Travels in Gujerat

 

Ahmedabad	The Gateway Hotel	2 nights
Dasada	Rann Riders Resort	1 night
Bhuj	Hotel Prince	3 nights
Gondal	Riverside Palace	1 night
Gir	Lion Safari Camp	2 nights
Diu	Radhika Beach Resort	2 nights
Bhavnagar	Nilambag Palace	2 nights
Ahmedabad	The Gateway Hotel	Transit

Click on the name of the hotel or camp for details

16 days from £2290

excluding international flights

Away from the main tourist circuits, and less developed than most destinations in India, Gujerat has a surprising wealth and variety of attractions for the traveller - from the unique Asiatic Lions in Sasan Gir National Park to the stunning hilltop temples of Palitana, from the Baroque Portuguese architecture of Diu to the timeless craft villages of the Rann of Kutch in the far northwest. Step off the beaten path to discover a very different India.

THE PRICE IS HIGHER THAN ON MOST OF OUR INDIA TOURS AS IT INCLUDES YOUR OWN PRIVATE GUIDE, WHO WILL ACCOMPANY YOU ON THE TOUR FROM AHMEDABAD BACK TO AHMEDABAD.

DAY 1 - Arrival in Ahmedabad.

On arrival in Ahmedabad, Gujerat's major city, you will be met by a representative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel. Recommended flight from London: Emirates Airlines from London Heathrow via Dubai (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 - Ahmedabad sightseeing.

After a leisurely morning, to rest after the late arrival, your World Discovery India holiday gets under way when you meet your private guide and spend the afternoon visiting the highlights of Ahmedabad.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 – By road to the Little Rann of Kutch.

Leave Ahmedabad after breakast and drive west through rural Gujerat. Stop at the beautiful ruins of the Sun Temple at Modera, built in 1027. Continue to Patan, home to the unique step well of Ranikivav. The step well has a long stepped corridor descending to an underground tank; the corridor walls, pillared pavilions and inner side of well are embellished with fine sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses. Today's journey ends in Dasada in the Little Rann of Kutch.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 4 – Game drive. By road to Bhuj.

In the morning explore the Little Rann of Kutch Sanctuary in search of the endangered Indian Wild Ass. In the afternoon cross the salt flats of the Little Rann of Kutch, on the edge of the Arabian Sea, before turning inland to reach the remote walled city of Bhuj in the late afternoon. Bhuj is the major town in the area known as the Great Rann of Kutch, which runs imperceptively into the Thar Desert in neighbouring Rajasthan.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 5 – Bhuj.

Sightseeing in Bhuj should include Kachchh Museum, the Italianate Rao Pragmalji's Palace and the interesting Palace Museum. You will also enjoy walking through the narrow winding streets of the town and exploring its bustling bazaar area. Today you will be taken to the office of the regional Collector to collect your permits for the visits on days 6 and 7 to the craft villages in the Rann of Kutch.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAYS 6 and 7 - The Craft villages.

Two memorable days spent visiting a selection of craft villages in the countryside outside Bhuj.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch each day.

DAY 8 - By road to Gondal.

Drive south today into the Saurashtra peninsula. Stop briefly in the town of Wankaner to view the unusual Ranjitvilas Palace with its English Clocktower, before continuing to Gondal. In the afternoon explore Gondal's impressive 18th century Naulakha Palace, intricately sculptured in stone, and visit the local maharajah's Vintage and Classic Car Museum with its fine collection of 1940s Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Packards, Chevrolets and many more. Stay overnight at the Riverside Palace, still owned and run by the royal family of Gondal.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 9 – By road via Junagadh to Gir National Park.

Travel to Junagadh, a small fortress down at the base of sacred Girnar Hill. Sightseeing will include the Mahabat Maqbara Mausoleum with its unusual spiral minarets, and the old Uparkot Fort, which dates from the Mauryan Empire. Continue south to Gir National Park, the last remaining home of the Asiatic Lion. There should be time for an afternoon game drive in the park. As well as lions there are many panthers at Gir, making it India's best 'Big Cat' sanctuary.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 10 – Gir National Park.

Morning and afternoon games drives. In addition to the cats, Gir has spotted deer, sambar, nilgai and crocodile, and there is a wide variety of birdlife. Transportation for your game drives is by jeep, organised by your camp.
Pictured left: male Asiatic Lion.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

DAY 11 – Via Somnath to the Island of Diu.

Leave Gir after breakfast and head for the southern coast of Saurashtra peninsula. Drive through the busy Arabian Sea fishing port of Veraval to the impressive Somnath Temple, one of India's most revered Hindu shrines. The 50 metre high temple, dedicated to Shiva, has been destroyed by successive Muslim invaders , but rebuilt each time on the same spot. Our destination today is the island of Diu, reached by a causeway from the mainland.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 12 – Diu.

At leisure in Diu.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 13 – By road to Bhavnagar.

Return to the mainland and drive to the port of Bhavnagar.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 14 - The Temples of Palitana.

Today's excursion is to the fabulous Jain temple complex of Palitana.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 15 - Utelia, Lothal. Return to Ahmedabad.

Drive to the fortified village of Utelia, where we will arrange lunch at the small castle. In the afternoon visit the archaeological site of Lothal, which dates from 4,500 years ago and is related to the Indus Valley city of Moenjadaro in Pakistan. There is a museum at the site. Following the visit, drive back to Ahmedabad.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 16 – Return to UK.

Private transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

International Flights.

We recommend the services of Emirates Airlines from London Heathrow via Dubai. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Dubai. Depart at 08.50; arrive Dubai at 19.35
Dubai/Ahmedabad. Depart at 23.05; arrive Ahmedabad at 03.10 (next morning)
Ahmedabad/Dubai. Depart at 04.25; arrive Dubai at 06.05
Dubai/Heathrow. Depart at 07.45; arrive Heathrow at 11.35
Flights are also available - with similar timings - from London Gatwick, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham

India Holidays: Travels in Gujerat (Tour Reference: WDIN012)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Daily departures	Price
Jan to Apr	£2290
Oct to Dec	£2350

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities. Accommodation at Gir is in private tents with ensuite facilities.
• 13 full breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including entrance fees.
• The services of a private English-speaking driver throughout.
• The services of a private guide for the duration of the holiday.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.
• An Indian Visa. This should be obtained before departure from the United Kingdom. Applications should be made online through VFS Global, the official representatives of the High Commission in London - http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your India holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.