Nature beckons

Three city travel groups offer cheap treks, night trails and adventure sports for enthusiasts

If your idea of de-stressing is being around nature, here are ways to enjoy quick getaways without burning even the smallest hole in your pocket. This monsoon, three city-based experiential travel groups offer a chance totrek along beautiful green sceneries around the outskirts of the city.

Travel group Life Away From Life will be holding a one-day trek to VisapurFort, Lonavala, this Sunday, which they recommend highly for first-time trekkers. "Since it is an easy grade trek of around five hours including the climb up and down, it is good for beginners or just about anyone who likes to be around nature, witnessing waterfalls and walking through forests," says Prateek Deo of the group. The trek is open to all age groups and a regular trekking group consists of 12 people.

For people looking for more exciting activities, Adventure India is holding a one-day flying-fox and trek camp at Dhangar Waterfalls, Badlapur, which is 70 kms away from Mumbai. Flying fox is a thrilling sport where a person, suspended by a rope, zips through a cable fixed between two hills,usually offering a breathtaking view below. "Since the waterfall emerges only from June till Decemeber, it is an amazing experience to fly fox along the waterfall. We have an orientation before the activity and people with the fear of heights can overcome their fear through this sport," says Mangesh Koyande, Adventure India, adding, "Trekkers can also travel around the Kondeshwar dam, discover the backwaters of the waterfall and soak in the quiet charm of the place."

Monsoon magic
With monsoons at the doorstep, trek organisersrecommend that this isthe best time to explore the barren beauty of hillyregions around the city. "Maharashtra is probably the only state in the country where you can enjoy good treks in the rains." says Yogesh Chavan of Rainbow Group, that is organising a two-day trek to Matheran. The highlight of the trek is the night-trails where one can spot nocturnal insects and birds like bats andowls. "Our guide helps in identifying some of the rarer species and the trek provides a great opportunity foramateur and professional nature photographers to get good shots," says Chavan.

6 things tonot forget
Torchn Mosquito repellentPolythene bagsExtra pair of socksNewspaper/cloth to lay things onSunscreen lotion
Trek that
Visapur Fort, Lonavala:One-day trek and nature trail by Life AwayFrom Life.
On June 26.
Cost: R 800
Contact Prateek Deo at 9223394715

Dhangar Waterfall, Badlapur:Flying foxing and trek by Adventure India.
On June 26.
Cost: R 1000
Contact Mangesh Koyande at 9423923518, 9223293518

Matheran
Two-day trek and night trail by Rainbow Group.
On June 25-26.
Cost: R 950
Contact Yogesh Chavan at 9324716956

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