Gujarat excels in displaying a rural feel for the traveler intent on experiencing the surreal. The vast deserts of Great & Little Kutch, its colorful nomads, the pristine beauty of Velavadhar & Gir National Park, contribute in providing an unforgettable experience. Underrated Gujarat exceeds the expectations of most visitors as destinations are largely undisturbed, provide a rural ambience & feeling; a rarity of sorts these days. Exotica & variety – thy name is Gujarat.  

Join Hector Dsouza on a path breaking journey across the heartland of western Indian & discover a newness & rarity that’s hard to replicate in the rest of India, be it watching pelicans at a bird sanctuary or discovering aquatic life at the Marine National Park in Jamnagar. The culture of Ahmedabad is unique as are opportunities for spotting exotic wildlife in far flung forest reserves of Gir&Velavdhar.This tour offers a fair share of cultural exposure as well as intriguing natural landscapes which support stunning aquatic, avian & wildlife habitat, thereby qualifying as a `cultural cum nature’ tour.L’orient Travels assures you will be spoilt for variety on this truly mind blowing wandering.

Testimonial

Dear Hector, You and India  are inextricably intertwined in my mind. The warmth, complexity, kindness, intelligence I associate with India  is in you.  – Judith Steiner U.S.A.

Highlights of your tour

Arrive Ahmedabad, known for mesmerising architecture & founded in 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah. Visit the Jama Masjid mosque built in Indo-Saracenic style during 15^th& 16^th century. Exquisitely carved Havelis (mansions) are the hallmark of the old city. Stepwell architecture, the residence of Gandhi at Sabarmati & diversity of architecture ranging from medieval to modern can also be glimpsed here.

Highlights of your tour

Included in your program are visits to Calico Musuem of Textiles containing India’s greatest collection of handmade local textiles & antiques, some of which are more than 500 years old.

Later visit Sabarmati Ashram, headquarters of Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 to 1930. Visit the museum where a record of his life & teachings are exhibited. Located on the west bank of the Sabarmati River, the Mahatma commenced the famous salt march to Dandi on 12 March 1930 with his followers

Highlights of your tour

Travel to Velavadhar National Park, the world’s best place to watch the Blackbuck, an elegant Indian Antelope as well as the striped Hyena & Indian Wolf. Comprising of just 34 square kilometres your afternoon safari will provide ample opportunities of spotting these graceful & majestic creatures.

Highlights of your tour

Velavadhar’s grasslands are also a haven for bird watchers & a breeding site for the lesser florican& harrier hawks. The Saras Crane & Eurasian Crane are birds you could spot on your binoculars during the winter months. This relatively unknown park will surely not disappoint you!

Highlights of your tour

A scenic drive along the coast brings you toGir National Park renowned for the Asiatic Lion, also home for the Maldhari Tribe & Afro-Asian Community known as `Siddhis’. With a growing population of both lion & leopard in this deciduous forest, sighting of these predators is a relatively easy task, as compared to spotting in dense sub-tropical forests. The four horned antelope-`chowsingha’, spotted deer (chital)  wild boar, blue bull are other prey you are likely to spot on your safaris

Highlights of your tour

Morning & afternoon jeep safaris inside Gir National Park

Highlights of your tour

Visit the Gir Orientation Center having an exhibition on the Sanctuary & a Gift Shop. The Gir Crocodile Breeding Center& Interpretation Zone is included in your program for the day. Optional morning visit to  Shatrujanhaya Temple located on the picturesque Girnar Hills where you climb 4000 steps to reach this pilgrimage site for Jain worshippers can be organised for you. Trip recommended for the hardy. End your day with a well earned foot &ayurvedic massage at hotel

Highlights of your tour

En-route to Porbandar you visit Dwarka– one of the holiest Hindu temple towns. It is believed Lord Krishna built his kingdom around Dwarka. Besides enjoying splendid views you can also watch Hindu rituals being enacted on the banks.

The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi at Porbandar is the town where you overnight. Visit the house where he was born in 1869 as well as the adjoining KirtiMandir built in his memory. Enjoy watching boat building activity along the harbour as well as enchanting coastal views. Bird lovers will not be disappointed.

Highlights of your tour

The Narara Marine National Park is visited during the low tide when the ocean reveals a breathtaking display of coral, lichen, sponge, brittle star, sea cucumber, puffer fish, crab, sea anemone & other marine invertebrate can be seen at Narara. You get a window of about three hours during the low tide to explore the intertidal line. Optional, subject to receiving permission you also visit Pirotan Island, one of the 42 islands lying along the Gulf of Kutch.

Highlights of your tour

Early morning visit the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, near the coast of Jamnagar. Best known for the Indian Skimmer, black-necked stork, lesser flamingos, demoiselle cranes, the white throated kingfisher, pelicans & many other interesting varieties can be spotted. Afternoon visit the surrounding areas of Jamnagar where migratory birds are found in plenty especially during the winter months. This is one of India’s finest bird spotting regions.

Highlights of your tour

Arrive Bhuj, capital city of the Great Desert of Kutch – the world’s largest salt desert. Once part of the Arabian Sea, the desert is a seasonal marsh during the rainy months & salt desert for rest of the year. Visit the Folk Art Museum at Bhuj having displays of Kutch culture, stone & wood carvings, as well as models of mud and mirror work huts called `Bhungas’ & designed for hot climes of Kutch. For display of silverware, textiles & sculpture we visit the Kutch Museum in Bhuj.

Highlights of your tour

Kutch has the largest concentration of women embroiders in the world. Visit surrounding villages of Nirona, Nakhatrana as well as the Banni Grasslands, watch pastoral communities working on exquisite styles of hand embroidery unbeknownst to rest of humanity. Ranging from geometric embroidery to work by Rabaris,  you find it all. We also visit a bell maker specializing in producing bells for cattle, each produces a ditinct sound & is helpful to the herder to keep count of his cattle foraging on grazing fields!

Highlights of your tour

Travel to Dasada where you are taken on a conducted sightseeing tour of the Little Rann of Kutch, spot Flamingoes& Wild Ass in its natural habitat. Visit the villages in & around Dasada. Night halt in Dasada

Highlights of your tour

Return to Ahmedabad followed by rest & break at an airport hotel. Time permitting visit shops having hand-painted & block-printed clothes, watch the pen-artist, `Kalamkari’ artisitically sketch drawings on cloth before filling them with natural dyes. Typical of Ahmedabad, the paint is from natural dyes, derived from mineral & plant source. Depart for international airport for boarding flight to your onward destination