Day 1 – Arrive in Ahmedabad

On your arrival in Ahmedabad, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight Ahmedabad

Day 2 – Ahmedabad

Explore the delights of Ahmedabad over a day tour – visit the Gandhi Ashram on the banks of the river Sabarmati for a glimpse of the life and times of the Mahatma, step into the five storied deep Adalaj Step Well representing a 15th century architecture of water storage mechanism, explore the elaborately carved Hathisingh Jain Temple built of white marble. Later also stop at the complex of Sarkhez Roza representing a true blend of Hindu, Jain and Islamic styles before visiting a traditional bazaar to be part of the noise and bustle of the city. Choose to feast on a traditional Gujarati thaali for lunch or dinner.

Overnight Ahmedabad

Day 3 – Ahmedabad – Lothal – Bhavnagar (175kms / 6hrs)

Leaving Ahmedabad head to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization site of Lothal which exhibits all the typical features of an advanced Harappan civilization including a well planned city, neatly laid out roads, sewage system and the use of measures. Lothal has two notable features – a large dock, a trapezoidal brick enclosure with a gate where ships sailed into it at high tide; and a warehouse designed for storage with goods labeled using terracotta seals and impressions. The archaeological museum displays artifacts recovered from excavations including artists’ depiction of the ancient city and maps about the site. Proceed to Bhavnagar for your night stay.

Overnight Bhavnagar

Day 4 – Bhavnagar – Palitana – Sasan Gir (238kms / 7hrs)

Head out this morning to Palitana, to scale its Mount Shatrunjaya whose summit is crowned with about 900 Jain temples, each rivaling the other in beauty and magnificence. Exquisitely carved in marble, these 11th century old temples were constructed over a period of 900 years in two phases presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle to visitors. Later make your way to Sasan Gir, home to the famous Asiatic Lions and your stay for the next two nights

Overnight Sasan Gir

Day 5 – Sasan Gir

Besides Africa, Gir is the only place in the world to spot lions roaming freely in the wild. Spend the morning and afternoon over guided 4×4 open jeep tours to watch the lions in their natural habitat, besides other animals such as sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, four horned antelope and more. A number of attractive birds can also be seen on the trail. Besides jungle tours, you could also indulge in guided nature walks and tribal village visits besides enjoying bush dinners and sessions of star gazing.

Overnight Sasan Gir

Day 6 – Sasan Gir – Somnath (45kms / 1.5hrs)

Bid adieu to lion land, and be transferred to the temple town of Somnath. Whilst here, visit the Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, one of the oldest and most revered temples in India and whose architecture reflects the inherent skill of sompuras, Gujarat’s master masons. You can also visit other temples such as the Lakshminarayan Temple famous for the carvings on the 18 pillars, the Parshuram Temple where the warrior sage is believed to have conducted penance and the Triveni Sangam Temple at the confluence of three rivers meeting the Arabian sea

Overnight Somnath

Day 7 – Somnath – Porbandar – Dwarka (235kms / 5hrs)

After witnessing the morning aarti at the Somnath Temple, be transferred to Dwarka with an en route halt at the Kirti Mandir in Porbandar, built in honor of Gandhi in his birthplace. The temple rises to a height of 79 feet as a symbol of Gandhi’s 79 long years of life on earth and the architectural elements of six different religions edifices like Hindu, Jain, Parsi temples, churches and mosques are clubbed into this sole building. Make it in time to Dwarka to witness the evening aarti at the Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna

Overnight Dwarka

Day 8 – Dwarka

Spend the day at Dwarka exploring its different temples – Dwaraka’s claim to fame was that it was Lord Krishna’s capital city and is considered to be one of the Chaar Dhams (four principle holy spots), after Badrinath, Puri and Rameshwaram. Visit the Rukshamani Mandir dedicated to Devi Rukhmani who was the one of 16,108 wives of Krishna and his favourite, the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga Temple which is one of the 12 jyotirlingams and finds mention in the Shiv Purana and the island of Beth Dwarka accessed through a ferry ride and said to have actually housed a residence of Lord Krishna and his family

Overnight Dwarka

Day 9 – Dwarka – Jamnagar (132kms / 2.5hrs)

Be transferred to the erstwhile princely city of Jamnagar and discover some of its prime attractions such as the such as the City Lake with the Lakhota Fort in the middle, the Kambalia Ghat (a beautiful sculpted archway), Kotha Bastion (an old arsenal built in the middle of the city lake housing coins, sculptures, skeleton of a whale and inscribed copper plates), Ranjit Sagar reservoir and the Lakhota Palace Museum (fine collection of sculptures, pottery and paintings),

Overnight Jamnagar

Day 10 – Jamnagar – Bhuj (260kms / 6hrs)

Make inroads to the district of Kutch, bound on its north and east by marshy salt flats and desert scrub known as the Greater and Little Ranns, and on the southwest by the Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea, boasting landscapes that are beautiful, barren vistas. Check into your hotel in Bhuj, the capital of Kutch for your two night stay

Overnight Bhuj

Day 11 – Bhuj – Kala Dungar – Bhuj (180kms / 4hrs)

Spend the day exploring the different sights and sounds in and around Bhuj – visit the Sri Swami Narayan temple made of marble with intricate carvings on its pillars, the 18th century Aina Mahal whose walls are covered with mirrors separated by gilded ornaments and shaded Venetian glass and the Hiralaxmi Craft Park, a handicraft village where live artisans can be seen working. You could also head out of Bhuj to the Kaladungar Hill, the highest point in Kutch for the best views of the desert including the Rann of Kutch. Kutch is also famous for its handicraft items. You could extend your stay in Bhuj to take up a customized crafts tour here and get connected with the local artisans of Kutch.

Overnight Bhuj

Day 12 – Bhuj – Little Rann of Kutch (268kms / 6hrs)

Travel eastwards towards the Little Rann of Kutch famous for its wild ass sanctuary and the only place on earth where wild asses roam freely. Besides watching them in the wild over a guided 4×4 desert safari or a camel safari, you could also extend your stay here for a day trip to the ancient site of Dholavira, a must do for archaeology lovers. The most notable feature of this articulately fortified Harappan metropolis is its water management acumen which leaves even the choicest of civil authorities baffled – marvel at the precision of an era long gone.

Overnight (near) Little Rann of Kutch

Day 13 – Little Rann of Kutch – Patan – Modhera – Ahmedabad (223kms / 8hrs)

Head back to Ahmedabad this morning with a stop at Patan to visit the seven storied step well carved with amazing sculptures of gods and goddesses and also a weaving center to see the beautiful Patola weave with its geometrical intricacy. Later travel to Modhera famous for its spectacular 11th century old Sun Temple built by the Solanki dynasty. Visit the massive step well of Surya Kund with several shrines on its steps, the magnificently carved pillar hall of Sabha Mandap and the Garbha Griha resplendent with its beautiful carvings that adorn the temple wells. Continue to Ahmedabad for your final night stay.

Overnight Ahmedabad

Day 14 – Ahmedabad (departure)

Check out and be transferred to the airport for your return/onward journey home. You could choose to extend your stay in Ahmedabad by another night to cover other sites such as the Calico Textile Museum, the Vintage Car Museum which even allows for fun evening drives in vintage cars and the Vessel Museum of Vechaar adjoining the village setting of Vishala where you could enjoy a traditional Gujarati meal. You could also visit Champaner over a day trip which is a collection of mosques, palaces and temples and a must do if you are into architecture or photography.