Coastal Kingdom of Gujarat

Day-1: AHMEDABAD

Arrive at Ahmedabad. Visit the Calico Museum of Textiles, the historic Gandhi Ashram and the Sardar Patel memorial at Shahibagh Palace. Dinner nad o/n halt at the House of Mangaldas.

Day-2: AHMEDABAD - PALITANA 239 km (Appx four hours drive)

In the morning, we take the Heritage Walk in walled city of Ahmedabad to see the historic Swaminarayan Temple, exquisitely carved Jain and Hindu temples, ornate wooden havelis, the 15th century Jumma Mosque and the mausoleum complexes of the Sultans and Begums of medieval Ahmedabad.

Late afternon , we depart for Palitana stopping enroute at Lothal for an insight into the Harappan civilization. Time permitting, visit the Jain museum of Palitana and the local bazaar.

Home-cooked non-veg and veg dinner and o/n at the six-room Vijay Vilas Palace, the 1906 AD country house of the late Prince of Palitana now run by his grand-daughter as a heritage hotel.

Day-3: PALITANA - GONDAL 200 km (Appx five hours drive)

Early morning ascent to the 863-temple covered summit of Shatrunjaya Hill- one of the major Jain pilgrimage sites.Depart after lunch for Diu Island. Spend the evening in the beaches of Diu. Stay at Radhika Beach Hotel/Richie-Rich Beach Hotel/Magico Do Mar Beach Resort/Hotel Kohinoor.

DAY-4: DIU ISLAND

Sightseeing at Diu. We visit the Portuguese fort, churches and museum . Stay at Radhika Beach Hotel/Richie-Rich Beach Hotel/Magico Do Mar Beach Resort/Hotel Kohinoor

DAY-5: DIU - SOMNATH - GIR (120 km)

Today we drive to Somnath to see the world-famous shore temple and other temples. Drive to Gir, enroute visit the fishing port of Veraval known for its hand-built dhows. Stay at Gir Birding Lodge set in a mango orchard.

DAY-6 & 7: GIR

Spend the whole day at theNational Park & Wildlife Sanctuary . Between drives, visit interesting villages. Overnight stay at Gir Birding Lodge.

DAY-8: GIR - GONDAL 123 km

Drive to Junagadh to see the Uparkot Fort & Buddhist cave-sites, Ashoka’s rock inscriptions (3rd century BC), palace museum, 18th & 19th century royal mausoleum complexes, Nawabi buildings and museums.Continue to Gondal and visit the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace, the Vintage and Classic Car museum, the Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy and the Swaminarayan Temple. Return to Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace of Gondal for overnight halt.

Day-9: GONDAL - GANDHIDHAM, KUTCH 240 km

Drive to Gandhidham and stay at the Sharma Resort, the only four-star hotel of Kutch District. Visit the colourful handicraft markets and the textile town of Anjar.

Day-10: GANDHIDHAM - BHUJ - MANDVI 112 km

Drive to Bhuj to see the beautiful monuments of this historic town and then to Mandvi. Stay at the luxury beachside camp at the Vijay Vilas Palace estate.

Day-11: MANDVI

Today we pay a visitto the dhow-builders of Mandvi, the Vijay Vilas Palace and nearby villages. Overnight stay at the luxury beachside camp at the Vijay Vilas Palace estate

Day-12: MANDVI - DASADA 350 km

On arrival at Dasada, we take a jeep safari for Little Rann of Kutch in search of endangered desert wildlife like the Asiatic wild ass and witness the sunset at a lake Bajanathat attracts flamingos, pelicans, cranes and other attractive birds in large numbers. Overnight stay at Rann Riders, an imaginatively designed safari resort.