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Dharavi Slum Tour: Ethical Visit through Mumbai's Heart
4.9
613 Ratings
Mumbai
Experience an ethical walking tour of Mumbai’s Dharavi slum, exploring its narrow alleyways and meeting local residents. Discover their innovative small-scale industries and support educational projects in the community.
Experience an ethical walking tour of Mumbai’s Dharavi slum, exploring its narrow alleyways and meeting local residents. Discover their innovative small-scale industries and support educational projects in the community.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Dharavi - Come visit Dharavi, the city within a city and one of Asia’s largest slum. We shall cover places like The Recycling Area, Rooftop Visit, Popaddom Making, Kumbharwada Pottery Colony etc.
The area is an industrial hub and is home to nearly one million of Mumbai’s residents. - Reality Tours & Travel - The tour will end at our office in…
- Dharavi - Come visit Dharavi, the city within a city and one of Asia’s largest slum. We shall cover places like The Recycling Area, Rooftop Visit, Popaddom Making, Kumbharwada Pottery Colony etc.
The area is an industrial hub and is home to nearly one million of Mumbai’s residents.
- Reality Tours & Travel - The tour will end at our office in Dharavi where guests can enjoy a soft drink and learn more about how funds are re-invested back into the community.
What's Included
- Lunch included
- Guidance by a local English-speaking guide
- Complimentary water or cold drink
- Lunch included
- Guidance by a local English-speaking guide
- Complimentary water or cold drink
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Take an ethical walking tour of the Dharavi slum on this unique adventure in Mumbai. Follow a guide through Dharavi’s narrow alleyways, where you’re introduced to local residents and their small-scale industries
It is an immersive and educational adventure through the Dharavi slum’s colorful pathways, where societal innovation flourishes among the…
Take an ethical walking tour of the Dharavi slum on this unique adventure in Mumbai. Follow a guide through Dharavi’s narrow alleyways, where you’re introduced to local residents and their small-scale industries
It is an immersive and educational adventure through the Dharavi slum’s colorful pathways, where societal innovation flourishes among the small industries like recycling, pottery, stitching, soap crafting, and beyond. With the tour capped at six participants, it ensures a comprehensive and intimate encounter.
A portion of the fees for this cultural expedition is invested back into Dharavi’s community, directly aiding educational initiatives.
- Out of respect for its residents, no photography is permitted while in the Dharavi slum
- Please note that dress codes are conservative throughout India; modest and respectful clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is required
- A significant portion of the proceeds from your local tour operator goes back into the local community to support a variety of educational projects
Location
Churchgate
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(613 Ratings)
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273andrewk
Mar 22, 2025
A very educational experience - I am so glad I decided to do this tour. Sabina is a truly outstanding guide and an excellent ambassador for both the Dharavi community and for Reality Tours and Travel. The tour is absolutely fascinating. I was also very impressed by the company and their commitment to the community. I would unreservedly recommend this tour to other travellers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard
Mar 21, 2025
Slum tour - Experienced guide walking through slum. Excellent trip. Knowledgeable and compassionate delivery of facts as people make best with the challenges life has given them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Myf_pritchard
Mar 18, 2025
Authentic tour with a guide from Dharavi - Had an informative interesting morning tour with our female guide who grew up in Dharavi and was keen to show us how they all live and work together very successfully. The site is massive and we were taken to the recycling area divided up into different materials, leather production/shop selling goods and met the owner who set up the business with 100 rupees! We saw one of the kitchens where they produce 3 meals a day for the workers and provide accommodation if from outside Mumbai, passed through alleyways where we had a glimpse into people's homes and ended up in the market area for a chai tea. As a mixed group of 6, our guide was happy to answer questions about the perceptions of the slum and we came away with a positive view. She introduced us to her colleagues in the office where they explained about the educational courses on offer. All very impressive by a company whose aim is to improve the lives of people living in this community.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Spinky83
Mar 15, 2025
Important and moving experience - A very good and important tour. Our guide was fantastic and showed us around in a way that felt respectful to the people working and living in Dahravi.
I can very much recommend this tour to get a better understanding of the slum.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Louises304
Mar 3, 2025
A sensitive insight into the heart of an amazing community. - Reality Gives are working as a part of Dharavi & 80% of the proceeds from the tour are given directly back to projects the run within the community.
We met Riddhi at Churchgate Station & she travelled with us to the community where we also met Sabina. Both women live in Dharavi & shared their life experiences with us openly. The pride in the community shone through & the value of the work being carried out within Dharavi. Finding out more about the work Reality Gives does was also a highlight & you can see some of this on their website.
A sensitive visit to help increase understanding & really giving something back to the community you are having the privilege to visit. Highly recommended way to see some of Mumbai which you might not otherwise experience. Leave your expectations behind & be ready to be moved by this experience.
No photos as these are peoples homes & their community.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sutsut
Feb 23, 2025
Very educational and worthy - We had a good food tour with Rishi and I had asked him about the slum tour as my impression had been a negative one imagining it would be privileged people going to look at how the poor lived. It wasn’t like this at all. It was informative and fascinating to see how so many people can live in harmony in such close proximity also interesting facts such as the water supply is only available at certain hours in the day. The children are all very happy there and there is a thriving industry and incredible recycling of plastic that the rest of the world could learn from. I would recommend this tour for educating oneself and gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of others. I also love the ethos of Reality Tours as they fund projects in the slum.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris
Feb 18, 2025
Insightful and thought provoking tour. - Was in two minds as to whether I should do this tour but glad I did. It’s a bustling, booming area. Insightful to see. I’m so sorry I don’t have the name of our guide but she grew up in the settlement. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Neil_c
Feb 3, 2025
A must do for visitors to Mumbai! - Our guide Rakesh, was really flexible when we had challenges navigating the Mumbai traffic. The tour was such a great insight into the lives and work of the Dharavi community. A very humbling experience that challenges preconception of the Slum. Recommend to everyone who visits Mumbai.
Review provided by Viator
435gordonm
Feb 2, 2025
Mumbai Slum Tour - brilliant - This was without doubt the highlight of our time in Mumbai. Visiting Dharavi was one of the top things on our agenda but had reservations about how to do this in a respectful manner. Reality Tours fitted the bill and were brilliant. The tour was insightful as well as enjoyable. The guide was brilliant giving enough detail without being over the top. I would highly recommend this trip to any visitor. There is no way you could do this by yourself and Reality Tours were brilliant. A massive thank you for giving us such a great experience. We did four tours with Reality across Mumbai and Delhi and were delighted with everything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ronyk722
Jan 17, 2025
Get inspired by simplicity - It was a great personal experience.
First - a guide is a MUST for 2 reasons:
1. You can easily get lost
2. You must hear the story
Thinking of slum caused me to fill me pocket with change so I can give to beggars. But reality is so different. This is a city within a city. Fully functional, everybody works and contributes. Actually, without those working hands Mumbai and other parts of India will be affected.
If you are looking for proportions, to be inspired by simplicity - you should go there.
Tip- you will find few stores that sell bags, leathers and other handmade stuff. No-one will try to urge you - but it is highly recommended to take a look. Same is at the colorful market near by.
I bought a hand made leader hand bag from a shop there. The quality is amazing - i shared a photo taken at the store entrance
Review provided by Tripadvisor
