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This is the travel newsletter of Untrails, a premium offbeat travel company. In this newsletter, I help you discover unique weekend getaways across India every week, so you can escape the crowds and create unforgettable experiences

In the year 1962, during the Indo-China War, Ziro Valley experienced major disruption. One account describes how the local Ziro town became nearly deserted as troops moved out and civilians evacuated.

But even after all these, the Ziro Valley is one of the finest places to spend your weekend.

The people of Arunachal have their own identity beyond being citizens of India.

Let me convince you.

Ziro lies deep inside Arunachal Pradesh. There’s no airport or direct train. You have to travel through winding roads from Assam. This keeps mass tourism away, well, the less the crowd, the better it is for you to spend 2 days in peace.

The Apatanis, an indigenous tribe, live here. They have their own sustainable ecosystem, their own belief system, and distinctive facial tattoos (a practice that’s now banned).

The best part? There are no luxury hotels, chain cafés or nightlife. Most stays are homestays, mostly run by Apatani families.

You wake up to fog covering the rice fields, walk through quiet pine forests, and hear tribal songs at night.

Life in Ziro moves slowly, and that’s what makes it special. The Apatani people still follow their old traditions, but Ziro also welcomes modern culture through the Ziro Music Festival.

It’s a small, local event held right in the rice fields where artists and travellers camp together, eat local food, and enjoy music. It feels modern but still very natural and local.

After your office on Friday night, take a flight or train to Guwahati or Naharlagun, depending on where you live.

Naharlagun is the closest major railway station to Ziro, and Guwahati has the nearest big airport. If you land in Guwahati, take an overnight train or bus to Naharlagun.

From Naharlagun, book a shared taxi or private cab early Saturday morning for Ziro. The drive is around 3 to 4 hours through hills and forests. Make sure to carry light with warm clothes, comfortable shoes, and a rain jacket.

You’ll reach Ziro by mid-morning. Check into a homestay run by an Apatani family to experience their culture up close. After breakfast, take a slow walk through the green rice fields surrounded by hills. Visit Hong Village, the largest Apatani settlement, and see their bamboo houses and rice-fish farming method. Talk to locals, they are kind and love sharing their culture.

For lunch, try local dishes like Pika Pila, a spicy bamboo shoot pickle with pork fat.

After lunch, explore the pine forests near Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary or just walk around the nearby villages.

Visit a small café or return to your homestay for dinner. Try Thukpa bamboo shoot, or rice with smoked fish. You should join your hosts for a bonfire and listen to their folk stories.

Wake up early to the sound of birds. Have breakfast with your hosts, usually rice, eggs, and tea. Visit Ziro Putu Viewpoint to watch the fog lifting from the valley.

Visit Siiro Village or the local market to buy bamboo crafts or handmade jewellery. For lunch, try fish cooked in bamboo, one of the most popular Apatani dishes.

It’s March end but, but if you visit in September, spend a few hours at the Ziro Music Festival, where artists and travellers enjoy live indie music right in the middle of the rice fields.

Start your journey back to Naharlagun by 4 PM. From there, take an overnight train or bus to Guwahati or your next connection home. You’ll reach by early Monday morning.

Thanks for reading.

Well, do let me know if you'd like me to find any particular state’s offbeat weekend travel spots.

I’ll see you on Sunday with another great spot.

See ya till then,

Anirban ‘helping you travel to Zero Valley’ Das.

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