Soumenchandra's 6 days trip to North East
2 days agoWe truly had a wonderful time exploring Arunachal Pradesh with your team and appreciated the variety of experiences throughout the trip. Starting from the beginning, the cab provided was comfortable, and our initial driver, Ashok, was friendly and courteous. The hotel at Bhalukpong was adequate for an overnight stay, although we did face some issues with the bathroom's water supply, and one of the rooms did not have a functioning geyser. Additionally, dinner service was delayed by approximately an hour and a half from the requested time.
The next day, we were introduced to our new driver, Sofikul. Initially, there was a language barrier, but it was eventually resolved, and we had a pleasant experience with him. The homestay in Dirang was excellent. In Tawang, the hotel offered good amenities; however, we were surprised to find that tea was charged separately despite the breakfast being complimentary.
In Bomdila, the accommodation was cozy and served the purpose for a one-night stay. Overall, we had a good experience over the six-day trip.
However, there were a few concerns that we would like to highlight:
Upon our arrival, when we inquired with Ashok about the travel time to Kamakhya, his first question was, “Do you have Kamakhya on your itinerary?” This raised concerns, as we expected the drivers to be well-versed with the itinerary beforehand. A similar situation occurred the next day with Sofikul, who also seemed unaware of the planned route and sites. As a result, we missed our first scheduled stop at Orchid Garden in Tippi. Additionally, we took an incorrect route to reach our homestay in Dirang due to a misunderstanding, as the driver had been initially informed that it was the correct path.
While the next two days proceeded smoothly, Day 6 presented another issue. Our itinerary included visits to Kameng Valley and the Bhutan border. However, no local residents, including our driver, appeared to be familiar with Kameng Valley, and we were unable to visit it. Later, we were informed that we would travel to Tezpur, where Ashok would rejoin us and accompany us to Guwahati. This change in the plan was unexpected, and it seemed to us that there was a lack of internal communication regarding the route. Sofikul mentioned he could have taken the Shergaon route if needed, but it was evident that he preferred the Tezpur route, which unfortunately led to us missing another destination.
As compensation, we were told we could visit two other temples, but Ashok mentioned that one was located within Guwahati city and not feasible due to time constraints. He was also hesitant about visiting the second temple, but upon our insistence, we managed to go there.
Lastly, on April 12th, I reached out to our trip manager, Pravin. He informed me that he was on leave and provided the contact details of Nikita, who was indeed very helpful. However, it would have been appreciated if this had been communicated proactively, as we respect the importance of personal time and would have avoided disturbing him unnecessarily.
In conclusion, while we genuinely enjoyed the trip and the beautiful locations, there were several instances of miscommunication between the agency and the drivers. Addressing these gaps in coordination would greatly enhance the overall experience for future travelers.
Travel to Bumla pass.