Wilderness in Gujarat
Duration: 14 Days & 13 Nights
Destinations Covered : Mumbai - Velavadar - Sasan Gir - Gondal - Rann of Kutch - Ahmedabad - Mumbai
Destinations Covered : Mumbai - Velavadar - Sasan Gir - Gondal - Rann of Kutch - Ahmedabad - Mumbai
Day 01 Arrive Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai. On arrival you will be received by our representative for transfer to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 Mumbai – Bhavnagar
Morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bhavnagar. Upon arrival in Bhavnagar, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Bhavnagar - Founded as a port in 1743, Bhavnagar is still an important trading post for the cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat. The Bhavnagar dock gate keeps ships afloat in the city’s port at low tide. Bhavnagar has a beautiful old bazaar area with overhanging wooden balconies, thousands of little shops and lots of local colour.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 & 04 Bhavnagarh – Velavadar National Park – Bhavnagar
02 day trips to Velavadar National Park (70 kms one way).
Velavadar is a peaceful sanctuary comprised of 35 square kilometres of savannah in Gujarat. Set between two rivers and only a few miles from the Gulf of Cambay this park is home to thousands of India's endemic Blackbuck. In the days of the Maharajas of Bhavnagar these handsome antelope were protected for the occasional royal hunting trips. Other animals of note include the endangered India Wolf, fox, jackal, Jungle Cat and Wild Pig. The birdlife here is also extensive with endangered birds such as Houbara Bustard, Lesser Florican, Common Crane, Sarus White Stork and White Pelican all present.
En-route visit Palitana, which lies at the foot of the Shatrunjaya Hill, with the Shatrunjaya river flowing to its South. The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temple, 863 in all, that soar in marble splendor of its top. Only the Gods live on this holy hilltop city for, after sundown, none may stay here, not even the priests who wend their way down the hill and leave the resplendent pinnacle to the gods. The temples were built over an impressive span of 900 years, with each generation of pilgrims making its contribution to the shrines of Shatrunjaya.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 Bhavnagar – Sasangir National Park
Morning drive to to Sasangir (135kms). Upon arrival in Sasangir, check into your hotel.
Sansangir (widely known simply as Gir) is a large park in the and the area is characterised by an arid rugged terrain with low hills and mixed vegetation with beautiful stands of teak, acacia and dhak trees interspersed with grassy plains. The park's main aim is to preserve the last healthy population of the critically endangered Asiatic Lion. As well as approximately 300 Lions, other smaller members of the cat family are well represented, namely the Jungle Cat, Desert Cat and the Rusty Spotted Cat, and there is also a healthy population of Leopard. Also to be found here are Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Sambar, Black Buck, Four-Horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Indian Flying Fox, Indian Pangolin and Indian Porcupine. For birders an estimated 300 species are found in Gir, with notable species including Paradise Flycatcher, Black-Headed Cuckoo Shrike, Pied Woodpecker and Bonelli's Eagle.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06, 07 & 08 Sasangir National Park
Enjoy wildwatching.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 Sasangir National Park – Gondal
After morning wildwatching, drive to Gondal (125 kms). Upon arrival in Gondal, check into your hotel.
Visit Naulakha Palace, was built by Thakur Saheb Sangramsinghji in the 17th century. The Palace is an absolute festival of stone carvings, which can be seen on the facades, pillars, courtyards and jarokhas balconies, a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches and a unique spiral staircase. The large chandelier lit darbar hall has stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture and antique mirrors. The private palace museum has an impressive display of silver caskets which carried messages and gifts for Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji on his silver jubilee as ruler of Gondal, one of the many golden caskets received by him on his 50th anniversary, the weighing scales on which he was measured against silver and gold on the respective anniversaries, and princely relics.
Also visit the Vintage car collection of the Maharaja of Gondal, close to where you will be staying.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Gondal – Dasada
Morning drive to Dasada (220 kms). Upom arrival, check into your hotel.
Visit the little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's largest at a staggering 4,950 square kilometres. It consists of desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorny scrublands, lakes and marshes. This is the last remaining home of the Asiatic Wild Ass it is a conservation success story with the asses have been returned from a population of only 800 in the 1960's to over 2,000 currently. This is not the only mammal of interest here however as the sanctuary is also home to Chinkara, Black Buck, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Jackal and Jungle Cat.
There are so many birds here that the area has been named an official Ramsar site. Birds here include Steppe, Imperial, and Short-toed Eagle, Houbara Bustard, flamingos, pelicans, storks and cranes. The best birding is during the winter months from October to March when waterfowl gather in vast numbers. These are the months when Demoiselle and Common Crane, and Lesser Flamingo are seen in incredibly large numbers.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 & 12 Dasada – Little Rann of Kutch – Dasada
Enjoy wildwatching.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Dasada – Ahmedabad – Mumbai
After a visit to the beautiful lake of Nawa Talao where Demoiselle, and Common Cranes, and both Greater, and Lesser Flamingoes gather in large flocks during the winter months, you will be transferred to Ahmedabad airport (100 kms) for your flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai, check into your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Mumbai – Onward Destination
You will be transferred to the International airport for your flight to onward destination.
The above cost includes:
Arrive Mumbai. On arrival you will be received by our representative for transfer to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 Mumbai – Bhavnagar
Morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bhavnagar. Upon arrival in Bhavnagar, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Bhavnagar - Founded as a port in 1743, Bhavnagar is still an important trading post for the cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat. The Bhavnagar dock gate keeps ships afloat in the city’s port at low tide. Bhavnagar has a beautiful old bazaar area with overhanging wooden balconies, thousands of little shops and lots of local colour.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 & 04 Bhavnagarh – Velavadar National Park – Bhavnagar
02 day trips to Velavadar National Park (70 kms one way).
Velavadar is a peaceful sanctuary comprised of 35 square kilometres of savannah in Gujarat. Set between two rivers and only a few miles from the Gulf of Cambay this park is home to thousands of India's endemic Blackbuck. In the days of the Maharajas of Bhavnagar these handsome antelope were protected for the occasional royal hunting trips. Other animals of note include the endangered India Wolf, fox, jackal, Jungle Cat and Wild Pig. The birdlife here is also extensive with endangered birds such as Houbara Bustard, Lesser Florican, Common Crane, Sarus White Stork and White Pelican all present.
En-route visit Palitana, which lies at the foot of the Shatrunjaya Hill, with the Shatrunjaya river flowing to its South. The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temple, 863 in all, that soar in marble splendor of its top. Only the Gods live on this holy hilltop city for, after sundown, none may stay here, not even the priests who wend their way down the hill and leave the resplendent pinnacle to the gods. The temples were built over an impressive span of 900 years, with each generation of pilgrims making its contribution to the shrines of Shatrunjaya.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 Bhavnagar – Sasangir National Park
Morning drive to to Sasangir (135kms). Upon arrival in Sasangir, check into your hotel.
Sansangir (widely known simply as Gir) is a large park in the and the area is characterised by an arid rugged terrain with low hills and mixed vegetation with beautiful stands of teak, acacia and dhak trees interspersed with grassy plains. The park's main aim is to preserve the last healthy population of the critically endangered Asiatic Lion. As well as approximately 300 Lions, other smaller members of the cat family are well represented, namely the Jungle Cat, Desert Cat and the Rusty Spotted Cat, and there is also a healthy population of Leopard. Also to be found here are Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Sambar, Black Buck, Four-Horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Indian Flying Fox, Indian Pangolin and Indian Porcupine. For birders an estimated 300 species are found in Gir, with notable species including Paradise Flycatcher, Black-Headed Cuckoo Shrike, Pied Woodpecker and Bonelli's Eagle.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06, 07 & 08 Sasangir National Park
Enjoy wildwatching.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 Sasangir National Park – Gondal
After morning wildwatching, drive to Gondal (125 kms). Upon arrival in Gondal, check into your hotel.
Visit Naulakha Palace, was built by Thakur Saheb Sangramsinghji in the 17th century. The Palace is an absolute festival of stone carvings, which can be seen on the facades, pillars, courtyards and jarokhas balconies, a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches and a unique spiral staircase. The large chandelier lit darbar hall has stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture and antique mirrors. The private palace museum has an impressive display of silver caskets which carried messages and gifts for Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji on his silver jubilee as ruler of Gondal, one of the many golden caskets received by him on his 50th anniversary, the weighing scales on which he was measured against silver and gold on the respective anniversaries, and princely relics.
Also visit the Vintage car collection of the Maharaja of Gondal, close to where you will be staying.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Gondal – Dasada
Morning drive to Dasada (220 kms). Upom arrival, check into your hotel.
Visit the little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's largest at a staggering 4,950 square kilometres. It consists of desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorny scrublands, lakes and marshes. This is the last remaining home of the Asiatic Wild Ass it is a conservation success story with the asses have been returned from a population of only 800 in the 1960's to over 2,000 currently. This is not the only mammal of interest here however as the sanctuary is also home to Chinkara, Black Buck, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Jackal and Jungle Cat.
There are so many birds here that the area has been named an official Ramsar site. Birds here include Steppe, Imperial, and Short-toed Eagle, Houbara Bustard, flamingos, pelicans, storks and cranes. The best birding is during the winter months from October to March when waterfowl gather in vast numbers. These are the months when Demoiselle and Common Crane, and Lesser Flamingo are seen in incredibly large numbers.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 & 12 Dasada – Little Rann of Kutch – Dasada
Enjoy wildwatching.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Dasada – Ahmedabad – Mumbai
After a visit to the beautiful lake of Nawa Talao where Demoiselle, and Common Cranes, and both Greater, and Lesser Flamingoes gather in large flocks during the winter months, you will be transferred to Ahmedabad airport (100 kms) for your flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai, check into your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Mumbai – Onward Destination
You will be transferred to the International airport for your flight to onward destination.
| Validity: October 16, 2011 till April 15, 2012 – Standard Hotels | ||
| Cost based in EURO | 2 – 3 Guests | 4 – 6 Guest |
| Land cost | Euro 1740 per person | Euro 1620 per person |
| Supplement for single room | Euro 545 | |
| City | Hotel name | Category of room | No. of nights |
| Mumbai | Hotel Emerald | Standard room | 01 |
| Bhavnagar | Hotel Neelam Bagh | Standard room | 03 |
| Gir | Hotel Gir Safari Lodge | Standard room | 04 |
| Gondal | Hotel River Side Palace | Standard room | 01 |
| Dasada | Hotel Ran Riders | Standard room | 03 |
| Mumbai | Hotel Emerald | Standard room | 01 |
| Validity: October 16, 2011 till April 15, 2012 – Superior Hotels | ||
| Cost based in EURO | 2 – 3 Guests | 4 – 6 Guest |
| Land cost | Euro 1810 per person | Euro 1685 per person |
| Supplement for single room | Euro 615 | |
| City | Hotel name | Category of room | No. of nights |
| Mumbai | Ramee guest Line | Standard room | 01 |
| Bhavnagar | Hotel Neelam Bagh | Standard room | 03 |
| Gir | Hotel Gir Safari Lodge | Standard room | 04 |
| Gondal | Hotel Orchad Palace | Standard room | 01 |
| Dasada | Hotel Infinity Camp | Standard room | 03 |
| Mumbai | Ramee guest Line | Standard room | 01 |
- Accommodation on double/twin sharing basis for Thirteen nights.
- Based on room plus Breakfast basis at all the cities except Gir & Dasada which are on full board basis.
- Transfers and sightseeing by air-conditioned transport as per the itinerary,
- Entrances at monuments & national parks at all cities as per the itinerary.
- Services of an English speaking local guide for sightseeing tours as per the itinerary.
- Economy class airfare where ever mentioned in the itinerary.
- Road tax, parking fees and driver’s overnight wages
- Validity as mentioned along with the quotations.
- Service tax levied by the government of 2.576%.
- Any personal expenses such as laundry bills, telephone bills, alcoholic beverages and airport tax.
- Tips and other such cost which is to be paid to the drivers, guides, porters etc.
