Overview

Join us for the Sondai Fort trek this monsoon located in Sondewadi near Karjat. It is easy, safe and suitable for beginners and has bus pickup from Mumbai. Sondai is one of the most popular locations for treks in the Karjat area. Sondai Fort Karjat was used as a watchtower to protect the trade routes. The view from Sondai is mesmerizing, you get to see view of Morbe Dam, Prabalgad, Irshalgad, Rajmachi, and Karnala Fort Trek. This is a good trek for Monsoon and can be done by beginners too.  

Other recommend One-Day Treks  and Tours from Mumbai are as follows:

Did you know ?
At Mischief Treks, our treks are exclusive. We don’t buy bookings from cheaper entities, nor do we sell your booking to cheaper organisers. Every participant is genuinely part of Mischief Treks. This ensures having a group of like-minded people in every batch, which in turn makes the experience much better for everyone. Yes, we do filter out unwanted people during enquiry phase itself.

Sondai is an easy grade trek in Karjat region near Mumbai, It's best trek near popular locations like Irshalgad, Peb, Karnala, Kothaligad, and Visapur Fort. Trek is safe for Girls, Family, Couples, Women, and Solo travelers. 

 

Sondai Fort Trek summary

Height/Altitude 1200 ft (366 m) 
Base Village Sondewadi Village
Best Time to Visit June to Feb
Difficulty Level Easy-Moderate
Eligibility Click here
Sondai Trek Distance 5 Kilometers 
Duration 4 hours
Fees INR 750 onwards
Batch Size 25 Participants
Trek Organised by  Mischief Treks | Mumbai

 

One Day Trek 15 Dec, 15 Dec, 22 Dec, and more Sondai, Maharashtra
Highlights
What makes this event special
  • Water cisterns
  • Steps are carved out of rocks
  • Picturesque views from the top
  • Sondai Devi temple
  •  Majestic view of Morbe Dam, Prabalgad, Irshalgad, Rajmachi, Songiri forts, Karnala Fort, and Matheran mountain range
Images

Sondai Fort Trek By Mischief Treks

Easy trek for beginners to Sondai fort near Karjat with bus pickup from Mumbai.


Charges for Sondai Fort Trek

  • Without Pickup: ₹ 750 
    (Participants need to reach the base village in their own vehicle)
  • With Pickup: ₹ 1200 
    (AC Bus Pickup from Mumbai will be provided)

⚠️  Eligibility condition 

1. If you wish to apply for being part of our group, you need to "Read" and "Understand" the details such as About-usImportant Note section, FAQ's etc... and be "Aware".
2. Each participant needs to be mentally fit to participate. Do not book this event if the details mentioned on this page are not agreeable to you. Mischief Treks does not accept ignorant people.
3. If you are from Delhi, or social media influencer, or Celebrity, or you have short attention span, kindly avoid joining our group. 

Dates and Rates
date & duration Variant availability price
Itinerary
Timeline of the event.

Meeting Point: SNGP Gate, Borivali
Self Drive: Those coming by own vehicle need to reach McDonalds Kalamboli before 7.34am, and follow the bus till base location. If you are late the entire group will not be waiting, and move to the trek location. Due to network issue in Sondai you/we may not be able to connect with the group. 
 
Coordination
Three hours prior to the event date and time, we will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination purposes. Exact GPS locations for each pickup point, coordinator contact, Live location of bus etc. will be shared in the group.

Bus Transport
Reporting time 5.15am - Borivali.

  • 05:30am Bus starts from SGNP Gate - Borivli 
  • 05:40am Goregaon Oberoi Mall
  • 06:00am WEH metro station bus stop, Andheri
  • 06:15 Kalanagar-Bandra bus stop.
  • 06:30 Sion station circle.
  • 06:45 Diamond Garden, Chembur.
  • 07:15 Vashi Opp. Vashi Plaza, on highway.
  • 07:35 McDonald's, Kalamboli.

Plan for the Sondai Trek

  • 09:00 Reach the base village and have breakfast.
  • 09:30 Start ascending
  • 11:30 Reach the peak and explore.
  • 13:00 Start descending.
  • 15:00 Reach base village and have Lunch.
  • 16:00 Start return journey to Mumbai.
  • Reach Mumbai approx by 7.30pm depending on traffic conditions.
Inclusions/Exclusions
What we'll give. What we won't

What is included in the tour

  • AC Bus Pickup and drop from Mumbai ( If opted for )
  • Breakfast and Tea
  • Lunch - Vegetarian food
  • Panchayat Charges (as applicable)
  • NHAI Charges (as applicable)
  • Govt / Local Body Charges as applicable
  • Trek expertise charges
  • Basic First Aid

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Any personal expenses such as soft drinks etc.
  • Any emergency evacuations/rescue (if required)
  • Any other expenses that are not mentioned above.
Things to Carry
  1. Identity proof.
  2. Reliable shoes with Good grip and extra pair of floaters.
  3. Water (minimum 2 Ltrs) Compulsory.
  4. Rain gear - windcheater/raincoat/poncho.
  5. Extra pair of Clothes.
  6. Keep your phone fully charged.
  7. Mosquito repellent (optional)
  8. Some ready-to-eat food like biscuits, plum cake, etc to keep your tummy happy.
  9. Medicines (if you need any), Glucon D / Electrol / Enerzyl Powder (We will have a basic first aid kit with us).
  10. A haversack to put all your things. Your hands need to be free while trekking. 
  11. And most imp thing, carry lot of enthusiasm and team spirit.
Note
Important Note

Please do not apply to join our group if the terms and details mentioned on this page are not agreeable to you.

Fitness:
Please make sure you are Physically and mentally Fit to complete the event and BEFORE Booking you have gone through all the details, FAQ, Points to note, About Us, and Disclaimer. To understand What is Trek ( click here )

Food: 
The food during the event is home cooked food provided by local villagers living in tribal (Aadivasi) region. If you are choosy, cranky and grumpy about food, please avoid joining this event.

Transport: 
Mischief Treks does not own busses, Jeeps, Trains, or Flight. The transport options are hired by us just like people hire Ola/Uber/Auto/Taxi/Train. Any issues regarding the transport vehicles need to be addressed to concerned transport service provider. Pickup-and-Drop for the event is arranged only as "help"  towards common means to travel together, Mischief Treks does not provide transport services or takes any liability regarding the same. Our role and responsibility starts from base village where the trek conducted by us begins. AC buses may contain slight stench of dampness during monsoon season. One needs to be reasonable with this issue of AC vehicles.

Trekking Shoes: 
Wear reliable shoes with good grip, the sole of the shoe gets ripped off if the shoe is not in good condition. 

About us: 
Don't forget to check the About-us page if you are new to trekking with Mischief Treks in Maharashtra. 

Punctuality: 
In any adventure or sport event punctuality and discipline is utmost important. If you are late in catching the train/bus/cab, you will miss-out the pickup and will be considered dropout. If you are travelling in your vehicle, you may miss joining the group you are late. This is a group event and will not be personalized as per your timing.

Discounts:  
To be honest, Discounts and coupon codes are just a marketing trick to fool people. No one offers something below the pre-decided rate slab. The charges on website haven't yet been adjusted (inflated) to provide for discounts. Mentioned amount is the lowest actual charges and hence discounts are currently not possible.
Each organiser charges a certain amount based on his understanding  regarding 'Worth' of his own event.

Batch Size: 
We Do-Not conduct trek with 100-150 people in the group. Our batch size is limited and we prefer to have a Non-Crowded group for safety reasons.

KYC Form: 
Once you have paid for the event you will receive a KYC form on WhatsApp as soon as your payment is verified by system. You need to submit this form within 3 hours of receiving the form. If you have booked for your friends too, you need to ask each of your friend to get this done. If you are booking just 1 day prior to event, the form needs to be submitted immediately to avoid any inconvenience (Refer FAQ section below) 

CAUTION: 
Please be aware that even the easiest trek is fundamentally a "Trek," not a Tour, Hike, or Picnic. It's crucial to understand that an unfit individual might struggle to complete even half of an easy trek. Based on our prior experiences, an unfit person might perceive an easy-grade trek as the most difficult trek. Prior to making a booking for the event, ensure that you are in good physical and mental condition for trekking.
​To understand What is Trek ( click here )

How to Reach

How to Reach Sondai Fort in Maharashtra from Mumbai

Trek experts recommend that the best way is to opt for pickup and drop option provided by Mischief Treks. Here are your travel options:

  • By Train: Take a train from Mumbai to Karjat station. From Karjat, you can hire a local taxi or auto to Sondewadi, the base village of Sondai Fort.
  • By Bus: Board a bus heading towards Karjat from Mumbai. Get down at Karjat and take a local taxi or auto to reach Sondewadi.
  • By Car: Drive from Mumbai to Sondewadi, the base village of Sondai Fort. The route is scenic and well-marked.
  • Pickup and Drop by Mischief Treks: Opting for the pickup and drop service offered by Mischief Treks is highly recommended for a hassle-free experience.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Points to Note and FAQ's Regarding Sondai Fort Trek

Following are the frequently asked questions About Sondai Fort trek.

Q.  Can someone read out details for me on phone?

Ans. All the details are mentioned on this page itself, once you scroll up you will all info on your screen. Sorry we do not verbally provide details on phone as it usually creates  lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication. Also, its extremely important to read and understand all the details before you book the event so that you have absolute clarity. If  something mentioned on this page is  confusing , you can get clarity on chat by clicking on chat with us button on top. To discuss things that are not mentioned on this website we can arrange a callback from one of our trek leaders.

Q: I have booked/paid for the event, is my booking confirmed for the event? 

Ans. No !, your booking can become invalid if you do not submit the "Most Important Details" required for emergency situations. For any Trek/Adventure event the organizers need to have your details at least 24 hours prior to the event. We do not allow anyone to the campsite until we have complete and authentic details of the person. This info is crucial in case of an emergency and is a mandatory KYC parameter. The link for the "personal details form" will be sent on WhatsApp immediately after you complete the booking instructions mentioned on the website. Submitting incomplete/incorrect/fake details in the form will make your booking invalid and no refund will be provided in such case. 

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. If I have opted for "with transport", which vehicle will be provided?

Ans. Transport from Mumbai is generally provided by bus. The bus capacity varies with reference to participant count. 17 seater, 26 Seater, 32 seater etc .. , if the participant count is low we may opt for Qualis/Sumo/ Tavera for transport     

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 saent 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.

Q: What if my application to join is disapproved due to my behavior?

A. Its important to understand, if you are expelled or if you try to force yourself on us, your application will be rejected based on your unacceptable behavior. If you lie to us about qualifying the eligibility condition mentioned on this page , you will be expelled from our group. No refunds are provided in such case of expulsion or disapproval of joining.

Q. What if there is an issue with transport,  i.e. the bus breaks down, AC is not working, tyre gets punctured? 

 Ans. Mischief Treks as a team conducts treks only. All the support functions like transport, food etc are sourced from various other vendors to help the participants have it streamlined. Equipment failure can happen any time with any piece of machinery and we can try to get a replacement/repair from the vendor. This may consume time and the trek leader may decide to continue the trek as deemed fit to get the event completed. We as well as the participants have to bare with it. There are no refunds possible in such case. The Trek leader's decision to terminate the trek or continue the trek with available resources will be final and binding. 

Q. We are coming by our own vehicle for the event, where should we reach for Sondai Fort Trek?

Ans. You need to reach the Meeting point at scheduled meeting time. This is where we will be meeting, from here you can follow our vehicles. You will be given exact coordinates after you finish booking formalities. We will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination, you will be provided all relevant details in the group. Please do not be late, we cannot keep other participants waiting. If you are not able to reach on time you will be considered a Drop-Out and no refund will be provided in such case. 

Q. How many people will be coming for Sondai Fort Trek?

Ans. Depends on the number of people booking the event. Generally, the batch size is approximately 20-25 participants. It is a Public place and we have no access to data on other organizers' bookings hence we cannot comment on the exact number of people planning to visit this place on a given date.

Q. Can kids participate in Sondai Fort Trek?

Ans. Age does not matter, Fitness and adaptation is extremely Important. Once we had a 4 year old girl who completed entire trek easily, and sometimes even 22-25 year old people cant complete 10% of the event . If you are planning to trek with a kid , I recommend you to go through this Check this Blog: https://www.mischieftreks.in/Blog/kids-trek-Maharashatra 

Q. Is Sondai Fort Trek safe for solo participants? 

Ans. Yes Trek is safe and comfortable. Mostly 40% of the participants come solo and blend in with the trek leaders and the rest of the group.  

Q. Is Sondai Fort Trek safe for girls? 

Ans. Mischief Treks has a track record of making our trekking and camping events extremely safe for girls. Normally 60 – 75 % of our participants are females. Apart from standard risks of any adventure activity, Mischief Treks events are safe for girls, women, kids and especially Men.

Q. How long is the Sondai Fort Trek?

Ans. Normally it takes two hours to ascend and two hours to descend. 

Q. Can we pay in cash or installment ?

Ans. Sorry we do not accept cash payments. For installment scheme you will have to pay one-time processing fee of Rs.500 per person. 

Q. What is the last date of booking Sondai Fort Trek?

Ans. Bookings close once tickets are sold out. Ideally you need to book atleast 2-3 days in advance. 

Q. How should I book Sondai Fort Trek?

Ans. All you have to do is press the book now button on this page and follow the instructions.

Q. How do we get in touch after reaching meeting point? 

Ans. We will be creating a whatsapp group for coordination where you will be provided all the necessary information regarding contact person, exact point to meet etc..

Q. Will we be returning at exact time mentioned in the itinerary?

Ans. The Itinerary is for reference purpose only, it is based on average time taken during our previous events. Actual timeline for a particular date depends on Weather conditions, Traffic Conditions, Participants speed and endurance.  

Reviews and Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aggregate Rating: 4.85 out of 5

Rating count: 2431

Detailed information

Update as on August 24, 2024 

The Monsoon rains have been a blessing this year, the weather is currently perfect for this Trek. Monsoon treks are designed for heavy rains. So, unless there is a ban by Govt, or the roads are completely blocked, the event is good to go. The batch conducted in August 24, 2024 has a great experience in the rains and river streams. Next batches are scheduled on August 31, 2024 and  September 07, 2024.
Beware! Low-Cost trek groups often have large batch-size, this results in unsafe over-crowded trek experience which is not at all worth. Mischief Treks is renowned for conducting treks with a limited number of participants in each batch, this helps having a much better trekking experience. 


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  • Customised Tour Packages from Mumbai. If you are looking to get a tour package customised as per your dates and budget this option provides you an opportunity to get the entire plan made as per your need. Link: Click here
  • Camping and Stargazing. If you are looking for Bhandardara lakeside camping or wish to experience watersports like Rafting, Kayaking and lot more, Check out our camping options on this link. LinkClick here  
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Location
Sondai Fort, Sondewadi, Maharashtra, India View on Map
Cancellation, Rescheduling And Refund Policy
  • 90% will be refunded if canceled 15 days (360+ hrs) in advance.
  • 75% will be refunded if canceled 10 days (240+ hrs) in advance.
  • 50% will be refunded if canceled 05 days (120+ hrs) in advance.
  • 0% refund if canceled in less than 05 days (120 hours) of the event date and time.
  • 0% refund if the participant drops out, misses bus pickup, does not reach the meeting point on the scheduled date and time.

Rescheduling 

  • Rescheduling can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent to us 120 hours prior to event date and time.
  • If the request is sent in less than 120hrs, 50 percent of event charges need to be paid for cancelling the current booking, and then rescheduling it to a batch available on future date.

Refunds

  • Refunds will be calculated and processed on basis of the slabs mentioned above. 
  • Refund amount will be transferred 24 hours after event date and time. 
  • Refund Credit will be received at your end depending on your mode of payment. Credit card refunds take 5-15 days to reflect on your statement. UPI refunds are generally credited to your account within 2-3 hours by your bank. 

If the event itself gets canceled, you will be given the option to switch to any other event or any other date, Or you can opt for a 100% refund. If you need to reschedule your booking to any other available date, it can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent 120 hours prior to the trek. From 0hrs - 120 hours prior to the trek date and time free rescheduling is not permitted. It will be counted as cancellation done in less than 120hours of the 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 trek in the last 5 days.
Logic and Reason: The basis of the cancelation policy is to protect the participant and the organizers from undue financial losses arising out of unforeseen situations. If the event gets canceled due to the medical/personal emergency of the organising team member, the participants will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if there is a medical/personal emergency at the participant's end, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss.