The ferry crossing
The only way on: a ferry from Nimati Ghat, a river landing about 14 km from Jorhat town, to Kamalabari or Aphalamukh, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Take a morning boat, as the last ones leave around 15:30 to 16:00.
2 to 3 daysHow long to stay
Budget to mid-rangeRough cost
Couples, Friends, SoloWho it suits
AssamNortheast India
Is this for you?
Majuli is a large river island in the Brahmaputra, with villages, potters and satras, Hindu monasteries in the Vaishnava tradition of devotion to the god Vishnu. It's slow and quiet, and you can only get there by ferry. Ferries can stop for floods or low water, so you need a morning crossing and a spare day. It suits couples, solo travellers and friends with flexible plans. On a tight schedule, skip it.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Go in the coloured months. The black ones are best avoided.
What to do
Satra visits
Satras, Hindu monasteries devoted to the god Vishnu, are the main cultural reason to come. We couldn't confirm the rules for non-Hindus, so ask politely at each one and follow what you're told.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
Pottery villages
Pottery is one of the island's crafts, and a good way to spend a morning in the villages.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
Birdwatching
One slow-travel guide lists the island and its riverbanks for birding. Ask your host about local spots.
Sources differ on this, or we have only one, so check locally.
Family homestay
Mishing family homestays and eco-resorts are the usual places to stay. Phone ahead to confirm, and carry cash.
What to eat
There's hardly a restaurant scene here, and that's fine: the good meals are in Mising homes, cooked over a clay stove by the family. The Mising are a tribal community with villages across the island, so book a home meal and come curious.
Apong
Mising rice beer, slightly sweet, made by each household to its own recipe. You'll usually be offered it at a home.
Vegetarian
Ghetiya
A sweet and sour fish and potato curry. You'll find it in a Mising thali, a set plate, at lunch.
Kukura khorika
Smoked chicken on skewers, grilled by the stove. Ask for it at a Mising home meal.
Purang apin
Steamed rice wrapped in banana leaf, part of a Mising home meal. Eat it at a homestay table.
Vegetarian
Where to go
La Maison de AnandaGaramur
An easy Indian and continental meal. Check before you go.
Cheap eatsRisong's KitchenGaramur
A Mising thali in the owners' home, eaten by the clay stove. Ask ahead.
Mid-range
Getting there
Reach Jorhat, which has an airport and a station (check trains on Indian Railways). Nimati Ghat, the ferry landing, is about 14 km away. Ferries reach Kamalabari or Aphalamukh in about 1 to 1.5 hours. Timetables disagree: first boats 07:00 to 08:30, last 15:30 to 16:00, so go in the morning. Adults pay about ₹15 to ₹30. No road bridge from Jorhat.
Where to stay
Garamur A quieter part of the island with homestays and eco-resorts. You're away from the main landing.
Kamalabari The main landing and town on the island, with homestays and a government-run lodge. Handy for the ferry, less quiet than Garamur.
Worth knowing
Safety
Governments advise extra care in parts of Northeast India. The UK government warns of sudden flare-ups on state borders, including Assam and Meghalaya, and says protests and road blockades are common and can close highways. Australia's advice, updated 29 October 2026, says to reconsider travel to parts of Assam including Tinsukia, Charaideo and Sivasagar, and that travel insurance may not cover those areas. The US lists the Northeastern States at Level 3, reconsider travel. Guwahati, Kaziranga and Majuli appear to sit outside the named Australian districts, but check the live advice before you book, and make sure your insurance covers the places you plan to visit.
Opening
Cross by morning, keep a spare day, and ask your homestay or Nimati Ghat office before leaving Jorhat. Severe floods (avoid July to September) and low water stop ferries; this winter's unconfirmed.
