Highlights of Gujarat

Assistance on arrival at international airport

On arrival at Mumbai International airport, after clearing immigration and visa formalities, collect your baggage and proceed to the arrival lounge. TOTAL HOLIDAY OPTIONS Executive will meet you holding up a placard. He will assist you with a transfer to your hotel. Mumbai is a place where culture is a blend of traditional festivals, food, music, and theatres. The city offers a cosmopolitan and diverse lifestyle with a variety of food, entertainment, and nightlife, available in a form and abundance comparable to that in other world capitals.

Excursion to Elephanta caves followed by city tour

Morning proceed for a city tour of Mumbai starting with an excursion to Elephanta caves (remains closed on Monday). The cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticoes arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Afternoon visit Gateway of India, one of the most popular tourist hotspots of Mumbai. Sitting proudly on the Apollo Bunder overlooking the Arabian Sea. Victoria Terminus, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which is the busiest railway station in India. The Prince of Wales Museum (Closed on Mondays), which ranks among the city's most distinctive Raj-era constructions. boasting one of India's finest collections of paintings and sculpture is arrayed over three floors. Visit Dhobi Ghats one of the more well-known open-air laundry facilities in Mumbai. Conclude your day with a drive past Marine Drive.

Flight to Rajkot

Morning assisted departure and transfer to Mumbai airport to board the flight to Rajkot.

Arrive Rajkot and travel to Gondal

Arrive Rajkot Airport, where TOTAL HOLIDAY OPTIONS chauffeur will be waiting at the arrival lounge holding a placard of your name, followed by a drive to to Gondal, a city state mere 35 km away from Rajkot ruled by a family of car enthusiasts whose royal passion resulted in a fine collection of automobiles which are now part of a museum in the palace premises. Such was the royal passion that Gondal had the best planned and very well designed road system in pre-independent Gujarat.

Check in at hotel and visit Naulakha Palace

On arrival, check-in at your accommodation. later visit the famous Naulakha Palace, which translates to 'nine lakh' gets its name from the amount of money incurred in constructing the palace. The palace is one of the oldest palaces in Gujarat. Located on the banks of river Gondali, this palace is known for its stunning architecture and intricate carvings. It houses a collection of beautiful beadwork, brass utensils, silverware and hand-painted wooden toys from the princely collection. Return to hotel, rest of the day is at leisure or to pursue own activities.

Travel to Sasan Gir, en-route visit Uparkot Fort

Morning travel to Sasan Gir. En-route stop at Junagadh and visit the historical Uparkot Fort, a magnificent Gothic Palace built by the Nawabs in the 19th century. Continue to Sasngir, situated in the paisley-shaped peninsula of Kathiawad in Gujarat on the south-western fringes of the Saurashtra. Famous world-over for being the only haven of the majestic Asiatic lion in whole of Asia, the National Park or the lion sanctuary is a must-visit for nature lovers and is the main attraction of this place. Sasangir is also the natural habitat of some exotic flora and fauna of this peninsular region.

Check in at Hotel

On arrival check-in at the accommodation. The evening is free to explore the town.

Morning and afternoon safari at Gir National Park

Enjoy an early morning Jeep safari into the Sasangir Lion Sanctuary under the guidance of forest appointed naturalist. The last home of the majestic Asiatic Lion, Gir National Park is the ultimate destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. The park is spread across 1412 Km with the buffer zone, the core area alone is 258 Km. The hilly terrain with lush nature surrounding makes the park an alluring beauty. Gir is home to more than five hundred lions and three hundred leopards, the cat family has a major habitat in the park. The other wildlife that resides here is Sambar deer, Jackal, Hyena and Indian fox. Asiatic lion is, of course, the main attraction, alongside to steals the limelight is Chowsingha(four-horned antelope). You can find them only here. Other species to spot are chinkara, wild boar, nilgai, chital, mongoose, honey badger, desert cats, rusty-spotted cats, porcupine, and a hare. Get lucky to spot more wildlife on your second safari in the afternoon.

Travel to Bhavnagar

Morning check-out and travel to Bhavnagar, a coastal city, was the capital of a former princely state Sihor. It was founded by Bhavsinhji Gohil in 1723 AD. A transitional port with a natural harbour, it has a lock gate to provide for the floatation of ships in receding tides at the concrete jetty.

Check in at hotel and sightseeing of Bhavanagar

On arrival, check-in at the accommodation. Later enjoy exploring Bhavnagar (without Guide), which presents various attractions including Gandhi Smriti, a complex attached to a clock tower, situated in the heart of the city, dedicated to Lord Shiva named after Maharaja Takhtasinhji; Barton Library and Museum displaying Old books, manuscripts, rare coins, arms and armor belonging to the rulers of Bhavnagar.

Excursion to Palitana

Early morning enjoy an excursion to Palitana located 51 km south-west of Bhavnagar is known for being the largest cluster of Jain temples. There are in total 863 temples from base to the peak of the Shatrunjaya hill, where the Palitana temples are located. Very few temple complexes can be compared to Palitana. The path is climbed through 3950 steps spanning 3.5 km taking about one and a half hours. The construction of Palitana temples spanned over 900 years. On a moonlit night, these marble temples invoke the vision of fantasy land. The deities in the temple are studded with gems and jewels. Built over different centuries, the temples of Palitana are not just an experience in history and architecture, as they are beautifully carved, they are also a tribute to the Jain religion that has thrived for more than 2500 years in small pockets across peninsular India. Rest of the day is free to relax or to explore the town by self.

Travel to Velavadar

Morning travel to Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, home to the largest surviving population of blackbuck, an ungulate species of antelope native to the Indian subcontinent. Other than blackbucks, the national park shelters mammals like nilgai (another Indian antelope), jackal, wolf, jungle cat, and fox. Birds are the main attraction of the park. Pelicans, flamingos, white and painted storks, three kinds of cranes, many birds of prey, and the rare Stolizca's Bushchat are some of the rarest migratory avian species that you can sight flying in the azure sky, making it an excellent place for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiast.

Check in at hotel and Safari at Velavadar National park

On arrival, check-in at the hotel and later visit the Valavadar national park spread over 34.52 sq km area is a paradise for those interested in natural history. As you travel in your jeep in the park, it is a magical journey through the wilderness. Camera and binoculars in hand, cautious to any movement and ears alert to the sound of the forest. This is the heightened sensory of the Blackbuck National Park. The park has grasslands, shrublands, saline plains and mudflats, which support a variety of grass, 95 species of flowering plants, 14 species of mammals, over 140 species of birds and many reptiles. The Alang and Paravalio Rivers, three artificial ponds, two check dams and nearby coastal marshes provide an ideal habitat for aquatic flora and fauna. The evening is free to explore the small town.

Travel to Ahmedabad enroute visit Utelia and Lothal

Travel to Ahmedabad, en-route stop in Utelia, founded by the chieftain of the Vaghela Rajput clan in the 18th century. Stop at Lothal, a city planned during the Indus valley civilization.

Assistance on arrival and check in at hotel with evening free for shopping

On arrival assistance for smooth check in at hotel. Evening free to go for local shopping.

Full day sightseeing, visit Calico museum, Sabarmati ashram, Hridaya Kunj and Dada Hari Vav

Start guided city tour with Ahmedabad’s most edifying attraction, the Calico Textile Museum ( closed on public holidays), houses a spectacular collection of ancient and modern Indian textiles. The Museum comprises of two wings: the ‘Haveli’ which houses religious textiles, as well as south Indian bronzes, Jain art, and Mughal and other miniature paintings; and the ‘Chauk’, which houses royal tents, carpets, furnishings and costumes of the Mughal and regional courts; textiles for India’s export trade; as well as a wide range of ethnographic textiles. Next visit Sabarmati Ashram - was the first Satyagraha Ashram set up by Gandhi, still makes spinning wheels, handicrafts and handmade paper, Hridaya Kunj, Mahatma Gandhi’s cottage, preserved as it was during his lifetime. Afternoon visit Dada Hari Vav (Stepwell), built-in 1501, is an octagonal shaped intricately carved well, located below the ground level. Evening free for handicraft or textile shopping.

Assistance for departure to International airport

Assistance on departure and in-time transfer to International airport to board flight for onward journey.