to ride on roads that no one else has ridden before.

• Duration of trip: 3 to 4 days
• Key attractions: Unakoti rock carvings, Neermahal Palace, Jampui Hills
• Best time to visit: October to March
• Ideal Route: Agartala → Kumarghat → Unakoti
• Travel tips: Fuel stations are limited in remote areas. Local transport options are few, so plan your stops in advance.

Final Thoughts

A North East India Motorbike Trip is an experience that cannot be found anywhere else. From high-altitude passes in Arunachal Pradesh to the floating islands of Manipur, every destination adds something to your trip. Some roads will test your endurance while others will take you through landscapes that look straight out of a movie.

If you are planning this trip, book with Brahmand Tour because we not only provide Motorbike Tour but we provide an experience and service that is unforgettable. So, are you ready to ride North East India on Motorcycles? The adventure is waiting. You just must start the engine.