Assam Travel Guide

The Brahmaputra valley — Kaziranga rhinos, tea estates, Majuli island and the gateway to all of Northeast India.

Assam is entered via Guwahati airport (GAU) and is best visited between November and April, when Kaziranga National Park is open for rhino safaris. It is the road and air gateway to every other Northeast state.

Gateway city

Guwahati

Nearest airport

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International, Guwahati (GAU)

About Assam

Assam runs along the Brahmaputra valley and is the transport hub of Northeast India — nearly every trip to Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland starts at Guwahati. Its own draws are Kaziranga’s one-horned rhinos, the tea estates around Jorhat and Majuli, the world’s largest river island.

Assam pairs naturally with Meghalaya: Guwahati to Shillong is a three-hour drive, so many travellers combine a Kaziranga safari with the Meghalaya waterfall circuit in a single week.

Best time to visit Assam

November – April

Dry, cool and the safari season at Kaziranga (the park typically closes during monsoon).

May – October

Monsoon and Brahmaputra floods; Kaziranga is largely closed and road travel is slower.

How to reach Assam

By air: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati (GAU) — the busiest airport in the region with direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
By rail: Guwahati (GHY) is a major junction on the Indian Railways network.
By road: NH27 links Guwahati to Kaziranga (~4.5 hours) and Jorhat; NH6 runs south to Shillong (~3 hours).

Top attractions in Assam

Kaziranga National Park
Majuli river island
Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
Assam tea estates around Jorhat
Brahmaputra river cruises

Base towns in Assam

Guwahati

The Northeast’s main gateway city — Kamakhya temple, Umananda and river cruises.

Kaziranga

UNESCO grassland park famous for the one-horned rhinoceros.

Majuli

The Brahmaputra’s river island, satras and Mishing villages.

Jorhat

Tea capital of Assam and the road head for Majuli ferries.

Adventure trips from Assam

Explore nearby activities from the towns above, or plan a longer road journey from Guwahati or Shillong. Check seasons, road access and permits before departure.

Meghalaya activities Meghalaya adventure tours Northeast motorbike and 4x4 routes

Where to stay & book with XTSY

Base yourself at XTSY Travellers Hostel, Shillong

Most Northeast circuits route through Guwahati and Shillong — a cheap, central base between legs.

XTSY Travel custom Northeast itineraries

Multi-state routes with transport, permits assistance and local partner stays.

Talk to XTSY about logistics

Transport, driver and stay planning for onward states from Meghalaya.

Assam travel FAQs

Do I need a permit for Assam?

No Inner Line Permit is required for Assam for Indian or foreign travellers.

How far is Shillong from Guwahati?

About 100 km on NH6, typically 3 hours by car. Shared sumos, buses and private cabs run through the day.

When is Kaziranga open?

Kaziranga generally opens for visitors from November and closes around late April or early May for the monsoon. Confirm dates with the forest department before booking.