Pravaasah is excited to invite you to Velas Turtle Festival to witness the rare tiny sea turtles hatch. Olive Ridley is a prominent visitor to the shores of Maharashtra for breeding purposes. Other species are the Green Turtle, Hawksbill and the Leatherback. A lot of the other information is already available online, like what does turtles eat, how a turtle looks like. It is a culmination of a lengthy process, which started when, under the cover of darkness, its mother emerged out from the rolling waves to lay her heap of 100-120 eggs on the sandy beach. Oblivious to the world that awaits it outside its sandy cocoon, the tiny hatchling is soon followed by a hundred others, all crawling their way towards the brightest lights of the horizon.

Itinerary:

Day 0 Friday

11:00 PM Sanjay Gandhi National Park Gate, Borivali

12.00 AM Pickup Point Dadar

12.20 AM Chembur

12.45 AM Vashi

Day 1 Saturday 

5:00 AM - Reach Velas. Watch Turtles taking their first steps. Post sightings, a briefing session would be taken to educate about Olive Ridley Turtles.

9:00 AM - Proceed towards Konkani style home-stay. Freshen up.

10:00 AM - Have delicious home-made breakfast.

11:00 AM -Proceed for a visit to Bankot Fort, which is known for its history and breathtaking views of Velas beach and Harihareshwar.

2:30 PM - Have home cooked & hygenic lunch. Post lunch, you can rest till evening.

5:00 PM - Visit Velas beach again to sight more Olive Ridley Turtles. Spend the night by enjoying group games, sharing stories and experiences, etc.

9:00 PM - Have dinner.

10:30 PM - Retire for the day.

Day 2 Sunday

6:00 AM - Wake up early morning with hope of sighting baby turtles again.

9:00 AM - Post sighting session, have breakfast and leave for Harihareshwar. This is the time when you will experience one of the most interesting moments of the Velas turtle festival tour, where our bus will be transferred from one district to another in a jetty via sea route. We will explore Harihareshwar Temple and beach.

2:00 PM - Have yummy lunch and leave for Mumbai. Reach around 9-10 PM tentatively.

What is included in the tour

Accommodation in a typical Konkani bungalow on homestay sharing basis. (Velas is an eco-tourism village and separate rooms / hotel accommodation is not available)

Transportation from Mumbai to Mumbai by A/c vehicle

Typical Konkani veg meals on tour. (Breakfast, Dinner & Lunch)

Sightseeing and entry tickets, wherever necessary.

Ferryboat Charges & entry tickets.

Pravaasah Expertise

What is NOT included in the tour

Medical / Insurance Charges

Personal Expenses

Packaged Water / Extra Tea or Beverages

Anything not mentioned under Inclusion

Extra Activities

Any miscellaneous expenses

Remember to Carry

·       ID Card

·       2 ltrs water

·       Camera (Optional)

·       Enerzyl Powder or Glucon D powder

·       Snacks & Biscuits

·       Extra Pair of Clothes

·       Clean napkin or small towel

·       Cap, Sunglasses, scarf

·       Haversack or Backpack (No sling bags)

·       Please carry medicines if you need any

·       Hand Sanitizer

·       Identity Card

Important

·       Avoid wearing precious Jewelry while trekking, as Pravaasah won’t be responsible for any losses for the same.

·       Emergence of Hatchlings of turtles is a natural process; Pravaasah won’t be held responsible for low or no hatchings, though the dates are fixed as per the maximum probability.

·       The above beaches in and around Velas have strong RIP currents so you won’t be allowed to go into the water with or without Life jacket / Life Guards and attempt swimming.

·       Velas has good facility of washroom at the home stays.

·       Network is quite poor at Velas though the other destinations offer fair connectivity.

·       Consuming liquor or any kind of Alcoholic substance is prohibited. Carrying any kind of substance that’s illegal is not allowed. Smoking is strictly not allowed. Anybody found smoking or consuming alcoholic drinks will be expelled from the event without refund.