Forty-nine kilometres separate central Pune from the take-off hills of Kamshet, which makes tandem paragliding one of the most achievable big-adventure day trips from the city. There is no overnight stay required, no trekking to reach the launch, and the flying part of the day is over in about two hours, leaving time for Pawna Lake, a fort and a proper lunch.
This guide lays out two ready-made itineraries, one for the winter morning slot and one for the summer afternoon slot, plus routes by car, bike and local train, where to park, what to pack, a realistic budget per person and how to stretch the trip into a night by the lake.
Why Kamshet Works as a Day Trip from Pune
Kamshet is one of the few places where a Pune resident can wake up at home, fly a tandem paraglider over the Sahyadri, eat lunch beside a lake, climb a fort and still be back for dinner. The meeting point is 49 km from Pune, roughly 35–40 km from Hinjewadi, 16–19 km from Lonavala and about 102 km from Mumbai, so it sits at the natural meeting point of both cities' weekend traffic.
The flying itself is compact. You report at the meeting point near Hotel Rangoli Pure Veg, ride a jeep to the take-off at Tower Hill or Shelar Hill, get briefed, fly for 8–15 minutes at 800–1,500 ft above the farmland, land, collect your free GoPro photos and videos, and you are done in about two hours. Everything else in this itinerary is what you do with the rest of the day.
Which itinerary you follow depends on the month. From October to February we fly the morning slot (reporting around 7:00 am) in cool, smooth air. From March to May we fly the afternoon slot (reporting around 2:30 pm) when thermals give longer flights. June to September is closed for the monsoon. For a fuller breakdown see our guide to the best time to paraglide in Kamshet.
Itinerary A: Winter Morning Slot (October to February)
This is the plan we recommend for first-timers and families. The air is calmest, the light is soft for photos, and you have the entire day ahead of you after landing.
| Time | What you are doing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5:15 am | Leave Pune (Shivajinagar / Kothrud / Deccan) | Roads are empty; 1–1.5 h via Wakad → Dehu Road → Talegaon on old NH48 |
| 6:45–7:00 am | Report at meeting point near Hotel Rangoli Pure Veg | Pay balance, sign waiver, tea from the roadside stalls |
| 7:15 am | Jeep to take-off | ₹600 one-way split among passengers; site chosen by wind |
| 7:30–9:00 am | Briefing, flights, landing | Joy 8–10 min, Instructional / Acro 10–15 min per person |
| 9:15 am | Collect GoPro photos & videos on your phone | Free; no memory card needed |
| 10:00 am | Breakfast / brunch at Pawna Lake | Lakeside cafés and camps; carry a mat for a picnic |
| 12:00–3:00 pm | Lohagad fort trek or Karla & Bhaja caves | Lohagad is a short, stepped trek; the caves are easier on the legs |
| 3:30 pm | Late lunch in Lonavala or Kamshet | Pick up chikki in Lonavala if heading that way |
| 5:00 pm | Drive back to Pune | Sunday evening old-highway traffic near Talegaon can add 30 min |
| 6:30–7:00 pm | Home | Videos already shared on the family group |
If you have children under 12 with you, remember a parent must be present at the site and sign the consent form. The early start is easier than it sounds: most kids sleep through the drive and wake up at the take-off.
Itinerary B: Summer Afternoon Slot (March to May)
In summer the flying moves to the afternoon to catch the thermals. Winds are stronger (around 20 km/h) and flights are generally longer, which many repeat visitors prefer. You also get a civilised lie-in.
| Time | What you are doing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am | Leave Pune | Midday traffic through Wakad; allow 1.5 h |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch in Kamshet or Lonavala | Keep it light if you are flying Acro; the G-forces are real |
| 2:15–2:30 pm | Report at meeting point | Sunscreen, cap and water are essential in summer |
| 2:45 pm | Jeep to take-off | Tower Hill is the usual summer tandem site |
| 3:00–4:45 pm | Briefing, flights, landing | Thermals mean longer, higher flights on a good day |
| 5:00 pm | Collect photos & videos | Flying stops around 5:00 pm as light fades |
| 5:30–6:45 pm | Sunset at Pawna Lake | The single best photo stop of the day |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner near Pawna or on the old highway | Or stay over at a Pawna camp (see below) |
| 8:30–9:30 pm | Back in Pune | Evening drive is cool and quick |
The trade-off in summer is heat during the wait. Bring more water than you think you need, and consider the Instructional Tandem if you want the longest possible time in the air for your money; compare the options on our packages page.
Getting There: Car, Bike and Train
By car or bike on the old highway (recommended)
Take the old Mumbai–Pune highway (NH48) out through Wakad → Dehu Road → Talegaon → Kamshet. It is a straightforward two-lane-each-way road with fuel stations and tea stalls along the way, bikes are allowed, and there is no expressway toll. The meeting point is right at Kamshet junction on this road, near Hotel Rangoli Pure Veg, so you cannot really miss it. Expect 1 to 1.5 hours from central Pune depending on the hour.
By car on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway (alternative)
If you are coming from the far side of Pune or simply prefer the expressway, join at Dehu Road, exit at Talegaon / Somatane and rejoin the old highway for the last stretch to Kamshet. It saves a few minutes on a busy morning but adds a toll, and two-wheelers are not permitted on the expressway. Mumbai visitors use the expressway the whole way and exit for Kamshet after Lonavala (about 2.5–3 hours in total).
By train
Pune–Lonavala local trains stop at Kamshet railway station, about 2 km from the meeting point. Check the timetable for a service that reaches Kamshet 20–30 minutes before your reporting time, then take a short auto ride to Hotel Rangoli Pure Veg at the junction. This is the cheapest option and a good one for solo travellers or students. The catch for the winter morning slot is the early departure; for the summer afternoon slot the train timings are far more relaxed.
Parking
Park at or beside the meeting point. Your car stays at the junction while the jeep takes you up to the take-off; the landing field is on flat farmland nearby, and you return to the meeting point afterwards to collect your media. There is no need to drive up the hill yourself.
Budget per Person
All figures below are approximate and assume a group of two to four sharing a car. Flight prices are exact; see our full cost breakdown for every package.
| Item | Weekday (approx.) | Weekend (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Joy Tandem flight | ₹2,999 | ₹3,500 |
| Jeep to take-off (₹600 split by 4) | ₹150 | ₹150 |
| Fuel, Pune round trip (~100 km, split by 4) | roughly ₹150–200 | roughly ₹150–200 |
| Expressway toll if used (split by 4) | roughly ₹50–100 | roughly ₹50–100 |
| Breakfast + lunch | roughly ₹400–600 | roughly ₹400–600 |
| Fort / caves entry, tea, chikki | roughly ₹100–200 | roughly ₹100–200 |
| Total | roughly ₹3,900–4,300 | roughly ₹4,400–4,800 |
Swap the Joy Tandem for the Instructional (₹3,950 / ₹3,999) or Acro (₹4,500 all week) and add the difference. Groups of four or more can ask about a discount on WhatsApp. Travelling by train instead of car replaces the fuel and toll lines with a local-train ticket and two short auto rides, which works out cheaper for solo flyers.
You pay a ₹500 per person deposit online by UPI when you book, at least one day ahead, and the balance in cash or UPI at the meeting point. Our team calls the evening before to confirm your reporting time.
What to Pack
- Closed sports shoes with grip; no sandals or floaters at take-off.
- Long trousers and a full-sleeve top; a light jacket for winter mornings, when it is genuinely cold at 7 am.
- Water, sunscreen and a cap, doubly important for the summer afternoon slot.
- ID proof for the waiver, and a parent's ID if a child under 12 is flying.
- Personal medicines, and a note of any condition you declared at booking.
- Spectacle strap if you wear glasses; contact lenses are fine.
- Phone with free storage so the GoPro photos and videos can be transferred after landing. You will not hold your phone in flight.
- For the Pawna extension: a picnic mat, swimwear is not needed (no swimming), and a power bank.
Leave the drone at home; the take-off and landing areas are active flying zones.
Tips for Hinjewadi, PCMC and Mumbai Visitors
Hinjewadi and Wakad
You are closest of all, at roughly 35–40 km. Leave at 5:45 am for the winter slot and you will still be early. If your office runs weekday shifts, a weekday Joy Tandem at ₹2,999 on a comp-off day is the best value flight we offer, and the hill is far quieter than on a Sunday.
Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nigdi and Dehu Road
You are effectively already on the route. Join the old highway at Dehu Road and you are at Kamshet in about 45 minutes. This is the ideal starting point for a bike ride: the stretch through Talegaon is pleasant at dawn.
Mumbai and Navi Mumbai
Kamshet is about 102 km and 2.5–3 hours from Mumbai via the expressway. The summer afternoon slot suits Mumbai visitors best (leave around 10:30 am), or combine the winter morning slot with an overnight stay in Lonavala the night before. Lonavala is only 16–19 km from the meeting point.
Couples, Groups and Making It an Overnight
Couples
Fly one after the other so each of you can film the other from the landing field, then head to Pawna Lake for a quiet lakeside brunch. The winter morning slot, with its soft light and cool air, is the more romantic of the two, and the free GoPro videos make a better anniversary post than any restaurant photo.
Friends and office groups
Groups of four or more fill a jeep neatly, share the ₹600 jeep cost four ways, and may get a small discount if you ask on WhatsApp (+91 76664 53090). Mix packages freely: the nervous ones take Joy, the show-offs take Acro, and everyone lands in the same field. A morning of flying followed by a Lohagad trek makes a solid team outing.
Families
Children fly from age 6 (minimum 25 kg) with a parent present. Pair the flight with the Karla and Bhaja caves rather than a fort trek if you have small kids or grandparents along; the caves are a short walk with plenty of shade.
Turning it into an overnight at Pawna
The most popular upgrade is to fly the summer afternoon slot, watch the sunset at Pawna Lake and stay at one of the lakeside camps, with a bonfire and dinner included at most of them. Wake up to the lake, drive to Lohagad or Tikona for an easy morning trek, and be back in Pune by lunch on day two. In winter, reverse it: camp on the Saturday night, drive the short distance to the meeting point for the 7:00 am report on Sunday, and you will be the most rested passengers on the hill.