Highland Hopping (An Easy Monsoon Hike)

Nestled amidst the towering Matheran mountains with the serene Morbe dam on one side and the majestic Garbett plateau running parallel this secluded hike near Karjat promises an unforgettable experience. This winding trail through lush meadows offers panoramic views of verdant landscapes adorned in vibrant greenery especially during the monsoons. The trek is characterized by refreshing rains accompanied by cool breezes that carry the invigorating scent of petrichor. As you traverse the path you'll encounter charming small streams to cross sauntering ridge walks and picturesque farmlands. This journey through nature's bounty promises to be a unique and rejuvenating adventure.

• Difficulty level: Easy-Moderate
• Summit height: 550 ft(approx)
• Time taken to ascend/descend: 2-2.5hrs climb | 1-1.5hrs descend
• Total distance of trek: 4kms (approx)
• Duration: 1 day
• Meeting point: Karjat station (8:10 am)
• Departure point: Karjat station (5:00 pm)

Itinerary

8:15 am: Board the 6:10 am Karjat (Fast) and reach Karjat stn by 8:10 am. Meet the Vagabond team at the Karjat station ticket counter at 8:15 am

8:30 am: Assemble & get into our taxis that will take us to the base village. Enroute we will stop for some hearty breakfast.

10:30 am: Reach our base villagei stretch and warm up a bit. After a short round of introductions and instructions we are ready to take on the day!

11:00 am: We begin the trek and pass through a jungle patch lush farmlands and small streams and waterfalls.

01:30 pm: Reach the last meadow on top from where the views of the surrounding peaks are just stunning! We will have our lunch here.

02:30 pm: Breathe in the fresh air and views one last time as we start to make our descent.

04:00 pm: Reach the base village and head back to Karjat station in our privately booked cabs.

05:00 pm: With fresh monsoon memories bid adieu to a bunch of new friends.

Inclusions

• Transport to and from Karjat 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 outside Karjat station near the rickshaw stand by 8:15 am. Plan accordingly.
• This is a trek and a nature trail we will be ascending and descending through the course of this trek. 
• Please wear sturdy closed footwear that won’t tear. And do not carry sling bags or any bag which dangles. Try keeping your hands free at all times.
• Do not carry an umbrella to use on the trek. 
• Do not wear sandals/slippers
• Either you put your valuables (phone/wallet) in ziplock/reusable plastic bags and pack them into your bag or purchase plastic pouches (Mostly sold locally during monsoons)
• For those who haven’t trekked with us 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 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 at 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 experience involves 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 traveling this experience may not be very enjoyable.
• Most of our trips have a healthy number of solo travelers. 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 travelers. Everyone is welcome to explore with us but we pay utmost importance to cleanliness on all of 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 to. However if you are that kind of traveler on almost all of our trips you can feel free to wander by yourself to places of your interest.
• At a Vagabond Experience it’s important to be open-minded and positive when things don’t go as per the 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 leaders 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 in 2014 we’ve led more than 6500 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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Host or Publisher Vagabond Experiences