A 5-day Meghalaya trip costs about ₹9,000–₹13,000 per person for backpackers, ₹19,000–₹27,000 for a mid-range trip with a private cab, and ₹32,000–₹50,000 for a comfortable one, from and back to Guwahati with two people sharing a room and car (approx., as of October 2026).
Flights or trains to Guwahati are extra. The biggest swing in your budget is transport: a hired cab for five days can cost more than all your stays combined.
Meghalaya trip cost at a glance
| Cost per head (5 days, per person, 2 sharing) | Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort |
| Local transport | ₹2,500 – ₹3,500 (shared Sumo, buses, local taxis) | ₹8,750 – ₹11,250 (private cab, split by two) | ₹8,750 – ₹11,250 |
| Stay (4 nights) | ₹2,400 – ₹3,600 | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 | ₹14,000 – ₹24,000 |
| Food | ₹2,500 – ₹3,500 | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 | ₹7,500 – ₹12,500 |
| Entry fees, guide, boat share | ₹1,000 – ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 – ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 – ₹2,500 |
| Total (ex-Guwahati) | ₹8,800 – ₹13,100 | ₹19,250 – ₹27,250 | ₹32,250 – ₹50,250 |
*All costs mentioned above is an approximate cost
Approx., as of October 2026. Figures follow the 5-day cost breakdown in the Discover with Dheeraj Meghalaya Travel Guide 2026, cross-checked against Bajaj Finserv’s range of ₹10,000–₹20,000 for a solo budget trip and group-tour prices of ₹21,499–₹24,499 for 6 days on WanderOn.
Add your travel to Guwahati. A return economy flight from metros usually runs ₹7,000–₹15,000 depending on the city and how early you book; sleeper or 3AC train fares are cheaper but take 16–48 hours from most cities.
Getting there and getting around
Most travellers fly or take a train to Guwahati and drive about 100 km (roughly 3 hours) uphill to Shillong. Shillong also has a small airport at Umroi with limited flights [CHECK current routes].
From Guwahati you have three options:
Meghalaya Transport Corporation bus: from about ₹210 one way.
Shared Sumo or taxi: about ₹400–₹500 per seat, leaving from Paltan Bazaar.
Private cab: a Meghalaya-registered small car costs about ₹3,500–₹4,500 per day [CHECK, as this is the quote travellers find most varied].
For sightseeing, a private cab is the practical choice: Cherrapunji (Sohra), Mawlynnong and Dawki are spread out, and public transport to them is thin. If you are on a tight budget, Meghalaya Tourism’s Sohra day tour from Shillong costs about ₹450–₹500 per person and covers the main falls and viewpoints [CHECK current fare with MTDC].
Where to stay and what it costs?
Homestays and backpacker rooms:
Costs approx. ₹1,200–₹1,800 a night, common in Sohra, Mawlynnong and Nongriat.
Mid-range hotels in Shillong:
Costs approx. ₹2,500–₹4,000 a night.
Resorts with views:
Costs approx. ₹7,000–₹12,000 a night, mainly around Shillong, Umiam Lake and Sohra.
A useful split for 4 nights: two in Shillong, one in Sohra (so you can start the Nongriat trek early), and one in Mawlynnong or by the Umngot river near Dawki. Book early for November weekends and late December, when Shillong fills up.
Entry fees and activities
Meghalaya’s sights are cheap to enter. Most charge ₹10–₹50 per person, plus small camera and parking fees collected by local village councils. Budget a little extra for:
Dawki boating on the Umngot river:
Costs approx. ₹700–₹1,500 per boat for 2–3 people, cash only. Rates are not fixed, so agree on the price before you get in (WanderOn and Muddie Trails both advise this). Peak-weekend rates can be higher.
Double-decker living root bridge, Nongriat:
A small bridge entry fee is payable (around ₹20 per person), plus a registered guide fee.
Shnongpdeng activities near Dawki
Costs approx. kayaking about ₹300–₹800, snorkelling ₹500–₹1,000, riverside camping from about ₹1,200 a night.
Rules to know before you go
Registered guides for treks
After the 2025 murder of a tourist in Sohra, the East Khasi Hills district administration made registered guides mandatory for treks and outdoor activities, The Statesman reported. That covers the root-bridge treks around Nongriat. Guide fees vary by village.
Hotel registration:
Hotels and homestays register guests with the state’s tourism system, so carry a photo ID.
No Inner Line Permit is needed for Indian travellers in Meghalaya as of October 2026
Best time to visit Meghalaya on a budget
October to April is the main season. November to February gives the clearest water at Dawki, comfortable trekking weather and the best chance of blue-green photos. Waterfalls are strongest in the monsoon (June to September), but boating stops and treks get slippery.
This year there’s a seasonal bonus: the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival runs on 20–21 November 2026 at Highland Ground, Mawkhanu, New Shillong, according to Meghalaya Tourism. Expect hotel prices in Shillong to rise that weekend, so either book now or base yourself in Sohra.
Sample 5-day Meghalaya itinerary
Day 1: Guwahati to Shillong, stopping at Umiam Lake. Evening at Police Bazaar.
Day 2: Shillong to Sohra: Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Cave, Seven Sisters Falls. Night in Sohra.
Day 3: Early start for the Nongriat double-decker root bridge trek with a guide. Return to Sohra.
Day 4: Mawlynnong village and Dawki boating. Night near Dawki or back in Shillong.
Day 5: Back to Guwahati, with a stop at Kamakhya Temple if time allows.
Package or DIY?
DIY is cheapest if you are two to four people splitting a cab. A package makes sense if you want Kaziranga too, since it saves you planning the Shillong–Kaziranga leg. TravelBudgetly’s 6-night Assam and Meghalaya package starts at ₹61,000 per person and includes hotels with meals, transfers, Shillong and Cherrapunji sightseeing and a Kaziranga elephant safari (approx., as of October 2026). See also Charismatic Assam and Meghalaya or all packages. For shorter, cheaper hill breaks, read our guide to budget hill stations under ₹5,000 for a weekend.
FAQs
How much does a 5-day Meghalaya trip cost per person?
About ₹9,000–₹13,000 on a backpacker budget, ₹19,000–₹27,000 mid-range and ₹32,000–₹50,000 for comfort, from Guwahati with two sharing (approx., as of October 2026). Flights or trains to Guwahati are extra.
Can I do Meghalaya in ₹10,000?
Yes, excluding travel to Guwahati, if you use buses and shared Sumos, stay in homestays and skip the private cab. You’ll see fewer places, since Dawki and Mawlynnong are hard to reach by public transport.
How many days are enough for Meghalaya?
Five days covers Shillong, Sohra, the Nongriat root bridge, Mawlynnong and Dawki without rushing. Add two days for Kaziranga in Assam.
Do I need a guide to visit the living root bridges?
Yes. The East Khasi Hills administration requires tourists to hire registered guides for treks, including the Nongriat root-bridge trail. Book one in Sohra or Tyrna village.
