15 Day Nagaland Guided Motorcycle Tour in India

Overview

This motorbike trip will take you to the most unexplored part of India. The northeast is only connected with a narrow passage of 30 kilometers to the rest of the country. Assam and Nagaland are two parts of the northeast, each with their own culture, people, and nature.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Guwahati
• Riding in two parts of the northeast
• Discover beautiful natural parks with wildlife animals
• Visit remote Naga villages
• Meet local people and explore remote areas
• 14 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival - Guwahati

   You will arrive at the Guwahati airport. They will pick you up and transport you to the hotel. Soon after, you will meet the mechanic, the driver, and the motorcycles.

2. Day 2: Guwahati - Kaziranga NP (230 kilometers / 143 miles)

   After breakfast, you leave the city of Guwahati via a road that runs parallel to the Brahmaputra river. The first part is still a main road. However, you then turn off to drive on alternately paved and unpaved roads through various villages towards Kaziranga. You spend the night in a hotel close to the Kaziranga Park which you will visit the following day.

3. Day 3: Kaziranga NP - Jorhat (105 kilometers / 65 miles)

   In the early morning, you can optionally join a safari to the Kaziranga National Park. Kaziranga is a UNESCO protected park. It is also a tiger reserve, and the park is world famous for rhinos. Kaziranga has the highest density of tigers in the world. The park has over 450 species of birds, 18 of which are endangered species. The beard stairs are the main attraction. Apart from the tigers, rhinos and various birds, the park is also home to other animals such as buffalo, Asian elephants, sambar, pig deer, swamp deer, and wild boars. After lunch, you take a short drive to the city of Jorhat. You

4. Day 4: Jorhat - Dibrugarh (125 kilometers / 78 miles)

   Today, you go to Dibrugarh via the island of Majuli. To get there, you have to take the ferry over the Brahmaputra river after half an hour’s ride. Majuli is the largest river island in the world and is home to the missing tribes - Hindu monks who observe Vaishnavism. Dibrugarh is one of the major cities of Assam. Here, you can visit temples, the botanical garden, and the colorful bazaar. In addition, there are also many beautiful tea plantations to enjoy and you can take a walk along the river.

5. Day 5: Dibrugarh - Mon (130 kilometers / 81 miles)

   After breakfast, you ride to the province of Nagaland. The first part is still flat but that will change when you ride up to the mountains at Tizit. As you ascend, the quality of the road deteriorates and is sometimes no more than a wide trail of earth with breathtaking beautiful views over the many mountains from Nagaland to Mon. Mon is a simple place populated with many tribes. Mon is located at an altitude of 900 meters and is the land of the Konyak Nagas. These were one of the great warriors among the Nagas and practiced headhunting until recently. The Konyak villages are ruled by Angh whi

6. Day 6: Mon - Stay (80 kilometers / 50 miles)

   Today, you drive to Longwa village (41 kilometers / 2 hours) close to the border of India and Myanmar. You meet the village chief and you can also see how they maintain a traditional form of opium making. Afterwards, you return to Mon.

7. Day 7: Mon - Mokokchung (160 kilometers / 99 miles)

   After breakfast, you ride to the south towards the narrow part of Nagaland, which is wedged between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Soon after leaving Mon, the road gets bad. You will drive a lot off road on narrow roads through the breathtaking beautiful mountainous landscape of Nagaland with sometimes no more than a small path to get to Mokochung. After rain, parts of the road can be slippery and challenging, but it is not dangerous. Mokokchung is located at an altitude of 1,325 meters and this picturesque town is the cultural center of the Ao tribes. The Ao Nagas are famous for their colorful dance

8. Day 8: Mokokchung - Kohima (190 kilometers / 118 miles)

   Today, you ride further towards the west, travelling the whole day through and over the many mountains of Nagaland. The quality of the road will change from asphalt to unpaved roads. They are currently improving the road to Khonoma. Kohima, Nagaland is inhabited by 16 major tribes, along with other subtribes. This is a land of song and music, where folk songs honor the brave stars of the past. However, the new generation of Ao people are increasingly drawn to Christianity by foreign missionaries. You spend the night within walking distance of the center. You stay at a very pleasant hotel, wher

9. Day 9: Kohima - Stay (100 kilometers / 62 miles)

   Today, you can stay around Kohima or join for a day tour. You ride to Khonoma village (20 kilometers) inhabited by people from the Angami tribe. In the year 1879, the tribals surrendered to the British army after years of fighting. At the end of the village lies a memorial to honor the many Nagas who were brutally murdered here. Some were even shot at point blank range while digging their own graves. Khonoma is also known for his fighting prowess. In the afternoon, you drive back to Kohima. On the outskirts of the village is a memorial site of a battle against the British occupation army. Many

10. Day 10: Kohima - Imphal (140 kilometers / 87 miles)

    Today does not entail a long drive, and you will arrive by the end of the morning. Imphal is near the Myanmar border. In the afternoon, you visit the local market. The Ima-Keithel is a local market where only women are allowed to sell their goods. Imphal was once the capital of historic Manipur. The literal meaning of Manipur is the land of jewelry. The area is situated at 800 meters and has the oldest polo fields in the world. You can visit the serene and well-kept gardens of the second world war cemetery which honors the English and Indian soldiers who died here. Japanese and English troops

11. Day 11: Imphal - Silchar (260 kilometers / 162 miles)

    There are few straights in the road today and the distance is quite long, so you set off early. The road has a provincial road number but is largely unpaved. The road winds through a beautiful mountain landscape. Along the way, there are only a few small mountain villages. Lunch and coffee stops are not frequent. However, there are a lot of opportunities to take many pictures along the way. Silchar is a small village with a basic guesthouse.

12. Day 12: Silchar - Shillong (270 kilometers / 168 miles)

    You start riding in a lowland area before you swing back into the mountains. You ride very close to the Bangladesh border. This section through the mountains is similar to yesterday, with a few settlements and beautiful views. Shillong is a hill station (1500 meters high) in the northeast of India. It is also the capital of the state of Meghalaya, one of the smallest states in India. The hilly area is somewhat reminiscent of Scotland, which is why it is also referred to as the ‘Scotland of the East’. The landscape consists of rolling hills with spice bushes and conifers. In the past, it was a

13. Day 13: Shillong - Stay

    Today, you can explore Shillong. About 15 kilometers from the city lies the Barapani Lake. This lake was created after a dam was built in the Umiam river. It is one of the most beautiful places in this area. You can kayak or explore the river with a pedal boat. You can also visit Don Bosco, which was founded to preserve local cultures in India. The architecture of the building is special to see, because it is built in the shape of a honeycomb. This is also a museum. You can also take a walk through the Phan Nonglait park and go to the colorful Bara bazaar.

14. Day 14: Shillong - Guwahati (160 kilometers / 99 miles)

    It is a short drive back to Guwahati where you started the journey. After arriving in Guwahati, you have the opportunity to visit the famous Maa Kamkhya Temple - one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites.

15. Day 15: Guwahati - Departure

Ride Details

Terrain

Mixed terrain, paved roads with 15% of the time is off-road

Bike

Rental bike (Enfield Classic 350 cc)

Mileage

1,950 kilometers / 1,212 miles

Daily rides

80 - 270 kilometers / 50 - 168 miles

Riding gear

Not included but mandatory: Helmet, motorcycle jacket with protection, gloves, a good hard wearing (motorcycle) trousers with protection or separate knee protection and solid high (mountain) boots

Meals

Most breakfasts

Accommodation

The majority of the accommodation will be in relatively good hotels, but in small villages, the accommodation is of a lesser quality.

Food

Most of staying hotels include breakfast. Other meals are not included, people can eat together in a restaurant or choose a place to eat yourself.

Getting There

On this tour, you will visit the remote Naga villages and meet colorful tribes who live near the borders of Bangladesh and Myanmar. On your way, you will visit two of the most beautiful natural parks where you will encounter tigers and rhinos. This is an adventurous journey for people who enjoy meeting local people and remote areas. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-trails/15-day-discover-india-