The monsoon is basically begging you to leave the city
There is something about July and August in Maharashtra that feels almost cinematic — mist curling around the Sahyadris, waterfalls appearing out of nowhere, and every hillside suddenly going a shade of green you forgot existed. It is also, conveniently, the season when a long weekend with your closest friends stops being a nice idea and starts feeling genuinely necessary.
According to Booking.com's Travel Trends 2026, nearly 88% of Indian travellers say spending quality time with friends is a primary motivation for travel, and 47% plan at least one friends' trip this year. With International Friendship Day falling on 2 August, the timing lines up rather neatly. Here are five getaways all within a reasonable drive of Mumbai — each suited to a different kind of group.
For the group that wants to actually do something
If sitting still for more than twenty minutes feels like a waste of a trip, Kolad is your answer. Strung along the Kundalika River, this small town has quietly become one of Maharashtra's go-to monsoon adventure bases. Zostel Kolad puts you right in the thick of it — white-water rafting, kayaking, river crossings and ziplining are all on the table. For those who want to push a little further, the hike to Devkund Waterfall or the trek up to Sudhagad Fort rewards you with the kind of views that make the effort feel completely worth it.
For a slower, more indulgent weekend, Nashik makes a compelling case. The Haven by Sula wakes you up to views of Gangapur Lake and the Sahyadris, and the afternoons are best spent with a glass of something from a guided wine tasting, followed by a long lunch at Café Dia. Rain pattering on vineyard leaves while you catch up with old friends — it is a specific kind of happiness.
For the group that just wants the whole place to yourselves
Sometimes the best trip is one where you never have to share a common area with strangers. Aamelia by the Hills by SaffronStays — a five-bedroom pet-friendly villa at the foothills of Anjaneri near Nashik — is built for exactly this. There is a games room, archery, a pool and a man-made waterfall on the property. Nearby, Anjaneri Hill and Trimbakeshwar offer easy half-day excursions for anyone who wants to step outside.
At the quieter end of the spectrum sits Nirvana Naturopathy Ayurveda Hospital and Retreat near Igatpuri. Surrounded by the Western Ghats, it offers yoga, meditation, hydrotherapy and sattvic meals — the kind of reset that a group craving a genuine digital detox will appreciate. Between sessions, there is a lake, organic gardens and, importantly, uninterrupted time to actually talk.
Why this matters for a weekend getaways audience in India
Monsoon travel in India has a bit of an image problem — people assume the rain gets in the way. These destinations flip that logic entirely. Kolad's rafting is literally better because of the rains. Nashik's vineyards are lush and photogenic precisely in this season. Igatpuri's retreat feels most restorative when the hills around it are covered in cloud.
For Mumbai residents especially, all five options sit within a three-to-four hour drive, making them viable even for a Saturday–Sunday trip. At a moment when group travel among Indian friends is genuinely on the rise, having a shortlist of places that cater to different group personalities — thrill-seekers, wine lovers, villa crowd, wellness converts — is more useful than a generic 'top hills to visit' roundup. The destination matters less than the intention: get out, be together, let the monsoon do its thing.