Active, Interactive and Authentic Tours of Northeast India
ACTIVE ADVENTURE
Our Active Adventure tours in northeast India are for the avid as well as novice, be it relaxed or a real test of determination and endurance.
NATURE & CULTURE
These 8 states lying in the Indo-Burmese and the Himalayan Bio-diversity hotspots are also home to over 150 unique and distinct ethinic groups.
LAIDBACK LEISURE
Holidays that take you away from the maddening crowds, kick off your shoes, destress and enjoy the serenity while we take care of the rest.
Some of our upcoming Departures
17 - 22 Feb' 2024
WALKERS TOUR OF MEGHALAYA
Walks in the Clouds
5 - 14 April 2024
THE ROAD TO TAWANG
Cycling in Western Arunachal Pradesh
Welcome to India's far East
Over the years, we have actively worked towards facilitating experiential travel which is Active, Interactive and Authentic in its truest form. Our tours of Northeast India include Cycling, Treks & Walks, Motorcycle & Overland, Multi-Activity, Family Adventures, Wildlife, Culture and Youth travel , all of which have local history, culture, interactions and the environment as their centerpiece.
The region at a glance
The Region
This little known corner of the Indian Subcontinent sharing international borders with Bhutan, Tibet, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh is connected to mainland India by a small sliver of land in the state of West Bengal popularly known as the Chickens neck. Consisting of Eight states this region is formed like a gigantic basin with the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys taking center stage.The northern border with Tibet and China is barricaded by the giant east Himalayan landmass, in the east the densely forested Patkai bum and Naga Patkai ranges bordering Burma take over running south all the way to Chaifil Tlang and Uiphum Tlang ranges in Mizoram (which further runs off east to the Chin hills and Arakan Yoma of Burma).In the south the Jaintia, Khasi and Garo Hills of Meghalaya bordering the rich plains of Bangladesh completes the formation.This region is incidentally the closest that the Himalayan mountain range gets to the coast. This geographical factor added to the fact that this region also receives some of the highest rainfall in the planet has resulted in the one of the greatest diversity in flora and fauna and hence also a diverse mix of people.
The People
Perhaps the same reason that makes this region so rich in its natural diversity also makes it the most Ethnic, Linguistic and Cultural diverse region in the Indian sub-continent. For example, the state of Arunachal Pradesh itself has over 26 major tribes with over 100 sub-tribes and clans speaking some 50 odd dialects. These tribes provide a cultural bridge between India and south East Asia, China, Inner Asia and Burma by ethnic and linguistic angles, as most of these tribes migrated here from the North and the East over the centuries.These eight states in themselves constitute a single linguistic region with about 220 languages in three different language groups (Indo-Aryan, Sino-Tibetan and Austric).The earliest recorded history can be traced back only to the Ahom kings (16thAD) who ruled the Brahmaputra valley. Unlike the rest of India, majority here bear Mongoloid features.
The Environment
This region has a predominantly humid sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons and fairly mild winters. Along with the west coast of India, it has some of the Indian sub-continent’s last remaining rain forests which support’s diverse flora and fauna and several endemic species. It has been pooled under the Eastern Himalayan and the Indo-Burmese Biodiversity hot spots. The close proximity of the High Himalayas to the coast has created a compact stretch of land with a multitude of vegetation. If we take a closer look, we see that the Ecology of the region varies from Alpine Tundra in the northern regions to Tropical and Sub tropica Rainforests in the lower areas. The central river valleys support Grasslands and large wetland areas. This variety in Eco-systems has created a heaven for bio-diversity. This region also boasts of the highest density of protected Wildlife Reserves in the country. Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Namdapha National Parks are some of the better known ones. It also has some of the highest densities of Tigers, Elephants and the Great one horned Rhinoceros, the only ape species found in India and the only Wildlife parks to have 5 felines’ species
Clientspeak
An unconventional choice for a honeymoon but one of the best choices we have ever made! We were attracted to Arunachal Pradesh because of the adventure of visiting somewhere untouched, we were attracted by the wildlife tribes. Vasanth, Roheen and the team were the perfect hosts efficient at sorting the permits and when we arrived were immediately invited into their friends homes and hearing stories of tribal life this set the scene for the trip, it was like travelling with friends! With their network and expert knowledge of the area, we trusted their judgement and were delighted by the cycling routes (great mixture of terrain and scenery); the hikes arriving at Glow Lake was one of the most special moments, we have never found somewhere so remote, wild and beautiful before or since. We would highly highly recommend an adventure with North by North East for anyone looking for wilderness, beautiful scenery and immersion into a completely unique way of life with the energy and fun of cycling, hiking and most of travelling with a great, knowledgable and local team.
Felicity & Ben
Multi-Activity Tour of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh
