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.