AJANTA / APOLLO
Highest frequency
15+ daily departures from Gateway of India between 6:15 AM and 5:00 PM. Best option for flexible timings.
Practical Guide
Three ways to reach Alibag
By Ro-Ro ferry from Bhaucha Dhakka. By catamaran from the Gateway of India. By road across the Atal Setu. Below — schedules, operators, contact numbers, and the trade-offs.
At a Glance
Choose your route
Fastest by water
M2M Ro-Ro Ferry
Bhaucha Dhakka (Mazgaon) to Mandwa in 50–55 minutes. Carries vehicles. Multiple sailings daily.
55min
Most scenic
Catamaran from Gateway
Gateway of India to Mandwa with PNP, Maldar, or Ajanta/Apollo. ~60 min. Bus to Alibag included.
60min
Year-round
Atal Setu (Road)
Sewri → Atal Setu → Pen → Alibag. ~95–110 km. The only option during monsoon.
< 2hrs
01 — Ro-Ro Ferry
M2M Ferries
The fastest, most-used route from Mumbai. Drive your own car onto the ferry; thirty minutes later, drive off at Mandwa jetty. Eliminates the Mumbai-traffic factor entirely.
Schedule: Multiple sailings daily, typically 6 AM to 8 PM. Friday evenings carry additional sailings.
Booking: Tickets via the M2M website or at the jetty. Vehicle berths book out on long weekends — reserve 48 hours in advance.
Tip: Aim for the 5–7 PM Friday window from Bhaucha Dhakka. From the deck, the Mumbai skyline at sunset is the route's quiet bonus.
02 — Catamaran Ferries
From the Gateway of India
Three operators run passenger catamarans from the Gateway of India to Mandwa, with bus connection to Alibag included in the fare. Choose by departure time and frequency.
PNP
6 daily sailings
Six departures from Gateway of India between 8:15 AM and 8:15 PM, with corresponding return sailings from Mandwa.
MALDAR
5 daily sailings
Five departures from Gateway of India between 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM. Limited evening service.
Schedule
Catamaran timetable
Indicative sailings. Always confirm with the operator before travel — schedules adjust weekly with weather and demand.
Gateway of India → Mandwa
Daily catamaran sailings from Gateway of India.
AJANTA / APOLLO
Most frequent
06:15
07:00
08:00
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
15:45
16:30
17:00
PNP
08:15
10:15
12:15
14:15
16:15
18:15
20:15
MALDAR
08:30
10:30
13:00
15:30
18:00
Tip: Tap a time to confirm with the operator — phone numbers above
Mandwa → Gateway of India
Return sailings from Mandwa jetty.
AJANTA / APOLLO
Most frequent
07:30
08:30
09:30
10:30
11:30
12:30
13:30
14:30
15:30
16:30
17:00
17:30
18:00
PNP
09:30
11:30
13:30
15:30
17:30
19:30
MALDAR
09:45
11:45
14:15
16:45
19:15
Tip: Tap a time to confirm with the operator — phone numbers above
Monsoon
Service suspended early-June through late-September.
Weather
Sailings can be cancelled at short notice. Confirm 2 hrs before travel.
Booking
Walk-up tickets at the jetty; book ahead on long weekends.
Vehicle Ferry
M2M Ro-Ro schedule
Vehicle ferry between Bhaucha Dhakka (Mazgaon) and Mandwa. 50–55 minute crossing.
Bhaucha Dhakka → Mandwa
06:00
08:00
10:00
12:00
14:00
16:00
17:30
19:30
Mandwa → Bhaucha Dhakka
07:30
09:30
11:30
13:30
15:30
17:00
18:30
20:30
Friday evenings & long weekends carry additional sailings · Vehicle berths book out — reserve 48 hrs ahead
Bus to Alibag included.
All three catamaran operators run a connecting bus from Mandwa jetty to Alibag (≈30 min, 18 km). Bus fare is included in your ferry ticket.
03 — By Road
Atal Setu Drive
The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link, opened January 2024, has cut Mumbai-Alibag drive time from three hours to under two. The only option during the June–September monsoon.
-
1
Sewri — entry point to Atal Setu from South Mumbai. Direct on-ramp from the Eastern Freeway.
-
2
Atal Setu (21.8 km) — India's longest sea bridge to Chirle, near Nhava Sheva. ₹250 one-way for cars.
-
3
NH-66 / NH-348 — south through Pen, then west to Alibag. ~50 km of well-maintained highway.
-
4
Alibag — onward to Mandwa, Kihim, Akshi, Nagaon, Kashid via local coastal roads.
By Air
For NRIs & out-of-state visitors
Closest airport
Navi Mumbai International (NMI)
Adani-operated. Commercial flights since December 2025 with IndiGo serving 16+ domestic destinations. International routes phasing in through 2026.
From Alibag
~85 km
Drive time
~1 hr 30 min
Major International
Mumbai (CSMIA)
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Larger international network, but adds Mumbai traffic to your route.
From Alibag
~120 km
Drive time
2–3 hrs
Insider Tips
What our clients have learnt over the years
Friday evenings = Bhaucha Dhakka.
M2M adds extra sailings between 5 PM and 8 PM on Fridays. The drive to Bhaucha Dhakka avoids the Eastern Freeway evening jam to Sewri.
Sunday returns: leave by 4 PM.
Both ferry and road queues build sharply after 4:30 PM on Sundays. Leaving early adds 30 minutes of buffer, saves 90 minutes of frustration.
Monsoon: Atal Setu only.
Ferry service is suspended early-June through late-September. Plan all monsoon visits by road; allow extra time for rain delays on NH-66.
Confirm timings 24 hours ahead.
Weather, sea conditions, and operational changes are not reflected on websites in real time. A quick call to the operator saves wasted trips.
Save the operator numbers.
Tap any contact number on this page to add it to your phone. Especially useful when you arrive at the jetty and need to confirm the next sailing.
Ferry + drive = best of both.
Ferry from Mumbai → catamaran bus to Alibag → rent a scooter or car locally. Avoids the long drive both ways and gives you mobility once on-coast.
Frequently Asked
Common questions
The M2M Ro-Ro ferry from Bhaucha Dhakka to Mandwa runs in 50–55 minutes. Catamaran services from the Gateway of India to Mandwa take approximately 60 minutes. From Mandwa, it is a 30-minute drive to most Alibag villages.
No. Ferry services are typically suspended from early June to late September due to rough sea conditions in the Arabian Sea. During monsoon, the road route via Atal Setu is the only option.
Yes — the M2M Ro-Ro ferry is the only operator that carries vehicles. Catamarans (PNP, Maldar, Ajanta/Apollo) are passenger-only.
By road via the Atal Setu (MTHL): from South Mumbai, the drive takes under 2 hours. The route is Sewri → Atal Setu → Chirle → NH-66 → Pen → Alibag (~95–110 km).
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) began commercial flights in December 2025 and is approximately 85 km from Alibag via Atal Setu (~1 hr 30 min by car). Mumbai's CSMIA international airport is ~120 km away.
October to May is peak season with reliable ferry service. Best ferry times: Friday evenings (more sailings, less traffic) and Sunday mornings (return). Avoid the noon-to-3pm slot in summer.
Yes, all three catamaran operators and M2M maintain weekend service. Frequency may be higher on weekends — confirm with the operator before travel.
Coming to View a Property?
We arrange Mumbai pickup and concierge site visits
Our advisors coordinate your ferry tickets, Mandwa pickup, and a curated route through 3–4 properties matching your brief — typically over a single day or weekend.