TheFreeBird
The offbeat Matheran valley crossing trek has zero crowds which provides denser forests, spectacular valley views & unmarked trails. With such offbeat trails you get to enjoy nature at its peak with gushing waterfalls, birds singing and thus providing a peaceful day out to calm even the deepest of your tensions. Move on crowded Andharban & Aadrai treks, there is a new perfect trek near Mumbai in the heart of Matheran. Join me on this unmarked trail and you will come back a more peaceful person ready to take on the world with much more positivity.
My upcoming treks near Mumbai and Pune
🔵 Trek Details
- 2025 June 8,15 – (Whatsapp 7507078470 to check availability)
- Rs 1499
- Grade-Medium, 1 Day
- Endurance- Medium, 5kms -10kms
- Time: 3-4 hours required over flat trail crossing multiple water streams through dense forest. As a finale we cross a bigger water stream to reach the final destination.
- Alert: If the water levels are too high to cross safely we will need to return on the same trail to the start
- Meeting point: 8am Karjat station
- Departure point: 5-6pm Karjat station
🔵 Food
- TheFreeBird would be a very unique organiser as we would provide freshly prepared food on trek including breakfast, small brunch and lunch which would all be home made locally as against the packed food which others provide. Expect traditional Maharashtrian veg food.
- I wont be using plastic plates & spoons but using steel plates wherever possible to reduce plastic footprint
🔵 How to book the trek ?
- Msg me on Instagram or Whatsapp 7507078470 to check seat availability
- Make payment & fill the google form for the trek
- Pack your backpack and reach Karjat station on time
TheFreeBird’s motto :
TheFreeBird with the nature-first & support-local agenda has started off with offbeat treks. We travel to lesser known places to enjoy nature at its peaceful best. The point is not just to enjoy nature & recharge our souls but also support local community in anyways possible. The other focus would be to steer away from plastic usage throughout the trek thus laying the foundation of sustainable trekking.
EXPAND for more details :
+ Matheran Valley trek itinerary
- Take the 05:46am CSMT-Karjat fast local to reach Karjat station. Missing the train means you just missed the trek. Better be on time and everything else would fall in place.
- 0546hrs CSMT – 0559 Dadar – 0606 Kurla – 0610 Ghatkopar – 0625 Thane – 0641 Dombivli – 0650 Kalyan – 0710 Badlapur – 0743 Karjat. Check m-Indicator for exact train timings.
- Reach our vehicle parked beside the Karjat station near Karjat bus stand & start towards the base.
- 0830 hrs – Reach base, have breakfast & start trek.
- 1030 hrs – Have brunch midway.
- 1230 hrs – Reach base village and have lunch at a local’s home (included in trek cost).
- 1400 hrs – Take taxi to Karjat railway station. The trek event has concluded.
- Available CSMT fast timings are 1526hrs, 1600 hrs, 1657hrs + 2 hours to reach CSMT.
- Take your train, set your drop off alarm so as to make sure to not fall asleep when train reaches your station
- It would be advisable to keep a buffer of 2 hours due to unforeseen circumstances.
+ Things to carry on trek
- Wear full-sleeved t-shirt & track pants for protection against heat, insects, & thorns. No short clothes allowed. This is not a picnic but a trek, and you are responsible for protecting yourself.
- Proper trekking shoes are a must to enjoy the trek safely.
- Raincoat & sun cap are essential as the weather is unpredictable these days, even during monsoon.
- Ensure your raincoat covers your backpack to prevent it from getting wet. Otherwise, pack all your belongings in a separate plastic bag inside your main backpack to keep them dry.
- Your lifeline—your mobile—deserves a separate plastic bag to protect it from monsoon showers.
- Carry 2 litres of water, preferably natural lemon juice to beat the heat if the rain clouds are missing and it’s hot. Glucon-D, ORS, Tang, Gatorade sachets are good alternatives if squeezing lemons is too tiring for you.
- Also carry dry fruits, energy bars as backups.
- Carry your identity proof (Aadhaar card). A minor must also bring a NOC from parents.
- A proper backpack is essential to carry all your belongings and keep your hands free.
- Don’t carry unnecessary weights, which will slow you down and make the climb tiring. Only carry things you can comfortably manage and still enjoy the trail.
- Optional: Light towel & changing clothes. Changing rooms availability will depend on the trek
- Personal first aid and personal medication are a must.
- A good torch and a whistle would be great additions to your trek gear
+ Inclusion, exclusion , refunds
Cost includes:
- Pick up from Karjat station to base
- Drop to Karjat station after the trek
- Breakfast, small brunch & Lunch
- Trek Lead Expertise & local taxes.
- Valley crossing if rain gods permit i.e. if water levels are not dangerously high
Cost DOESN’T include:
- Any personal expenses on food & beverages
- Any unexpected costs due to unforeseen unavoidable circumstances & natural calamities.
- Any medical / emergency evacuations
- Anything that you lose on treks or monkeys steal from you 😋 Joking. Not joking
- If a person doesn’t wish to continue on trek, they have to arrange their own transport
Cancellation, transfer & refund:
- If cancelling 2 days before the trek Rs 200 will be charged and the remaining amount will be refunded after 3 business days. For a Saturday morning trek, cancellation will be allowed till Wednesday 11:59 pm.
- Cancelling 1 day before the trek Rs 500 will be charged & remaining amount will be refunded. For a Saturday morning trek, cancellation till Thursday 11:59 pm.
- A day prior cancellation will not be entertained & no refunds will be done. The money CANNOT be adjusted against future treks as all the payments for the trek would have already been made to the involved people.
- The trek seat can be transferred to any of your friends.
- Missing the train and not being able to reach the trek start location on time means you would miss the trek. The entire trek cannot be put on hold as a delay would mean the entire team gets frustrated. Plus waiting results in the sun getting hotter, making the trek tougher for everyone. Hence, a late participant won’t be entertained and has to return home on their own. The trek will start without the late people. No refunds will be provided.
+ Guidelines and rules
- NO SPEAKERS ALLOWED, no headphones. Enjoy nature & birds and let others enjoy as well.
- No drinking, no smoking. No tobacco, no hookah, no drugs. Just get high on nature & reach your stress-free nirvana.
- NO LITTERING: If you create any plastic waste you will need to carry it back with you.
- Don’t wear any jewelry on treks if you value it.
- DON’T anger the monkeys: Don’t look directly at monkeys, no aggression to be shown, no food should be offered. Wait for the trek lead to help you.
- Avoid perfumes as they attract bees to attack.
- No excessive photography which will delay the group.
- Don’t argue with locals.
- No swimming without permission
- Though we assure utmost safety & would take all the necessary precautions, mountains can spring surprises. We won’t be responsible for any injuries or accidents on treks.
- Trek lead’s decision will be final & binding.
About TheFreeBird ?
I have completed Basic mountaineering , Basic rock climbing, 150+ sahyadri treks, summitted 20,000 ft peak. More about me. After trekking & blogging about sahyadris for a decade and receiving endless messages to organize treks, here is one of my first ones. Since I don’t like crowds I will mostly organise offbeat treks with lesser crowds . With peaceful treks you learn a lot about yourself, you lose self doubts & though your legs might be tired you would come back with a renewed energy within yourself to take on any thing that the life throws.
