Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel
Days 1–4
Sahyadri bushcraft — 5 days (Pune, Bhimashankar, Kondhwal, Ahupe & Padargad)
Five days: water, fire, shelter, navigation and one night alone. Five days with instruction at one to six, all group kit and the solo night with full safety cover.
The Monsoon Ledger
Runs this trip
Outdoor survival
Five days: water, fire, shelter, navigation and one night alone
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
BhimashankarFive days of bushcraft in the Western Ghats — shelter, water, fire and navigation, taught in a forest that gets six metres of rain a… Seasonal streamsFriction fire takes most people several hours and a good number never get one on the first day. Ahupe plateauPhones are collected on the morning of day three and returned on day five.
Itinerary
Five days of bushcraft in the Western Ghats — shelter, water, fire and navigation, taught in a forest that gets six metres of rain a year and is dry when you are there.
Pune, BhimashankarHow the day runs
- 3 hrs2:00 PM — north-west into the Sahyadri
- 6:00 PM — the kit check: what stays behind and why
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationHotel or lodge, twin sharing
Included Activities
- Transport from Pune
- Base camp
- Kit inspection and briefing
LANDMARKS Bhimashankar Sahyadri escarpment Shekaru forest Start point Pune, Pune Airport (PNQ), Lohegaon 00:00 - 23:59Friction fire takes most people several hours and a good number never get one on the first day. That is the point of doing it on day two rather than day four.
Bhimashankar, KondhwalHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:00 AM — into the forest with what you carried
- 1:00 PM — sourcing and purifying water, then friction fire
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationHotel or lodge, twin sharing
Included Activities
- Instruction
- Camp with all meals
- Group kit
LANDMARKS Seasonal streams Forest camp Phones are collected on the morning of day three and returned on day five. Everyone agrees to that before booking.
Kondhwal, AhupeHow the day runs
- 5 hrs7:00 AM — a compass and map leg with no GPS
- 2:00 PM — building and sleeping in a debris shelter
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationHotel or lodge, twin sharing
Included Activities
- Instruction
- Camp with all meals
LANDMARKS Ahupe plateau Ridge navigation Debris shelter Sites are within whistle range of an instructor and of each other. Anyone who wants to come in comes in, and several people do.
Ahupe, PadargadHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — out to the individual sites
- 4:00 PM — build, light, and sit with it until morning
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationHotel or lodge, twin sharing
Included Activities
- Instruction and safety cover
- Emergency whistle and light
LANDMARKS Padargad Solo sites Sahyadri night The debrief is the part people say they remember, which is not what anyone expects going in.
Padargad, Bhimashankar, PuneHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:00 AM — walk out to base
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — south to the city
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Transport to Pune
- Debrief
- Day 1Transport from Pune
- Day 1Base camp
- Day 1Kit inspection and briefing
- Day 2Instruction
- Day 2Camp with all meals
- Day 2Group kit
- Day 4Instruction and safety cover
- Day 4Emergency whistle and light
- Day 5Transport to Pune
- Day 5Debrief
- Day 1Pune to Bhimashankar2:00 PM — north-west into the Sahyadri
- Day 5Bhimashankar to Pune1:00 PM — south to the city
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
What you'll eat
3 dinners, 4 breakfasts and 3 lunches across 5 days, named in the day plan.
- DinnerServed on days 1–3
- BreakfastServed on days 2–5
- LunchServed on days 2, 3, 5
10 meal services named in the itinerary. Share allergies and dietary needs with the operator before you book.
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.4/5
Based on 8 reviews
Review summary
Food4.1/5
Guide4.0/5
Itinerary4.1/5
Transport4.4/5
Accommodation4.0/5
Tour operator4.0/5
Sort by:Recommended
3
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Tara D'Souza – Chandigarh2025-11-18 · Verified booking
Hotels were a step below what I expected for the price. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Reply from The Monsoon Ledger
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
D
Divya Reddy – Chandigarh2025-11-18 · Verified booking
Well paced over 5 days with enough free time to not feel herded. Rooms were basic in the best way — dry, warm, and right where we needed them. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. No hesitation recommending them.
Reply from The Monsoon Ledger
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Chandigarh2025-11-18 · Verified booking
Maharashtra done well. The itinerary had room to breathe. The teahouses were warm and the beds were fine after eight hours walking. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Good value for what's included.
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5
M
Manav Sethi – Ahmedabad2025-11-18 · Verified booking
Everything was arranged properly — transfers, entries, all of it. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Would book with them again.
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5
T
Tara D'Souza – Indore2025-05-16 · Verified booking
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found. Rooms were basic in the best way — dry, warm, and right where we needed them. Recommended.
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4
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Nagpur2025-05-16 · Verified booking
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found.
Reply from The Monsoon Ledger
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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3
N
Nina Hoffmann – Amsterdam2025-05-16 · Verified booking
Hotels were a step below what I expected for the price. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones.
Reply from The Monsoon Ledger
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
Y
Yuki Tanaka – Lisbon2025-05-16 · Verified booking
Well paced over 5 days with enough free time to not feel herded. The teahouses were warm and the beds were fine after eight hours walking. Never went hungry, and the tea appeared exactly when it was needed. No hesitation recommending them.
Reply from The Monsoon Ledger
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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Questions people ask
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