Swimming in Glass Rivers: 7 Days in the Abode of Clouds

The living root bridges of Meghalaya had lived on my bucket list for a decade. But navigating deep northeastern canyons solo felt daunting.

UnPlan's small cohort of 8 was the exact sweet spot. Not a 40-person tour bus with a megaphone, but an intimate expedition. Our host Wanpyn grew up in the East Khasi Hills and showed us hidden waterfalls that aren't on any map.

When we reached the transparent river at Shnongpdeng, we didn't just take pictures—we jumped in together, floated on our backs watching bamboo swallows, and cooked grilled fish with local herbs over river pebbles.