Diminque and Jeans Pierre followed a seventeen-day route across Arunachal Pradesh, travelling from the Apatani villages of Ziro through Daporijo and Galo country at Aalo to the mountain valley of Mechuka, then continuing towards the upper Siang country around Jengging and Tuting before leaving through Pasighat and Dibrugarh.
Journey Overview
The journey began in Guwahati and crossed Arunachal Pradesh from west to east, linking three very different landscapes: the cultivated plateau of Ziro, the forested river valleys around Aalo and Mechuka, and the remote upper Siang corridor to Tuting.
Several days were deliberately kept for local exploration rather than onward travel. These pauses allowed time in Apatani villages, Galo villages, Mechuka Valley and Tuting, while the longer driving days connected places that remain far apart by mountain road.
- Duration
- 17 Days
- Destinations visited
- Guwahati · Itanagar · Ziro Valley · Daporijo · Aalo · Mechuka · Jengging · Tuting · Pasighat · Dibrugarh
From Guwahati to the Apatani Plateau
After arriving in Guwahati, Diminque and Jeans Pierre travelled to Itanagar and then climbed to Ziro Valley. The fourth day was reserved for local Apatani village visits rather than another road journey.
Ziro's compact plateau, wet-rice fields and closely settled villages made the first extended stop of the expedition. It was also the beginning of the journey's slower rhythm: long transfers followed by time on foot in the places reached.
Across Central Arunachal to Aalo
From Ziro the road continued to Daporijo and then to Aalo, with approximately eight hours allowed for each of these mountain-road stages. A full day at Aalo created space for visits in nearby Galo villages.
The photographs from this part of the journey record the domestic side of the expedition: time inside a timber home, seats arranged around the central hearth, and a meal shared with local hosts.
The Long Road to Mechuka
The route from Aalo to Mechuka was planned as a nine-hour drive. The following day remained in the valley, allowing the road journey to give way to the area's Buddhist landmarks and broad mountain setting.
Here the expedition photographs move between the valley and its places of worship: white stupas looking across the settlement, a long line of prayer wheels and a ceremonial incense furnace in the monastery grounds.
Towards the Upper Siang
After returning from Mechuka to Aalo, the expedition turned towards the Siang valley. The route continued to Jengging and then onward to Tuting, with a full day set aside in Tuting before retracing the road to Jengging.
This was the most remote portion of the itinerary and involved successive long drives. The return route then followed the Siang down to Pasighat before crossing into Assam for the final night in Dibrugarh.
Journey's End in Dibrugarh
On day sixteen, Diminque and Jeans Pierre travelled from Pasighat to Dibrugarh. Their seventeen-day expedition ended at Dibrugarh Airport the following day.
The completed route connected Guwahati with Ziro, Aalo, Mechuka and Tuting in one continuous overland journey across Arunachal Pradesh, ending on the upper Assam side of the Brahmaputra.
Route
- 01Day 01 — Arrive in Guwahati; overnight in Guwahati
- 02Day 02 — Guwahati → Itanagar (approximately 7 hours)
- 03Day 03 — Itanagar → Ziro (approximately 4 hours)
- 04Day 04 — Ziro; local Apatani village visits
- 05Day 05 — Ziro → Daporijo (approximately 8 hours)
- 06Day 06 — Daporijo → Aalo (approximately 8–9 hours)
- 07Day 07 — Aalo; Galo village visits
- 08Day 08 — Aalo → Mechuka (approximately 9 hours)
- 09Day 09 — Explore Mechuka Valley
- 10Day 10 — Mechuka → Aalo
- 11Day 11 — Aalo → Jengging (approximately 7 hours)
- 12Day 12 — Jengging → Tuting (approximately 8 hours)
- 13Day 13 — Tuting
- 14Day 14 — Tuting → Jengging
- 15Day 15 — Jengging → Pasighat
- 16Day 16 — Pasighat → Dibrugarh
- 17Day 17 — Departure from Dibrugarh Airport
Travel Tips
- —Treat the driving times as approximate. Mountain-road conditions, weather and local traffic can change each day's duration.
- —The itinerary includes several long transfer days, so keeping the full days in Ziro, Aalo, Mechuka and Tuting is important.
- —Foreign travellers require the applicable permit for Arunachal Pradesh. Living Roots assists confirmed travellers with applicable permit documentation and coordinates the process through the relevant authorised channels, subject to current government rules and approval.
- —Keep warm and rain layers accessible in the vehicle because conditions can change considerably between the Assam plains and the higher valleys.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is this Arunachal Pradesh route?
This itinerary is seventeen days from arrival in Guwahati to departure from Dibrugarh Airport, including full local days in Ziro, Aalo, Mechuka and Tuting.
How demanding are the road journeys?
Several stages are long mountain drives, including Ziro to Daporijo, Daporijo to Aalo, Aalo to Mechuka and Jengging to Tuting. The times shown are approximate and should remain flexible for current road and weather conditions.
Which communities and cultural regions are included?
The itinerary includes Apatani villages around Ziro, Galo villages around Aalo, the Buddhist cultural landscape around Mechuka, and the upper Siang region around Jengging and Tuting.
What permits do foreign travellers need for Arunachal Pradesh?
Foreign travellers require the applicable permit under current government rules. Living Roots assists confirmed travellers with documentation and coordinates the process through the relevant authorised channels, subject to approval.
