David Scott Trail Trek: Route, Distance, Difficulty and How to Do It from Shillong (2026)

If you search for treks near Shillong, one name comes up again and again: the David Scott Trail. It's a 19th-century bridle path through the Khasi Hills, and today it is Meghalaya's best-known day trek.

You walk past stone bridges, river pools and quiet villages, with almost no traffic and few other walkers.

Who was David Scott?

David Scott was a British official who, in the 1820s, was the East India Company's agent for the North-East Frontier. He wanted a route to link the Brahmaputra valley in Assam with Sylhet, in present-day Bangladesh.

Scott had a path built through the Khasi Hills for pack ponies and porters. It was paved with stone in places and crossed the rivers on stone and iron bridges. Roads replaced it long ago, but long stretches survive, and the section from Mawphlang down to Lad Mawphlang is now a walking trail.

The route: Mawphlang to Lad Mawphlang

The trek starts near Mawphlang, the village known for its sacred forest. It ends at Lad Mawphlang, where the trail meets the road again.

• The start: open grassland and rolling hills above Mawphlang, with long views across the plateau.
• The descent: the path drops into a forested river valley on stone steps and an old paved track.
• The river: you follow and cross streams on old stone and iron bridges, past clear pools where walkers stop to rest or swim in the dry months.
• The villages: you pass through small Khasi hamlets and farm terraces, where you may find tea or snacks.
• The finish: a final climb up to the road at Lad Mawphlang.

How difficult is it?

The trail is moderate. Most of it is downhill on a well-made path, so it's easier on the lungs than on the knees. There are a few short climbs, including the last one to the road.

It suits anyone used to a full day on their feet. It isn't suitable for small children or for people with knee problems, because of the long descent on stone.

Best time to do the David Scott Trail

November to February is the most comfortable time to go. Mornings are cold, so start with a layer you can take off.

Getting to the start and back

This is the part that catches people out. The trail is one way, starting in Mawphlang and ending in Lad Mawphlang, so you need transport at both ends.

• Self-arranged: hire a cab in Shillong to drop you at Mawphlang. Agree a time and place for the pickup at Lad Mawphlang. Mobile signal is patchy on the trail, so fix the pickup details before you start.
• Guided: with our David Scott Trail trek, pickup is at about 7:30 am from your Shillong hotel. A local guide walks with you, the car waits at the end and you're back in Shillong by evening. One price, ₹3,999, covers up to 4 people.

A local guide is strongly recommended. The trail branches at several villages, and the guide knows the safe crossing points when the river is up.

What to carry

• Shoes with good grip. The stone gets slippery.
• At least 2 litres of water and a packed lunch. There are very few shops.
• A light rain jacket, even in the dry season.
• A swimsuit and towel if you want to swim in the pools.
• Cash for tea in the villages.
• Sun cap and sunscreen for the open grassland at the start.

Make a day of it: add the sacred forest

Mawphlang's sacred forest is a grove protected by Khasi tradition for centuries. It sits right at the start of the trail.

If you're staying more than one day in Shillong, do the forest walk on a separate morning. Or ask us to add it before the trek if you're a fast walker.

Other treks near Shillong

• Double-decker living root bridge, Nongriat: thousands of steps down into a valley near Cherrapunji. Tougher than the David Scott Trail, and Meghalaya's most famous trek.
• Laitlum Canyons: short walks on the canyon edge. Stay the night with Laitlum camping.

For more, see best treks in Meghalaya and trekking trails in Shillong.