Nongriat double-decker
Roughly 3,000 steps down to the stacked living root bridges at Nongriat, and the same back up.
- Days
- 3
- Distance
- 18 km
- Max altitude
- 1,430 m
- Total ascent
- 980 m
- Grade
- Moderate
- Season
- Oct–Mar
Elevation profile
The profile of this trek is inverted — you descend first and climb at the end, when you are tired. From Tyrna it is around 3,000 stone steps down to the Umshiang double-decker bridge, and the return is the hard part.
Staying overnight at Nongriat rather than doing it as a day trip changes the walk completely: you get Rainbow Falls an hour further on, and the return climb spread over a fresh morning.
October to March is the walkable window. In the monsoon the steps are slick and streams rise fast, and it should only be attempted with a local guide.
Common questions
How many steps to the double-decker root bridge?
Roughly 3,000 down from Tyrna, and the same climb back. Five to seven hours round trip if done in a day; most people find it far more comfortable split over two.
Can you stay overnight at Nongriat?
Yes. Village families run simple guesthouses. Booking through a local guide means the money goes to the household rather than an agency.