Brief Description
The Sandhan Valley Trek is an epic trek in the Sandhan Valley of Maharashtra which is also known as the Valley of Shadows, is one of the greatest canyons in entire India. With a total distance of 1.5 km and a depth of 200 ft, the Sandhan Valley is located in the Western Ghats surrounded with mighty Alang, Madan and Kulang, Ratangad and Kalsubai thus displaying an impressive set of beauty and grandeur of the Sahyadris. Located between two high walls of a range, the deep and narrow ravine is as less as 3 metres wide in certain sections where even the sun rays are unable to reach, thus it gets the name Valley of Shadows. With a thrilling rappelling section and walking through waist-high water, the Sandhan Valley trek is undeniably one of the best adventures in the western ghats meant for novice and experienced trekkers alike. The natural gorge of Sandhan (with some boulders the size of your bedroom) combined with narrow exciting trails makes this Western Ghat trek a must in your bucket list. The trek is not conducted in the monsoon season and is best done between the months of October to March. Stay on this page for more information on the Sandhan Valley Trek - FAQs, Itinerary, Facts, etc.
Gallery
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Starting point of the trek
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Reaching and entering Sandhan Valley
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The last tree that you will encounter before the end of the gorge
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Lots of water on the trail, walk through or swim - your call!
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The trek has a few technical sections and 4 rappelling sites
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End of the gorge
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Exiting the valley to end the trek
Itinerary
Itinerary
Show complete Itinerary
Arrive at Kasara Railway Station. Drive to Samrud.
Arrive at Kasara Railway Station by 10 pm. Our vehicles will pick you up and drive to Samrud which will take about 4 hours.
Trek from Samrud to Sandhan Valley
We will arrive at Samrud by 2am. After a brief rest and power nap we will start the trek from Sanrud village itself by 8am after having breakfast. The trail takes you through a river gorge with high walls on both sides. The best part of the trek is the fact that you will rappel through waterfalls, descend huge boulders and walk through shoulder-deep water. We will reach the bottom of the valley by 3pm and have lunch by the river. We will continue on to our campsite and reach there by 5pm. Settle in the camps and have dinner. Overnight in tents.
Trek from Sandhan Valley to Dehne Village. Drive to Kasara Railway Station.
After morning tea and breakfast we move on to the pickup point, Dehne Village. It is an easy and flat walk of 2 hours today. Our vehicles will drive you to Kasara Railway Station by 12:30-1 pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
Sandhan Valley Trek is a unique trek in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra that takes you through a narrow gorge which involves a thrilling rappel down the cliff wall into one of the greatest canyons on Maharashtra. Being an ideal trek for both beginners and experienced trekkers, the Sandhan Valley treks demands a good fitness level and stamina, Introducing nature lovers to the world of trekking the Sandhan Valley Trek takes you to the corners of the Sahyadris.
Eligibility: Experience required
Since it is a beginner’s trek, you need no special prior experience. Although one is required to have mental preparedness and stamina before he begins the trek. Running exercise is recommended.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
1. Jog/Run for 3 Kms in 30 mins and
2. Hold your breath for 20 seconds
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Eligibility: Requisite Skills
1. How to choose a right rucksack: It is essential that you choose a right rucksack for the trek since you are going to carry it all the time while trekking. Make sure you don’t make these common mistakes while buying a rucksack.
2. How to pack a rucksack: Trekking in mountains become more fun when your rucksack is well-organized. It also makes it easier for you to carry without being much load on your shoulders. Follow the guidelines on how to pack a rucksack.
About the activity: Why should I go for this trek?
Sandhan Valley Trek
Known as the Valley of Shadows, the Sandhan Valley Trek is a thrilling adventure including trek through a narrow gorge of Sandhan with stunning vistas and also rappeling down the steep cliffs of the greatest canyon of Maharashtra. Surrounded by the likes of Alang, Madan and Kulang and Kalsubai peaks, the Sandhan Valley trek is one of the best treks of the Sahyadris giving a fantastic adventure to all trekkers.Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
Best season is between the months of October to March
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for text packing list.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
The base of the trek is Kasara which is around 104 km from Mumbai and is well connected by daily trains and local buses.
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
Intermittent cellular network.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 9 years. However, minors aged between 9 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Accommodation: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
Accommodation on trek days is in tents on a twin sharing basis.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We use four-season Gipfel tents and sleeping bags. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward, provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
There will be no snow on this trek.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent the following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
Monsoon season will see a significant amount of rainfall with temperatures ranging from 30 to 20 degree celsius. Winter months will be much cooler with temperatures dropping down to as low as 10 to 15 degrees at night.
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
No, there will be no snow on this trek.
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
No, there is no option to offload your backpack.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
No, trekking pole is not necessary.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
It is recommended that you come prepared with all the stuff. Please do not leave anything for last-minute buying.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for a solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
You will be picked up at Kasara Railway Station and dropped at the same location by 1pm.
Transport: What time will you drop us at the end point on last day of the trek?
Expect to reach Kasara Railway Station by 1pm.
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the trek?
No mandatory documents needed for the trek.
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Meals during Trek
- Safety Equipment
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges , if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Trek guide, cook, helpers.
- Services of a Trek Leader
- Accommodation during the trek (Tents/Guesthouses)
- Transportation from Kasara Railway Station and back to the same
Whats Not Included?
- Meals during road journeys
- Cost of any kind of travel insurance
- Any expense of personal nature
- Any expense not specified in the inclusion list
- Portage of personal rucksacks
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
