It may seem that camping in the month of May anywhere in India is not a good idea - well it probably isn't - but the location of our camp site, the overall experience and given that we were around the coast line (which though still hot, isn't as bad as the rest of the country) in fact would make this camping trip count as amongst the better trips that we have taken, despite the weather.
Our journey started with the catamaran ride. Most of the fellow campers including the band (Sky Rabbit) accompanying us started with us while a few (unknowingly lucky ones - will come to that part in a bit) took the road travel option. The catamaran drops you off at the Mandwa jetty from where you take an onward bus to Alibaug. (Loo Alert - it would be preferable if you use the loo before undertaking this travel to Alibaug as till that point and a little bit after the journey is a bit rushed. There are loo going options at the jetty but the cleanliness is suspect). From Alibaug, Blueberry Trails had organized a private bus (non-air conditioned) to take us to the camp site. The bus stops somewhere on the way for travelers to eat/drink and refresh.
This travel which is supposed to be faster and more convenient was the only let down of the organization of the trek on the part of Blueberry Trails. The seats on the catamaran are over booked and seating is on first come first serve basis and the same is the case with the busses leaving from Mandwa to Alibaug. So the better part of the journey to the campsite (which is around 3.30 hrs) was spent standing. (A note of recommendation to the organizers here - either make the campers start queuing up for seats early (which obviously is an organizational nightmare) or arrange the pick up for kashid from Mandwa jetty itself). No complaints from us other than this little bit.
The tents are occupied on a first come first serve basis so walk fast to reach the site to choose your tent location ;).
The site of makeshift loos was funny - a western seat was placed over a dug up portion in the ground and each such "loo" was covered under a tent of its own. This arrangement is as good as it gets and if you are truly going out camping then this is luxury.
We undertook a two day long camping trip on the first weekend of May. The location of the camp site was some distance ahead if kashid beach along the coast line. The site belonged to the guys at "letscampout" who in-turn have taken it from a farmer. To reach the site, you have to undertake a short walk (5-10 minutes) from the road which involves crossing the farmer's house. This entire travel (including arrangements with the guys at letscampout) was arranged by a new start-up "Blueberry Trails" (a young start-up run and managed by young professionals who have either quit their regular job or are almost half way there).
An indication that your little excursion would be fun involving like minded people who would more likely than not become your friends starts right from the moment you place a call to Blueberry Trails (we spoke with Sudeepta - who is currently leading the charge), where the conversation is not as between a tour operator and a potential client but more a normal day to day chat you have with friends. We were told (jokingly of-course!) that the organizers have a screening process of sorts where they try and make sure that the fellow campers would be comfortable with each other. Whether or not there is a screening process, the people on the trip were great fun to talk to and catch a couple of drinks with.
The two most popular ways of reaching Kashid from Mumbai are either to take a catamaran from Gateway of India at Colaba (the less time consuming route as compared to the other) or to travel by road.
Our journey started with the catamaran ride. Most of the fellow campers including the band (Sky Rabbit) accompanying us started with us while a few (unknowingly lucky ones - will come to that part in a bit) took the road travel option. The catamaran drops you off at the Mandwa jetty from where you take an onward bus to Alibaug. (Loo Alert - it would be preferable if you use the loo before undertaking this travel to Alibaug as till that point and a little bit after the journey is a bit rushed. There are loo going options at the jetty but the cleanliness is suspect). From Alibaug, Blueberry Trails had organized a private bus (non-air conditioned) to take us to the camp site. The bus stops somewhere on the way for travelers to eat/drink and refresh.
This travel which is supposed to be faster and more convenient was the only let down of the organization of the trek on the part of Blueberry Trails. The seats on the catamaran are over booked and seating is on first come first serve basis and the same is the case with the busses leaving from Mandwa to Alibaug. So the better part of the journey to the campsite (which is around 3.30 hrs) was spent standing. (A note of recommendation to the organizers here - either make the campers start queuing up for seats early (which obviously is an organizational nightmare) or arrange the pick up for kashid from Mandwa jetty itself). No complaints from us other than this little bit.
Once the travel to the site is braved however, you are in for a real treat. Because the site belonged to a farmer and is really a private property, you are treated to a clean stretch of an exclusive beach. A short walk from the farmer's house would take you to a hillock on which the tents are placed. Being our first camping trip, the site of the cute little tents stacked up in rows ready to be used by the travelers was joyous. Credit for the tents and the site to letscampout.
The tents are occupied on a first come first serve basis so walk fast to reach the site to choose your tent location ;).The site of makeshift loos was funny - a western seat was placed over a dug up portion in the ground and each such "loo" was covered under a tent of its own. This arrangement is as good as it gets and if you are truly going out camping then this is luxury.
Before the barbecue and live band was set up for us we were given our own time to dip in the pool or just marvel at the view, serenity and silence (which is quite a contrast to what you experience everyday in a metro like Mumbai). We choose to sit at a low cliff of sorts and drink. Yes, alcohol is permitted and you can buy or refill your stock from a booze shop located at a 10 minute walk from the site (open till 10:30 pm). If you nicely request the shop owner, he could also delivers chilled beers to the camp site.
The food served was surprisingly good and the night sky lets you gaze at the "stars so bright that they put your city lights to shame" (re: modern family). The experience of simply lying down on the beach listening to live music by the band, sound on the waves crashing at the rocks and gazing at the stars was out of this world and in itself is a sufficient enough reason to undertake the trip.
The overall trip and the experience was brilliant and if you want to meet new people, do something different on your weekend, we would definitely recommend this trip being undertaken with Blueberry Trails. Due credit also to letscampout guys for a great camping experience.
The total trip cost with Blueberry Trails (all inclusive other than alcohol) is Rs. 3990 per person for a double occupancy tent.
More information on the organizers can be seen here:
For Blueberry Trails you could look them up on Facebook.
For Letscampout you can visit letscampout.com
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