Meghalaya is a gem of a place waiting to be explored – pristine waterfalls, flourishing forests, and majestic sceneries as far as your eyes can see. Meghalaya offers a lot of trekking trails.

1. David Scott Trail

This is a 16km long trekking trail named after a historical British administrator who worked in the Khasi hills between 1802 and 1832. The trek starts from Mawphlang and ends at Ladmawphlang. The journey will be made more insightful as you get enlightened with the Khasi history, their culture and folklore, along with scenic views of sparkling rivers, cascading waterfalls, lush green landscapes, and bridges.

Difficulty Level – The trail starts off as an easy descent, followed by a walk on flat land, and moves on to become moderately difficult due to the ascend in the last hour.

Distance – 16km

Duration – 4 to 5 hours

Attractions – Historical tomb in Mawsahep, fresh and clear waters of the Umiam river, and Simpanghang Falls.

2. Umden Village Trek

With its acres of forests dedicated to the cultivation of silk, Umden Village, home to the Bhoi tribe, is called the land of silk in Meghalaya. Trekking here means getting up, close, and personal with the village's unique culture. Not only will you learn a thing or two about the sought after Eri silk, but you will also wander through picturesque tea estates, strawberry fields, among other beautiful countryside locations.

Difficulty level - Easy

Distance - The Umden Village Trek is not long in terms of distance but you can spend a lot of time learning, observing and absorbing the rich culture and silk tales.

Duration - 9-10 hours

Attractions - Seeing and learning the process of making silk - step by step, CFT rock garden, mountain biking.

3. The Living Roots Bridge Trek

Living roots bridges trek involves trekking over bridges made completely out of roots. Meghalaya is filled with such natural yet man-made wonders. These unique bridges were made by the Khasi tribe using ancient rubber trees as it provides more durability than wooden bridges, which are knocked down by heavy rainfall in the region. Such living root bridges are spread all over Meghalaya, including Nongriat, which is a splendid trekking location. Starting from the village itself and ending at Rainbow falls, this is a short, yet exhilarating trekking trail. Don't be scared on the living root bridges. They shake a lot but are really sturdy. They have been around for much longer than you think.

Difficulty level - Easy

Distance - 8 km

Duration - 2-3 hours

Attractions - Double-decker living root bridges and rainbow waterfalls.

4. Mawlongbna Village Trekking

Trekking at Mawlongbna Village is a mix of adventure sports and camping and is usually done with an overnight stay in the village. There's plenty to do - right from observing fossils of extinct carnivores, walking amidst unique flora, canoeing, and zip-lining amidst the thick jungle. This is an ideal trip for someone who loves nature and adventure equally.

Difficulty level - Moderate

Duration - 1.5 day

5. Mawlyngot Trek

Nestled at 4800 feet in the Eastern Khasi hills, Mawlyngot village is located at a short distance (75 km) from Shillong. The village is famously dubbed as a tea hub of the state of Meghalaya. The vast stretches of tea estates are a treat for the eyes. This, accented by the tranquillity of Umsong River is a truly calming experience. This hike starts from the village, passes through a rich forest cover amidst a small hill and ends at Umsong River. It is truly a magical experience. You can also tag along another trail from Umsong River to a nearby town of Pynursla.

Difficulty level - Easy

Duration - 2 hours

Distance - 6 km

Attractions - From soothing tea gardens at Mawlyngot to nearby Smit and Laitlum canyons (famous for Nongkrem festival), you'll never run out of choices on this trek.

6. Smit Trek

Smit Trek is undoubtedly one of the most scenic routes to trek on in Meghalaya. Starting from the State Library and ending at crinoline falls, the long yet rewarding trek takes almost 2 days to complete. There aren't many tough paths en-route and hence, this is the perfect trip to plan with your family. Most of the walking will be done on cemented roads with a plethora of bed and breakfast spots in between to take rests.

Difficulty level - Moderate

Duration - 1.5 to 2 days

Attractions - Wonderful lakes, ponds, woods and time to spend with family at leisure.

7. Dawki Trekking

Trek in the border town of Dawki for an unforgettable experience. Dawki is only 2 km away from the neighboring country of Bangladesh and is a major trade hub between the two countries. Shades of Bangladesh's rich culture are clearly seen in the town. While you're here you can hike around the town, get to know the locals, learn about the history of the two countries, and have a picnic at Umngot river banks, which is one of the cleanest rivers in India.

Difficulty level - Easy

Duration - Half day

Attractions - Dawki market, Umngot river, and India-Bangladesh border.

8. Weiloi to Umngi Trek

Located at a distance of around 50 km from Shillong, Weiloi is a village in Meghalaya famous for its scenic natural beauty which stretches till Umngi, a place famous for its natural hot water springs. With over 18 km of walking and tricky routes on the way, the trek may come off a tad bit difficult, but it's totally worth it once you reach the hot water springs. If you don't wish to take up this challenging route, there is another route with its base in Weiloi and going towards Mawblang.

Difficulty level - Difficult

Distance - 18 km

Duration - 5 to 6 hours

Attractions - Umngi hot water springs – they are secluded and less frequently visited by tourists, keeping the water clean and pure.