How to plan Alibaug with Children? 12 Important Tips

Alibaug’s vast coastline offers plenty of options for a family getaway, but choosing the right beach is crucial when travelling to Alibaug with children. While famous spots like Kashid and Nagaon are popular, quieter, offbeat locations like Revdanda and Kihim offer a different pace, though you must ensure they have the amenities you need.

After researching, I settled on Kihim Beach, located about 11km from Mandwa Jetty. It’s clean, uncrowded, and offers excellent kid-friendly activities, especially in the evenings. I visited Kihim Beach in November with my husband and three-year-old son, and it was a perfect choice. Here are 12 things you should know to plan your own successful trip to Alibaug with children.

1. Research (safety, duration) 

When researching, I had to keep in mind that I’m planning a trip to Alibaug with children, so I looked up on Google using the following questions 

• Which beach is safe along the Alibaug Coastline? 
• What can I do in and around the beach? 
• How long would it take to reach Alibaug using public transportation?
• Is it a family-friendly beach? 
• How many days are enough for a short trip to Alibaug?
• What activities are there for kids? 

Kihim beach seemed to tick all the boxes when it came to travelling to Alibaug with children. It is not too far from Mandwa jetty. I called the homestay and arranged for a TumTum pick-up (₹ 300 one way). The Kihim beach does have rocky patches but not too many. It also has a long stretch of sand where my son was busy playing with his beach toys. 

2. Safety

When planning a trip to Alibaug with children, you have to know the safety factor. 

Which beaches are safe to visit? 

Most of the beaches are safe as long as you don’t go swimming beyond permitted boundaries and when there is a red flag.  

Is Kihim beach safe at night? 

Kihim beach is very safe at night. We had dinner at around 9 pm and walked back to the homestay. We also went to buy some cold drinks around 10:00 pm, which was a 10-minute walk. We went and came back without any hassle.  Just beware of speeding cars and bikes. 

There are a few general stores around just in case you need more munchies. Just that there are no street lights, so I wouldn’t recommend anyone roaming at night, as that is inviting unwanted trouble. 

What kind of day trips are possible and the duration?

You can visit Nagaon beach, Revdanda beach and Kashid beach. 

To cover Kihim, Nagaon, Revdanda and Kashid, a minimum of 3N/4D is required. If you have around 2N/3D, then you can cover Kihim, Nagaon and Revdanda. Kashid beach needs a day, and stay over there as it has a lot of activities. Along with Kashid, you can cover Murud Janjira Fort. 

3. Hotel/Homestay booking 

Before booking a hotel, you need to check the distance from the beach and if it’s a kid-friendly hotel/homestay. We booked a homestay, ‘Aadaratithya homestay’, which was within walking distance from the beach. Although it was a very basic homestay, it was a 10/10 for cleanliness. The meals at the homestay were lovingly prepared by the owner’s wife, adding a warm, personal touch to our stay.

For dinner, we enjoyed a delicious Pomfret thali, while breakfast consisted of a simple yet satisfying burjee and tea. The portions were just right for one person, and every bite had the comforting taste of a home-cooked meal, making the dining experience feel wholesome and authentic. Around the homestay, there were general shops as well. Kihim beach has plenty of resorts and homestays. 

4. How to Get There?

We prefer using public transport when travelling to Alibaug with children. Here is our recommended route:

Train: Take the afternoon local train to Churchgate. I suggest booking a second-class ticket via the RailOne app (formerly UTS) to avoid crowds; if you prefer more comfort, first-class tickets are also available.

Taxi: Outside Churchgate station, you can easily find shared taxis to the Gateway of India (approx. ₹30 per person).

Ferry: From the Gateway of India, we took the Ajanta ferry (1.5 hours). Note: If you choose the Maldar ferry, be aware that you may need to switch boats mid-journey if water levels are low. This was a chaotic, nerve-wracking experience with a sleepy toddler, so be prepared for a boat transfer if necessary.

Arrival: Once at Mandwa Jetty, you can take a bus or pre-book a TumTum to Kihim. I highly recommend contacting your homestay/hotel owner beforehand to arrange a pickup; it makes the 11km, 30-minute trip to Kihim much more stress-free than negotiating on the spot.

5. How many days do you need?

We went there for 1N/2D. When planning a trip to Alibaug with children, it all depends on how much you want to do and what you want to cover. So ideally you can extend, making it a 2N/3D or more depending on the time you have. We covered only Kihim beach. But you can do Kihim along with another beach. You can either book a tumtum or hire a scooter and explore around Alibaug. 

6. Places to visit?

Alibaug has a long list of places that you can visit. Since we planned a 1N/2D trip, we stuck to only exploring  Kihim beach. Some of the famous beaches I know are Kashid, Revdanda, and Nagaon beach. Other than beaches, you can cover forts as well. You can also add Murud Janjira to the list of places to visit in Alibaug with children. A cannon is something children would like to see. And the views from the forts make a good family picture. I’ll leave a list of beaches and forts that you can visit when planning a trip to  Alibaug with children. 

Alibaug Beaches: Alibaug beach,  Varsoli beach, Kashid beach, Kihim beach, Revdanda beach, Nagaon beach 

Alibaug Forts: Kolaba Fort, Sagargad Fort, Korlai Fort, Revdanda Fort, Khubladha Fort, Hirakot Fort and Murud-Janjira Fort.

7. Food to eat?

You get all kinds of food in Alibaug. At the beach shack, we had a cup of tea. Later, while walking around Kihim, there were many restaurants around. My son is a bit fussy when it comes to food, and I was surprised that the restaurants we visited at Kihim beach had French fries on their menu. You also get Chinese, Konkan, and Indian cuisine. I had ordered the rawa bombil fry, and it was really delicious. Try any kind of seafood; that’s like the best option.

I knew my son wouldn’t have breakfast, so here is a helpful tip if your kid likes bread-butter-jam.  You can buy a small jam container and a packet of sandwich bread and prepare a sandwich. This will help if your child isn’t eating anything and won’t add to your worrisome thoughts of the child being hungry.  There are plenty of general stores around Kihim, so it’s not very isolated at all.

8. Things to pack 

When travelling to Alibaug with children, you feel like whatever you pack is less. Since I did a 1N/2D trip, I packed the following when travelling. 

• 8 diapers, 
• 1 pair of Crocs 
• 3 T-shirts, 
• 3 pants,
• 1 swimsuit, 
• 1 towel,
•  2 face towels, 
• beach toys, and a 
• steel straw 

I would recommend a 2N/3D trip when planning a trip to Alibaug with Children, as you get ample time exploring either a fort or another beach. Doing a short trip is not recommended. You feel like it’s more travel and less time at the place. And when you’re planning Alibaug with children, with all the tantrums, nap time, etc., you’ll all the more feel like adding an extra day. 

9. Rough blueprint 

When travelling to Alibaug with children, I followed this blueprint on a weekday. 

Day 1 Afternoon 

• 12:30 pm Train to Churchate  
• Ferry to Gateway 
• Mandwa jetty to Kihim beach 

Day 1 Evening 

• Explore Kihim beach 
• ATV ride/Horse carriage ride 
• Have dinner in a restaurant 

Day 2 Morning

• Post breakfast, spend some time at Kihim beach 
• Check out by 12:00 pm 

For a 2N/3D trip to Alibaug with Children, you can also cover Kashid and Murud Janjira. And if you don’t want to go that far, then you can visit Nagaon or Revdanda beach. 

10. Mistakes to avoid 

Here are important things to avoid when planning a trip to Alibaug with children.  

• Staying far from the beach 

One of the biggest mistakes is booking your accommodation far away. Booking your accommodation within walking distance helps if you want to go for sunset walks, use the washroom, or return to your room to change your clothes.

• Not booking an AC room

During the summers, Alibaug is very hot. A comfortable air-conditioned room prevents dehydration caused by excessive heat and also provides a cool place to relax after extreme outdoors. So the added cost is worth the comfort.

• Not having Jio network  

Especially for digital payments, you need a reliable network, and for navigating Google Maps and contacting anybody. We had Airtel and Jio. Airtel was very scratchy, while Jio worked well.

• Not carrying enough Cash 

Even though digital payments are common, some places only accept cash. So carrying cash in smaller denominations is important so you don’t face any unnecessary inconvenience when travelling to Alibaug with Children.

• Not carrying garbage bags

Garbage bins may not be available at every beach. So carrying a garbage bag helps with wet clothes, dirty toys, and disposing of waste responsibly.

• Not booking your train ticket using the RailOne app

To avoid standing in long queues or at the kiosk, you can book your train ticket from the app at home itself. It just reduces the stress and saves you time when travelling to Alibaug with children.

11. What kind of Activities at the beach? 

At first, I thought Kihim beach would be a simple beach with just a tonga ride. Since we went to the beach in the evening, I saw a couple of activities available, like an ATV ride and a horse carriage ride. I took the ATV ride with my son. It was pretty safe as I didn’t have to ride it by myself. The driver stands beside it and accelerates it with one hand.

My son really enjoyed the ATV ride, so it’s a must-do when travelling to Alibaug with children. I also saw a few bicycles parked, which are available for hire. I didn’t see any camels on the beach. And coming to water sports, I read online that banana boat, jet ski, and parasailing are available, but I didn’t see any of those at Kihim beach in November. 

12. Total expenses 

The total expenses for a 1N/2D trip came to approx ₹6-7K. This includes the transport cost, Homestay, food and drinks, and beach activities. I’ll share a cost breakdown below. 

Particulars	Cost (Per Person):
Train to Churchate/CSTM (2nd class)	₹ 10-₹30
Shared Taxi to Gateway	₹30 – ₹50
Ajanta ferry	₹200 – ₹300
Tumtum	₹200-300 one way
Food	₹1000 per meal
Homestay	₹2000 to ₹3,000
Maldar Return ferry	₹200- ₹ 300

FAQ

1. What is the best network in Alibaug?

Jio works the best in Alibaug; you actually get a 5G network. Airtel, on the other hand, is very scratchy. 

2. Which is the best season to visit?

The best season for Alibaug with Children is October to April. Even though May is the holiday season, the temperatures in Alibaug can get very hot. Even during monsoons, M2M ferries ply. But most beaches will be closed during monsoons. We had gone during November, and it was perfect. Kihim was cooler than Mumbai for sure. 

3. When should you go?

You can visit Alibaug anytime except during the monsoons. And it’s best if you visit on a weekday instead of the weekend if you don’t prefer a crowd. Otherwise, weekdays and weekends both are fine to visit Alibaug with Children. During the weekend, you might have to prebook your stay.

4. Are beaches safe for kids to swim?

Alibaug Beach, Nagaon Beach, Varsoli Beach and Revdanda Beach are safe beaches and family-friendly beaches. Kihim Beach is also generally safe and peaceful for families, though you must watch out for rocky patches in the water. 

5. Is it possible to reach Alibaug using public transport? 

Yes, it’s definitely possible to reach Alibaug using public transport. You can use a train, ferry, and Tumtums/ bus. If you book your ferry ticket via Maldar and Ajanta, your bus ticket from Mandwa jetty to Alibaug is covered in your ferry ticket costs. Just that you may have to wait in a queue as locals are given preference first. And that will be a long wait. 

Conclusion: Alibaug with Children?

A trip to Alibaug with children is definitely manageable. Alibaug is a fantastic, accessible destination for families if you know what to expect. I’ve covered my experience above on how to prepare when travelling to Alibaug with Children. It’s the best experience, especially when your child loves to play with sand. Even a short trip creates lifelong memories.  

Ultimately, it is the simple moments, like watching your child play in the sand or discovering a new beach, that make the trip worthwhile. Your next family memory is just a ferry ride away. My son keeps asking, Where are we going next?

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