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Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh · Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains

Over Sela Pass to India's largest monastery — Dirang, Bomdila and Tawang

4.8247 reviews
6 Nights / 7 Days(6N/7D)
India, Arunachal Pradesh
moderate pace
Great for friends, couples, solo

Destinations: Guwahati → Bhalukpong → Dirang → Tawang → Bomdila

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Overview

About this Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh trip

Tawang sits at about 10,000 ft near India's border with Bhutan and Tibet, and getting there is half the adventure. From Guwahati the road climbs through the Kameng valley to the apple and kiwi orchards of Dirang, then crosses Sela Pass at 13,700 ft — snowbound for much of the year, with a frozen lake beside the prayer-flag gateway. In Tawang you'll visit the 17th-century monastery, India's largest, the Giant Buddha, the war memorial and Madhuri Lake, before returning via the monasteries of Bomdila.

A Himalayan road trip from Guwahati across Sela Pass to Tawang Monastery, Madhuri Lake and the war memorial.

Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Stay: Best available 3-star hotels & homestays
Transport: Private Innova or Xylo with hill driver (approx. 1,050 km round trip)
Best time: March to June and September to November; December–February for snow (roads may close)
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why Choose Tawang?

Inner Line Permits arranged for you before travel
Sela Pass and Sela Lake at 13,700 ft
Tawang Monastery — the largest in India, founded 1680–81
Madhuri (Sangetsar) Lake and Bum La on request
Night halts in Dirang and Bomdila to acclimatise
Experienced hill drivers in Innova or Xylo

Trip highlights

Sela Pass
Tawang Monastery
Tawang War Memorial
Madhuri Lake
Nuranang Falls
Bomdila Monastery

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

7 days, planned end to end

D1
- Pickup at Guwahati airport or railway station
- Drive to Bhalukpong on the Assam–Arunachal border (approx. 5 hours)
- ILP check at the entry gate
- Overnight at a riverside resort on the Kameng (or continue to Dirang if time allows)
D2
- Climb through the Kameng valley and Tenga
- Stop at the Bomdila viewpoint for Himalayan panoramas
- Reach Dirang (approx. 6 hours); visit Dirang Dzong village
- Evening at the hot springs or yak research centre (seasonal)
D3
- Cross Sela Pass (13,700 ft) and stop at the frozen Sela Lake
- Jaswant Garh war memorial
- Nuranang (Jang) Falls en route
- Reach Tawang (approx. 5–6 hours) and rest to acclimatise
D4
- Tawang Monastery — prayer hall, museum and morning chants
- Giant Buddha statue and Urgelling Monastery, birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama
- Tawang War Memorial and its evening light-and-sound show
- Craft centre for Monpa carpets and wooden masks
D5
- Excursion towards the China border with Army permission (Bum La, Indian nationals only)
- Madhuri (Sangetsar) Lake and P.T. Tso Lake
- Return to Tawang by late afternoon
- Evening at leisure in Tawang market
D6
- Drive back over Sela Pass (approx. 6 hours)
- Bomdila Monastery (Gentse Gaden Rabgye Ling)
- Local market for Monpa handicrafts
- Overnight in Bomdila
D7
- Early start for the drive to Guwahati (approx. 8–9 hours)
- Lunch stop at Bhalukpong
- Drop at Guwahati airport or railway station by evening

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

1 night in Bhalukpong, 1 night in Dirang, 3 nights in Tawang and 1 night in Bomdila in the best available 3-star hotels/resorts
Daily breakfast and dinner
Inner Line Permit (ILP) processing for Indian nationals
Private Innova/Xylo with experienced hill driver throughout
Airport/railway pickup and drop at Guwahati
Fuel, tolls, parking, driver allowance and night halts

Not included

Flights or trains to Guwahati
Bum La / Madhuri Lake taxi (local Tawang union vehicles are mandatory for this route) and permit
Monument entries, camera fees and light-and-sound show
Lunches and personal expenses
Extra stays due to landslides or road closures
Tips

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

Best available 3-star hotels & homestays

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Private Innova or Xylo with hill driver (approx. 1,050 km round trip)

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Guwahati to Bhalukpong · Bhalukpong to Dirang · Dirang to Tawang via Sela Pass · Tawang Sightseeing · Madhuri Lake & Bum La · Tawang to Bomdila · Bomdila to Guwahati

Route

Route map

7 stops from start to finish

GuwahatiStart
2BhalukpongStop 2
3DirangStop 3
4Sela PassStop 4
5TawangStop 5
6BomdilaStop 6
GuwahatiFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

March to June and September to November; December–February for snow (roads may close)

Things to carry

Government photo ID — needed for ILP and checkpoints
Down jacket, thermals, gloves, woollen cap
Waterproof shoes with good grip for snow
Altitude medication after consulting your doctor
Motion-sickness tablets for winding mountain roads
Cash — card payments and ATMs are patchy beyond Bomdila
Lip balm and moisturiser for dry, cold air

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do Indian citizens need a permit for Tawang?

Yes. All Indian visitors need an Inner Line Permit (ILP), applied for online through the Arunachal Pradesh eILP portal with a photo ID. We handle the application once you send ID scans. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) instead.

Can we visit Bum La Pass?

Bum La needs a separate permit from the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tawang plus Army clearance, is open to Indian nationals only, and closes in heavy snow or for security reasons. It can only be done in local Tawang-registered vehicles.

Is altitude sickness a concern?

Tawang is at about 10,000 ft and Sela Pass at 13,700 ft. Our route halts at Dirang (about 5,000 ft) first to acclimatise. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the first day in Tawang.

Can Sela Pass close?

Heavy snow between December and March can close the pass for a day or two. The Sela Tunnel now bypasses the highest stretch for most traffic, but landslides in the monsoon can still cause delays.

Is this trip suitable for children and seniors?

It is a long road trip with 5–9 hour drives on mountain roads and high altitude. Healthy children over 6 and active seniors manage well; people with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor first.

What is the food like?

Hotels serve North Indian and Chinese dishes; try local Monpa thukpa, momos and zan. Vegetarian food is available everywhere.

Reviews

What travellers say

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4.8

247 traveller ratings

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Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

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