Are You an Adventure Seeker? Then You Need to Try Out these Water Sports in Alibaug! (2020)

About 100 km south of Mumbai, in Raigad District of Maharashtra, lays a small coastal town called Alibag or Alibaug. It’s a part of the Mumbai metropolitan region and center place of Raigad, and is just 143 km from Pune, thus having easy connectivity both from the metros of Mumbai and Pune. Alibaug is situated in the Konkan region and is a popular weekend getaway destination, especially for the crowd of Mumbai and nearby areas. Alibaug has earned the reputation and name of ‘mini-Goa’, thanks to its clean air, numerous sandy beaches, and a couple of forts and temples to visit.

A few famous places worth visiting in Alibaug are Kolaba Fort, Khanderi Fort, Murud-Janjira Fort, Vikram Vinayak Temple or Birla Temple, Nagoba Temple, Korlai Fort and a Magnetic Observatory, established in 1904. Though Alibaug has several beaches which are quite close to each other and most of them can be covered in a single day, the most popular one is the Alibag Beach.

This small town has so many places to visit and activities to do that tourists never run out of options and always come back longing for more. The beaches present a celestial view of the sunrise and sunset and also the nearby Colaba Fort, which is just a “short boat ride” away from the beaches. Colaba Fort played an important role in the Maratha Empire history, and the Fort is still in reasonably good condition.

Kihim Beach (a photographer’s dream destination), Mandwa Beach (known for many movie shootings that take place here now and then), Akshi Beach, Kashid Beach, Varsoli Beach, Murud Beach, and Nagaon Beach are few famous beaches of Alibaug. The view of the array of coconut trees lining the beach adds up to the beauty of the place, and the fantastic view of the Gateway of India from the bay area is a delight to watch. Alibag was earlier known as Kolaba, but later on, a wealthy man named Ali was staying here, who owned many vast gardens of coconuts and mangoes and hence the name Alibaug or “Garden of Ali”.

Though Alibaug has varieties of activities for people of every age and class, water sports near Alibaug remains the all-time favourite adventure for almost everyone visiting this place. There are so many water sports, including water adventure sports, that every age group gets a chance to enjoy some. Moreover, most of the water sports are not very costly, and you can enjoy a couple of them without burning a hole in your pocket. If you are visiting Mumbai, Pune or Lonavala, then Alibaug is just a couple of hours from these cities, and you can extend your trip by a day or two and enjoy the water sports in Alibaug.

You can enjoy the water rides during any time of the year except for the monsoon months of July to September when the boat services between Mumbai and Alibaug are stopped. However, the best time to visit and enjoy these water sports is between October to March, when the temperature is between the normal limits and the weather mostly remains pleasant. We have picked the most popular and adventurous rides which are available nearby Alibaug, and you would surely want to try a few or most of them during your next visit to Alibaug.

You might have seen or heard of kayaking in Rishikesh, Goa, or Kerala and had the urge to do it yourself! Now it’s your turn to go kayaking in Mandwa beach at Alibaug for as cheap as Rs. 300 per person. Kayaking was considered a water activity that can be performed only in calm waters, but this adventure sports can be performed even in the wavy waters of the Arabian Sea. Kayaking in seawater is done in about 15 feet long kayaks and is done under the supervision of professionals. So, slip into a kayak and get paddling to enjoy the fantastic views and experience a glimpse of the vastness of the ocean.

In case you have never heard of a bumper ride, it is a small rounded boat that can accommodate your family or a small group of people, and this small boat is pulled on the sea waters with the help of a speed boat. The bumper is drawn by the speed boat at high speed, thus giving the feel of a flight to the riders. It is a smooth ride and can be enjoyed by the entire family together, be it children or elders; everyone can enjoy this bumper ride under the safety precautions of professionals. The bumper ride can be tried at Nagaon beach near Alibaug and is charged at about Rs. 200 per person.

Another famous water sport which you must have seen multiple times in movies, ads, or on television is the Jet Ski ride, and it’s not as costly a ride as it seems. You can try Jet Skiing for just around Rs. 300 to 500 for two people at Nagaon Beach and Alibaug Beach. The thrilling ride can be experienced by renting Jet Ski from local vendors at the beach, and two people with a total weight of up to 200 kg can comfortably ride the Jet Ski. You can also hire trained professionals to carry out the sports safely if you are a novice.

Stand Up Paddle Boating or Boarding is quite an adventurous water sport and it’s better to take an introductory training before you start the paddle boating ride. There are many such classes organized by trainers, and after taking active participation in such a class for one day, you will be ready to plunge into this adventure activity, which will be one of the most enthralling experiences you’ll ever have in your life. You need to stand on a board and paddle it along the waves while maintaining your balance. The stand-up paddle boating can be enjoyed at Mandawa Beach from Rs. 1,200 onwards.

As the name suggests, this ride happens on a banana-shaped boat. This ride has no age bar; hence kids, youngsters, and even elders can enjoy the ride under the supervision of professionals who would provide you with the right equipment and guidance to safely complete the ride. The inflatable banana boat will be pulled behind the jet skis zooming across the clean blue water of the Arabian Sea, just ensure to hold the boat tightly while sailing on it. This water sports can be performed at Nagaon Beach, Alibaug, for as low as Rs. 100 per person.

Scuba diving is an underwater sports activity where the diver has to carry a gas cylinder along with him to have an uninterrupted supply of oxygen. The word Scuba is an abbreviation for “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus,” and this form of diving is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful underwater world where you can see and touch the aquatic animals, fishes, and corals. Scuba diving is an exhilarating adventure sport, and you must try this if you are interested to see the underwater, colourful life of aquatics. The best place for this water sports is Murud Janjira beach near Alibaug, and a single dive may cost you around Rs. 4,500.

Yet another thrilling ride on the breaking waves and the whistling winds is the speed boat ride. You can ride with your entire family on this boat or with a small group of people and enjoy the speeds of up to 50 mph on the surface of the Arabian Sea. It’s a safe ride, doesn’t have any age bar, no prior training is needed, and all the necessary precautions are taken care of before the ride, and all the passengers are provided with safety jackets. You can take the speed boat ride at Mandwa Beach in Alibaug for about Rs. 100 per person.

An enjoyable water game, Kiteboarding is a surface water game that has elements of windsurfing, wakeboarding, paragliding, surfing, and gymnastics. A huge kite takes power from the powerful winds above the ocean as the kiteboarder controls the kite and is drawn with the kite on the water surface with the help of the surfing board. This sport requires a good amount of flexibility and balance to stay afloat while one is trying to surf on the ocean, along with the kite flying on the waging winds. This adventure sports can be tried at Murud Janjira, Alibaug, and costs around Rs. 3,000 per adult.

One of the most intelligent mammals (yes Dolphins are mammals like us and not a fish species), Dolphins are very friendly with humans, and they love to play with us. Witnessing dolphins in their natural habitat is a beautiful experience which you shouldn’t miss. There are local vendors near the beach who know the exact spot where Dolphins are found in the Arabian Sea near Alibaug, and they can help you see the Dolphins playing in the waves and swimming along with your speed boat. You wouldn’t want to miss this fantastic experience at Kashid Beach, Alibaug, for a meagre price of Rs. 250 per person.

Parasailing is one popular sport for the adrenaline junkies in which you can enjoy the bird’s eye view of the vastness of the sea and also have a beautiful view of Mumbai from a few meters above the sea surface while riding on a parachute which is tied through a rope to a speed boat. The chute rises against the wind as soon as the speed boat is accelerated, taking you right above the sea waves. This is an easy to play water sport and can be enjoyed by anyone and of any age group, without any training or special preparation. You can enjoy parasailing at Nagaon Beach, Alibaug for Rs. 1,000 per person.

One of the newest activities introduced in Alibaug is the Zorb Ball, which is a huge ball made of transparent plastic. The participant is locked inside this orb, and then they can walk or roll over a slope, things, or even water. This activity gives a lot of pleasure and is one of the best fun activities to do at Alibaug. The Zorb Ball activity can be enjoyed at Nagaon Beach near Alibaug for Rs. 450 per person.

All-terrain vehicle ride or a quad bike ride, popularly known as ATV ride, is a three or four-wheeled vehicle with a bike-like handle for control and a seat for the driver. It is one of the popular activities among the adventurers as it gives a quick adrenaline rush and provides an experience like no other ride. It has low pressure, thick tires, which make it adaptable to be used on rough surfaces like rocky terrains and beaches, etc. However, this sport requires more safety measures as first-time riders are prone to accidents and injuries, hence make sure to try this sport under the supervision of trainers and with proper safety measures. Professional ATV riders also conduct short training sessions, and one can enroll themselves and learn the nuances of this game. Once the short training is completed, you can easily participate in the ATV ride activities conducted near Mandwa Beach, which costs about Rs. 300 per person.