12 Days, 11 Nights
Duration
10-21 January 2025
Dates

Explore the culturally vibrant and little visited Gujarat region of India. Our textile tour explores this richly artistic state and takes in the Little Rann of Kutch, India’s first ‘world heritage city’ of Ahmedabad, the princely town of Gondal and the unique Indo-Islamic architecture of Junagarh. Enjoy bespoke experiences such as village tours, luxury heritage accommodation and textile workshops; as well as two safaris to the Little Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary.

 

TOUR DATES

10 – 21 January 2025

TOUR COST

A$ 3600 per person on twin share
A$ 1590 single supplement
* Fixed departure – price based on minimum 6 people
Independent Travels – Price on Application

DURATION

12 Days, 11 Nights

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit the museums of Ahmedabad – India’s first World Heritage City
  • Explore Gondal’s historic palaces and buildings
  • Marvel at the Buddhist relics and unique architecture in Junagarh
  • Experience village life in Bhuj and Mandvi
  • Enjoy a sunset and sunrise safari at the Little Rann of Kutch
  • Textile tours with local artisans in Ahmedabad, Mandvi, Dasada and Sayla
  • Take a screen and block printing workshop
  • Stay in unique accommodation, including a palace estate and an eco-resort

TOUR ROUTE

Ahmadabad – Gondal – Bhuj – Mandvi – Sayla – Dasada – Ahmadabad

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Additional information

DestinationIndia
Day 1

10 January 2025

Arrive Ahmadabad

Welcome to Ahmadabad! This culturally rich city is a major centre for traditional and contemporary textiles, with many thriving handicrafts such as Mata-ni-pachedi (narrative cloth painting) and block-printing. You will be met at the airport and transported to Mangaldas Girdhardas, a heritage hotel owned by a former textile industrialist family. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax and explore the local surroundings.

Overnight: Hotel, Ahmadabad

Day 2

11 January 2025

Ahmadabad

Visit the Calico Museum of Textiles, one of India’s leading specialised museums. The collection includes a range of textiles including Indian origin fabric swatches found at archaeological sites in Egypt, silk sarees from across India, fabric made from colonially imported materials, Punjabi embroidery, Kashmiri shawls, Rajasthani royal robes, the richly embroidered Mughal tent of Shah Jahan and religious narrative cloth paintings.

We will also visit some of the other museums in Ahmedabad, known for their strong folk-art collections.

Overnight: Hotel, Ahmadabad

Day 3

12 January 2025

Ahmadabad – Gondal

Drive to Gondal, a princely town of considerable importance and affluence. Visit the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace, which houses the ruling family’s private collection of beadwork, textiles, brassware, hand-painted toys and silver crafts. We will also explore many historic buildings of Gondal and visit a weaving centre.

In the evening we will visit Khadi Plaza, one of Gujarat’s major handloom weaving centres. Our accommodation in Gondal is lavishly decorated with textiles from the former Maharanis’ collections.

Overnight: Hotel, Gondal

Day 4

13 January 2025

Gondal – Jetpur – Junagadh – Gondal

Today we will take a day trip to Jetpur and Junagadh. In Jetpur we will take part in screen and block printing workshops and visit a yarn-dyeing centre.

We will then visit the historical city of Junagadh to see the gem-encrusted carpets, wardrobes and tapestry at the Nawab Museum. We will spend the afternoon exploring the ancient Buddhist relics, medieval fort, mausoleum complexes and palaces in this fascinating city. In the evening we will return to Gondal.

Overnight: Hotel, Gondal

Day 5

14 January 2025

Gondal – Rajkot – Bhuj

This morning we will drive to Bhuj. Along the way we will stop at Rajkot to visit the Watson Museum, which has good examples of Gujarat’s craftsmanship skills; as well as Rashtriya Shala, which is working to revive the art of hand-weaving.

When we arrive in Bhuj we will check into our hotel. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

Overnight: Hotel, Bhuj

Day 6

15 January 2025

Bhuj Village tour

Today we will visit the villages around Bhuj, known for their distinctive style of embroidery as well as other handicrafts such as weaving, block-printing and rogan-painting.

Overnight: Hotel, Bhuj

Day 7

16 January 2025

Bhuj – Mandvi

Today we will head to Mandvi, known as the tie-dye centre of Gujarat. We will check into the royal resort where we will be staying in luxury tented comfort by a private beach in the palace estate.

In the afternoon we will visit the dhow-building yard to see ocean-worthy vessels being hand-built.

Overnight: Hotel, Mandvi

Day 8

17 January 2025

Mandvi Village tour

Today we will Visit some of the traditional villages surrounding Mandvi, known for their picturesque houses called Bhungas. Whilst visiting the villages we will learn about their unique form of Rabari embroidery.

Overnight: Hotel, Mandvi

Day 9

18 January 2025

Mandvi – Wadhwan – Salya

Today we will drive to Salya, stopping off at Wadhwan along the way. This historic walled town is a centre for bandhani tie-dye, weaving and metal crafts. After exploring the town we will continue on to our accommodation at Salya.

Overnight: Hotel, Salya

Day 10

19 January 2025

Sayla – Dasada – Little Rann of Kutch

Today we will head to the village of Dasada, where we will be staying at Rann Riders. This ethically designed eco-resort is set amongst wetlands and agricultural fields and has been created using local materials and handicrafts to resemble a village.

During the day we will have the opportunity to watch the local Rabari women at work on their distinct embroideries.

In the evening we will enjoy an open topped jeep safari in the Little Rann of Kutch, a wildlife sanctuary home to the endangered Indian Wild Ass.

Overnight: Eco-Resort, Dasada

Day 11

20 January 2025

Dasada – Patan – Dasada

We will wake early for a morning safari in the Little Rann of Kutch. Following this we will take a day trip to Patan to watch the Salvis at work on the Patola, one of the richest silk textiles in the world, woven using the rare double-ikat technique. In Patan we will also visit the 11th century monuments at Modhera’s Sun Temple complex.

In the evening we will return to Rann Riders.

Overnight: Eco-Resort, Dasada

Day 12

21 January 2025

Tour Ends

After breakfast we will return to Ahmedabad, where the tour concludes. We will transfer you to the airport for your return flight home.

We look forward to seeing you on another Ekno experience soon. If you would like to add an extension to your trip you might like to visit the desert state of Rajasthan or the city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal. Our Golden Triangle tour is a short itinerary that takes in these two highlights, as well as many others.

INCLUDES

Met at Ahmedabad Airport by an Ekno representative

11 nights’ accommodation with breakfast

All transfers and sightseeing by private vehicles, as per the itinerary

Entrance fees to all sights and monuments

Services of an English-speaking guide for the duration of the tour

EXCLUDES

Return airfares to India

Cost of Indian tourist visa (on arrival)

Lunch and dinner (unless otherwise specified)

Personal expenditure such as drinks (including bottled water), laundry service and souvenirs

Tipping

Camera and video entry charges at local sights and monuments

Compulsory travel insurance of any kind

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