New online booking platform to enhance trekking experience at Dudhsagar Falls, ET TravelWorld

In a bid to streamline and enhance the trekking experience to the scenic Dudhsagar Falls, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) have launched a new online booking platform. “This is the only authorised site. We are very serious about streamlining and regularising the hinterland tourism industry,” said GFDC chairperson, Deviya Rane.

The website, dudhsagartrekking.com, allows tourists to book their trekking slots online, with the booking fee now set at INR 527 plus GST. Trekkers with online bookings will be assigned a nature guide at the Collem office on the day of their visit. Allocation is on a first-come-first-serve basis. A coordinator at the Collem office will assist trekkers as needed.

The daily limit for trekkers is capped at around 500 individuals, and a guide is required for every group of ten tourists. The nature guides have been trained at the Forest Training School, Valpoi. The forest authorities have outlined key guidelines and regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. They have mandated that visitors carry a valid photo identity proof, the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited during the trek. It is advised not to carry valuable items during the trek to prevent loss or theft. They also demanded that visitors dispose of their waste properly and avoid littering in the forest area. “We have stopped allowing plastics to be taken inside the premises.” Rane said “Whether they are polythene packets or plastic bottles, they will be confiscated. Not everyone has civic sense, but people must care about nature on their own,” he further said.