Adventure Activities in Meghalaya: Kayaking, Snorkelling, Camping, Caving and Treks, with Prices (2026-27)

Meghalaya is best known for its rain and waterfalls, but it's also the Northeast's adventure playground.

• Clear rivers you can kayak and snorkel in
• Limestone caves among the longest in India
• Clifftop and riverside campsites
• Treks that end at bridges grown from living roots

This guide covers the best adventure activities in Meghalaya: where to do each one, the best season, what it costs, and how to book.

Adventure activities at a glance

The water activities and most camping stop during the monsoon (June to September), when rivers run high.

Water sports

Kayaking, snorkelling and cliff jumping at Shnongpdeng

Shnongpdeng, 8 km upstream from Dawki, is where the Umngot river is calm and clear enough to play in. In winter you can see the pebbles on the riverbed from your kayak.

• Kayaking: on the calm green stretch above the village.
• Snorkelling: with a mask, over the pebbles in the shallows.
• Cliff jumping: from the rocks into a deep pool, with a spotter. It's optional, and you choose the height with the guide.

On the beach each activity is priced and haggled separately. Our Shnongpdeng kayaking, snorkelling and cliff jumping pack is ₹1,200 per person for all three, with life jackets and a guide. You don't need to be a strong swimmer.

When to go: November to March, when the water is clearest. See when Dawki's water is clearest.

Kayaking on Umiam Lake

Umiam Lake (Barapani), 30 minutes from Shillong, is a huge reservoir ringed by pine hills and dotted with wooded islands. It hosts national sailing regattas.

An hour of Umiam Lake kayaking costs ₹999 per person with a guide. It's ideal for first-timers and an easy stop on the Guwahati road.

Swimming at Krang Suri Falls

Krang Suri's waterfall drops into a blue pool where you can swim with a life jacket. It's in the Jaintia Hills, about 30 km from Dawki, so the two make a full day out of Shillong.

Book: Krang Suri Falls and Dawki day trip.

Camping

Meghalaya has three very different places to sleep under canvas. For a full comparison, see camping in Meghalaya.

Riverside camping at Shnongpdeng

You camp on the river beach and wake up to mist over the clear water. Do the water sports the next morning, when the river is calmest.

Dawki riverside camping costs ₹1,299 per person per night.

Island camping at Nongkhnum

Nongkhnum is a large island on the Kynshi river near Nongstoin, in the West Khasi Hills, with sandy banks and Weinia Falls nearby. It's far from the usual circuit and much quieter.

Nongkhnum Island camping costs ₹1,200 per person per night.

Clifftop camping at Laitlum

You sleep on a grassy ridge above deep gorges, under an hour from Shillong. Sunset and sunrise are the reason to stay.

Laitlum Canyons camping costs ₹1,500 per person per night with dinner and breakfast.

Caving

Meghalaya has some of the longest caves in India, cut into the limestone of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Serious caving in the long systems needs specialist expeditions. For most visitors, the show caves around Cherrapunji are the way in:

• Mawsmai Cave: lit, short and good for a first cave. There are tight squeezes.
• Arwah Cave: fossils in the walls and a forest walk to the entrance.
• Garden of Caves: caves, streams and a waterfall falling through the rock.

All three fit in one day on our Cherrapunji caves day trip, ₹4,499 per car from Shillong. For a deeper cave off the usual route, read about Krem Chympe.

Trekking

Double-decker living root bridge, Nongriat

This is Meghalaya's most famous trek: thousands of stone steps down from Tyrna into a valley, over swaying suspension bridges, to two root bridges grown one above the other. The pools below the bridge are perfect for a cold dip.

A registered local guide has been compulsory since 2025. Our double-decker root bridge trek is ₹1,199 per person with the guide and entry fee.

David Scott Trail

This old bridle path from Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang is about 14 to 16 km and mostly downhill. It passes stone bridges, river pools and Khasi villages.

The guided David Scott Trail trek costs ₹4,499 per car from Shillong, with drop, pickup and a local guide. Our David Scott Trail guide has the full route.

More options: best treks in Meghalaya.

Other adventures

• Ziplining over the river is offered at Shnongpdeng and at some viewpoints. Check the operator's safety gear before you go.
• Wari Chora in the Garo Hills has boat rides through a narrow canyon. It's far from Shillong but spectacular. See our Wari Chora guide.

Safety tips

• Wear a life jacket for every water activity, even if you swim well. The Umngot is deep in places.
• Avoid rivers after heavy rain. The water rises fast and turns cloudy.
• Wear shoes with grip. Stone steps and cave floors are slippery all year.
• Don't trek after dark. Start long treks by 8 or 9 am.
• Book with operators who include gear and a guide. Ask what's included before you pay on the spot.

Plan an adventure trip

A 4 to 5 day trip from Guwahati can fit:

• Umiam kayaking on the way in
• a night camping at Shnongpdeng with the water sports
• the root bridge trek from Cherrapunji
• a night at Laitlum

See our Meghalaya tour packages, or our 4-day Meghalaya itinerary.