India: Gujarat & Rann of Kutch

Overview:

Village India - Gujarat is a dazzlingly diverse state that shakes up even the experienced Indophile and reveals treasures hidden from the tourist hordes. With a 1600km coastline and an easily traversable landscape, it is both highly advanced and medievally tribal. The highly visible Jain community are largely responsible for Gujarat’s industrious reputation, stunning white marble temples and exquisite, ever-so-slightly sweet vegetarian fare.

In the northwest, the seasonal marshlands of Kutch turn into hardened salt plains come summer and, in the Little Rann - habitat of the wild ass and flocks of flamingos - local artisans weave the finest textiles in India.

On this Village India tour, you see the very best of this undiscovered state, from the surreal Rann of Kutch and the ancient town of Bhuj to tribal Poshina, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Champaner and you climb Shatrunjaya, to a mountain-top marvel of Jain architecture.

And of course you spend time in the capital city of Ahmedabad, home to Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram and the world’s finest textile museum. For anyone with a love of 'off-the-beaten-track’ travel, textiles, shopping and rural India, this trip is a must.

Highlights:

Explore the unique marshlands of the Rann of Kutch, famous for wildlife and tribal villages
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site at Champaner, often compared to the great ruins of Hampi
Be transported to the times of the Maharajas as you stay in Heritage properties and palaces
Admire the impressive Jain Temples of Kumbharia, Modhera and Palitana
Discover how local handicraft experts create and pattern their textiles and watch an Ikat textile dyeing demonstration
Participate in an evening aarti ceremony at Gondal temple and see Gondal palaces vintage car collection

Tour Includes:

Full services of a Tour Leader with local guides and drivers
14 breakfasts, 14 lunches & 14 dinners (typically in local restaurants where viable)
All transport (Jeeps & Minibuses)
14 nights' accommodation (8 in Hotels, 2 in Heritage Homes, 2 in Eco Resorts & 2 in Eco Camps)
All entrance fees, sightseeing, excursions and activities as per the itinerary
A carbon-offsetting contribution to Carbon Clear (if booking international flights through our office)

ALL OUR SMALL GROUP TOURS HAVE NO LOCAL PAYMENTS, HIDDEN EXTRAS OR COMPULSORY SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

Trip rating:

Adventure Rating - 5

Tours that fall into this category are likely to involve at least a few challenging days and are often in destinations where tourism is still in its infancy.

Comfort Rating - 7

You can typically expect a mixture of accommodation with some nights being spent in comfortable and characterful places, and some in more basic places, homestays or camping, especially where choices are limited.

Fitness Rating - 4

These tours will typically involve a couple of days of easy/moderate trekking (3-5 hrs/day) or perhaps a more active approach to a cultural itinerary. For riding trips see the Riding Information section

Culture Rating - 10

With this rating, you can typically expect a tour with a strong focus on culture. Depending on the trip this could involve exploring ancient sites, medieval architecture, ethnographic museums and/or having tribal encounters.