Journey with us on A Mystical Odyssey in Bhutan (12 - 18 March '23).
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Your 8D7N Gujarati adventure sets off in the bustling hub of Ahmedabad, a textile city that’s known as the “Manchester of the East” in an area packed with treasures: Mahatma Gandhi’s 12-year ashram, Sidhpur’s pastel-painted havelis, exquisitely carved temples – both ancient and modern – and a pair of elaborately sculpted stepwells. Take a leap much further back in time at the Harappan ruins of Lothal en route to exploring Velavadar National Park, where grasslands harbour great herds of blackbuck antelope. Following a climb to the wondrous Jain complex of Shetrunjaya, crammed with many hundreds of temples, more big game awaits at Gir National Park, famously home to the Asiatic lion, the only ones to be found outside Africa. With a little bit of luck, you’ll also glimpse the park’s growing numbers of leopards, panthers and four-horned chowsinghas.
This journey outline is by no means fixed. As the traveller takes centre stage in our planning – from the type of lodging to daily activities – your journey will be crafted to suit you.
Following your arrival into India and a domestic flight to Ahmedabad, you will be transferred to your hotel to rest.
Kickstart your day with a visit to the magnificent Adalaj Vav Stepwell, measuring five stories deep and once integral to provide basic water needs for the Gujarat region. Continue to Akshardham Temple which is intricately carved with pink stone and Gandhi Ashram for insights into Gandhi’s life and history. End the day with a visit to Hutheesing Jain Temple, created entirely out of white marble by wealthy merchant Sheth Hutheesing.
Enjoy a full day excursion to Modhera and Patan. In Modhera, you will marvel at the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple which was built during the golden period of Solanki Dynasty. In Patan, you will visit its atmospheric bazaar, charming havelis and discover its ancient heritage in fine textiles with peculiar origin in the difficult technique of Bandhani process.
You will also visit the UNESCO-listed Rani ki Vav Stepwell on the banks of the Saraswati River. Time permitting, you can also make a stop at the sacred town of Sidhpur, flanked by temples, kunds and ashrams.
Today, we leave southwards with a brief stop at the ancient city of Lothal, now an important archaeological site providing insights into the Harrapan Era. Arriving into Velavadar National Park, hop onto an afternoon jeep safari to track some of India’s largest herds of blackbuck antelopes.
After a morning safari drive, we head further south to the town of Palitana with its stunning collection of over 863 Jain temples on the Shetrunjaya Hills. The journey continues to Gir National Park, the only place in the world outside Africa where lions can be spotted outside their natural habitats.
Spend the next two days discovering the wildlife of Gir National Park. Other than the Asiatic lions, the park is also a spot for possible sightings of leopards, panthers, hyenas, Indian deers, sambars, spotted deers, blue bulls, chinkaras, and the four-horned antelopes of chowsinghas.
Today, we bid goodbye to the incredible Gujarat. We will transfer you to the Rajkot airport where you will catch your flight onwards to your next destination or connecting via the major international airports home.
Let’s plan your perfect escape. To start the conversation, contact us via our interactive form or drop us an email at ask@blueskyescapes.co.
Ahmedabad, Veladavar National Park, Gir National Park
Between November and March.
Easy
From USD 5,700/person for min. 2 pax on a private basis. Excludes flights.
As we’ll customise your journey based on your preferences and needs, please note that this indicative price is just a rough estimate. Prices can fluctuate depending on season, type of accommodation and activities/experiences chosen (private vs. shared) etc.
This journey outline is by no means conclusive. It is just a guideline and can be tailored according to your comfort level, interests and preferences for every detail from accommodation to activities.
