The Original Mumbai by Dawn - Recommended by Nigella Lawson & Nat Geo Traveller!
Description
Total Duration: 3 hours Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area Fort, Mumbai 400001 India, 20 minutes Sassoon Dock, Azad Nagar Off Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005 India, 40 minutes SHYAM STALL, SHOP NO 1, FLOWER MARKET MAASAHAEB MEENATAI THAKRE FLOWER MARKET, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028, India, 20 minutes Ankit sanas, Shop no 5, Mahesh traders, old VEGETABLE market, Byculla, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013, India, 20 minutes
Tour Options
Itinerary
Possibly the most architectural stunning building in India, Victoria Terminus Railway Station, now CST, sees a record of six hundred and sixty thousand footfalls daily, making it the busiest station in Mumbai. At dawn, the CST station also serves as the city's largest newspaper sorting area.
Travelers understand the life of the Koli fisherfolk (the original inhabitants of Mumbai) and also witness the arrival and grading of 50 tonnes of fish. They also witness a one-of-its-kind fish auction of the famous Bombay Duck.
Witness the early morning colour and fragrance of this market.
In the middle of night, when the sky is pitch black and the rest of Mumbai is fast asleep, the wholesale produce market in the neighbourhood of Byculla is a hive of frenetic activity.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
1) We pick up our guests from their given pick up location. Please note that the time of the tour will vary based on the pick up point. Else, guests can meet us directly at the entry of Sassoon Docks, Colaba. 2) The driver will be at the hotel 5 mins before the start of the tour. 3) If you are staying at the ship at the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal and need a pick-up from outside the ship, there we be additional cost of Rs 1000/- per person. This amount is to be paid in cash to the guide or the driver at the start of the tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- The docks are shut in June and July
- The newspaper vendors are not available on the day after a public holiday
- We do not conduct this tour on the day of the Mumbai Marathon
- The sequence of the tour is at the discretion of No Footprints and its guide on-ground
- The tour can be cancelled based on the discretion of No Footprints, the guests will be informed in advance of the same
Reviews(700)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Mumbai by Dawn tour with No Footprints was easily one of the highlights of my trip. Seeing the city come alive before sunrise—from the flower market and fish auction to the newspaper distribution and produce markets—was an experience I’ll never forget. Adi was an exceptional guide. He took care of every detail, answered every question thoughtfully, and shared so much about the city and its people. As a woman travelling on my own, I felt completely safe the entire time. It also seemed like he knew everyone we met, which made the experience feel so genuine and authentic. I honestly feel like I made a friend in Mumbai. Thank you, Adi, and No Footprints, for such a memorable morning. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone visiting Mumbai! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adi is the best!! He’s so knowledgeable and funny. The whole tour is very informative. Would highly recommend!!
I had a truly wonderful food tour with Batul from No Footprints! Some of the dishes we tried I will never forget! Batul was a great guide and the food tour was really well put together, actually got to learn quite a bit about the history of the city trough the food, so fascinating to see how the different eras shaped and evolved the food scene and they traces that remain of it. I will remember many of the dishes for a long time, it is really some of the best food I have ever had! Dosa, Vada Pav, Iranian tea service, Puri, Paani Puri... This is food magic!
Some experiences while traveling stay with you because of the places you visit. Others stay with you because of the people who guide you through them. My “Mumbai by Dawn” tour with Krupesh (KP) from No Footprints became unforgettable because of both. There is something almost sacred about watching a city awaken before sunrise — witnessing the invisible labor, humanity, movement, and resilience that most visitors never see. From the extraordinary energy of Sassoon Dock as the Koli community sorted and auctioned over 120 tonnes of fish before dawn… to the mesmerizing choreography of newspaper sorting in multiple languages on crowded streets… to flower markets bursting with color, faith, commerce, and life — every moment felt like stepping deeper into the heartbeat of Mumbai itself. We moved through vegetable markets overflowing with color and life, watched milkmen and bread distributors begin their daily routes, learned about migration, food systems, supply chains, and Mumbai’s textile mill history. The tour was intellectually fascinating, culturally immersive, and deeply human all at once. And through it all was Krupesh. Warm. Brilliant. Insightful. Kind. Incredibly knowledgeable. The kind of guide who does not simply recite facts but helps you understand the soul of a place. What struck me most was the genuine care he showed throughout the experience. By the end of the morning, it no longer felt like I had spent hours with a tour guide — it felt like I had spent the morning with a friend. And yes… his “dad jokes” absolutely became part of the experience in the best possible way. 😂 Waking up at 5:15am while on vacation is not normally my idea of a good decision. But this? This was worth every second. If you truly want to understand Mumbai beyond the surface — its people, labor, beauty, complexity, culture, and extraordinary energy — this tour is something special. And if you’re lucky enough to get Krupesh as your guide, know that you are in incredibly good hands.
We had the chance to discover Mumbai differently accompanied by Adi who made this experience through Mumbai streets unforgettable!
My business school group and I did The Original Mumbai by Dawn tour and absolutely loved it! It was such a unique way to experience the city early in the morning and gave us a side of Mumbai we never would have discovered on our own. Adi and Shruti were fantastic guides — knowledgeable, friendly, engaging, and clearly passionate about sharing the culture and energy of Mumbai. The tour was incredibly well organized, insightful, and full of memorable moments. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Mumbai and especially recommend Adi and Shruti as guides. A truly unforgettable experience!
Wonderful excursions. Great hospitality and all around fun. I would definitely do it all over again
An informative and immersive way of experiencing the city. Aditya was very friendly, passionate and informative. strongly recommend tours by No Footsteps.
We had an amazing morning with Batul - she was so knowledgeable (and very funny!), we saw a totally different side to Mumbai, highly recommend!
Adi was a brilliant guide, knowledgeable, good humoured and really interesting to talk to. He seemed to know everyone and explained so much about the city. We also had a great driver and felt very safe and well looked after. A great way to see another aspect of the city. Worth getting up for.
