Velas turtle festival-2023-mumbai-velas
Charges Starting Rs.600/-. Join us this weekend for Velas Turtle Festival, which is one of the best places to be for Philozoics. Velas beach is the Nesting site for Olive Ridley Turtles, once their eggs hatch the newborn baby turtles are released back to sea. We at Mischief Treks will give you the opportunity to witness this amazing event.
Velas Turtle Festival from Mumbai
Join us this Hatching season, to experience Little turtles hatch in Velas. e at Mischief Treks can take you to witness the baby turtles take the first steps of their life towards the sea and then see them start their long journey of life which is full of challenges. Velas turtle festival is one of the most celebrated eco-festival in India - an event that sees tourists, travelers, and volunteers from around the globe. Velas beach is the place where the Velas Turtle festival will be held. The Velas beach lines up the coastal village of Velas in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
Duration: 2 nights 2 days
Organised By: Mischief Treks
Venue: Mumbai - Velas - Mumbai.
Address: Velas, Maharashtra.
Suitable For: All age groups
Batch Size: 15-20 Participants only
(We do not take a crowd of 80-100 people on this event, it's against our safety policy.)
Fees: ₹ 2999.00 per participant.
(website booking discount)
Rs.3200 2999 per participant
( 600/- for Kids up to 7 years of age.)
Note:
⚠️ Book well in advance later train tickets won't be available. Ideally, you need to book 1 month in advance so that train tickets are booked in your name.
10-Feb-2023
17-Feb-2023
24-Feb-2023
03-Mar-2023
10-Mar-2023
Major attractions:
Opportunity to witness the small baby turtles take their first step.
Meet other Nature Enthusiasts.
Traditional Konkani Home Stay
Enjoy the authentic Konkani delicacy
Visit the pristine Beach of Harihareshwar
Explore Bankot Fort
Visit to Harihareshwar Temple.
Fun and Games at the Beach.
Mafia - Tattva style
Photography - be ready to get clicked.
All the "Masti" which is a USP of Mischief Treks.
Velas Turtle Festival is right here for all the Philozoics!!
Sounds too good to be true, right? Not anymore, we at Mischief Treks can take you to witness the baby turtles take the first steps of their life towards the sea and then see them start their long journey of life which is full of challenges. Velas turtle festival is one of the most celebrated eco-festival in India - an event that sees tourists, travelers, and volunteers from around the globe. Velas beach is the place where the Velas Turtle festival will be held. The Velas beach lines up the coastal village of Velas in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Velas beach is the Nesting site for Olive Ridley Turtles, once their eggs hatch the newborn baby turtles are released back to sea. So be ready with your camera to click these baby turtles as they take their first steps. Experiencing the turtle festival is also ideal for children, it gives these young buds the chance to come close to nature and enjoy making memories for a lifetime.
Major attractions of Velas Turtle Festival:
Opportunity to witness the small baby turtles take their first step.
Meet other Nature Enthusiasts.
Traditional Konkani Home Stay
Enjoy the authentic Konkani delicacy
Visit the pristine Beach of Harihareshwar
Explore Bankot Fort
Visit to Harihareshwar Temple.
Fun and Games at the Beach.
Best time to Visit Velas Turtle Festival
The best time to visit Velas is February to April as it is the time when the Olive Ridley Turtles hatch and start their journey towards the sea. The laying of eggs usually begins in February, and the process of turtles coming to the beach to the hatching of the eggs continues through April. Baby turtles are sighted only during the winter and summer months on Velas beach.
Detailed itinerary of Velas Turtle Festival:
Day 0 - (18-Mar, 25-Mar, 01-Apr, 08-Apr)
Pickup points for the event
10:00 pm: 🚐 Borivli - SGNP Gate
10:15 pm: 🚐 Goregaon - Pathanwadi Oberoi Mall
10:25 pm: 🚐 Andheri - Start of Andheri flyover
10:40 pm: 🚐 Bandra - Kala Nagar
11:00 pm: 🚐 Sion - Station gate
11:20 pm: 🚐 Chembur - Ch.Shivaji Statue
11:40 pm: 🚐 Vashi - Opp. Central Mall
11:50 pm: 🚐 Kharghar - Hotel 3 star
12:00 am: 🚐 Kalamboli McDonalds
Those coming by own vehicle need to reach at the meeting point Kalamboli, before 11:50 pm and follow our vehicles till location. Enroute we will halt for a chai and washroom break, the time for which depends on the location and our driver:-)
DAY 1 - (19-Mar, 26-Mar, 02-Apr, 09-Apr)
We will be reaching Velas by 05:00 am. Once we reach our Homestay in Velas village, we will have time to rest for an hour and freshen up. We will be visiting Velas Beach at 06:00 am for Turtle sighting.
Then we'll be having Breakfast and post breakfast we go and take a sneak peek into a little bit of the history of Velas as we visit Bankot Fort.
Now it's time to fill our stomachs and hearts with some lip-smacking and authentic food. For this, we will be returning to our Homestay.
You can rest till evening, we will be visiting Velas Beach for Turtle Festival in the evening around 5 pm. This will be accompanied by lots of fun and games at the Beach.
Have some time to lounge around on the beach and enjoy a beautiful sunset before we head back to the Homestay for Dinner.
Post dinner we will be going for a night walk at the beach under the starry sky.
Day 2- (20-Mar, 27-Mar, 03-Apr, 10-Apr)
Wakeup call for everyone at 5 am.
After a good night rest head out for some more adventure.
We will be visiting Velas Beach for Turtle Festival at 6am.
Then we will be having breakfast later, we check out of the Homestay at Velas Village.
We would then start our journey towards Harihareshwar Temple and Beach by Ferry.
We'll be stopping for Lunch at Harihareshwar. (LUNCH NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE)
Post Lunch we will bid adieu to the mesmerizing Velas and start our return journey to Mumbai by
03:00 pm.Depending on the traffic conditions we will reach Mumbai approximately by 9:30pm.
Please Note: Any event including Velas Turtle Festival that is based on a natural occurrence or natural phenomenon eg. Hatching, Raining, Flower blooming, Cloud formation, etc.. is not in our control. You need to book such events only if you are willing to take that chance. The natural phenomenon cannot be assured from our end, nor is part of the inclusions of the charges.
Things Included in Velas Turtle Festival
1 night stay at a Local homestay in Velas village.
Traveling from Mumbai to Velas and back in a private AC-Bus
Visit to Bankot Fort.
Visit to Harihareshwar beach And Temple.
Ferryboat charges.
All entry tickets and permissions.
"Masti" and Mischief as always.
Basic First-aid
Expertise charges.
Includes Meals as follows:
Breakfast on Day 1 & 2
Lunch on Day 1
Dinner on Day 1
*Please do note that the meals mentioned above are all Vegetarian. Non-Vegetarian (Fish/chicken) will be available at an additional cost*
Exclusions:
Lunch on Day 2
Packaged drinking water, Soft Drinks, or any such expenses.
Any meals not mentioned above.
Any personal expenses.
Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
Things to Carry:
Identity Proof (must)
Torch with extra battery (Must)
A bottle of water (atleast 2 Ltrs)
Extra pair of clothes
Camera / Scarf / Towel / Sunglasses / Slippers
Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
Medicine that you require usually (We do have a basic first aid kit)
Please avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments or carry precious items.
Velas Turtle festival - FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) AND POINTS TO NOTE
Q: I have booked/paid for the Velas Turtle Festival, is my booking confirmed?
Ans. No ! , your booking can become invalid if you do not submit the "Most Important Details" required for emergency situations. Not submitting the details OR Submitting incomplete/incorrect/fake details in the form will make your booking invalid and no refund will be provided in such case. We do not allow anyone to trek/campsite until we have complete and authentic details of the person. This info is crucial in case of emergency, and is a mandatory KYC parameter. For any Trek/Adventure event the organizers need to have your details atleast 48 hours prior to the event. The link for the "personal details form" will be sent to you on WhatsApp after booking.
Q: What if there are fewer Turtle or no Turtle, will we get a refund ? - OR - will we have to pay extra if there are much more Turtle than expected?
Ans. Any event including Velas Turtle Festival that is based on a natural occurrence or natural phenomenon eg. Hatching, Snowing, Raining, Flower blooming, Cloud formation etc.. is not in our control. You need to book such events only if you are willing to take that chance. The natural phenomenon cannot be assured from our end, nor is part of the inclusions of the charges.
Q. What will be included in the meals?
Ans. All the meals provided during the event will be Vegetarian. NonVeg will be available in the restaurant on cost-at-actuals basis
Q. We are coming by our own vehicle for the event, where should we reach?
Ans. We will be providing the exact map location of the meeting point on WhatsApp group which will be created 24 hrs prior to the event date.
Q. Is Velas Turtle Festival safe for solo participants?
Ans. Yes, mostly 30% of participants come up solo and blend in, Mischief Treks has a track record of making our events extremely safe for everyone.
Q. Is Velas Turtle Festival safe for girls?
Ans. Apart from standard risks involved in any outdoor activity, Mischief Treks has a track record of making our events extremely safe for females and especially males. Normally 60 – 75 % of our participants are females. This includes Scuba diving.
Q. How should I book the Velas Turtle Festival event?
Ans. All you have to do is press the book now button on this page and follow the instructions.
Q. Can we pay in cash or installment or on spot?
Ans. Sorry, we do not accept cash payments. Booking for the Velas Turtle Festival from Mumbai closes once seats are sold out, book well in advance to avoid missing out on the slots.
Q. What are the minimum age criteria for the Velas Turtle Festival?
Ans. Age does not matter, "Fitness" is important. The participants need to be physically fit to complete the trek. Participants below 18 years of age need to be accompanied by a blood relative who is above 18yrs or they need to submit a consent letter from parents.
Q. Can we pay in cash or installment or on spot?
Ans. Sorry, we do not accept cash payments. On-spot payment is not possible because the booking process closes 24 hours prior to the event date and we have limited tickets available. To avoid last min booking issues and inconvenience we recommend you to book at least 3-4 days in advance.
Q. How do we get in touch after reaching the meeting point?
Ans. We will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination where you will be provided all the necessary information regarding the contact person, exact point to meet, etc..
Q. How many people will be at the coming for Velas Turtle Festival?
Ans. Depends on the number of people booking the event. Generally, the batch size is approximately 20-25 participants.
Q. Why is submitting emergency contact details and KYC information mandatory?
Ans. Its a standard protocol and also a guideline by Govt of India. We are accountable for every "Human-Body" present at our campsite or trek is our responsibility and in case of any unfortunate event we will be asked by authorities to provide all relevant information about you. In order to comply with the authorities, we have to take authentic information from you. Fake/Incomplete information or non-submission of the details will make your ticket (paid amount) invalid and no refund will be provided in such case. You will not be allowed to participate in the event.
Q. Does the cancellation policy/rescheduling policy apply to me if I book on event day or last day?
Ans: Yes, the policy is applicable irrespective of the booking date. The cancellation / reschedule policy is applicable to everyone with immediate effect from the date and time of booking. The refunds/rescheduling requests will be processed based on the date and time of cancellation/reschedule request sent to us and the date and time of booking the event are irrelevant.
Q. What is the basis of cancellation/reschedule policy in case of medical or personal emergency of participant or organizing team?
Ans: The cancellation policy is based on fairness towards the participant and the organizing team. In case of medical/personal emergency, the loss arising out of cancellation/reschedule will be borne by the respective person. i.e. if the organizing team faces an emergency situation and the event gets canceled, the participant will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if the participant faces an emergency situation, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss. The cancellation policy is designed with a completely unbiased approach towards the participant and organizing team and is aimed at fairness towards both.
Cancellation, Rescheduling & Refund Policy.
90% will be refunded if cancelled 30 days (720+ hrs) in advance.
75% will be refunded if cancelled 20 days (480+ hrs) in advance.
50% will be refunded if cancelled 10 days (240+ hrs) in advance.
0% refund if cancelled in less than 10 days (240 hours) of the event date and time.
0% refund if the participant drops out, misses bus pickup, does not reach the meeting point on scheduled date and time.
If the event itself gets cancelled, you will be given the option to switch to any other event or any other date, Or you can opt for 100% refund.
If you need to reschedule your booking to any other date, it can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent 720 hours prior to the event. From 00 hrs - 720 hours prior to event date and time, free rescheduling is not permitted. It will be counted as cancellation done in less than 720hours of event date and time. It's a humble request, please do not give medical reasons, crib, argue or try to blackmail us if you drop out or cancel/reschedule the event in last 10 days. This mutually agreed cancellation policy is applicable to you and us as well. Date and time of cancellation request sent to us will be considered of calculation of applicable slab given above. The date and time of booking the event are not relevant for calculating the number of days and hours remaining between the event date and cancellation request.
Velas turtle festival
Velas Turtle Festival
Velas Turtle Festival is held at Velas beach of Ratnagiri, 200 km from Pune, the Velas turtle festival has been gaining much popularity in the eco-tourism sector both nationally and internationally. Velas turtle festival is a popular annual festival where newborn baby turtles are released back to sea. Velas Beach is the nesting site for Olive Ridley Turtles, they belong to the ‘vulnerable’ category of the IUCN Red List. Most of the Olive Ridley turtle eggs were either consumed by humans, dogs, and other wild animals. 10 Years ago the conservation effort for these Olive Ridley Turtles started. The Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM) NGO joins hands with the village for creating awareness and encouraging ecotourism. Velas beach and Velas village also offer a great ecotourism experience for all visitors and its a great fun spending your time at Velas. Velas beach is known to be one of the most dangerous beaches in Konkan which averages 5 deaths every year. Make sure you do not enter the beach for swimming and also keep an eye on your friends or co-travelers. The natives of the pristine coastal village offer visitors many local activities and culinary experiences, turning the festival into a cherish-worthy multi-day event. The activities and tourist influx are at its peak during March and April. Some come to care for the tiny turtle hatchlings, some to capture in their frames the little two-legged creatures crawl their way to the ocean, and some for the wholesome eco-tourism experience by the beach! It is a memorable and unique experience for travelers — one that lets them enjoy their time while also giving back to society and mother nature.
facts about olive ridley turtles
The second smallest after the Kemp’s ridley, the olive ridley turtles weigh between 75-100 pounds (34 - 45 kg) and reach 2-2 ½ feet (roughly .6 m) in length.
Olive Ridley is named for their pale green carapace and are the most abundant of sea turtle species.
Olive ridley turtles can be found at depths up to 500 feet.
Olive ridley turtles can sleep underwater for two hours before coming up for air.
It is estimated that olive ridley turtles live for 50 to 60 years.
Like the Kemp’s ridley, olive ridleys nest in mass referred to as an “arribada.” There are only a few places in the world where olive ridley arribadas occur, In other parts of the world, Olive Ridley are solitary nesters.
These turtles are omnivores, eating a variety of prey including crabs, shrimp, lobster, urchins, jellies, algae, and fish.
Despite their relative abundance in comparison to other sea turtles, this species is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and is listed as Threatened in the US.
Although they are the most abundant species, their numbers have decreased by approximately 50 percent since the 1960s
information on olive ridely turtles
The olive ridley sea turtle, also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. Olive ridley turtles are found throughout the world. The number of olive ridleys are greatly reduced from historical estimates, due to overexploitation for turtle meat and eggs. Velas Beach is the nesting site for Olive Ridley Turtles, they belong to the ‘vulnerable’ category of the IUCN Red List. Most of the Olive Ridley turtle eggs were either consumed by humans, dogs, and other wild animals. 10 Years ago the conservation effort for these Olive Ridley Turtles started. The Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM) NGO joins hands with the village for creating awareness and encouraging ecotourism. The locals have also shown great efforts in conserving these turtles.
places to see on the velas tour
Velas Beach is a popular eco-tourism site on Maharashtra's stunning Konkan coast, which is at the beginning of the UNESCO World Heritage Western Ghats. Every year, in the quaint sea-side village of Velas, the beach is host to thousands of Olive Ridley turtles, who come here to lay their eggs. As the sun dips into the sea, setting alight the waters, and darkness descends, watching the turtles start their first journey towards the sea is a fascinating experience. The village hosts an annual Turtle Festival from February to May every year when people come together with conservationists and nature enthusiasts to raise awareness about the presence of turtles in the area. The hatching season lasts from February to April. While large stretches of India's coastline are home to the turtle; Velas Beach is said to be the most popular nesting site on the Konkan coast.
Bankot is a town in India. It was made part of the Bombay Presidency in 1756. This was the first residency of the British Raj in Southern Konkan Bankot Fort / Himmatgad Fort is a fort located 47 km from Dapoli, in Ratnagiri district, of Maharashtra. This fort is an important fort in the Ratnagiri district. The fort is built by Lateritic rocks. There is a Ganesh temple at the base of the fort. Surrounding the fort is a moat dug up in the lateritic rock. There are two gates to the fort. The northern Entrance gate facing the Bankot creek is the main gate. The western gate opens up on a plateau. The main entrance has vestibules for the gatekeepers. Climbing ahead is Nagarkhana which can be reached by climbing steps to view the Savitri river. From the western doorway, the bastion over the ramparts can be reached. There is a secret entrance near the Bastion. This Bastion was built by the Siddis to strengthen Bankot Fort. At Velas, there are two temples dedicated to Shri Rameshwar and Kalbhairav gods constructed by Moroba Dada Phadnis and Nana Phadnis respectively. The government of Maharashtra has undertaken the renovation of Bankot Fort and the work is in full progress.
One of the less crowded beaches in Maharashtra, the Harihareshwar beach is located in the Raigad district, around 200km from Mumbai. Harihareshwar has two beaches on either side of Harihareshwar temple, the main attraction of Harihareshwar. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has also established a beach resort on the southernmost of the two beaches. One of these beaches is a straight stretch of about 2.4 km and lies in front of the temple, while the second L-shaped beach is about 2 km. Names of the two beaches are, Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach.
Harihareshwar Temple is an ancient temple, sacred to Lord Shiva. Hugging the beaches towards the northern edges of Harihareshwar. Believed to be built in late medieval period, the main deity of the temple was the ‘kuladaivat’ of the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the great Maratha Empire. It is surrounded by three hills named Harihareshwar, Harshinachal and Pushpadri. The river Savitri enters the Arabian Sea from the town of Harihareshwar. Towards the north of the town is the temple of Lord Harihareshwar, said to have been blessed by Lord Shiva. Hence Harihareshwar is often referred to as Dev-ghar or "house of God". It is also known as Dakshin Kashi.
places to see near velas
Victoria Fort
Kelshi Beach
Shrivardhan Beach
Mahalaxmi Temple
Harihareshwar View Point
Harihareshwar Shukl Teerth View Point
Sunrise Point
Kalbhairav - Yogeshwari Temple
Harihareshwar Beach
Bus pick-up location for travel from Mumbai (Borivali) to Velas
Bus pick-up location for travel from Mumbai (Andheri) to Velas
Bus pick-up location for travel from Mumbai (Bandra) to Velas
Bus pick-up location for travel from Mumbai (Chembur) to Velas
Bus pick-up location for travel from Mumbai (Vashi) to Velas
Bus pick-up location for travel from Mumbai (Kharghar) to Velas
Covid-19 Safety policy for Velas Turtle Festival
Every member of the group (participants/leaders/ clients & staff) has to wear a protective mask/face shield while talking to each other.
The bus (if opted as transport) will be completely sanitised before picking up participants.
Every participant is instructed to keep safe distance from other participants right from start till the end of the event.
Every participant has to carry a sanitiser spray bottle while coming for the event and use it regularly.
Do not share food/snacks you bring along. (we will miss this fun- Dabba Party)
Carry additional unused mask as backup.
It should be ascertained from the participants that they are not residing / have not traveled in a containment zone and have not come in contact with any person who was tested positive in last 14 days.
Ascertain whether any participant has any symptoms of Influenza like illness (ILI) like fever, dry cough, weakness, severe body ache etc. at the time of beginning of activity. If it is so then he/she should be asked not to participate activity and be evacuated on medical grounds and should be asked to report to local health authority with his own expenses.
Strictly avoid eating gutkha, pan masala, cigarette or sniffing which induces spitting, coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching external surfaces and touching your face when in outdoors.
If the location of your adventure activity is crowded then be prepared to leave or wait for the crowd to disperse/for your turn.
It is mandatory that a participant informs the organizers if he tests positive for Covid within 14 days of returning from adventure activity. It will help the organizers to inform and alert all other persons in the group, so that they can follow the medical/government norms in this regard. Here it is absolutely essential that the participant observes transparency and informs the organizers/group leaders about his Covid test results.
Velas Turtle Festival
Venue: Andheri, Mumbai
Address: Railway Colony, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053
Category: Weekend Getaway | Trek | Event
Charges: 4999.00 onwards | Discount Offer
Event Conducted By: Mischief Treks
Official URL: https://www.mischieftreks.com/tours/velas-turtle-festival
Velas Turtle Festival 2023 Dates and time
Saturday | April 10, 2023-March 10, 2024 | 18:00