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Travel Firse
Velas Turtle Festival
SeasonalFeb–Apr

Velas Turtle Festival

Watch baby Olive Ridley turtles race to the Arabian Sea

Photos (13)
Grade
Easy
Duration
1 Day / 1 Night
Best season
Feb–Apr
Base village
Velas
First pickup
McDonald's, JM Road, Deccan Gymkhana · 8:00 pm

Overview

  • Baby turtle hatching experience
  • Historic Bankot Fort visit
  • Scenic Velas beach walk & sunset views
  • Authentic Kokani food experience
  • Jetty ride & backwater views
  • Beautiful coastal road drive (Konkan Darshan)
  • Darshan at Harihareshwar Temple (Dakshin Kashi)

At Maharashtra's captivating ecotourism event, the Velas Turtle Festival, tourists can witness the beautiful sight of baby Olive Ridley turtles hatching and heading out to sea. Velas, situated on the Konkan coast, provides a perfect mixture of adventure, nature and conservation.

In addition to the turtle festival, discover the historical Bankot Fort, a magnificent coastal fort with beautiful views of the Arabian Sea, and Harihareshwar, a quiet beach town renowned for its ancient Shiva temple and picturesque surroundings.

Photos & brochure

Join us from

₹2,000per person

Pickup points

  1. McDonald's, JM Road, Deccan Gymkhana8:00 pm
  2. Xion Mall, Hinjewadi9:00 pm

Brochure price: ₹2000 per person (group discount available)

Dates

Dates on request — WhatsApp us

Usually runs Feb–Apr. We announce exact dates on WhatsApp, so ask us for the next departure.

Ask for datesJoin WhatsApp community

Itinerary

Velas turtle hatching, Bankot Fort & Harihareshwar

  1. Reach Velas and get freshened up.
  2. Witness turtle hatching at Velas Beach.
  3. Have breakfast.
  4. Get ready to explore Bankot Fort.
  5. Lunch and rest. After lunch, catch the jetty ride towards Harihareshwar beach.
  6. Reach Harihareshwar temple and explore the unique rock formations.
  7. Return journey starts towards Pune.
  8. Reach Pune with loads of memories (1-2 hrs delay is possible depending on the speed of trekkers and traffic on the road).

Meals: All meals during the carnival

Times are indicative. A 1–2 hour delay is possible depending on the group's pace and traffic.

What's included

Included

  • Outdoor expertise charges
  • All meals during the carnival
  • Pune to Pune private transport
  • Guide
  • Entry fee
  • First aid

Not included

  • Mineral water / cold drinks, day two dinner, etc.
  • Camera & coolie charges
  • Personal expenditure of any kind
  • Medical expenses other than first aid
  • Any other charges not mentioned in "Fees Include"

Things to carry

0/10 packed

Route & how to reach

Velas

17.959° N, 73.034° E · approximate pin

Loads OpenStreetMap

How to reach

We travel together from Pune by private transport to Velas, so you don't need to find the trailhead yourself. Pickup points and times:

  1. McDonald's, JM Road, Deccan Gymkhana8:00 pm
  2. Xion Mall, Hinjewadi9:00 pm
Directions in Google Maps ↗

Safety & grade

  1. 1Easy
  2. 2Easy–Moderate
  3. 3Moderate
  4. 4Moderate–Difficult
  5. 5Difficult

What Easy means

Well-trodden trail and gentle climbs. If you can walk 5 km at a steady pace, you can do this.

How to prepare: A week of brisk 30-minute walks, or taking the stairs every day.

Trek rules

  • Please do not expect any luxury during the trip.
  • No alcohol, no smoking or loud music.
  • Strictly no plastics to be thrown.
  • Changes in plan / schedule can happen due to weather conditions and unavoidable reasons. The Trek Leader's decision will be final. The Travel Firse team reserves all rights to cancel this trip at any time for any reason.
How we grade and keep you safe →

FAQ

Where is the pickup for Velas Turtle Festival?

Pickup points and times: McDonald's, JM Road, Deccan Gymkhana (8:00 pm); Xion Mall, Hinjewadi (9:00 pm). Please be there 10 minutes early.

Is Velas Turtle Festival good for beginners?

Yes. It's graded Easy on our five-step scale, which suits first-timers who can walk steadily for a few hours.

Are meals included?

Included: All meals during the carnival.

Are there washrooms?

Not on the trails. We stop at the base village to freshen up before the climb and again after. Please don't expect luxury: these are treks, and our brochures say so too.

How much luggage can I bring?

One backpack (no sling bags) with the items on the trek's packing list. Wear your trek clothes and keep a spare set for the ride back.

What happens if the weather turns?

Plans can change with the weather. On the trail the trek leader's decision is final, and Travel Firse may reschedule or cancel a trek for safety. In the monsoon expect rain, slippery rock and leeches, and pack a poncho, not an umbrella.

Cancellation & payment

Cancellation policy

  • Cancellation 3 days prior: full refund.
  • Cancellation 2 days prior: 50% refund.
  • Cancellation within 2 days of departure: no refund.

Payment

  • Payment: Google Pay / PhonePe 9890340264 (Name: Mayuri Deshmukh).

Full policies: Cancellation policy · Terms of travel

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