Mumbai by Dawn Tour: An Insider's Look into City's Trade and Culture
5.0
366 Ratings
Mumbai
Experience the vibrant trade and culture of Mumbai on this 3-hour dawn tour. Explore bustling markets, witness fish auctions, and learn about the city's rich history. Wake up early for an unforgettable insider's look into the soul of Mumbai!
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - Possibly the most architectural stunning building in India, Victoria Terminus Railway Station, now CST, sees a record of six hundred and sixty thousand footfalls daily, making it the busiest station in Mumbai.

At dawn, the CST station also serves as the city’s largest newspaper sorting area.

  • Sassoon Dock - Travelers understand the life of the Koli fisherfolk (the original inhabitants of Mumbai) and also witness the arrival and grading of 50 tonnes of fish. They also witness a one-of-its-kind fish auction of the famous Bombay Duck.
  • styam flowes - Witness the early morning colour and fragrance of this market.
  • Ankit sanas - In the middle of night, when the sky is pitch black and the rest of Mumbai is fast asleep, the wholesale produce market in the neighbourhood of Byculla is a hive of frenetic activity.
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Private tour
  • Professional guide
  • Driver and private transport
  • Goods and Services Tax (GST)
  • Postcard
  • Tea and coffee
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Shoe Covers at docks
  • A fruit
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Additional transport cost for pick-up from suburban Mumbai hotels
  • Additional cost for the services of a language guide (besides English)
Additional Information

This 3-hour long tour pioneered by No Footprints gives you an insider’s access into the soul of Mumbai! You will be prive to the backbone of the city’s trade and what makes it truly tick. From exploring community trade and auction of 50 tonnes of fish at the docks, to the sorting of 7 different languages of newspapers; from flower markets to the story of the mills; this tour pays homage to the people of Mumbai- restless, hardworking and affluent.

From the markets to the communities who make it possible, get a chance to see all the action for yourself.

Witness a unique side of Mumbai, almost like secret, unfold as you you explore the city at Dawn.

Needless to say, it comes at a price – Waking up at 5.15 for one!

  • The docks are shut in June and July
  • The newspaper vendors are not available on the day after a public holiday
  • We do not conduct this tour on the day of the Mumbai Marathon
  • The sequence of the tour is at the discretion of No Footprints and its guide on-ground
  • The tour can be cancelled based on the discretion of No Footprints, the guests will be informed in advance of the same
Location
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
DN Road, Mumbai CST Area
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(366 Ratings)
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Daydream14757387061
May 28, 2024
Sunrise Mumbai Tour - We had morning tour with Radhika. We were picked up from the hotel at 5am, car was clean and comfortable. Started from fish market, followed by vegetable market, saw fresh bread and milk delivery to the small shops, then passed by morning newspapers street and ended in colourful flower market. During all time Radhika was telling us interesting stories about each place and educating us about cultural specifics. She was very friendly, positive and attentive. In total it took around 3 hours. Highly recommending the tour in general and the guide itself.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
740riddhib
May 22, 2024
Highly recommend!! This tour will show you the real Mumbai, in a way you could never imagine !! - I’m a local from Mumbai but living in France for the past 7 years. This time I was back home visiting with my French boyfriend and I wanted to show him around our insane city that is Mumbai! Luckily I found this tour online and immediately knew it was the perfect way to get him to see how the city wakes up and the hustle begins! Although I hardly knew HOW cool the experience would turn out to be. Thanks to no footprints and especially our amazing guide Adi, we were able to see Mumbai through a lens that even locals haven’t experienced. We started off the tour early at 5am, a private driver coming to pick us up at our hotel. The first spot was the fishing docks, the most insane experience you’ll ever live. Then we went through other spots like the newspaper sorting center, fruit and veggie market ending up in the flower market. This tour showed us the duality of Mumbai : how traditional ways blend into a modern economy. We saw the back end workings of Mumbai that would normally be invisible for tourists and that’s what makes this tour so great, it shows you what you won’t usually have the chance to see. Our guide Adi was really exceptional too. At each spot he provided clear details and precious pieces of information all whilst guiding us and ensuring that we felt comfortable walking through the crowds. He even took several pictures videos for us. He then went the extra mile and sent us additional information by message on questions that we had asked. He’s just the best, and this tour is a definite must do when in Mumbai (even if you’re a local ;)) highly recommend!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
804ingridj
May 14, 2024
Mumbai Dawn - A truly wonderful guided tour with Meherban Irani and excellent driver to the Dawn Markets of Mumbai. We experienced such amazing sights and sounds at the harbour fish market, flower and fruit markets accompanied by such interesting and informative comments by Meherban who is clearly a very knowledgable and engaging guide. We didn't expect to taste, fruits and see flowers being prepared for market and have a jasmine bracelet made. In addition we got an insight into the history of trade in the city and its people. A diverse and fascinating tour, highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eddwill
May 7, 2024
Wonderfully raw early morning experience - Adi was absolutely great! Thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Experiencing the key markets of Mumbai is an essential trip and an experience you’ll never forget. I really suffer from the heat, so a whistle stop walk round different locations with an air-conditioned Taxi to jump into between stops was ideal! We started off at Sassoon Dock just before dawn, piles of Bombay duck and shrimp, Indian salmon and even manta rays, the smell of the fresh fish was amazing, the smell of the drying fish close by was not so amazing! We then travelled through various other markets around the city as we worked from the south to the north, making carefully curated walks along the way. The traffic wasn’t too bad so we made good time and even had a chance to visit a large cricket ground, where there were some impressive skills on display in addition to a fine young lady and gentlemen that gave amazing displays of strength and stamina climbing a pole and doing incredible feats on a rope! Apologies I have forgotten the name of the discipline. My driver stopped at a viewing point for the suspension bridge. Thank you Adi for a wonderful experience that I will never forget.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Excursion21982885600
May 5, 2024
Phenomenal Mumbai by Dawn Tour - Nimisha is an excellent guide! She is knowledgeable, easy-going and enjoyable to be around. I’m a young woman and was travelling solo in Mumbai. She gave me great tips for and also recommendations for the rest of my travels. Anyone would enjoy seeing Mumbai with Nimisha as a solo traveler or as a group booking.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sgtiger
Apr 28, 2024
Amazing trip with Batul to the fish market and flower market - The fish market at dawn is quite an experience - busy, noisy, full of color and life. And a little smelly! From there to the flower market via newspaper sorting and the public laundry was an incredible insight into the workings of Mumbai. Batul is a wonderful guide, very informative and a lovely person to spend a few hours with early on the morning. Definitely worth doing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go52212203135
Apr 27, 2024
Amazing morning trip. - Amazing Morning Trip in Mumbai. You have to go if you have time. Never thought the fish market was this intense. My favorite was the flower market with rows of Mary Golds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Safari17300740090
Apr 24, 2024
Mesmerizing, surprising, don’t miss it - One in it’s kind tour! Really mesmerizing and enjoyable by the second. Well curated by a fantastic, super professional and kind tour guide- ADI. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
001celia
Apr 20, 2024
Only Tourists Around - Having already completed 'Highlights of Mumbai' with guide Meherban Irani, we were delighted to find out that he was also to be our guide for 'The Original Mumbai by Dawn'. The early morning alarm clock call is definitely worth it ; we experienced sights and sounds that would have been impossible without a guide. Early morning, before dawn, Mumbai is such a different city - we seemed to be the only tourists around. Every stop was worthwhile and completely immersive - you get right in on the action! We would fully recommend this tour if you want to do more than scratch the surface of Mumbai - although you might find you slightly smell of fish when you get back! Thanks so much Meherban, it was lovely to meet you. Celia and David.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mgeney
Apr 14, 2024
Mumbai at dawn with Adi - We had the chance to experiment the Mumbai at dawn with Adi who has been a very interesting and caring guide with a great sense of humour! It was great to discover the different markets at sunrise, a dip in the real Bombay with the smell, the colours and the smiles 😀 thanks again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
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June 2024
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