7 Days in Gujarat: A Perfect Travel Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
From white salt deserts to sacred temples, historic cities to lion-filled forests — Gujarat is a state where every day feels like a new adventure. If you're planning a week-long trip and want to experience the best this vibrant western state has to offer, here’s a 7-day itinerary packed with heritage, nature, food, and spiritual energy.
🗓 Day 1: Arrival in Ahmedabad – The Gateway to Gujarat
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Explore: Sabarmati Ashram, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Adalaj Stepwell, Kankaria Lake
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Evening: Take a heritage walk in the old city or shop at Law Garden night market
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Food: Enjoy a traditional Gujarati thali at Agashiye or Gordhan Thal
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Stay: Ahmedabad
🗓 Day 2: Patan & Modhera – Stepwells and Sun Temples
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Drive to Patan (2 hrs) – Visit the UNESCO-listed Rani ki Vav, a stunning stepwell
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Continue to Modhera (1 hr) – Marvel at the Sun Temple, especially during sunset
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Return or stay in a nearby heritage homestay for a cultural experience
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Tip: Carry a camera — both sites are a photographer’s dream
🗓 Day 3: Little Rann of Kutch – Wildlife & Salt Plains
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Head to Dasada or Zainabad (3–4 hrs from Ahmedabad)
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Take a jeep safari in the Wild Ass Sanctuary, home to the endangered Indian wild ass
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Enjoy birdwatching and sunsets over the salt flats
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Stay in eco-resorts or tented camps
🗓 Day 4: Bhuj – Gateway to Kutch
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Travel to Bhuj (5–6 hrs)
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Explore Aina Mahal, Prag Mahal, and Bhujodi craft village
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In the evening, relax with local folk music around a bonfire
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Stay: Bhuj or nearby Kutchi-style mud huts (Bhungas)
🗓 Day 5: White Rann of Kutch – Salt Desert Magic
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Drive to Dhordo for the Rann Utsav (Nov–Feb) or a day trip to the White Desert
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Witness the surreal beauty of the salt plains under the sun or moonlight
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Ride camels, watch cultural performances, and shop for handicrafts
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Overnight stay in tent city or village camps
🗓 Day 6: Gir National Park – Into the Wild
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Drive to Gir (6–7 hrs) – Reach by evening
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Stay in forest lodges and prepare for an early morning safari
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Optional stop: Junagadh’s Uparkot Fort or Mahabat Maqbara on the way
🗓 Day 7: Safari & Somnath Temple
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Early morning Jeep Safari in Gir to spot Asiatic lions, leopards, and deer
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Post-safari, head to Somnath (2 hrs) – Visit the Somnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
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Enjoy a peaceful evening by the Arabian Sea
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Depart from Veraval railway station or drive back toward Ahmedabad
🧳 Travel Tips:
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Best Time to Visit: October to March
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Local Crafts to Buy: Bandhani fabrics, Rogan art, Patola sarees, handmade pottery
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Languages: Gujarati, Hindi, English
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Transport: Hire a car for flexibility or use trains + local cabs