A Slow Day Trip to Alibaug’s Coastal Villages near Mumbai
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February 19, 2026Village Walks: Stories from an untold India, beyond the Taj
The moment you google India, the first picture that pops out is that of the Taj Mahal.
There is also a high chance that your friend who travelled here must have purchased a souvenir – maybe a magnet – of the same monument. India is often known for the Taj Mahal and the famous love story of Shahjahan and Mumtaz. We have it plastered across all travel brochures, posters and our introduction to the world begins with that.
But is that all India is about? Absolutely not!
Yes, the Taj might be a wonder of the world but while following the typical tourist track, travellers miss out on experiencing the real, unscripted side of India that lies in heartfelt conversations with local people, regional cuisine beyond butter chicken, and festivities beyond Holi.
India’s soul lives in its villages! The untold stories you discover here are something you’ll never find in travel guidebooks – but only through real-time experience. A village walk is one of the best ways of being a part of Indian stories beyond the Taj.
Glimpses of Village Walks in India with Unfollow Travel
1) Nashik beyond vineyards
Known for its picturesque vineyards, Nashik, a town in Maharashtra attracts travellers from Mumbai for weekend getaways to have an experience of wine-tasting. While the vineyards are charming and much loved by our clients too, we make sure to go beyond it at Unfollow Travel. So, on a warm December afternoon, we took our travellers from the UK – Helen and Brian – away from the town to Saykheda – a quiet village on its outskirts. For an entire day, we slowed down and explored the silent lanes, nostalgic temples, and old homes of Saykheda, where time seemed to move at its own pace. The unhurried way of life made it feel like stepping into another time. The silence here felt comforting, doors opened easily, and Helen and Brian were warmly welcomed in like celebrities. Conversations flowed naturally, and before we knew it, we were no longer strangers but just people sharing stories. The day ended with cups of Chai and the Oti Bharni ritual, a beautiful Maharashtrian tradition of blessings and warmth. In that moment, we were made one of them; right down to gifting Brian a Patil (village headman) cap and jokingly appointing him the village administrator for the day. We arrived as visitors, and left feeling like we belonged.
2) Kumaon beyond mountain views
The region of Kumaon in Uttarakhand is often visited for its popular hill stations like Nainital but its true essence lies in the hilly villages where we uncover the real stories of the people who call the mountains their homes, and not just another glamourised tourist attraction. With our solo traveller from Australia, Jude Weel, we experienced Peora in Kumaon, where everyday moments became extraordinary. Seeing a mountain family’s everyday chores like the unique heating of water without a geyser made her quip, “Where do you find such mind-blowing experiences?” Jude was also amazed by the old Pahadi houses which stood strong and sustainable for ages and gave tough competition to concrete houses. Stepping away from the usual, she explored a side of India that is full of life and meaning – where stories are about love, family, simplicity, traditions and the spirit to enjoy life even when it looks limited from the outside; where people don’t run after material things but find joy in the little they have.
3) Day-trip to Coastal villages across the sea from Mumbai
Mumbai is commonly explored in a rushed itinerary covering the Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, and Dharavi Slum. But just a 1-hour ferry ride from the city’s chaos, lies the historic coastal villages of Korlai and Chaul in Alibaug with rich human stories, and a chance to step beyond the guidebooks. At Unfollow Travel, we take on a premium ferry ride to experience these Portuguese villages, visiting ancestral homes, relishing on a delicious lunch of generational coastal recipes, and discovering living traditions while enjoying an immersive day-trip into preserved heritage and sustainable coastal living.
A Journey to India’s Heart
Village walks reveal India’s soul through its people who call this country their home. While a monument’s history can be read in books, human stories let you understand the past, present and future dreams of the country, directly from the common people’s voice.
The heartbeat of India lies in the villages! Here people are not interested in your dollars but rather welcome you to their homes and make you one of them. In villages you see true life shine through with its traditions and everyday life. Every smile, every shared cup of chai, every open door and welcoming gesture – these moments create connections that transform strangers into friends.
For over two years, travellers from Canada, Australia, Europe, UK, and USA have experienced rural India with Unfollow Travel. I, Sayali, am the founder of Unfollow Travel and I craft customized slow and offbeat travel itineraries suited to your individual travel style. These itineraries let you truly experience India’s authentic side with local support, guiding you through your holiday at a comfortable pace. Let’s experience India through its villages, conversations, and cups of chai at a time.
Fill out this short form with 5 quick questions and we can e-meet to explore all possibilities.
Things You’ll Want To Know
1) How will I know if I will love to explore village walks and the offbeat authentic side of India instead of the tourist routes?
If you love to interact with locals, visit local homes and sit down with families instead of wandering and doing sightseeing in crowded city spaces, you’ll love exploring Indian villages. In addition,
- If you prefer cultural immersion over a typical sightseeing bucket list.
- If you want to avoid rushed tourist-y crowds.
- If you value sustainability and supporting local communities.
- If unique heritage homestays appeal to you more than hotel chains.
Simply put, if you prefer depth over breadth, while travelling, you’ll love to travel offbeat in India and experience the authentic side of the country through village walks!
2) What is the best way to travel in India?
Slow Travel is the best way to experience India. It is a large diverse country with varied landscapes, cuisine, and cultures and cannot be experienced by hopping from one place to another. The real India wants you to slow down, sit, talk, listen and engage in a different perspective, as you spend more time in a chosen region and have a more immersive experience in the place with its local people. Also, travelling to Indian villages is a very safe option to explore as people here don’t come with rehearsed hospitality terms to make profit out of a travellers’ dollars but treat them like guests with genuine warmth and care.
3) What is an ideal way to travel offbeat in India?
Offbeat trips are about experiencing lesser-known regions (beyond typical tourist circuits) through its culture, cuisine and people (beyond typical sightseeing and social trends) at a slow pace by engaging with your curiosity and channeling your inner traveler instead of being just another tourist.
4) Will travelling offbeat in India be more expensive than regular tours?
No. Offbeat Travel is not expensive. At Unfollow Travel, we work as per our guests’ budget. We tailor the itineraries accordingly, by choosing accommodations and including experiences that suit your budget.
5) When is the best time for UK / European / Canadian / Australian travellers to visit India?
The usual inbound travel season in India is October – March. You can travel anytime within these months. However, one can also opt for the monsoon season, which is offbeat and one of a kind. You can experience surreal road trips in Maharashtra during this time.
6) Which regions in India are best for offbeat travel?
India has a lot to offer beyond the Golden Triangle. You can slow travel anywhere across India, but here are some of mine and our travellers’ favourites:
- Uttarakhand & Himachal for the Himalayas in North India
- Gujarat & Maharashtra for Sahyadris and village life in West India
- Assam and Meghalaya for tribal culture in North-East India
- Wayanad, Vagamon, Coonoor for Nilgiris and coffee plantations in South India
Exploring Maharashtra in monsoons is also a unique offbeat experience.
7) Is India safe for solo travellers?
We work with solo travellers and accompany them on the tour too. India is perfect for a solo traveller, especially the North Indian regions of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
8) Is travelling offbeat in India safe? Will there be a tour guide accompanying us?
Yes, it is! With Unfollow Travel, a dedicated journey host will be accompanying you and will take care of every end-to-end detail of the tour so that you can relax and focus on enjoying the experience.
9) Will I get help with my visa and other procedures?
Yes.
10) What are the inclusions and exclusions?
You’ll receive these in the product docket once you get in touch.
11) What’s the procedure to book a trip with Unfollow Travel?
At Unfollow Travel, I provide a wholly tailor-made itinerary for you to explore India at your own slow pace.
- Fill out our short 2-minute form with 5 quick questions.
- I’ll get on a 1-1 call with you to understand your interests, travel style and preferences.
- I’ll curate the trip entirely customized for you, around the kind of India you are seeking, adding selective delightful new experiences.
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