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August was an absolute whirlwind of mud, mountains, and tail wags.

We spent the month chasing the rain across countless monsoon hikes, scaling the breathtaking altitudes of our Ladakh expeditions, and hosting yet another ridiculously cute ‘Doggos Day Out’ that melted every heart on the trail. But the true peak of our endurance might have actually been at the office; our recent office party featured games so fiercely competitive they basically doubled as a full-body workout. It was a beautiful month of shared adventures and deep connections, both out in the wild and right here at home base.

And now, the moment we have been waiting for: after a full year on pause, we are finally kicking off our BPG (Back-Pack-Go) season! We are damn excited to head back to the Himalayas, taking you to some of the most niche, uncovered corners of the mountains. It has been far too long, and we cannot wait to roam the high trails with you again.

We’ve always been curious about safaris. But we held back, not for lack of interest, but because we couldn’t figure out what would set a Vagabond safari apart from the dozens of packages already out there. Then our long-time college friend Aadi Rungta walked in with an idea he wanted to build with us: go beyond the safari.

Aadi’s own safari journey is barely a couple of years old, but in that time he’s clocked over 30 drives! And what hooked him wasn’t just the moment of spotting a tiger, but everything that led up to it. That’s the idea behind what he calls the Whispering Naturalist: think of it as having your own safari shaman, someone who helps you read the forest in its entirety (the alarm calls, the pug marks, the rustle that means something’s close). The forest is constantly talking to itself, and most of us just never learned to listen. Aadi did. And now he wants to teach you.

Together, we’ve built Beyond the Safari, a 3 nights 4 days experience in the heart of Panna Tiger Reserve, where the tiger sighting isn’t the whole story.

This one’s been a long time coming, and we genuinely cannot wait to share it with you.

-Elton Dmello
Co-Founder & CEO | Vagabond Experiences

Beyond The Safari l A Panna Edition

There are some journeys, like the ones we see in ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, that help you shed your fears and change you forever. They may begin with a promise, a dream, an intention or an end goal in mind. For me, it was none of these.

Ladakh, with Vagabond Experiences, simply ‘just happened’. I arrived with some leftover pieces from a certain period in my life, perhaps looking for a break from the hassles of a hurried urban life. What began as a holiday to discover Ladakh turned into a journey of discovering fellow travellers, connections and unexpectedly, myself.

Nobody warned me that a few days with complete strangers – ‘young adult strangers’ - against the breathtaking rawness of Ladakh could fulfil so many of my emotional needs.

I arrived knowing nothing about these people and, honestly, I caught myself a little apprehensive. Their energy and vivaciousness felt so different from mine. I was almost twice their age, or just about their parents’ age, and the oldest person in the group.

Yet somewhere alongside the shared power banks, the shared music, the shared meals, the shared stories, the shared selfies and the shared laughter – their little acts of kindness, created a sense of connection I had never imagined.

The mighty mountains and the mighty miles we covered each day, the serene sunrises and the shadowy sunsets that cast a glow around, the winding roads and wild waters carrying me deeper into Ladakh left me in complete awe. But my awe was not limited to these landscapes, it was also in the way strangers became comforting companions in the smallest of moments, becoming a beautiful addition and perhaps a whole new edition to my Ladakh story.

I signed up with Vagabond Experiences, expecting to discover a place. Here I return, having discovered something far more unexpected: the beauty of young fellow travellers, chanced connections, and the possibility of being changed by a journey I never planned to take. Ladakh will never echo alone for me, it will always carry the voices, laughter, music and kindness of the people I met on this adventure.

-Pooja Pandhe
Ladakh | 24th July ‘26

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This month was all mud, dogs, and midnight snakes. We finally turned an old office pipe dream into reality with our first-ever Doggos Day Out (DDO) hike, letting seven very excited dogs absolutely tear through the mucky Karjat meadows. We brought that same monsoon chaos to our corporate events, dragging teams out of their desk chairs and straight into the rain. But things got genuinely wild after dark. Give the “Herping Recce” a read to see why we thought a pitch-black, midnight herping recce in a torrential downpour was a brilliant idea, and how it paid off with bamboo pit vipers and pinky-sized geckos.

Sunday Morning. It’s a thunderstorm outside. But my parents are packing my stuff! Where can they be taking me? I wonder if it’s a trip to the vet… 🤨

What a wonderful car ride. We leave early morning, no pesky traffic, beautiful roads, Atal Setu is my favourite. Windows Down, Tongues Out! It’s a fun day already. But wait, it is about to get ‘funner’! We reach a village home, dad opens the door, and I Zooom out of the car!

There’s greenery, there’s light rain, there are other hoomans, there are other dogs!
It’s a TREK!! YYYAAAYYYYYY !!!! 🥳

We bound up the hillside. Me leading the pack (obvio 🙄). I make sure to keep checking on my parents so that they can keep up. The clouds envelope us; there are verdant streams, Dad occasionally pulls out the frisbee!

Oh, wait. Am I dead? Because this seems like DOG HEAVEN !!!! 😇 And after a looooong and fun trek up and down and up and down, we are back…and I’m pooped 😪

Mom and Dad pack me in the car, I sleep back on the way back, and they tell me I usually end up sleeping the whole day 😴
Thanks a bunch, Vagabond! For the Best. Treks. Ever. 🥹

- Zelda | Raj’s Doggo

Doggos Day Out

It was raining cats and dogs as soon as we reached the station. From there, Vivek Dada took us to Matheran in his car. As we started going uphill, it felt like we were entering a completely different world, situated between the clouds. The city lights looked like fireflies from the top.

At 12:15 AM, we started gearing up and putting our phones into waterproof cases, which weren't very waterproof, lol. With three packets of chikki, a little bit of sleepiness, but full of excitement and curiosity, we started walking at 12:30 AM.

The four of us, along with Vilas Dada, our amazing guide, saw a Bamboo Pit Viper right at the entrance. It felt like the viper was there to welcome us, and seeing that beautiful snake gave us hope and even more energy to move ahead. And boy, the place didn't disappoint us. We went on to see snakes, frogs, toads, scorpions, geckos, and more along the way.

And just to tell you how sharp Vilas Dada's eyes were, he could easily spot a vine snake tangled among the branches and perfectly camouflaged, one that would have been easy to miss while walking.

After walking up and down multiple trails in the rain for 9 km, and choosing a route that was safe for us while causing minimal disturbance to the environment, we finally ended our recce at 5:45 AM. As we reached the pick-up point, we were greeted by the beautiful songs of the Malabar Whistling Thrush.

- Sahil Shaikh | Vagabond Naturalist

Scales & Tales

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What a month! We wrapped up our best WTLI season in seven years, while Utkarsh cleared probation and became so chill he’s officially competing with the bosses. We forced a cringeworthy Arsenal championship celebration for Shannon, made Jheel pick her own birthday cake, and unlocked some intense competitive sides during an office day out of amazing food, hearty racing, and bowling (you know who you are!). To top it all off, we successfully pulled off our first full-fledged production shoot for ‘Doggos Day Out’, our newest collaboration with Packlife(more on it below). It’s been wild, hilarious, and completely unforgettable.

And oh, more importantly, the pottery season is here! We are starting our pottery class “Claying Around”. Trust me, you don’t wanna miss this one; just fyi, it’s by a lake! Inside a farmland!

I took a train and missed a job position at Vagabond…
Well, this is a story I call my epitome of fate.

It was December 2025, and I wasn’t in the best place mentally. I had been going through a pretty tough phase when I came across a reel about a New Year’s Eve gathering at a lakeside camp, somewhere away from all the noise of the city. The kind of quiet you deserve. No loud music or loud people, just a bunch of strangers who love being out in nature and somehow end up forming a community.

Yaa, sounds great, right? It is!
Naturally, the first thing I did was check if there were any job openings at this place. I updated my resume and applied. A few days later, I got a call.

“Hey Utkarsh, we liked your profile and want to talk to you in person.”
I was thrilled, but there was one problem.
“I’m not in the city right now. I’m actually on a train heading home because of a family emergency and will be away for a month or two.”
And that was it. They had to move ahead with another candidate.

Cut to a few months later. Spring had arrived, things were looking up, and I was doing much better when I got another call.
“We’d like to interview you again, this time for a full-time position.”
I couldn’t believe it.
A few conversations later, I found myself at Vagabond after all those months. Honestly, it felt like fate wanted me here.

Since then, it’s been so much learning and so much fun. I’ve had amazing adventures and met some really cool people. Elton, Anthony, Elijah, Andrea, and Niraj are all incredibly talented, and there’s so much to learn from each of them. And of course, Shannon and Jheel. It’s never a dull day, whether it’s a marketing meeting, a shoot day, or me constantly “breaking the chain of command“ and asking Shannon, “Hey, just a sec, could you take a look at this?”

It has been quite the journey, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone and to God for helping me get here.

I’m really excited for the monsoon season and everything that’s coming next.
The SAHYADRIS are calling!

-Utkarsh Mahajan | Junior Marketing Executive

Doggos Day Out is finally happening (and yes, I have ulterior motives)

Confession time: we’ve always been suckers for a good trail dog. The strays who decide they’re our guides for the day. The fur babies whose pet parents bring them along. There’s just something about a wagging tail on a winding trail that makes the whole hike better.

So for years now, people have been asking us the same question: ‘When are you going to do a hike just for the dogs and their humans?’ And honestly, we wanted to. We just needed the right partner in crime. Enter Priyanka from Packlife, and suddenly the stars (and the paws) aligned. Priyanka has pet-sat Iroh for us, and seeing her deal with Iroh (who is not an easy dog) sparked a conversation about an event which helps us bring in both of our expertise.

So here it is: ‘Doggos Day Out’ brought to you in close collaboration with the brilliant dog trainers at Packlife Experiences. We’re kicking off our very first one on 5th July! The first, we hope, of many more to come.

I won’t lie, I’m thrilled this one finally pawed its way off the drawing board. And no, I absolutely do not have any selfish, personal, four-legged reasons for making this happen.

Right, Iroh?

-Elton Dmello
Co-Founder | CEO

Upcoming Experiences

Iroh is an Indie rescue. Which means no plan survives contact with him. Indie dogs have their own schedules, their own logic, and a very specific idea of how things should go. None of it matches yours. You don’t train them so much as negotiate with them until you find terms you can both live with. And while our journey with him has had its challenges, the biggest one was him accompanying me to work 3 days a week.

The first day I brought him into the office, he walked past Shannon’s cabin, was completely ignored, and in turn took a dump right outside his door. Fair is fair. (Don’t worry, Shannon’s his favourite human in office now. Iroh does not hold grudges. Only territory.)

The team, to their credit, adapted quickly. Some faster than others. There is now an unspoken but very real order of who Iroh will approach for attention and who he simply tolerates. He has opinions about people. Strong ones. Shannon, eventually and inevitably, topped the list.

He spent most of those early months following me everywhere. Uneasy. Unsettled. I’d move from one end of the office to the other and he’d be right behind me, convinced, apparently, that I needed supervision. Sit-down meetings with the team were a particular adventure. He’d survey the room, decide everyone was accounted for, and then park himself somewhere inconvenient and wait for things to conclude.

Then one afternoon, after months of training, he walked into my cabin, got onto his bed, and went to sleep. By himself. Without looking for me once. It was nothing remarkable to anyone else. To me it felt like winning something I hadn’t known I was competing for.

That’s his spot now. Everyone in the office knows not to knock on my cabin between 12pm and 4pm. Not because meetings stop, they carry on just fine inside, he couldn’t care less. It’s just that a knock startles him awake, and a startled Iroh is a dramatic Iroh. They dial me from outside instead. I open the door. Life continues. The dog sleeps on.

What nobody tells you about having a dog in the office is what he does to a bad day. On the days when a trek falls apart or the sales numbers are grim or it’s just lethargic for no real reason, someone always ends up on the floor next to him. Those midday cuddles have become something the whole team quietly holds onto. Nothing gets solved. The call still has to happen. But something in the room lightens, and everyone goes back to their desk a little less wound up than they came in.

He has also made us collectively more forgiving of interruptions. When Iroh decides a meeting needs his input, there is no agenda that can compete. You pause, you deal with him, and then you carry on. It turns out none of those interruptions were as critical as they seemed.

On the days he comes in, people arrive a little differently. There is something to walk toward that has nothing to do with a screen or a deadline. He has disrupted this office in more ways than I’d like to admit. But his disruption is what has broken the monotony. And on the days he isn’t in, we notice.

It’s a Tuesday. 12 PM. He’s asleep under my desk and I have three calls before lunch. And it doesn’t feel quite as heavy as it would have a year ago.

-Elton Dmello
Co-Founder l CEO
Vagabond Experiences

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May was a total system update for Vagabond. We had our first monthly reboot party (where Jenga and Undercover gave us major trust issues). When we weren’t clearing out the neighbourhood’s pani puri supply, we were celebrating Vilas’ wedding, locking the EMs in a room to plot the future, and saying bittersweet goodbyes to our favourite Garbett night trek and stargazing seasons. Our brave ‘Vaga Scouts’ even melted in the summer heat during a secret Karjat pool recce for our Soft Launch Series. Now, with WTLI season officially in full, magical swing, here is your look into a chaotic, heartwarming month.

Back in 2017, during a recce for a new trek location, one of our EMs came across a young boy at Garbett Plateau. He was super introverted, barely spoke, always stayed in the background, but there was something very genuine about him. A curious heart, always observing, always ready to help anyone without expecting anything in return.

That boy was Vilas.

At that time, none of us knew that this quiet kid would slowly become the backbone of almost every Garbett trek that followed. Anyone who has been with us knows how special Garbett Plateau is to us. It’s one of those places we keep going back to, no matter how many new places we explore. But very few people know that one of the biggest reasons behind that feeling is Vilas himself. Somewhere along the way, he made that place feel like home.

When we first started planning stargazing experiences at Garbett, there were honestly way too many logistical challenges involved. Carrying equipment uphill, managing participants late at night, setting things up in unpredictable weather, and handling last-minute chaos. But weirdly, we were always confident. Because we knew Vilas was there.

This is the same guy who casually carries a 10kg telescope uphill without complaining. The same guy who will quietly help every struggling participant on the trek while somehow still having the biggest smile on his face. The same guy who does things before you even ask him to.

Over the years, Vilas stopped feeling like “someone we work with.” He became family without anyone officially saying it out loud.

A few weeks back, he sent us his wedding invite on WhatsApp. Then he called personally. And then came a physical invitation too, typical Vilas energy, simple but full of warmth. But the moment that genuinely hit us was when we saw the invite and noticed he had included Vagabond Experiences under the “Friends & Family” section. Not gonna lie, that got our eyes watery.

And when we finally showed up at the wedding, there he was, smiling nonstop, with a look that said how happy he was to see us there for his big day.

Sometimes people don’t express much through words. Vilas has always been one of those people. But through actions, loyalty, care, and presence, he has said enough over the years.

And now with another monsoon season around the corner, we’re already planning our next set of Garbett treks. But somewhere deep down, we know we’re just one call away from hearing, “Ho jayega,” from Vilas.

Congratulations to Vilas and his partner on this beautiful new chapter. And thank you, truly, for becoming such an important part of ours.

- ⁠Niraj Dhanani | Head of Operations

I knew it would end, but I didn’t expect leaving to be this hard…

When you’re new to this whole adulting thing, you need people who trust you. That’s what Vagabond did, they let a newbie like me into their mad, mad gang. In the little time I was there, and even after, I had this constant urge to be within the same walls as the Vaga team 😭

It started with me trying to be nonchalant, but I ended up staying late in the office with Niraj, listening to his infamous stories, ordering food (think PIZZA) with the girls, debating cricket like we were experts, and most importantly, making space for my SADA sandwich in an office full of toast eaters!!!!!!

What started as “just an internship” somehow turned into a core memory. Sales? Was never my scene. Now I’d do anything to get back to my Dabba, jacket slung over one shoulder, and sitting on that ridiculously high chair.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride. I’ve laughed, I’ve been stressed, I’ve made mistakes and learned from them, but I enjoyed every bit of my time there.

I was living my full corporate dream. Chai breaks, random-hour coffee runs just to stay awake, making time for office chit-chats, y’all made a home for me there, and I’m forever grateful!

I’ll miss everyone so much!!!! Thanks for having me. Bidding goodbye to a wonderful Team ( I’ll see you in the events). Like a true potterhead would say - Vagabond “ALWAYS”❤️

- Anushka Rathi l Sales Intern

Upcoming Experiences

Hiking in Nepal has been my dream ever since we started Vagabond in 2014. I literally have a bucket list doc on my phone where I wrote “hike in Nepal” (alongside other dreams like going to Liverpool for a Beatles pilgrimage and seeing a snow leopard in the wild).

Last September, my friend Prasanna hit me with a “Do you wanna do Annapurna Base Camp?” and let me tell you, my eyes lit up. After a few months of intensely planning the ABC trek, we changed our minds and decided to do the Mardi Himal trek (lawl) to avoid the ever-increasing crowds at ABC.

Inviting the right company for a plan like this is tricky. You want to be around people you like, but also people you trust, right?

I’ve known Andrea for a while. We’ve shared a lot of experiences over the last few years, and let me tell you, no one in my life is as excitable as her. She’s not afraid to be excited about things she loves, and on a trip like this, that can be very contagious.

Prasanna and I met for the first time on a Vagabond trip to Spiti in 2019. I’ve been in touch with him in various capacities ever since. The most meticulous and level-headed person I know. Also, it helps that we have the same anticlimactic, childish humour. Who better than him to spearhead the planning of such a trip?

I also met Manali on that same Spiti trip in 2019. She’d been to Nepal a decade ago, and that experience came in very handy. She uses Google Maps like a pro. She knew everything and took us everywhere, our very own Heimdall. It’s because of her I never once opened my maps during the hike. Thank you, Manaslu.

Elijah had been travelling with Vagabond since he was in school, and now he’s an EM with us. We have the same music taste, see the world similarly, and just get each other. You don’t want to be stuck on top of a mountain with people you can’t actually talk to, right?
PS: Big bird nerd.
PS: We recorded a Mardi Himal song together. How cool is that:”)

The Mardi Song

This was my company for almost three weeks in the mountains. We DIY-ed the entire thing. No pre-bookings, no guides, no tour operators (ironic coming from me), and we managed to pull off a very memorable trip with zero casualties.

The Mardi Himal trek is usually done within 4 days, but since we pivoted from ABC (for which we had set aside 10-12 days), we took our own sweet time with Mardi. It was seven blissful days of fog, mossy forests, intense hailstorms, rhododendrons, cold beds, lots of steps, and surreal Himalayan views.

Nepal Sketched

Highlights of my trip:

1. On our first day on the hike, we were invited to a wedding of a Chinese hiking couple. It was on the edge of the mountain. We were surrounded by fog, their friends, and children, and it was just adorable! They gave us some chocolates too :”)

2. I SAW THE MALE HIMALAYAN MONAL! YES, THAT COLOURFUL FLYING THING! If you don’t know how rare it is to see that, just ask your birding friends. I felt like Ash (from Pokémon) when he saw Ho-oh in the first episode.

3. If reading this blog has done anything, I hope it has nudged you a little more to visit Nepal. It’s a beautiful land, with kind people. The government has done a stellar job of preserving the trails and building infrastructure that sustains such a livelihood.

Nepal Food Guide

If you want to see a detailed entry of my time there, head on over to my Instagram highlight. You won’t be disappointed :)

-Shannon Fernandes
Co-founder | Head of Sales & Marketing
Vagabond Experiences

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April felt full. Even when it wasn’t meant to be…

Edition 1 of the Soft Launch Series happened, ten people, one slow Sunday morning, and a pool in Karjat we’d only ever seen on Google Maps. Untested. Uncertain. Exactly how we like it. And it delivered. Big time. You’ll see more of it on our Instagram soon. Stay close.

We also had our first EM meet of the year. When we asked what keeps them going, no one mentioned perks. Not once. They spoke about the people. The kind that shows up. The kind that stays. “I love the audience we attract,” someone said. And honestly, we couldn’t agree more!

A longggg weekend!
It’s been 5–6 months since I started leading treks as a freelance Experience Manager, and I still didn’t expect to fall in love with it this hard. My job is simple on paper: take a group to a place, safely. But what actually happens in those 12 hours is anything but simple.

We leave the city behind on a Saturday night. Different people, different reasons. Some are burnt out and just need quiet. Some are restless and want new faces, new stories. Some don’t even know why they signed up, they just knew they had to get out.

By the time we’re on the trail, headlamps on, there’s no city noise, just wind and the sound of your breath getting heavier with the climb. We reach the viewpoint, cold and tired, and then we wait. In silence. Together. Watching the sky turn from black to grey to gold. No one talks, because you don’t need to. After a moment, we welcome the sunrise.

That’s the part that gets me every time. People walk in with different moods, different walls up. But somewhere between helping each other over a rocky patch, sharing water, or laughing at how out of breath we all are, the group aligns.

It’s just one night. But by Sunday morning, it feels like we’ve lived a whole long weekend. Everyone leaves with something. And me? I leave with the reminder that the best part of my job isn’t the trail or the view, it’s watching strangers become a team, one sunrise at a time.

-Aditya Sarmah | Experience Manager

Ever since I’ve taken up the prospect of leading marine walks alongside my friend and classmate, Robben, we have been researching species-specific information and curating creative approaches to make the bulk of information, sitting somewhere within the soft confines of our brains’ cortices, more … palatable and bite-sized. We’ve been to a few shores in India, but none call to us with the combination of familiarity and novelty in sightings that Priyadarshani Park does.

One of our most anticipatory wishes (so to call them in the truest of senses) was to start leading these walks at Priyadarshani Park at Malabar Hill, where it all began for us ‘novices’ back in our first semester of degree college. No, it wasn’t part of the curriculum; we’d find ourselves going to PDP’s rocky shores when the tide was at its lowest. There we’d be crouching around EVERY pool we saw and trying to be half as awesome as our seniors, whose eyes adapted to the low light and the slightest movements of tiny sea slugs, amphipods, patches of mollusc egg sacs, etc.

Eventually, by the third year, we’d already explored most of the ‘hot-spots’, and none embraced us with the cool breeze and the warm sunsets or the sightings we’d get to see at PDP. Of course, there are locations in Mumbai that succeed PDP by far, but nothing beats sitting on the rocks by the lower intertidal zone and watching the sun set. And that’s how we eventually got talking to Niraj and working out ways in which we could improve on our mental script while also recruiting more avenues as well as people, to discover and cater to.

Our first recce, followed by the official shore walk at PDP were then co-led by Robben and me. Nothing beats the joy of walking those rocky platforms, knowing the likelihood of seeing something incredible, whether you do it once or even a hundred times.

We aren’t too new to this, nor are we quite omniscient in what the shore allows us enthusiasts to see, and that is my middle ground to strike a deal with; that finding out why we sight a new animal might mean a lot more than just getting to watch an animal and dusting our hands later.

-Elijah Almeida | Experience Manager

Tidepooling Recce at PDP

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It’s funny how last month when I wrote this, we were excited about our summer backpacking season. While so much has happened in March (more on that below) and it feels surreal, it also honestly felt like just any other month.
What was your March like?

Ever since we started Vagabond a decade ago, our summer backpacking season has been vital to our financial security. We start planning our April-May trips almost 5 months prior, and fondly call it the ‘Summer Pack’.

So, it’s really heartbreaking and demoralising when we have to call off the entire season two years in a row. Last year had to be called off due to the Indo-Pak tensions and this year due to the ongoing LPG crisis.

It’s not just our financial planning that’s taking a hit, but also the livelihood of all these places we visit. We’ve been working with the same on-ground vendors for the last 10 years. Same bus agents, same homestays and same guides. They trust us to bring in the business and a part of us feels like we’ve let them down.

While I know it’s not in our control, it does put into perspective how fragile the tourism industry has become, with the current state of affairs we’re living through.

I love McLeodganj. I love Parvati Valley. These places were my first introduction to the mountains and I’ll forever be indebted to them for igniting my love for the Himalayas. In the meanwhile, we’re going to find ways of diversifying and keep the ship afloat.

-Shannon Fernandes | Co-Founder

We’ve been doing this for over a decade now, and we still find it a little surreal when someone else puts it into words for us.

Mid-Day covered our choir session recently, and the headline said it best: catch a musical pop-up this weekend, where the singer is none other than you. Because that’s genuinely what it is. No performer on a stage, no audience in the seats. Just a room full of people who showed up not entirely sure what they’d signed up for, and left having sung in harmony with strangers.

What mid-day captures, and what we’ve seen every single session, is that the intimidation dissolves somewhere between the warm-up and the final chorus.

Mid-day

No upcoming batch is confirmed yet but when it is, you’ll hear about it here first. And when you do, don’t overthink it. Just show up and find out what your voice sounds like with a little company.

Free Press Journal ran a piece on Vagabond Experiences last month, and it touched on something Shannon has said from the beginning, that the size of a group changes everything. When you’re moving through a forest at midnight with 15 people who showed up alone and leave as something closer to friends, the experience is fundamentally different from doing the same trail with 80 strangers and a megaphone. It’s not a policy, it’s a philosophy.

Free Press Journal

They also spoke to Keith d’souza, a participant who said that what makes vagabond different is that the people running it are just as wowed by a waterfall as you are, even if they’ve seen it a hundred times. We thought that was a kind thing to say. We also thought it was accurate. The day we stop being genuinely excited about a good sunrise is probably the day we stop doing this.

Let’s Figrr featured our Tidal Treasure experience at Juhu, a reminder of how much there is to discover in places we think we already know. Juhu, for most, is sunsets and street food. But show up at the right hour, with the tide pulled back and someone who knows where to look, it becomes something else entirely. Tiny marine life, quiet patterns in the sand, a version of the beach that doesn’t announce itself unless you’re paying attention. The same shoreline, just seen differently. And that’s kind of the point.

Let's Figrr

-Utkarsh Mahajan l Junior Marketing Executive

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February was spent bringing back some of our favourite art workshops, looking for new tidepooling locations in Bombay, and last-minute Unplugged projects in Rajasthan.
We’re also super stoked to go back to our favourite mountain destinations this summer. Hikes, camps, snowy mountains, paragliding, delicious food and magical forests—there’s something for everyone this summer! Who’s in?

“Feel the rain on your skin!”
One of my finest consequences of doom scrolling would be The Pop-Up Choir workshop!

I remember looking at the post and instantly being hit by nostalgia. Choir singing and Christmas carols brought back memories—memories of school, singing, and feeling alive! It had been ages since I sang with a group, let alone had a choir-singing experience. I knew that I absolutely had to go for this.

Needless to say, it was enough motivation to travel to Marol on a Sunday morning, and boy, was it worth it! I was a bit apprehensive as well as excited. Anusha, our choir conductor, was absolutely amazing. A group of strangers who had never met or sung together before ended up harmonising and bringing in the Christmas spirit. Toward the end, as we all hummed along to Silent Night, my soul was at peace. 💜💜

I love that the whole experience is super duper simplified, it’s not about having a singing voice or getting it right. There is a tune here for everyone. Slowly and steadily my inhibitions melted away, and the experience stayed with me till date. I remember interacting with one of the other participants of the workshop and he went “I never thought someone could make singing so enjoyable for an absolute noob, without being made to feel like you lack the skills for this.”

Both Shannon and Anusha were full of positivity and good vibes. You can see that they love music and it’s quite palpable in the energy they bring to the room. I can’t wait to drop in on another Sunday, attack the lemon honey chai and sing along with some music lovers.

If you are looking to try something new, or miss a chapter in your life where music played a huge part, maybe the universe is asking you to sign up for these choir workshops :) Oh and meanwhile attack the chai too ;)

-Shrinidhi Narasimhan
The Pop-Up Choir | 21st December ‘25 & 17th January ‘26

The Pop-Up Choir

“How many special people change?”
“How many lives are living strange?”

The opening to Oasis’ ‘Champagne Supernova’ resounds within the walls of his cranium. He lies down on the ground and after a long (exaggerated for dramatic effect) evening of hustling around making sure everything works smoothly. And as the stars carpet the sky with their presence, he-... dozes off?!
Tape hiss* aaaaaaaaaand
Rewind.

When it comes to almost every experience with Vagabond, I am equally—if not more—thrilled, at what the endeavor has to offer and oftentimes you’ll catch me staring off into the ‘everything-ness’ as if I were witnessing it for the first time. And as captivated as I am watching the scenery, I have a major task at hand that comes with being the Experience Manager—putting the ‘E’ in Experience (Not Elijah).

With the scenery, you can never guarantee what the day will look like and how it will end. There is no script and no subscription portal one can apply to. There just IS. What you get, is what you ‘make hay when the sun shines’ with. For me that is just what gets my socialising cogwheels turning. You came to see the stars, but what next? Well, let’s talk about the economic state of Bobby’s world or let’s count the number of sheep in the pastures or let’s narrate horror stories by the campfire, far away from my tent so I can sleep peacefully.

I didn’t quote the first two lines of ‘Champagne Supernova’ for nothing. Everyone leaves a bit of their city-life hustle behind and opts for a weekend with their friends, partner or family and each one brings with them a bit of themselves caught beneath the landslide of an exhausting week and everyone meets a new person from the same city or different, festering a new bond and connect over likeminded interests. And that’s what keeps me excited even as an Experience Manager to do the same treks and camps again.

-Elijah Almeida | Experience Manager

Camp Supernova

Upcoming Experiences

At exactly 8:30 p.m., everyone around me was looking down at their phones, their watches, messages and reciveing calls and their bags. I was looking up. Above my head was a planet that would disappear if I missed this moment. No rewind. No second chance. Just one small window of time to witness something that has existed for billions of years in the night sky.

That night near Karjat that day I realised that the sky does not wait for us but apparently we have to learn how to wait for the sky and its beautiful stories that it holds.

Far away from the city, under a clear and quiet sky, we went camping to experience stargazing. Living in tents, surrounded by mountains, and guided by a telescope, the universe slowly revealed itself to us, one celestial body at a time. And honestly, it felt like nature was giving us a private show no tickets required. It was worth it!

The first celestial body we observed was the Moon. This time, it was not the plain white circle we see from our windows. Through the telescope, I saw the Moon was full of details craters, uneven surfaces, shadows, and textures. We even saw the exact region where Neil Armstrong once walked. It was strange to think that humans had actually stepped on something we usually only look at. We also learned how the Moon was formed millions of years ago when a celestial body collided with Earth, and the debris from both mixed together to form what was once a planet. Over billions of years, it evolved and became the natural satellite of Earth. Suddenly, the Moon felt less mysterious and more like an old companion with a dramatic past.

We also understood why the Moon changes its shape during Purnima and Amavasya, how its colour varies, and why sometimes it looks brighter than usual. It turns out the Moon has moods too just like us.

Next, we observed a nebula, using both a mobile application and the telescope. The astronomer explained how the nebula forms the shape of a giant figure in the sky. Two stars represent the shoulders, two form the legs, and in between, a sword made of stars hangs in space. At that moment, the sky felt less like science and more like a storybook written in light.

We then observed stars like Sirius and Bellatrix ,the names that many of us recognised from fictional books such as Harry Potter. It was amusing to realise that stars we were quietly staring at had inspired characters read by millions of people on Earth. Fiction suddenly felt a little more real.

One of the most exciting sights of the night was Saturn. Through the telescope, its rings were clearly visible, along with its surrounding satellites. We learned how far Saturn is from Earth and how planets move across the sky from east to west. The astronomer explained that timing is everything in stargazing. If a planet appears above your head at a certain time, that exact moment is your only chance to observe it. Miss it, and the universe simply moves on no apologies!!

We were also told the idea of different types of skies. In a light sky, with minimal pollution, stars and planets are clearly visible. In a grey sky, pollution and fog make stargazing difficult. That night, we truly appreciated how rare a clear sky actually is.

Later, we observed Jupiter, along with three of its satellites. Jupiter looked massive and powerful, with visible colours and an impressive shape. Seeing such a giant planet made Earth feel very small and for once, that felt comforting.

As the night grew colder, we gathered around a bonfire, discussing astronomy, space, and ancient beliefs. We talked about how people once believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth, and how scientific discoveries later proved that planets revolve around the Sun instead. Stories of stars, planets, and the universe flowed as easily as the warmth from the fire. It was like time traveling when the universe was expanding and shaping itself.

Stargazing also taught us that celestial bodies can only be seen at specific times. For example, if Saturn is visible at 8:30 p.m., that is the only time it can be observed that night. After that, it disappears from view until the next day. The universe, it seems, follows a very strict timetable.

Camping, living in tents, sharing stories by the bonfire, and watching the universe unfold above us made this experience unforgettable. It reminded me that sometimes, all we need to do to learn something extraordinary is to pause, look up, and be patient.

That night in Karjat was not just about stargazing it was about realising how vast the universe is, and how lucky we are to witness even a small part of it. Great experience a little astronomer has woken up in me that night.

-Rasika Masur | 14 yrs
Camp Supernova · 24th Jan ‘26

Vaga Recommends

We kicked off 2026, bidding farewell to Sneha, who has been with us for a memorable 3 years, and Kunjall, who, in her 3 months, felt like she’d been here forever. Spending every weekend looking up at the universe and learning more about it has brought a new dimension to what we do at Vagabond.
And most importantly, our summer backpacking trips are LIVE! We’re taking you to McLeodganj, Parvati Valley and Ladakh. Take your pick and join us ;)

Does every goodbye really mean an ending? I hope not.
A few days ago, I made the difficult choice to step away from Vagabond, and it didn’t feel like something I could do quietly. Anyone reading this deserves to know how special it truly is to be part of this place.

It was only three months of my life, yet Vagabond left a mark far bigger than time would suggest. You know that feeling when you meet people and assume connection won’t happen- because of age gaps, different worlds, different interests? That’s what I walked in expecting. What I walked out with was something entirely different.

The shift happened quietly: in chai breaks that included everyone, in after-work hangouts where people joked around just to make you stay a little longer, in the moment my boss stayed back just to say goodbye, and during a simple food walk that somehow meant so much more.

I even spent my New Year’s Eve working with Vagabond this time, and it became one of my favourite New Year’s events ever. The location was beautiful, the music hit just right, and every video I took had me giggling. It was a sweet, wholesome little weekend.

That food walk turned into my farewell party, something I know I’ll always cherish. I’ll miss Kritika, my first office friend—the person I’d wait for and who’d wait for me, the reason we’d both reach home late just because we wanted company (no regrets, ever). I’ll miss Niraj, who loved calling me chottu and teasing me about my height. I’ll miss Shannon, easily the best boss I’ve ever had. And of course, I’ll miss everyone else who made me feel completely at home - because this doesn’t feel like an ending at all, just proof that some places stay with you long after you’ve walked away.

- Kunjall Tejwani | Marketing Intern

Every other Sunday (or so), the brrrrrr of back to back rickshaws wakes up our sleepy farm as a fresh batch of Claying Around students arrive for a day of clay. Fifteen strangers wake up early and catch a train to Titwala to try their hands at something new and perhaps make a few friends too. Each student comes with their own creative dreams and plans, they learn a little pottery and a lot of patience. For me, it’s these sessions that have molded me into a teacher.

In our first year we had over 200 students and each had a different style of learning. Some people need quiet time to practice, some need praise, others just love having their friends around and acting like a kid again. Paying close attention to each student, especially on the wheel, has made me realise just how wildly different each person’s expectation of pottery is!

One specific fact about pottery that is always a surprise to everyone is that long nails are a problem because they dig into the clay. We keep a nailcutter in the studio for exactly this reason and every week a group of girls stand together in the garden cutting their nails and consoling one another with promises that they’ll grow back. It’s always a sweet bonding moment that seems to break the ice and kickstart new friendships as they leave their adult selves behind and get ready to get their hands dirty again.

- Cynthia Lewis l Claying Around Workshop Conductor

Upcoming Experiences

Vaga Recommends

Entering this month, we wouldn’t have imagined our weekends to be filled with nights staring into the cosmos. For the longest time we’ve steered away from stargazing events because we weren’t sure what unique Vaga’ angle we’re bringing to it.

We’ve also not exactly been a brand that hosts festive experiences. But the Pop-Up Choir and Claying Around weekends were something new for us too.

For the longest time, we were really awful at documenting stuff happening behind the scenes at Vagabond. It just didn’t come naturally.

Or rather, I was under the false pretence that y’all aren’t interested in it. So, here’s me changing my ways at the fag end of this eventful year. New year, new me and all that.

If you’ve been on our monsoon hike— ‘Highland Hopping’ or the secret trail— ‘Lost Lagoon Loop‘, you’ll know how wonderfully located and exclusive these experiences feel. No crowd, close to Bombay and truly a wholesome rural Maharashtra experience.

Niraj and I went to recce this area once again. But this time, with the intention of exploring a stargazing camp on one of these meadows.

We rode from Bombay in the middle of the week, and scanned the hills for the best sunrise, stargazing and sunset spots. The night was crisp, and the sky was clear. The star sprinkled sky left us in a trance. It was magical. Calvin & Hobbes knew what they were talking about.

Well, fam, the jury is out. We’re doing this in Jan and bookings are LIVE. Cheggitout! Also, hit the button below to watch my first-ever recce vlog. There’s a lil’ surprise ;)

-Shannon Fernandes
Co-founder | Vagabond Experiences

recce vlog!

This time last year, my friends and I were unsure. Not confused, just particular.

We knew the vibe we wanted. Something calm. Unrushed.

A place where the sunset mattered more than the clock, where music blended into the air, and the year didn’t end in a crowded club but in quiet gratitude.

Vagabond gave us exactly that.

The scenic bus ride felt like the universe was slowing us down. The boat ride to the campsite was almost ‘symbolic’ like crossing into a softer version of time.

And then the evening unfolded gently. Games that made us laugh without trying too hard. Rock painting as the sky turned pink and gold. Bhandardara’s mountains standing still, Arthur Lake stretching endlessly, soft melodies floating somewhere in the background.

That was how we ended our year. Present. Grounded. Full.

Cut to today. 24th December.

I’m sitting in the middle of what feels like a hurricane at Vagabond’s office. Sales chasing leads like the clock is breathing down their necks. Ops juggling checklists that never seem to end.

Games, prizes, food, logistics, graphics, and that constant fear of “did we miss something?”

It’s all controlled chaos, but it’s chaotic nonetheless. And yet, there’s something oddly comforting about it.

Because this time I know where this leads, I’ve lived that ending once, and knowing that’s what we are trying to recreate is what keeps all of us at Vagabond going. Knowing that a group of strangers will possibly feel what we felt is exhilarating, and that’s the fuel.

So when the marketing team asked me to write about the NYE Pyjama Party,

I didn’t see it as a task. I took it personally. Like it was my responsibility to convince people that the end of their year could look softer, warmer, more meaningful.

I think that’s what Vagabond really does, not just plan trips, treks, and events, but moments that a year later still feels like home.

P.S. If you do find yourself there this year, don’t be a stranger, come say hi - I’ll be around on the other side of the experience, part of the crew now.

- Kritika Pujari
Operations Executive | Vagabond Experiences

Upcoming Experiences

Vaga Recommends

November has been kind to us. We’ve resumed our community favourite night hike to Garbett Plateau and some art workshops. We’ve also rolled out a few new music and stargazing experiences you’re going to love absolutely!
We’ve been so lucky to work with schools like Ascend International and St Pius X International, too. Prep for our flagship New Year’s camp is in full swing!
PS: Know a good musician who’d like to perform at our NYE camp? Hit us up!

I have always loved to sing. Not in a stand-on-stage-mic-in-hand way but more of a wildly-singing-to-yourself-around-the-house way. Having lost count of the number of times I have been told “sing more melodiously!”, I began to think that music for me was simply to listen to and not participate in.

Over time, I learnt to do things just for the love of it and that it was okay to be mediocre (or even bad) at something and still pursue it, in whatever capacity you see fit.

The Pop-Up Choir quite literally embodies this: Music is for everyone. Zero judgement. You can just show up and be yourself.

I was nervous and excited to have the opportunity to sing with a group of strangers at this choir curated by Vagabond. All I knew was I didn’t want to sing alone and feel awkward! The moment I stepped into the room, I could tangibly feel the effort put into the space; it’s almost sacred.

The warmth you are welcomed with is enough to melt you into a puddle.
Anusha is just brilliant and teaches with such ease, weaving a room full of strangers into a choir like magic!

My favourite part is definitely walking in and immediately checking the whiteboard for the song reveal (Shout out to everyone who did the decor, made the merch, and wrote the song on the whiteboard!)

When Shannon asked if the trial choir gathering was something I would show up for, I was apprehensive. And now I find myself willingly looking forward to the next choir session!

I love how this choir lets me express myself and lets me live out my Glee Club personalities!

-Andrea Luis

Gathering #2

Let me take you back to our humble beginnings. All the way to 2016.

Through ways I don’t recall quite well, Girish and Alisha (people we didn’t know back then) reached out to us at Vagabond to help them put together a New Year’s Eve camp at Badlapur. Elton and I were the only ones available, so we said yes.

We weren’t even organising this as Vagabond. They just needed our help hosting the camp and taking care of a few operations. Although we’d never done this before, it was really exciting to manage something of this scale for the first time.

For those who know us, we LOVE curating experiences down to the tiniest detail. So, we brought that experience and enthusiasm to the table. Made sure the live music stage looked pretty, ran streamers all around the campsite, and put up globe lighting near the tents. It was all very rustic and low production compared to what you see us do today.

But this is where our NYE camps truly began. At Camp Evergreen in Badlapur. The following years saw us host this as Vagabond, and post-COVID, we moved to our current location in Bhandardara.

Our NYE camps have become Vagabond’s flagship experience of the year, with the highest footfall and most complicated operations. Barring the COVID years, I’ve spent every 31st Dec hosting this camp, and honestly, it’s something I look forward to every time. It’s the perfect bookend to a long and tiring year.

So, here’s to Alisha and Girish. Without whom, our NYE Pyjama Party would’ve probably not existed. Thank you for letting us in. We owe you big time :)

If you’ve read this far, let me offer you a little something special (and exclusive).

FLAT Rs. 300 OFF on every ticket you book to our NYE Pyjama Party (before 10th Dec). Just hit the button below and message ‘VAGASTAND’!

-Shannon Fernandes | Co-Founder

Magic Discount Button

Do you ever feel like your mind’s constantly racing — like you’re everywhere all at once? For months, I lived in that feeling. My life felt like it was stuck in fight-or-flight mode. Then one day, I watched Whisper of the Heart, and something in me shifted. It grounded me, and I hope it does the same for you.

I’ve always felt deeply connected to films where I can see myself in the characters — and with this one, it was Shizuku. She reminded me so much of myself: curious and always chasing something that feels just out of reach. Early in the film, she follows a cat on a whim, which leads her to an antique shop — and to Seiji, a boy learning to craft violins.

They spend time together, sharing dreams and plans for the future. When Seiji tells her he’s leaving for Italy to study violin-making, Shizuku starts feeling left behind. In trying to find her own purpose, she throws herself completely into writing a novel.

But as her passion consumes her, she dreams of a tunnel echoing with the word “hayaku” — meaning “hurry up.” It’s such a powerful metaphor for the pressure we put on ourselves. The tunnel represents her self-doubt and anxiety, that desperate feeling of needing to catch up, to prove herself, to move faster. It’s the fear of being left behind, the confusion of growing up, and the exhaustion of pouring everything into something creative without taking a breath. Watching that, I realized I’d been in that same tunnel too.

Working at Vagabond has felt like what comes after that dream — like stepping out of the tunnel and finally learning that I can breathe again. I still care deeply about growth and success, but I’ve realized that life isn’t meant to be a constant race. There’s calm in slowing down while at the same time caring about success, in understanding that I’m still becoming who I’m meant to be — and that, for now, is enough.

Somewhere along the way, Vagabond started to feel like home. Not in the traditional sense, but in the way Whisper of the Heart defines it — as something you create through the things that move you, the people who ground you, and the courage to follow what feels right. It reminds me of the song “Country Roads, Take Me Home” that weaves through the entirety of the film. Its message lingers long after the credits rolled: that the journey of self-discovery often leads you home — and sometimes, home is exactly where you are, doing what you love, surrounded by people who remind you to breathe.

-Kunjall Tejwani | Marketing Intern

Vaga Recommends

October seemed like a relatively chill month. It started off with one of the most wholesome days, where we hosted the entire Vagabond team (present and past) at our newly renovated office. If you’ve met our team, you’d know that they are equal parts chaotic, high energy and loud. Scroll down to get a glimpse of that day.
Remember me talking about Unplugged? Well, we were lucky enough to host the enthu kids of Ascend International once again! This time at the beautiful CSMVS museum in town. We also visited the Jehangir Art Gallery next door.

PS: NYE prep is in full swing. Know a good musician who’d like to perform at our camp? Hit us up!

Welcome to our upgraded space! It’s brighter, more colourful, more spacious, and feels a lot more ‘us’ :)

Elton and I spent months discussing our basic functional and aesthetic choices, and then another 2 months going back and forth on those same decisions.

But now we’re here, and we’re so psyched!

Here’s the first thing our team said when they walked in…
Oswin: “When i first walked into the office, I thought to myself wow! This is not a Vibe, This is a Vibe and a Half.”

Jheel: “Whattttttt…I wasn’t expecting it to be this goooood!”

Regina: “I walked in thinking I’d stepped into the wrong place — but it was still home, only more alive. Growth often feels unfamiliar before it feels ours.”

Kritika: “This is what I expected the Vagabond office to look like when I first joined lol”

-Shannon Fernandes | Co-Founder

A few more glimpses

I have a deep emotional connection with the Sahyadris; I’ve spent majority of my childhood in the wilderness of the Western Ghats. Simply witnessing it’s existence, it’s greenery and it’s vastness makes me enormously happy and at peace. So, to be able to capture little moments of the participants who come on this journey and feel similarly is just such a joy!

The Lost Lagoon Trek is the perfect culmination of everything you look for in hike - a beautiful trail with views of lush green meadows, expansive mountains, a shimmering lake and, of course, ending at the cool and tranquil lagoon! At first, you’re hiking along the mountains, the breeze cooling you from the sweltering sun and all you want is to jump into the cooling water of the waterfall. Oh the lagoon does not disappoint!

And once you’ve floated, jumped and swam in the water of the lagoon, all you want is a hot delicious local meal - and that’s exactly what you get! The mouth watering chicken curry, bhakri and thhecha is the perfect way to end the day. The nap on the way back truly slaps!

From capturing moments on the first official Lost Lagoon Trail to doing it over and over again every weekend; one might think it gets monotonous or predictable. False. Having done it so many times, with a different group of people made me notice the little things - the intimate movements of trees and colour changes of the landscape. There’s something new to experience every single time. Whether it’s the new leaves on a bare tree, the green monsoon meadows that now have tiny yellow wildflowers, the temperature of the gushing waterfall or the spice of the thhecha (chutney) at lunch. Every group too, comes with different kinds of people from various walks of life - seeing beauty through their eyes and watching them interact with nature is a delight.

This is my favourite Vagabond Trek and I will always love it for its quiet beauty!

-Ananya Ghosh | Content Coverage Intern

Join us!

Upcoming Experiences

Vaga Recommends

September usually feels like a transitional month at Vagabond. Our monsoon season of experiences is coming to a close, and we’re prepping for a long winter ahead. Our autumn trips to Himachal are out, and we’re planning some brand new winter experiences.

Given our new venture—Vagabond Unplugged, we’ve been swarmed by schools and offices to curate experiences for them. A very new (and exciting) feeling for all of us in the office. September has treated us well.

Finding this spot during a recent recce immediately brought me back to the good old days. Back then, it was always a spontaneous call—often from one of the four co-founders or from the OG EMs (Shout out to Addu & Kale) from the 2016-2019 era. The message was always the same: “Tony, we heard about this place. We’re going for a recce. Just grab your essentials; we’ll figure out the rest. Fun scenes! Wanna come?” Honestly, that’s how we discovered so many incredible, hidden places. Oh, the unplanned, unpredictable good old days!

The maiden journey to the ‘Lost Lagoon Loop’ reminded me of the joy in watching others discover a hidden piece of nature. Some feel a rush of accomplishment, others overflow with questions, but the moment you reach that pristine lagoon—yours alone for a few hours—it’s pure magic.

I had a diverse group on this trail, a real mix-bag of people. It ranged from a sweet couple who have been together for almost three decades to a bunch of friends who finally decided to come along, even though the majority of their core group had made excuses (three came, seven ditched!). We even had two people on a very early-stage, adorable first outdoor date.

This lagoon is a truly breathtaking waterbody. The constant, gentle waterfall feeds it, keeping the water ultra-fresh and sparkling. You can find perfect little spots to sit right in the flow, letting Mother Nature deliver a heavenly, therapeutic massage on your back. The cascading water and the cool, clean pool make it a sanctuary of calm, and connect you to your maker.

After our much-needed chill session at the pool, we walked back for an authentic, amazing village meal. The homemade chicken curry was spiced to perfection—just the right amount of heat to make you crave a second helping—and the veggie bhajis were spot on. Honestly, nothing caps off a day like a satisfying meal after a good soak and a long, refreshing walk in nature.

The day concluded with a classic group picture to freeze that glorious moment in time, Instagram handles exchanged, and then, just like that, we were back to the grind, carrying the tranquility of the lagoon with us.

-Anthony Dcosta | Experience Manager

Cheggitout

After weeks of digging up stories, piecing together trivia, and planning pit stops, we finally hit the streets of Bandra with a very special Bollywood-themed walk for a group of influencers who came down with Netflix India for the promotion of Ba**ds of Bollywood.

The group was made up of NRIs, which meant there were wide eyes, endless curiosity, and plenty of “wait, really?!” moments at every turn. From the graffiti of Ranwar Village to the starry lanes of Bandstand and Pali Hill, the questions didn’t stop, the cameras didn’t rest, and honestly, neither did the laughter.

For us at Vagabond, it felt like coming home. Our first-ever experiences were heritage walks, back when weekends meant wandering through forgotten corners of the city. We may not do them regularly anymore, but when someone asks for something super specific, we’re always game to roll up our sleeves and bring it alive.

This walk was exactly that, a mash-up of cinema, history, and a little Bandra magic. By the end of it, we were reminded why we fell in love with curating experiences in the first place. Whether it’s the past, the movies, or just the vibe of the streets, we always find a way to tell a new story.

-Elton Dmello | Co-Founder, CEO

Upcoming Experiences

Vaga Recommends

Yet another WFH month has got us desperately wanting to return to the Vaga’ office, and return we did! (more on that in the next Vaga’ Stand).
The erratic yet incessant rains have proven to be a great reason for most of you to join us on our weekend hikes. Despite everything, we spent the majority of August working on Vagabond Unplugged. What is ‘Unplugged’ you ask? I’m gonna let Elton take over for a sec…

Ever since we officially set our sights on creating experiences for B2B clients (hello Vagabond Unplugged), this monsoon has been nothing short of an adventure spree. From corporates to schools to even the armed forces, we’ve had a packed season of curating some truly memorable outings.

Let’s rewind a little. We kicked things off with our annual regulars, the spirited team from DHL. Their day out was the perfect monsoon classic: a breezy hike through lush trails leading to a private waterfall, topped off with a wholesome village-style lunch. Simple, soulful, and oh-so satisfying.

Next came one of our biggest challenges (and proudest victories): Don Bosco International School. Picture this: 600 students, 4 different locations, and just 2 days to make it all happen. From tiny first graders to soon-to-graduate twelfth graders, every age group got their own curated slice of monsoon magic. It was a mammoth task, but the energy, excitement, and chaos (the good kind) left us absolutely buzzing. Plus, it gave us the confidence to dream even bigger when it comes to working with schools.

And then, the cherry on the season’s cake: hosting a hike for the INS wing of the Armed Forces. We had the honour of taking a group of young officers, hailing from across the country, into the wild beauty of the Sahyadris. Strong feet, stronger spirits, and the kind of camaraderie that makes these trips unforgettable.

And finally, we wrapped up with our friends at Swiggy’s Mumbai Servd team. This was our third time curating an experience for them — a partnership that feels less like work and more like old friends returning for another adventure.

So, as the monsoon season winds down, here’s our advice: don’t let it slip away without a little adventure of your own. Gather your team, lace up those shoes, and head out into the magical Western Ghats. And if the thought of planning it all feels overwhelming, that’s exactly what we’re here for.

-Elton Dmello | Co-Founder & CEO

Cheggitout

Since this was my first time visiting Ladakh, I had very little idea of what food to expect. A bunch of people over the years told me to keep my expectations low. That I'll be disappointed and there's not much unique local cuisine to try. I believed them. I was so wrong.

Our first meal in Ladakh was unplanned. Our last one was a conscious enthusiastic decision. Both were at the gorgeous 'Namza Dining' in Leh. Let's dive straight into it.

Spiced Seabuckthorn Cooler
Similar to a mulled wine, but chilled. Oddly made my chest feel warm. Spicy and delicious.

Mutton Trotters Chutagi
This mutton trotter (usually pig's feet) preparation was outstanding. The broth was wholesome and the meat was mashallah.

Mutton Yarkendi Pulao
This meat was tender and the rice was cooked to perfection. Slamming last meal of our trip.

Tsilkam Gyuma Sausage
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd be tasting a local sausage recipe in Ladakh. Easily my favourite find of the trip.

Tingmo Shapta
Tender meat, fresh veggies inspired by Tibetan cuisine. The steamed bun (tingmo) was *chef's kiss*.

Namza had it all. Great food, beautiful interiors (including a gorgeous washroom) and the kindest staff. I cannot wait to go back.

-Shannon Fernandes | Co-Founder

My Food Guide to Ladakh

Upcoming Experiences

This month, we hosted some memorable experiences at both ends of the country.
10-day trips to Ladakh, a couple of pottery workshops in Titwala, and monsoon hikes every weekend from Bombay saw us welcome over 300 members to the Vagabond community! We also had the annual opportunity to host the good folks at DHL for a fun waterfall hike.

PS: Want us to host a fun outing for your company? Check out Vagabond Unplugged

From being a homemaker to becoming a fitness enthusiast, my journey has been one of constant growth and transformation. Over the years, I’ve run multiple marathons and stayed committed to my health and fitness. However, trekking was something I had never explored. Inspired by my daughter, who has completed numerous treks and solo travel adventures, I decided it was time to experience the world of hiking for myself.

She picked a beginner-friendly trek for me, Vagabond’s Highland Hopping in Maharashtra and it turned out to be the perfect choice for my first monsoon trek. From the thoughtfully selected breakfast spot to the scenic taxi ride and a group full of enthusiastic, younger trekkers, everything was so well curated. I felt youthful, alive, and completely at ease.

The Vagabond team made sure the pace was comfortable, nothing felt rushed, and every moment was peaceful and fulfilling. The trek leaders were kind, supportive, and a lot of fun. I was never made to feel like I didn’t belong.

The views were unforgettable, they still flash in my mind every single day. But the highlight was the waterfall. Standing under it felt so refreshing, I could’ve done the whole trek again right then.

As we descended, I felt a deep reluctance to leave. The bond I formed with nature and the people felt like family. I’m already planning to bring my loved ones along next time so they can experience this magic too.

-Rashmi Mundra
Highland Hopping l 5th July 2025

A Quick Recap

My first time in Ladakh, and honestly, I knew what to expect. Niraj and Sneha have been hyping it up in my head for over a year now. But those were just words, right? None of that would have prepared me for the real thing.

If it's not for the altitude tiring you out, our trip is already 10 days long. It does get physically exhausting. But after returning back to Bombay, I can happily say... It's worth every freezing night and bout of altitude sickness I experienced.

I witnessed the Milky Way and starlit night skies so clear, I thought they were clouds. I jumped out of my bedroom window, which led me to the meadows of Hanle.

We sat there for hours watching the bright blue sky turn to orange, and then pitch black, sprinkled with sparkling dots.

I spent all 10 days whipping my phone out to immortalise those moments, and now, when I look back, none of what I've chosen to share here does any justice.

If you've never been to Ladakh and you love the mountains, trust me, this is the most wholesome experience you could choose to have.

-Shannon Fernandes | Co-Founder

My Days in Ladakh

Upcoming Experiences

It's been quite a month of transition here at Vagabond.
We've just bid adieu to our youngest employee—Dhyana and also to our current office space in Marol. No, we're not shifting. Our office is getting renovated! *woot woot*
We moved into this space in the beginning of 2023. It was the first office we worked in since resuming post COVID. A very old-school traditional office layout that just didn't make sense for us anymore. While there were many things to dislike about this space, it's still been home to some of us for more than two years, and for that, I'll forever cherish it. Super excited to be back in a few months and show y'all our new crib :D

-Shannon Fernandes | Co-Founder

It was meant to be just another job. A place to meet targets, stay in my lane, and go home. But Vagabond had other plans—and nothing about it turned out to be ordinary.

What I walked into wasn’t just a workplace. It was energy, chaos, and connection. The kind of culture you don’t really talk about—you just feel it. It shows up in the small things: the chai runs, the way someone always notices when you’re off, the laughter that builds slowly and then takes over the room.

I didn’t expect to fit in. In fact, I was sure I wouldn’t. But somewhere between the lunchbox judgments, 4:20 howls, post-office hangouts, and the classic lets “step-out” (you’ll know eventually) something shifted. I stopped holding back. I laughed more. And I started to feel like I belonged.

Being the youngest came with its share of teasing—and low-key perks. But what meant the most was the quiet support: the “I got you” glances, the shared snacks (duh) , the people who showed up for each other without needing to be asked.

This goodbye? It’s hard. But also oddly comforting—because I know I’ll always find my way back here, in some way or another. Shannon once told me, “Wherever you go, I hope you always feel at home here.” And now I do.

If you’re new here,
Talk food.
It’s how you find your people.

Thank you, Vagabond—for being a little wild, a little loud, and exactly what I needed.

-Dhyana Mehta | (Ex) Junior Sales Executive 💌

Do you ever find yourself doubting your ability to execute something you know you can do justice to, yet somehow manage to dig up the worst-case scenarios to fuel your drive against blunders? Yeah? We are not on the same boat. Not anymore, at least. I think (or rather, I believe) so.

Standing at a crossroad in life—a graduate from Xavier’s—I’ve chosen to slow down instead of diving headfirst into the unknown. And here at Vagabond, I found myself returning to the very place where I left off a year ago—their most exhilarating trip, “Where the Light Is.”

My keen interests in wildlife were allowed to mold here, with my focus solely on Vagabond’s acclaimed firefly camps. On my first camp, joining the team alongside 30 others, I was worried sick about the monologue I had prepared. But as the evening unfolded and I engaged with the crowd, something clicked. The noise of self doubt faded, replaced by a familiar rhythm, one that I had cultivated through the years.

I made mistakes and corrected myself almost immediately; the greed for perfection and reparation is now but a bygone obsession. The crowd held on eagerly, with their curiosity, to listen to something I was brimming with excitement to share, evident in their demeanor and reflected in their interest.

“Did I do well?” I leave that to each one’s assessment. “Do I think I did it justice?” Yes. I am after all only human, and to err is human (thanks, Elton and Shannon), so I would only go on to make newer mistakes at each camp.

After all, I was not only here chasing fireflies but also paving my growth.

-Elijah Almeida | Naturalist @ Where The Light Is

Upcoming Experiences

They ask me, “What’s your favourite place to roam?”
But how do you choose when every path feels like home?
Travel whispers stories in every breeze,
From mountain hymns to ocean tease.
I can’t pick one, but oh—
The memories? They glow.

Hey! Before I dive in, here’s a quick intro—
I’m Sne-Yeah, your mountain-hopping travel buddy and Experience Manager at Vagabond. Most days, you’ll find me somewhere between the trail and the treeline. Today, I’m sharing a slice of my Vagabond journey—the people, places, and magic that made these two years unforgettable.

Let’s rewind a bit
Three decades ago, I was a little mountain goat chasing my parents through the Sahyadris and the Himalayas. Every vacation led to the hills—and that’s where my love for travel and photography took root. That spark quietly shaped how I see the world and the life I’d one day live.

Not many know this, but I’m an MBA in Hospital Management. Wild, right? But the mountains? They always called louder.

The Vagabond Journey
Flashback to 2022—Vagabond needed a photographer for a New Year’s gig. I said yes. That single word changed everything.

What started as capturing moments turned into curating experiences. From behind the lens to leading treks, I found my rhythm with this wild, wonderful crew. Leading treks, chasing sunrises, and making memories have been my reality ever since.

Fast forward to 2025, and in these two years, I’ve:
Met people from every walk of life.
Watched folks rediscover themselves mid-trek.
Built friendships that feel like home.
Learned that travel isn’t just about places, it’s about people and their stories.

Vagabond gave me the life I dreamed of. And for that, I’m forever grateful to Elton, Shannon, and Nihar for believing in me.

The amazing humans who run the show Behind The Scenes
Elton: The big boss. Tough shell, golden heart—classic sakht launda meets softie.
Shannon: The boss who’s always up for our chaos and jam sessions (a die-hard Beatles fan), but keeps a wide berth from real bugs!
Nihar: My guiding light. Your wisdom continues to resonate with me on every trail.
Niraj: The bearded strategist. We’ve clashed, laughed, and grown together.
Regina (Gins): The voice of calm behind the phone. We bond over our shared love for writing and self-expression.
Aryan: From intern to design wizard. Your dedication to rebranding Vagabond has been inspiring to witness.

And of course, the beautiful madness we call “The Vaga’ Bitches”—Beulah, Bhakti, Drishti, Yamini, Adwait, Tony, Andie, Jheel, Arshia, Dhyana—y’all are my sunshine in this Vagabond clan.

Vagabond gave me a platform to live a life full of adventure, connections, and meaning. Every trek, every journey holds a story.

Here are a few favourites:
Bunbuni Trek, Parvati Valley: Sunset in the front, moonrise behind. A moment that felt suspended in time.
Hanle, Ladakh: Lying on the car bonnet, counting 25 shooting stars in 10 minutes. The universe was putting on a cosmic show, one that left us awestruck.
Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar: A quiet stroll led to a surprise meet-cute—with three Himalayan jackals.
Turtuk, Ladakh: Witnessing two comets streak across the night sky in one magical minute.
Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh: Somewhere deep in the forest, Raj Bhaiyya (our gracious host) and I foraged wild mushrooms and grilled them under the stars—peak Bear Grylls vibes.

Rezang La, Ladakh: Helped an Innova out of a glacier stream, then got stuck ourselves. The Indian Army came through like legends.
Lidderwat Trek, Aru Valley: My first time leading a group for this trek, and one of them was just 2.5 years old. That kid’s energy? Unmatched.
Spangmik, Pangong Tso, Ladakh: I always dreamed of seeing Pangong Lake blanketed in snow. Little did I know that a recent summer trip to Ladakh would turn that dream into an unexpected reality.

These two years with Vagabond have been more than just a chapter—they’ve been a transformation. And I owe it all to the mountains, the madness, and this incredible community.

Here’s to more sunrises, trail songs, and stories.
Until next time—stay curious, stay wild, and maybe... I’ll see you on the next one.

-With love & gratitude,
Sneha Gopalkrishnan | Experience Manager

Happy 2 Years, Sneha