The Ultimate Arunachal Pradesh Bike Trip: Our 12-Day Itinerary to Tawang

A long-awaited north indian bike trip was on my bucket list for a while, and after some research, I picked up Tawang. Next I was looking for a company and my cousin was ready to join. We shipped our motorcycles all the way from Kochi to Guwahati and set off on an epic ride to Tawang and back.

Because we traveled during the off-season, we only pre-booked our first night’s hotel to keep our schedule flexible. Here is how our journey unfolded.

Day 1: Arrival in Guwahati

We landed in Guwahati, checked into Hotel HK Regency, and spent the evening prepping for the ride ahead.

Day 2: Guwahati to a Mountain Homestay (via Bhairabkunda)

We got a bit of a late start around 11:00 AM due to some delays in getting bikes. The highway to Bhairabkunda was mostly flat but passed through busy local villages. At Bhairabkunda, we took a short 500-meter detour to visit the Bhutan border. The guards allowed us to walk right into Bhutan after we showed our government ID cards.

After that, the route turned into a steep, winding, forested mountain road with lots of fun hairpin turns. Traffic was light and the roads were great. By 6:00 PM, it was completely pitch dark. It started to drizzle just as we found the cozy Pema Homestay (about 60 km before Bomdila) and called it a night.

Day 3: Heading up to Dirang

We rode toward Dirang, stopping at calm, beautiful Shegaon and checking out a cool metal bridge along the way. Next was Bomdila, which felt a bit congested, so we pushed on. We reached Dirang by noon just as a drizzle started. We checked into Yangsel Homestay on the way to Mandala Top, dropped our heavy luggage, and rode 20 km uphill. The road to Mandala Top was narrow but completely empty!

Day 4: Exploring Sangti Valley & Off-Roading to Lubrang Top

In the morning, we visited Sangti Valley and instantly fell in love. It is a stunning, must-visit valley, and we realized we should have stayed overnight here! We rode to the very end of the road and took a few dirt paths right down to the riverbank.

Later, we visited the local monastery and went into Dirang town for some shopping (fair warning: parking a bike there is tough). In the afternoon, we tackled Lubrang Top. The road was in terrible shape—the first few kilometers were steep, pure off-roading—but it was an amazing test for our bikes. After reaching the summit, we rode down the opposite side before heading back to our room. We ended our day by heading back to Sangti Valley at 4:00 PM to relax by the river with a cold beer.

Day 5: Dirang to Tawang via Sela Pass

We hit the road by 6:30 AM and reached Tawang by 2:30 PM. The roads after Dirang are excellent and full of sweeping uphill curves with massive mountains towering in front of you.

The sky was clear, so we decided to ride over the famous Sela Pass instead of taking the new tunnel. It was a wise choice! The last 5 to 10 km up to the pass were narrow, steep, and covered in thick fog. We successfully dodged four oncoming trucks on the narrow track—times like this make you glad you’re on a nimble motorcycle rather than in a car. The top of Sela Pass was beautifully clear with no rain or fog. On the final stretch to Tawang, we passed through Jung and stopped at two war memorials.

Day 6: A Day Trip to Bumla Pass

We decided to hire a local cab for our trip to Bumla Pass to avoid getting stuck on our bikes in case of heavy snow. Luckily, the weather was perfectly sunny. We visited the gorgeous Sankeskar Lake (Madhuri Lake) and PT Tso Lake on the way. Bumla Pass sits right on the highly secure India-China border. It is a must-visit, but the extreme cold and thin air will definitely test your lungs!

Day 7: Jung Waterfall & Mago Junction

We started riding back down toward Jung. After spending time exploring the massive Jung Waterfall and the surrounding areas, we checked into a homestay on the road leading toward Mago Junction.

Day 8: The Ultimate Ride to Mago & Chuna

This turned out to be the absolute best riding day of the entire trip. The scenery all the way to Mago was mind-blowing. Past Mago, we entered Chuna, a heavily secured military zone where army personnel verified our details.

After Chuna, the tarmac ends. As you get closer to the border, the landscape completely changes into an adventurous, narrow dirt road with sharp hairpin bends. It is a tough ride and only recommended if you are really confident. We pushed all the way to Gongkar La Lake. By the time we arrived, the high altitude and tough terrain had us completely exhausted and in “survival mode.”

Days 9 – 12: The Journey Home

• Day 9: We began our return journey. We knew exactly where we wanted to spend the night this time: beautiful Sangti Valley.
• Day 10: We continued riding back down the mountains and stayed at Pema Homestay again.
• Day 11: A final long ride brought us back to Guwahati.
• Day 12: We dropped our bikes off to be shipped back to Kochi and caught our flight home.

You can see some more photos and videos at my Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/a.g.k.photography/

Quick Tips for Your Trip

• Timings: Start early, its bright at 5am itself, and finish early – it can rain post 2-3pm.
• The Pace: Our 12-day timeline was very relaxed. If you are short on time, you could easily complete this entire route in 8 to 10 days.
• Less Crowds: Unlike popular tracks like Manali or Ladakh, this region has very few tourists, meaning you get the roads mostly to yourself.
• Booking: If you travel during the off-season (like May), there is no need to book hotels in advance. You can easily find a place on the spot or book a day prior.
• Budget: Accommodation is very affordable, ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per night for two people. However, food can be pricey—expect to pay around ₹300 for a standard vegetarian meal.
• Bike Shipping: Never go for Rehousing packers. Safe Express is good.