Why Choose Gujarat

Gujarat Tour Packages

Gujarat packages with Bayard start at ₹20,000 per person and run to ₹37,000 for a nine-day circuit. Dwarka and Somnath for the pilgrimage, Gir for the only wild Asiatic lions on earth, the white salt desert of Kutch, and an old city in Ahmedabad that UNESCO made India’s first World Heritage City.

One thing to plan around before anything else. Gir National Park closes completely from 16 June to 15 October every year every zone, no exceptions, and the booking system closes with it. If lions are part of your trip, that decides your dates.

Below: which circuit suits your group, how the Gir permits actually work, what to know about travelling in a dry state, and when to go.

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Gujarat trip at a glance

 Gir: when it is open, and how the permits work

Gir National Park is closed from 16 June to 15 October every year. That covers the Gir Jungle Trail, Devalia Safari Park and the Kankai route every zone. The online booking system closes for the same period. The closure exists because monsoon tracks are unsafe and because it is the lions’ breeding season.

There is no way around this and no operator can arrange one. If seeing lions matters, your trip has to fall between 16 October and 15 June.

How the permits work

• Booking is online only, through the Gujarat Forest Department. There is no gate sale and no same-day option.

• Slots are limited and go quickly, particularly between December and March. We book around a month ahead as standard.

• A government photo ID is mandatory and the name on it must match the permit exactly. This catches families out more than anything else — if your booking says "R. Sharma" and the Aadhaar says "Ramesh Kumar Sharma", that is a problem at the gate.

• Safaris run early morning and late afternoon and take around three hours. Jeep routes are allocated at the gate, so no two safaris are the same.

• If core-zone permits are gone, Devalia Safari Park is the fallback — a shorter, fenced circuit where sightings are far more likely but more managed.

Best months for sightings are December to March, when the weather is comfortable and the animals concentrate near water. April and May are hot but very good for photography and sightings.

Which circuit suits you?

Gujarat is a large state and the itineraries fall into four fairly distinct shapes. Choosing between them is the main decision.

• The pilgrimage circuit - Dwarka and Somnath, three to four days. One of the Char Dham and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, both on the coast, with the temples as the point of the trip. Best for pilgrims and multi-generational families who want a focused spiritual journey.

• Pilgrimage plus lions - Dwarka, Somnath and Gir, five to six days. The same temple circuit with two nights at Sasan Gir and a jeep safari. Best for families who want the temples and something for the children and grandchildren too. Only possible between mid-October and mid-June.

• The desert circuit - Bhuj, Kutch and the White Rann, six to seven days, usually with Dwarka and Somnath attached. Best in winter, when the salt flats are dry, white and walkable. Best for photographers and travellers who want the landscape rather than the temples.

• The heritage circuit - Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Patan and Kevadia. UNESCO-listed Ahmedabad old city, the Rani-ki-Vav step-well, the Sun Temple at Modhera and the Statue of Unity. Best for culture-led travellers and repeat visitors who have already done the temples.

Our Gujarat packages

What moves the price

• Hotel category, which varies widely between the temple towns and the city stops.

• Whether Gir is included, and whether safari permits are bundled.

• How many regions. Saurashtra, Kutch and central Gujarat are far apart and each addition means real driving.

• Season. November to March is peak; Rann Utsav and Uttarayan are peaks within the peak.

• Whether airfare to Ahmedabad is bundled.

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When to go

 The dates that book out

Uttarayan, the kite festival, falls on 14 January and is one of the largest participatory festivals in India rooftops across Ahmedabad full from dawn, the sky solid with kites, and every hotel in the city booked long in advance. It is extraordinary and it is not something to plan in December.

Rann Utsav runs through the winter months in Kutch and creates the same pressure on Bhuj and the tent city. Ask us for the confirmed dates for your year — they shift, and the White Rann is only white outside the monsoon.

Where to go

Dwarka

One of the four Char Dham and, by tradition, Krishna’s kingdom. The Dwarkadhish Temple with its five-storey spire and flag changed several times a day; Bet Dwarka reached by boat; the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga a short drive away; and the Rukmini Devi temple. The evening aarti is the moment to be there for.

Somnath

The first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on the Arabian Sea, rebuilt many times across its history and most recently in 1951. The evening aarti and the sound-and-light show with the sea behind it are the reason people stay the night rather than passing through.

Sasan Gir

The only place on earth with wild Asiatic lions — around 1,400 square kilometres of teak forest and grassland, with leopards, chital, sambar, nilgai and exceptional birdlife alongside. Jeep safaris run early morning and late afternoon. Open 16 October to 15 June only.

Kutch and the White Rann

A salt desert the size of a small country, dry and blinding white in winter and under water in the monsoon. Kala Dungar for the view across it, the handicraft villages around Bhuj for embroidery and Rogan art, and the tent city during Rann Utsav. Full moon nights over the salt flats are the thing people remember.

Ahmedabad

India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, inscribed in 2017 — the walled old city with its pols, carved wooden havelis, Jama Masjid and the Sidi Saiyyed jaali. Sabarmati Ashram, where Gandhi lived for thirteen years and from which the Salt March began, is on the riverfront. The heritage walk through the old city at dawn is genuinely one of the best things to do in urban India.

Statue of Unity, Kevadia

The tallest statue in the world at 182 metres, about 200km from Ahmedabad on the Narmada. Entry and the viewing gallery are timed-ticket and sell out — we book them with your package. The valley, the dam and the surrounding attractions make it a full day rather than a stop.

Palitana and Girnar

Shatrunjaya hill at Palitana carries around nine hundred Jain temples and is one of the most sacred sites in Jainism — around 3,800 steps to the top, which is worth knowing before you plan it into a trip with elderly travellers. Girnar near Junagadh is the other great Jain hill.

Practical notes

Gujarat is a dry state

Prohibition has been in force since 1960 and alcohol is not sold openly anywhere in Gujarat. Visitors from outside the state can obtain a tourist liquor permit, usually arranged through the licensed outlet at larger hotels on production of ID and travel documents. If it matters to your trip, tell us at booking and we will point you to the right properties. For most of our Gujarat travellers this is a non-issue or a positive.

Travelling with elderly parents

A lot of Gujarat travel is multi-generational, and the temple circuits involve more walking and standing than people expect queues at Dwarka and Somnath can be long, Palitana is 3,800 steps, and the distances between Saurashtra towns mean real time in a vehicle. Tell us the ages and mobility in your group and we will pace it properly, arrange assistance where it exists, and be honest about what to skip.

Food

Gujarat is one of the best vegetarian destinations in India, and the Gujarati thali is a genuine experience rather than a fallback sweet, savoury, endlessly refilled. Jain food is widely available and properly understood here, which is not true everywhere. Tell us your requirements and they will simply be met.

Distances

Gujarat is large and the circuits cover real ground — Ahmedabad to Dwarka is around 440km, Dwarka to Somnath about 230km, and Kutch is a long way from Saurashtra. Rail is good between the main towns and road is how most circuits actually run. We build the sequence so you are not doubling back.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Planning a Gir safari between 16 June and 15 October. The park is closed and no operator can change that.

• Leaving Gir permits late. Online only, limited slots, roughly a month ahead in season.

• Booking a permit in a shortened name that does not match the photo ID.

• Expecting the White Rann in the monsoon. It is under water.

• Planning Uttarayan travel in December. Ahmedabad is booked out well before then.

• Assuming alcohol is available. Gujarat is a dry state.

• Putting Palitana in an itinerary with elderly travellers without discussing the 3,800 steps first.

• Underestimating the driving between Saurashtra, Kutch and central Gujarat.

What’s included in a Bayard Gujarat package

 Why book Gujarat with Bayard Vacations

• We handle Gir permits — online-only, limited, booked a month ahead, and with an ID-name requirement that catches families out at the gate.

• We will tell you when not to come. If your dates fall inside the Gir closure or the monsoon Rann, you will hear it from us before you book, not after.

• Pacing built for multi-generational groups — temple queues, walking distances, Palitana’s steps and long driving days planned around who is actually travelling.

• Circuits sequenced properly. Saurashtra, Kutch and central Gujarat are far apart and the order you visit them in decides how much of your holiday you spend in a car.

• Statue of Unity and other timed tickets booked with your package rather than left to the day.

• Thirteen itineraries from ₹20,000, so the circuit fits the trip rather than the other way round.

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Gujarat package FAQs

When is Gir National Park open?

From 16 October to 15 June. Gir closes completely from 16 June to 15 October every year — every zone including Devalia, with the online booking system closed too. The reasons are monsoon track safety and the lion breeding season. No operator can arrange access during the closure.

How do I book a Gir safari?

Online only, through the Gujarat Forest Department. There is no gate sale. Slots are limited and generally need booking around a month ahead, especially December to March. A government photo ID is mandatory and the name must match the permit exactly. We book permits as part of your package.

What if Gir permits are sold out?

Devalia Safari Park is the fallback — a shorter, fenced circuit within the sanctuary where sightings are much more likely but more managed. It is a genuinely good alternative and we will tell you honestly if that is where we have landed.

Is Dwarkadhish a Jyotirlinga?

No. Dwarkadhish is a Krishna temple and one of the four Char Dham. The Jyotirlingas are Shiva shrines — Somnath is the first of the twelve, and Nageshwar, a short drive from Dwarka, is another. Most Dwarka–Somnath circuits include both Nageshwar and Somnath, so you cover two Jyotirlingas and a Char Dham in one trip.

How many days do I need in Gujarat?

Three to four for Dwarka and Somnath. Five or six to add Gir. Seven or more if you want Kutch, the Statue of Unity or a heritage circuit through Ahmedabad, Patan and Vadodara. Gujarat is a large state and the driving is real.

How much does a Gujarat trip cost?

Our packages run from ₹20,000 per person for a five-day Dwarka–Somnath–Gir circuit to ₹37,000 for a nine-day full tour. Hotel category, whether Gir is included and how many regions you cover are what move the number.

Is Gujarat a dry state?

Yes. Prohibition has been in force since 1960 and alcohol is not sold openly. Visitors from outside Gujarat can obtain a tourist liquor permit, usually through the licensed outlet at a larger hotel, on production of ID and travel documents. Tell us at booking if it matters and we will guide you to the right properties.

When is the best time to visit Gujarat?

November to March for every circuit — mild, dry, Gir open and the White Rann walkable. April and May are very hot but good for wildlife. Mid-June to mid-October is monsoon: Gir is closed and the Rann is under water, though the temples and Ahmedabad remain accessible.

Can I see the White Rann in the monsoon?

No. The Rann of Kutch is a salt flat that floods in the monsoon. It is white, dry and walkable in the winter months, which is also when Rann Utsav runs. Ask us for the confirmed dates for your year.

What is Uttarayan and when is it?

The kite festival, on 14 January — one of the largest participatory festivals in India, with rooftops across Ahmedabad full from dawn and the sky solid with kites. It is extraordinary, and every hotel in the city is booked long in advance. Plan it months ahead, not in December.

Is Gujarat good for elderly travellers?

Yes, with the right pacing. Most of our Gujarat travellers are multi-generational families. The things to plan around are temple queue times at Dwarka and Somnath, the long drives between Saurashtra towns, and Palitana, which is around 3,800 steps to the top. Tell us the ages and mobility in your group and we will build the trip around them.

Is Gujarat good for vegetarians and Jain travellers?

It is one of the best destinations in India for both. The Gujarati thali is a genuine experience rather than a compromise, and Jain food is widely available and properly understood here in a way it is not everywhere else.

Do I need to book the Statue of Unity in advance?

Yes. Entry and the viewing gallery are timed-ticket and sell out, particularly at weekends and in peak season. It is about 200km from Ahmedabad, so it is a full day rather than a stop. We book it with your package.

Which cities have direct flights to Gujarat?

Ahmedabad has direct flights from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and other metros, typically around two to two and a half hours. Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat also have connections. Rail links across Gujarat are excellent once you arrive.

What is included in a Bayard Gujarat package?

Hotels across your circuit, daily breakfast with some packages including all meals, airport and station transfers, all sightseeing transport, Gir jeep safari and permits where included, and specified entry tickets. Airfare, meals outside the plan, special darshan arrangements and personal expenses are separate.

Planning a Gujarat trip? 
Tell us your dates, your city and who is travelling. We’ll tell you whether Gir is open on your dates, book the permits, and pace the circuit for the people actually going.

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