Overview
The Garo people believe that the winds at Balpakram never stop because their dead rest on the plateau. Not a legend stored in a book – a living belief that shapes how the community relates to this specific landscape. Deep gorges cut into the high plateau from all sides, wind moves through the grass without pause and the forest below holds elephant, gaur and creatures the living do not fully control. The balpakram national park garo hills tour asks a group to sit with something older than tourism.
Bon handles the vehicle from Guwahati Airport or Railway Station with the long NH-217 drive to Tura built into Day 1 as a full travel day. Nights 1, 4 and 5 use Tura hotels. Nights 2 and 3 are at the Balpakram eco-camp where the plateau is the address rather than a day excursion from it. Day 5 covers Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and Rongbang Dare Falls from the Tura base. Forest entry tickets at Balpakram are paid on site throughout the park days.
Day-wise Itinerary
6-day travel plan — tap any day to view full details.
The balpakram national park garo hills tour picks up at Guwahati Airport or Railway Station for the longest drive in the package. The route follows NH-217 through the Assam plains, crossing into Meghalaya's Garo Hills and arriving at Tura after approximately 220 kilometres and 5 to 6 hours.
Tura is the main town of the Garo Hills - a city built into the slope of the Tura Range at the western edge of the hill system. The Garo Hills carry a different character from the Khasi plateau: softer contours, denser forest and an evening pace that makes the long first drive feel like arrival rather than transit.
The drive from Tura to Balpakram covers the South Garo Hills on roads that slow through forest and hill terrain before the plateau opens. The balpakram national park garo hills approach delivers the landscape without buildup - flat plateau with gorges falling away on multiple sides and the wind present before the camp comes into view.
Forest entry tickets are purchased at the checkpoint and paid on site. The eco-camp puts the group on the plateau overnight rather than returning to Tura - that difference, between being on the plateau at dusk and at pre-dawn, is what the two-night structure is built to deliver.
A full day on the balpakram national park garo hills plateau with no vehicle needed. The plateau runs at high elevation with gorges cutting away at the edges. Wind is the constant - the Garo name for this place means Land of Perpetual Winds and that name holds regardless of season or time of day.
The forest below the gorge edges holds Asian elephant, gaur, hoolock gibbon and slow loris. Encounters are not guaranteed and the terrain does not arrange itself for easy viewing. What the plateau delivers without fail is the wind, the gorge depth and the horizon unblocked on every side.
Morning on the balpakram national park garo hills plateau before checkout - the camp at this elevation holds a quality at first light that the afternoon arrival yesterday only partially prepared the group for. The drive back to Tura covers the same South Garo Hills terrain in reverse.
Tura arrives in time for an afternoon rest and the town pace that two nights on a windswept plateau makes genuinely welcome. Rongbang Dare Falls sits near the town edge and the evening light through the fall is the correct close for a day that began above the gorges.
The fifth day of the balpakram national park garo hills circuit gives the morning to Nokrek National Park and Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated biosphere accessible from Tura. Nokrek holds what botanists consider the origin habitat of the genus Citrus - the wild ancestors of the oranges, lemons and limes cultivated globally. The UNESCO designation covers this genetic repository specifically.
This is not a wildlife spectacle destination. It is a forest with a specific botanical significance that most visitors to Meghalaya never reach. The afternoon returns to Tura for the final evening before the long drive home tomorrow.
Morning checkout after breakfast and the return drive from Tura to Guwahati Airport or Railway Station follows NH-217 east through the Garo Hills and across the Assam plains, approximately 220 kilometres and 5 to 6 hours. The balpakram national park garo hills tour closes here.
Afternoon and evening departures are in reach if ticketed with the return in mind. Groups with earlier departure windows should flag timing with the Bon team at booking since the Day 6 drive is long and morning departures require a very early Tura start.
Map
Inclusions & Exclusions
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Private six seater Innova or Xylo class car throughout, point to point on the itinerary and not on disposal.
- All sightseeing listed on the day plan with no hidden gaps.
- Pickup and drop at Guwahati Airport or Railway Station at the start and end of the trip.
- Daily breakfast at the hotel and eco-camp on CP basis.
- Deluxe hotel double sharing rooms in Tura on Nights 1, 4 and 5, and forest eco-camp accommodation at Balpakram on Nights 2 and 3.
- All fuel, parking and toll charges.
- Driver's full trip allowances, nothing extra owed on the road.
NOT INCLUDED
- Flights and train fares to Guwahati are not included.
- Dinner and lunch throughout the trip.
- Forest entry tickets at Balpakram National Park, paid on site throughout the park days.
- Forest entry tickets at Nokrek National Park and Biosphere Reserve, paid on site on Day 5.
- Emergency evacuation costs.
- Extra costs caused by road closures, landslides or other natural events.
- Personal spends including laundry, tips, shopping and beverages.
- Anything not clearly covered under the inclusions above.
Best Time to Visit
Meghalaya stays cool year-round. Shillong enjoys pleasant weather (15°C–25°C), while Cherrapunji and Mawsynram receive heavy monsoons (June–September), creating dramatic waterfalls. Winters (October–February) are crisp and dry (4°C–16°C), perfect for exploring living root bridges, crystal-clear Dawki river, and limestone caves. October to April is the best time for sightseeing, trekking, and clear valley views.
Important Price & Package Conditions
- Prices are subject to availability and may vary based on travel dates, hotel selection, and seasonal demand.
- The actual price is reconfirmed at the time of booking. Discounts or deals may apply depending on ongoing promotions.
- Prices displayed do not include optional add-ons such as cab upgrades, special activities, or extra room categories unless mentioned.
- For group bookings, custom itineraries, or peak season travel, final pricing may differ. Please connect with our travel expert.
- 50% advance payment confirms your booking.
- Remaining balance is due 45 days before travel.
- Natural disasters or political unrest will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- Valid for Indian nationals only. International guests may require special permits.
- Carry original government ID for all hotels.
- Secure payments and flexible policies.
- 24x7 emergency support during travel.
- Bon Voyagers strives to provide transparent pricing. For clarity or a custom quote, please contact our support team.
Subha Travels reserves the right to update package pricing and availability. For clarity or a custom quote, please connect with our support team.