Gujarat holiday and the Rann of Kutch, India
Description of Gujarat holiday and the Rann of Kutch, India
Gujarat is one of India's most dazzlingly diverse states, home to both a 1600km coastline and one of the world's largest salt deserts. Seasonal marshlands around the Little Rann are a wildlife beacon for wild ass and flamingos, while Gujarat is renowned for some of the finest textiles in India. Its large Jain community underpin both a stunning heritage of white marble temples plus exquisite vegetarian cuisine.
This village-focused tour opens up this wondrous state, from the surreal Rann of Kutch and the ancient town of Bhuj to tribal Poshina, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Champaner and the marvellous mountain top Jain temple complex at Shatrunjaya.
Kick off in the state capital Ahmedabad with visits to perhaps the world's finest textile museum plus Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram, as well as touring the atmospheric old city. Your rural odyssey begins with tribal villages of the Garacia, Adivacyi & Bharad en route to Poshina, plus the Kumbharia Jain Temples and a lakeside picnic lunch.
Following visits to the step-well at Patan and the 1000-year-old Sun temple at Modhera, you reach the eye-popping landscape of the Kutch – vast seasonal salt marshes that become giant salt deserts in the hottest months. Discover how indigenous people and wildlife thrive in both the Little Rann of Kutch and Great Rann.
The Arabian Sea beckons next, tracing the coast for several hours to Gondal, where you stay in one of three fabulous palaces here. Visit the town's famous market, temples plus grand houses – one boasting a fine vintage car collection, another the home of the royal family of Palitana.
You'll also visit the breathtaking Jain temple complex at Shatrunjaya, as well as Laxmi Vilas Palace, Fatehsingh Museum and UNESCO-listed Champaners ancient fort around Baroda.
Price includes all activities/equipment, tour leaders, local guides and drivers, meals, mineral water, all transport (excluding international flights) , all accommodation and all entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary.
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Planet
By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites and ecosystems we visit.We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.
Using no carbon transport such as cycling or walking not only gives you a slower paced experience, but also cuts environmental damage and tourist carbon footprint. We are committed to low-level tourism impact and we keep group sizes to a maximum of 12 to avoid huge tour bus loads of tourists, which increases environmental damage but also is less likely to be welcomed by locals. Slower travel also allows for more chances to interact with people from another culture.
Throughout most of the trip we will be travelling in minibuses. Travelling as a group in a small bus contributes less pollution than a multitude of vehicles. We will also be exploring some areas on foot, to not only soak up the amazing sights at a slower pace, but to reduce our environmental impact and footprint along our journey.
People
In Little Rann we will visit a traditional artisan, known for weaving India’s finest textiles. Visiting artisans not only provides income to them via selling their goods, but also ensures they are able to continue their craft and pass it onto the next generations.On each Group tour we use local ground handlers. This means that all operational costs go directly into the local economy and help improve employment opportunities in remote regions. Such support can also be seen in our incorporation of homestays, locally owned hotels, family run restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, which ensures that the money you spend with us goes directly into the local economy and local community.
We will be staying in a guesthouse in some nights for a unique glimpse into the traditions and customs of local life. The homestay/guesthouse market helps them to provide good, clean and interesting accommodation which in turn allows them to educate their children, improve their standard of living and look after their ill. The wonderful thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that everyone gains – the families financially and us with the wonderful welcome and experience they give us. Wherever possible we stay in locally owned accommodation, eat in locally owned establishments and purchase supplies from the local nomads.
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