Garbett Plateau (Monsoon Trek)

Garbett Plateau is one of the most scenic treks in all of Maharashtra. Although it is situated close to Matheran it has still survived commercialization. Escape the city and head into the serenity of the hills as we walk along the Dhom lake and tread through rustic villages on this trek. The lush green beauty of the Sahyadris is seen only in the monsoons making the view from the top simply spectacular! So grab your rain jackets lace up those shoes and follow us #IntoTheWild!

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Base village: Diksal
• Summit height: 2625 ft
• Time taken to climb/descend: 3-4 hrs climb / 1.5 hrs descent
• Total distance of trek: 8 km
• Duration: 1 day
• Meeting point: Bhivpuri Stn ticket counter (8:00 am)
• Departure point: Neral Stn ticket counter (6:00 pm)

Watch our Garbett Plateau reel here: https://rb.gy/lapbfe

Itinerary

8:00 am: Board the 6:10 am Karjat (Fast) and reach Bhivpuri by 8:00 am. Meet the Vagabond team at the Bhivpuri station ticket counter at 8:00 am

08:15 am: We head towards Diksal village and nourish ourselves with some breakfast.

09:30 am: After a round of introductions and getting to know each other a little bit we make our way towards Garbett plateau. On our way we will cross the pristine Dhom lake and a few villages. Feel free to whip out those phones and Go Pros to capture your rainy weekend outdoors.

01:30 pm: On reaching Garbett plateau we will take a lunch break and spend some time here. The lush green panoramic view that surrounds us is one of the many reasons that the Sahyadris are a hotspot for trekkers during the monsoons.

03:00 pm: We make our way through the forest and onwards to Dasturi. You can grab roasted corn and 'chai' for a perfect end to the trek.

04:00 pm: We board our taxis and make our way towards Neral station.

05:00 pm: Adios! Back to the mundane city life. Until next time Vagabonds!

Inclusions

• Return transport from Matheran to Neral station (private taxis)
• Breakfast
• Refreshments
• Trek guide charges
• Assistance by Vagabond EMs
• First Aid assistance

Things To Carry/Wear

• Snacks (non-perishable)
• Rainwear (rainjacket/poncho)
• Packed lunch
• Drinking water (minimum 2 ltr)
• Sturdy shoes with a grip
• Sweets/Glucon D (optional)
• Camera (optional)
• Trekking pole (optional but very useful)

Important Notes

• Please DO NOT miss the 6:10 am Karjat Fast from CST station. Feel free to board this train from any other station (Byculla 6:18 am Dadar 6:24 am Kurla 6:31 am Ghatkopar 6:35 am Thane 6:49 am) but it WILL be crowded and if you miss this train you will NOT be able to join us for the trek. Meet us at Bhivpuri stn ticket counter by 8:00 am. Plan accordingly.
• Please carry a packed lunch that will not get spoilt. If you do not want to carry lunch you could carry snacks and eat lunch once we reach Matheran market (around 3 pm)
• Please make sure you have good rain gear to protect yourself and your bag from getting wet.
• This is a trek and not a nature trail we will be ascending and descending slopes through the course of the trek.
• Please wear sturdy closed footwear with good grip and one that won't tear.
• Do not carry sling bags or any bag that dangles. Try keeping your hands free at all times.
• For those of you who haven't trekked before don't worry we at Vagabond encourage you to take your time and have a great experience climbing with us. A Vagabond trek isn't about speed it's about the group experience. For those of you who have trekked before we encourage you to encourage the beginners and help them through the way.
• A day prior you will be added to a WhatsApp group with all the other participants and your assigned Experience Manager. Further instructions will be shared on this group and you can coordinate your travel with your co-travellers. If you have any doubts before this feel free to WhatsApp us on 74000 54929

Who Is This Experience Best Suited For

• There isn’t an age restriction on any of our experiences everyone is welcome. However the average Vagabond customer is anywhere between 20 – 32 years old. The experiences involve a good amount of time spent with the group. Depending on what experience you’re opting for there could be a lot of walking and physical exertion.
• It’s important to understand that most of our experiences include very rustic accommodation and not a luxurious means of transport. These may be basic in their facilities but the hospitality is homely and comforting. If you’re someone who doesn’t like compromising on your comforts while travelling this experience may not be very enjoyable.
• Most of our trips have a healthy number of solo travellers. We encourage you to join us solo especially if you’re tired of waiting on your friends. We promise you’ll return with many more.
• We try our best to be responsible travellers. Everyone is welcome to explore with us but we pay utmost importance to cleanliness on all our experiences. We encourage you to #LeaveNoTrace behind while you discover the beauty of the outdoors.
• It’s important to understand that in a limited amount of time only a limited amount of experiences can be had. We like to cover a few places in-depth rather than just ticking off a long list of things-to-do and places-to-go. However if you are that kind of traveller on almost all trips you can feel free to wander by yourself to places of your interest.
• At a Vagabond Experience it’s important to stay open-minded and positive when things don’t go as per plan. The essence of traveling in a group is being able to help each other out when in need. The weather could go bad and plans could get altered. In such situations we urge you to have faith in your group leader to make the most informed decision for the group.

Why Choose Vagabond?

Years of experience: We’ve been leading trips around the country since 2014. Our time in this field has helped us learn things about places and people that would not be possible without the amount of experience we have. This knowledge about the destination contributes to a more wholesome and enriching group experience.

Footfall: Since our inception we’ve led more than 4500 people on treks backpacking trips camps and outdoor experiences. Be rest assured we’ve dealt with all kinds of people.

Safety first: Given the time we’ve spent in the travel field we know and believe in the importance of safety. All our Experience Managers are first-aid certified and carry a well-equipped first-aid kit on every trip.

Solo / female traveller friendly: Over the years we have noticed a trend in the increasing number of solo and female travellers on our trips. Many of our trips end up having a good amount of solo female travellers.

Group size: We’ve come to realize that taking large groups of people compromises on an intimate interpersonal experience. Thus our trips are led with a fairly small group of travellers who find it easier to get to know each other over the course of the trip.

No discrimination: At Vagabond we believe that your age social class gender or sexual orientation shouldn’t determine if you’re allowed on a trip or not. Anyone and everyone should feel safe and welcome to experience and explore new places.

Flexible itinerary: On a Vagabond experience you’re free to stray away from our scheduled itinerary and explore the place on your own. You do you. We’re not your travel guides. We’re here to facilitate a better understanding of the location and help you experience it in your own comfort zone.

Mindfulness to nature: Over the years we’ve seen the places we visit turn filthier and less pristine. We don’t want to contribute to that any further. At a Vagabond experience we encourage you to reduce your waste and leave the place cleaner than it was. Check out #LeaveNoTrace

In-depth research: We're not a tour & travel agency. Every experience we offer you has been researched and experienced firsthand by our core members. We visit the locations ourselves and curate an experience that we believe to be in sync with our ideologies.

Terms and Conditions

• All timings and activities are subject to weather group size capabilities of participants etc.
• Vagabond holds the right to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances (for eg. unfavorable weather)
• By registering for this trip you agree to have read through and abide by the Vagabond Terms & Conditions mentioned in the footer.

Get In Touch

For further inquiries feel free to Whatsapp/call: 7400054929

PS: We respect and love our personal lives. Please contact us only between 11 am and 7 pm on weekdays. 

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