Flight: EK540 Dubai - Ahmedabad 03.50 - 08.10

Meet & greet, transfer to hotel: Welcome to India! You will be met on arrival in Ahmedabad by a local representative and introduced to your private driver. Together they will take you to your city hotel to check in.

Morning at leisure: You have this morning and early afternoon at leisure to relax at your hotel and recover from your flight.

Afternoon tour of the old city: Later in the afternoon, head out with your guide to enjoy a walking tour of old Ahmedabad where you roam around the bustling bazaars, historic mosques and see some traditional havelis. The beautiful Jama Masjid was built in 1423 and much of it is made from items salvaged from demolished Hindu and Jain temples. The small Sidi Saiyad Mosque is noted for its beautiful carved stone windows, depicting the intricate intertwining branches of a tree. Rani Rupmati’s Mosque was built between 1430 and 1440 and named after the sultan’s Hindu wife. Rani Sipri’s Mosque is also known as the Masjid-e-Nagira, or jewel of a Mosque because of its extremely graceful, well-executed design and its slender minarets are a blend of Hindu and Islamic style. The Shaking Minarets of Sidi Bashir’s Mosque remain a mystery to this day. Shake one minaret and the other resonates in harmony while the interconnecting terrace remains still. Sarkhej Roza comprises one of the most elegant architectural complexes of Ahmedabad. The buildings are remarkable for the complete absence of arches and the use of pierced stone trellises.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The House of MG (Heritage Classic Room)

Morning visit to the Calico Museum: This morning, you will visit the Calico Textile Museum (closed on Wednesdays and Public Holidays), which is one of the finest textile museums in the world, housing a rare collection of exquisite textiles from all parts of the country. Housed in one of the Gujarat’s famous wooden-carved havelis, this museum provides an excellent opportunity for textile lovers to study and appreciate Indian textiles from all over India.

Half day tour of Ahmedabad: After breakfast, meet your guide and be taken on a tour of the city. First stop will be a visit to Sabarmati Ashram, on the west bank of Sabarmati River, which was the headquarters of Mahatma Gandhi during the long struggle for Indian independence. Gandhi's living quarters are preserved as a small museum and there is a pictorial record of the major events in his life. Afterwards you will be driven out a bit to see the Adalaj stepwells. Set in the quiet village of Adalaj, this stepwell or vav has served for hundreds of years as a resting place for many pilgrims and caravans along their trade routes. Built in 1499 by Queen Rudabai, wife of the Vaghela chief, Veersinh, this five-storey stepwell was not just a cultural and utilitarian space, but also a spiritual refuge. It is believed that villagers would come everyday in the morning to fill water, offer prayers to the deities carved into the walls and interact with each other in the cool shade of the vav. In the evening you will be taken on a walking tour of Ahmedabad - where you roam around the bustling bazaars and see some traditional havelis.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The House of MG (Heritage Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Bhavnagar, via Lothal: This morning, you will make the journey to Bhavnagar stopping enroute at the archaeological site of Lothal, the famed Indus Valley Civilization port which launched ships to as far away as Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Lothal is one of the first places where archaeologists discovered the presence of the pre-Harappan ‘Redware’ culture which has been dated to at least 3,000 years before Christ. There are also remnants of early and mature Harappan cultures of 2,400-1,600 BCE. One cannot but marvel at the town planning, complete with drainage systems and a dockyard with lock gates and channels connected to the estuarine stream of the river Sabarmati. Here you can explore the site, visit the museum, and appreciate the marvellous bathes that are part of the town.

Continue to Bhavnagar, where you arrive in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day leisure. Should you be interested, you will have the option to head out with your guide and explore the old bazaar of Bhavnagar in the evening. The total road journey for today’s drive will be around 4 hours, depending on local traffic conditions.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Nilambag Palace (Heritage Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Palitana: Very early this morning, head out with your guide and driver to visit the Palitana Temple. Palitana’s Shatrunjaya Hill contains 863 Jain Temples, and the aura of devotion is palpable. Access to the temples is to climb a total of 3,950 steps 3.5 km up the hill. Chair slings can be arranged to take you to the summit should the climb prove too challenging. This temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods and as such, people are not allowed to stay overnight - not even the priests. One must go up at the break of dawn and return before dusk. An early morning start is highly recommended to avoid the mid-day heat. Some of the 863 temples were built in the 11th century but construction activity has spanned a total of 900 years. As successive worshippers of the non-violent and trading Jain community designed their own temples, they cleared the crest of the hill and levelled it into terraces. The temples are exquisitely carved in marble and when seen from a distance, they appear to be ivory miniatures.

Road journey to Sasan Gir: After ample time exploring the temples, you will return to the base of the hill where your private driver will be waiting. Together you will hit the road to Sasan Gir National Park, a journey of around 4.5 hours. You will arrive in the late afternoon to check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Fern Gir Forest Resort (Green Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning and afternoon game drives: Early this morning and again in the afternoon, you will join shared jeep safaris inside the National Park to catch a glimpse of the Park’s Asiatic lions and other wildlife. The 1,412 sq km park has a rugged terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are covered with deciduous forests. The park is home to the last surviving population of the Asiatic Lion with a healthy population of around 400. The park also has populations of sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, langhur, panther, jackal, hyena, sloth bear, and crocodile.

Riding in shared open jeeps with a local naturalist. Each safari lasts just over 2 hours and in between, you will be returned to your accommodation to relax and enjoy the facilities.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Fern Gir Forest Resort (Green Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning game drive: This morning rise early and board your jeep once more for a final game drive into Sasan Gir National Park. After the game drive, return to your hotel for breakfast before checking out.

Road journey to Gondal: After checking out of your hotel, you will be driven to Gondal, a journey of around 2.5 hours. On arrival in the early afternoon, you will be taken direct to your hotel to check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Orchard Palace (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of Gondal: After breakfast, meet with your guide and driver to spend the day exploring the sights of Gondal. The first stop will be the Bhuvaneswari Ayurvedic Pharmacy, one of the first and largest in India. The father of the present owner was said to have bestowed the title “Mahatma” on Gandhi, and a plaque in the courtyard marks the spot where Gandhi was honoured. The present owner lectures all around the world about Ayurveda. The pharmacy still prepares ayurvedic remedies according to ancient and traditional practices and provides an insight into a century’s old tradition. Continue to the Naulakha Palace which dates to the 17th century. It has intricate stone carvings with exquisite "jharokhas" (balconies), a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and a unique spiral staircase. The large chandelier-lit "durbar" hall is decorated with stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture, and antique mirrors. You can round out the day with an optional visit to the Bhuvaneshwari stud farm, which features prize winning specimens of Kathiawadi horses, Gir cattle, and other livestock. The cattle are known for their milk production and are unique with their long-eared, humped appearance. The nearby town is home to many artisans and is a great place to witness traditional spinning, weaving, silver smithing, and wood carving in the area. After the tour you will return to the hotel to enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Orchard Palace (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Bhuj: After breakfast, you will head out on the long drive to Bhuj, a journey of around 6 hours depending on local traffic. On arrival, you will be taken straight to your hotel to check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Bhuj House (Large Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Mandvi: After breakfast, you will meet with your guide and head out to meet the traditional dhow builders of Mandvi. In medieval time Mandvi was a thriving port with trade relations with West Asia and Africa. As maritime trade grew, traders needed more boats and they quickly became adept at building ships, known as dhows, for use in their thriving cargo trade. Today, this almost 400-year-old tradition and craft still endures but is sadly on its way out. At Mandvi you will get to witness this traditional craft of dhow-making before you are driven back to Bhuj.

Half day tour of Old Bhuj: Later in the afternoon, you will be taken to explore old Bhuj. The medieval town is a mishmash of narrow, noisy streets, Hindu temples, and royal palaces. A stop will be made at the Aina Mahal (old palace) and the Prag Mahal (new palace).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Bhuj House (Large Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of the Kutch area: This morning, you will be driven a short distance to the Kala Raksha Trust Centre. Kala Raksha means "Art Preservation" and the trust was established in 1993 as a registered society comprising artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design, rural management and museums. KALA RAKSHA today works with nearly 1,000 embroidery artisans of seven ethnic communities and aims to preserve traditional arts of the region by making them culturally and economically viable. At the centre you will have the opportunity to observe the artisans work or undertake a short embroidery workshop.

Later, you will be taken to explore the Great Rann of Kutch to visit some of the ethnic villages and learn about their local arts and crafts. The desert, or Rann, is home to diverse nomadic camel and sheep herders, as well as villagers specializing in a wide range of crafts such as embroidery, appliqué, woodcarving, beadwork, mirror work, bell making, leather craft, and painting on fabric.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Bhuj House (Large Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Little Rann of Kutch: After breakfast, you will head out on the long drive to the startling landscape of the Little Rann of Kutch. The journey will last around 6 hours depending on local traffic.

Afternoon tour of the surrounds: Later in the afternoon, you will be taken to visit the pastoral settlements and villages of the area. Stops will be made to meet the Vadiara and Kharapat Rabaris, an ethnic people known for their skill at embroideries, and the Ambala village of the Bharward shepherds and goatherds.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Rann Riders (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning & afternoon game drives: Today, you would be taken to explore Little Rann of Kutch in morning and afternoon game drives. The Little Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh and, surprisingly, is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the entire Subcontinent. The region is famous as the world's last refuge of the Indian wild ass (Khur) for the conservation of which it has been declared as the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary. While famous for its population of Khur the Rann is also home to various unique mammals such as the Indian wolf, desert fox and nilgai. Though a bleak landscape it is an ecologically important area for many local and migratory water birds like cranes, ducks, pelicans, flamingos and land birds like sandgrouse, francolins and the Indian bustards. Riding in a private open jeep with a local naturalist-driver, each safari lasts 3 hours and in between, you will be returned to your accommodation to relax and enjoy the facilities.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Rann Riders (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning tour of Modhera & Patan: After an early breakfast, meet with your guide and driver to make the short journey to Modhera. The town is famous for the Sun Temple built in 1026 AD by Bhimadeva of the Solanki Rajputa clan. It is an exemplary model of art and architecture of the 11th century a style that was to influence the development of temple architecture in the neighbouring regions.

After ample time exploring the temple, return to your private driver and continue north to Patan, famous for the Rani-Ki-Vav step-well. Built in the 1050’s and named after Rani Udamati, the step-well is the oldest and perhaps the grandest among more than 120 step-wells in Gujarat. More than 800 sculptures form a remarkable backdrop to what was purely a functional structure.  The step-well was silted up for centuries and only major excavation and restoration work in the 1980’s helped expose this glorious structure.

Road journey to Ahmedabad: After visiting Patan you will be transferred back to Ahmedabad, a journey of around 3 hours. On arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy your final night at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The House of MG (Heritage Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast