Ask this online and the replies are mostly operators selling a package. Here is the honest version from an operator: when planning Meghalaya yourself is the better choice, when a package is worth paying for, and the middle route most people end up happiest with.
Quick answer
You do not need a package to see Meghalaya. A solo or budget traveller can do it on shared taxis and homestays. For two to six people the best value is usually the middle route: book your own hotels and hire one car with a local driver for the whole trip (about ₹5,310 a day for a sedan, per car). A full package with hotels is worth it when you do not want to research where to sleep each night, are travelling in peak season when rooms run out, or have elderly parents or children and want one person responsible for everything.
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On this page(9)ShowHide
- 1.Quick answer
- 2.Key facts at a glance
- 3.What are the three ways to do Meghalaya?
- 4.When is planning it yourself the better choice?
- 5.When is a package worth paying for?
- 6.What do people get wrong when they plan it themselves?
- 7.Does a package cost more than doing it yourself?
- 8.What is the middle route, and how does it work?
- 9.Frequently asked questions
At a glance
Key facts at a glance
| Cheapest | Shared taxis and homestays (solo and backpackers) |
|---|---|
| Best value for 2–6 people | Your own hotels + one car and driver |
| Least effort | Package with hotels |
| Car + driver, 5 days | ₹26,550 per car (Dzire) |
| Package, 5 days, 3★ | ₹26,800 per person for 2 people |
| Hardest part to plan yourself | Which town to sleep in each night |
| Not worth a package | A 2-day Shillong and Cherrapunji visit |
What are the three ways to do Meghalaya?
The right choice depends on your group, your time and how much planning you enjoy. None of them is wrong.
| Way | What you arrange | Rough cost | Best for | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On your own, shared transport | Everything: shared taxis, homestays, local taxis at each sight | Lowest. Shared seats are about ₹100–₹500 a leg | Solo travellers and backpackers with time | Shared cars go town to town, not to the sights; slow, and little runs after dark |
| Your hotels + one car and driver | Your own rooms; the car and driver are booked for the trip | ₹26,550 per car for 5 days, plus your rooms | Couples, families and groups of 2–6 | You must pick the right town for each night |
| Package with hotels | Nothing; dates and preferences only | ₹26,800 per person for 5 days with 3★ hotels (2 people) | First visits in peak season, seniors, children, people short of time | Costs more than booking the same rooms yourself |
When is planning it yourself the better choice?
Plan it yourself if most of these are true.
- You enjoy research and have a few evenings to give it
- You are travelling outside October to January, when rooms are easy to find
- You are happy to change plans on the day if a road closes or the cloud comes down
- You are on a tight budget and time matters less than money
- You only have two or three days around Shillong and Cherrapunji
When is a package worth paying for?
A package earns its price in these situations.
- Christmas to New Year, the Cherry Blossom week or long weekends, when good rooms sell out early
- Elderly parents or small children, where one wrong hotel or one long drive spoils the trip
- A group of six or more, where rooms and cars have to be matched
- You have five days and no time to work out the route
- You want one number to call if anything goes wrong
What do people get wrong when they plan it themselves?
The same four things, again and again.
- Staying every night in Shillong and driving two to three hours each way to Cherrapunji and Dawki
- Planning sightseeing after 4:30 PM in winter, when it is already dark
- Missing closed days: some villages, markets and sights shut on Sundays or a fixed weekday
- Booking a separate cab for each day, which costs more than one car for the trip and means a new driver every morning
Does a package cost more than doing it yourself?
Yes, a little. An operator adds a charge for choosing and booking the rooms and for being responsible when something changes. If you book the same rooms yourself on a booking site and hire the car separately, you will usually pay somewhat less.
What you should not pay for is a vague package. Any operator should tell you the car, the class of hotel in each town, what is included and the total in writing before you pay an advance.
What is the middle route, and how does it work?
Book your own rooms, then hire one car and driver for the whole trip. The driver picks you up at Guwahati airport, stays with you every day and drops you back. You keep control of where you sleep and what you spend on rooms, and you still get a local who knows the roads. With Tour Meghalaya this is ₹5,310 a day for a Dzire (up to 4 people), ₹6,000 for an Ertiga (6) and ₹6,880 for an Innova Crysta (7), with fuel, tolls and the driver included.
If you have already drafted an itinerary, any decent operator will check it for you without obligation: ours looks at drive times, closed days and sunset, and gives a price for the car.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to book a Meghalaya package or plan the trip myself?
Plan it yourself if you enjoy research, travel off-peak or are on a tight budget. For two to six people the best value is usually your own hotels plus one car and driver for the trip (about ₹5,310 a day for a sedan). Choose a package with hotels for peak season, for elderly parents or children, or when you have no time to plan.
Can I visit Meghalaya without a tour operator?
Yes. Indian travellers need no permit, shared taxis connect the main towns, and homestays are easy to book online. You will still need a local taxi or day car at each stop, because shared vehicles do not go to the waterfalls and viewpoints.
Is a tour package cheaper than booking separately?
Usually not. Booking the same hotels yourself and hiring a car separately tends to cost a little less. A package costs more because someone else does the planning, books the rooms and handles changes.
What is the cheapest way to do a Meghalaya trip?
Shared taxis or buses between towns (about ₹200–₹500 from Guwahati to Shillong), homestays, and sharing a day car with other travellers for the sights. It takes more time and patience than a private car.
Do I need to book everything in advance?
In October to January, book rooms and the car as soon as your dates are fixed. In other months you can book a few days ahead, and solo travellers often book as they go.
Up nextWhere to Stay in Meghalaya, Night by Night: Shillong, Sohra, Dawki or Mawlynnong?Which town to sleep in on each night of a 3 to 7 day Meghalaya trip, what rooms cost in Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki and Mawlynnong, and whether to stay in Dawki, Jowai or near Laitlum.Read next (6 min) Keep reading
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Plan & book your trip
Tour Meghalaya runs private cabs and tour packages across Meghalaya. Book directly with a local operator.