Fascinating people of Gujarat
€3450
per person
Embark on a captivating adventure through Gujarat, a state where ancestral traditions vibrate to the rhythm of tribal communities. This journey is an invitation to encounter, a dive into a world of colors, ancient know-how, and unique ways of life.
Your exploration begins with the Rathwa people in Chhota Udepur, whose homes are adorned with ritual Pithora paintings. These vibrant, meaningful murals tell sacred stories and provide a true window into their spirituality.
Then head to Poshina, where you will meet the Raika Rabari, a semi-nomadic pastoral community whose men are distinguished by their iconic red turbans.
You will also encounter the Garasia women, recognizable by their colorful outfits and distinctive adornments, a testament to their unique culture.
In Dasada, a captivating encounter awaits you with the Mir women, whose array of silver jewelry and traditional tattoos tell centuries of history.
Then, the road will take you into the vast region of Kutch. Here, you will explore the villages of various Rabari communities (distinct from the Raika), famous for the finesse and complexity of their embroidery, a meticulous art passed down from generation to generation.
Still in Kutch, you will encounter the discreet nomadic community of the Jat Fakirani, whom you might spot with their herds of dromedaries roaming the desert expanses of Banni.
Exploring Dwarka, you will meet the Bhopas, a branch of the Rabari with unique customs, and then in Porbandar, you will meet the Maher.
This trip is designed with a focus on mutual exchange and deep respect for the communities we encounter. We believe in a form of tourism that doesn’t just showcase, but also shares and enhances. In doing so, your trip becomes a win-win experience: you experience an unforgettable human adventure, rich in discoveries and encounters, while indigenous peoples benefit from fair economic support, enabling them to maintain their way of life and pass on their heritage to future generations.
Who is this trip for?
Photographers and those interested in Indian ethnic groups
When is the best time to travel to Gujarat?
From October to March
Since each trip is tailor-made, the price shown is an estimate. Your final quote will depend on your choices, such as hotel category, number of participants, vehicle type, and time of year. We will provide you with a personalized (and free) quote after discussing your preferences in detail.
INCLUDED:
- Accommodation in double occupancy in 3* and 4* hotels
- All breakfasts
- All transportation in a TOYOTA INNOVA with a driver who speaks basic English (taxes, fuel, accommodation, and driver’s meals included).
- Local guides
- Lunch with a Rathwas family in Chhota Udepur
- 24/7 support; we are in constant contact with you.
NOT INCLUDED:
- International flights
- Domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Bank fees
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Any arrangements not included in the program that result in additional costs
- Any personal expenses
- Tips
- Anything not listed in the “included” section
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Day 1
Arrivée à Vadodara > Jambughoda (1h30)
Flight to Vadodara in the late morning. Our representative will warmly welcome you at the airport.
*
Lunch in Vadodara followed by a visit to the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, an opulent testament to the grandeur of the Gaekwad dynasty.*
Then depart for Jambughoda. Check into the small palace of the same name.Day 2
Meeting with the Rathwa people in Chhota Udaipur (1 hour)
Today you will travel to Chhota Udaipur to discover the Rathwa tribal culture. The Rathwas are one of the many ethnic groups in Gujarat.
*
Perhaps the most emblematic aspect of the Rathwa culture is their ancestral artistic tradition of pithora paintings. These are not simply decorative pieces, but sacred murals created on the walls of their homes as an offering and a token of gratitude to their main deity, Pithora Baba.*
You will stroll through a haat (tribal market), visit its tribal museum and sacred shrines, as well as the old houses adorned with pithora paintings.*
You will also have lunch with a Rathwa family.*
Return to your small palace in JambughodaDay 3
Jambughoda > Ahmedabad (4h)
After lunch at the hotel, we'll depart for Ahmedabad, a historic city that retains a unique heritage from its past as a merchant city.
*
En route, stop at Champaner, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Pavagadh.*
Overnight stay in Ahmedabad.Day 4
Ahmedabad visit
A day dedicated to visiting Ahmedabad.
*
Early in the morning (around 7:30 a.m.), you will depart with an English-speaking guide for a heritage walking tour of approximately 2 hours in the old city of Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will pass through the "pols," or closed neighborhoods, with their old-fashioned atmosphere, dotted with beautiful wood-carved mansions.*
Breakfast at the hotel, then continue your visits, including: The Hutheesing Jain Temple, built by a wealthy merchant in 1848 The Gandhi Ashram-Museum The Baoli, the Adalaj Stepwell, built in 1498*
Overnight in Ahmedabad.Day 5
Ahmedabad > Poshina (4h)
Departure for Poshina, our favorite stop.
*
Stay at the Poshina Palace, owned by the heirs of the region's maharajas.Day 6
Poshina & Terracotta horses
Today, you will explore the famous terracotta horse shrines lined up by the hundreds beneath century-old trees. Your guide will be the very charming Maharaja (or his son) himself.
*
You will also visit some of the region's Adivasi Bhil (indigenous) villages.*
In the afternoon, visit the Ambaji Temple and its market run by the Garasia community, whose women wear unique tunics with flower tassels on their shoulders.*
Overnight stay at Poshina Palace.Day 7
Meeting with the Rabaris Raika
Today, you will meet the Rabari Raikas, the shepherds with their large red turbans, on the border of Gujarat and Rajasthan, and spend time with them.
*
You will have lunch with a Rabari family.*
Overnight at Poshina Palace.Day 8
Poshina > Dasada (6h)
After breakfast, depart for Dasada.
*
Dasada is located on the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch, famous for being the last refuge of the Indian wild ass and a birdwatcher's paradise. The region is also renowned for its diverse tribes such as the Rabari, Bharwad, and Mir.*
En route, we will visit Siddhpur and its Bohra havelis, the Sun Temple of Modhera, and Patan, with its immense stepwell, a World Heritage Site, as well as workshops weaving "patola" saris, among the most expensive in India.*
Overnight stay at a resort in DasadaDay 9
Little Rann of Kutch region
Today you will take two jeep safaris: in the morning in the Little Rann of Kutch to observe wildlife, and in the evening to meet the local communities.
*
Meet the Mir women, known for their silver jewelry and beadwork. And the Rabari Kharapat, whose women are skilled embroidery artisans. Traditionally, they worked on embroidered costumes as part of their dowry. They still maintain this artisanal tradition today.*
Overnight at the resortDay 10
Dasada > Bhuj (4h)
In the morning, we'll head to Bhuj, the capital of the Kutch region.
*
On the way, stop at the blockprinting workshops, a specialty of the Khatri communities.*
Stay in a charming guesthouse.Day 11
Bhuj > Villages Rabaris & Ahir
We will begin the day with a visit to Bhuj: the Swaminarayan Temple and the Aina Palace, the Chhatris, and the city's bazaars, where many Adivasi communities come to shop; Rabaris, Ahirs, and Fakranis, among others.
*
We will then visit several villages to meet the Vagadiya and Debariya Rabaris and the Ahir community.*
Return to BhujDay 12
Bhuj > Devpar (1h)
Departure for Devpar, stronghold of the Rabari Khasi tribe, whose women wear distinctive earrings shaped like coiled serpents.
*
After settling into your charming hotel, you will explore the village of Devpar on foot with a guide to meet the Rabari Khasi tribe.*
You will also discover the mysterious Jakh Botera temple, home to 64 statues of mythical horsemen.Day 13
Devpar > Than Jagir > Nirona > Hodka
Departure for Banni, an area of Kutch that includes several typical villages.
*
Along the way, we will make several stops: In Dhinodhar, where the ancient Hindu monastery of Than Jagir stands. Kanphata sadhus, or "saddhus with pierced ears," are sometimes encountered there.*
In Nirona, to admire the "rogan" textile paintings, a unique art form in India created by the Khatri community. In the same village, you can also observe the making of bronze bells and lacquerware created by the Vadha community, all typical crafts of the region.*
Upon arrival, check into your hotel in Hodka.Day 14
people of Banni
Today, you will visit several ethnic groups in Banni (a region around the Great Salt Flats).
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The Jat Fakirani nomads with their herd of dromedaries: you can spend a few hours with them at their campsite.
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The Meghwals: known for their embroidery skills, their round houses are decorated with bright colors and lippan, an art that involves creating raised patterns with clay. Note: Young women are not permitted to be photographed. The Pathans in their isolated village.
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You will also stop at Khavda, a village renowned for its pottery of the same name, which is still produced by a single family. The history of Khavda pottery dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished in the region around 2500 BCE.*
At sunset, you'll walk across the salty soil of the Rann of Kutch, the great white desert of Gujarat.*
Overnight in HodkaDay 15
Hodka > Jamnagar (6h)
Departure for the Saurasthra Peninsula where we continue our ethnic tour.
Upon arrival, check into your hotel.
Day 16
Jamnagar > Dwarka (2h)
Before leaving for Dwarka, visit some of Jamnagar's iconic landmarks:
Lakhota Lake and Lakhota Palace/Museum: In the heart of the city, this picturesque lake is a peaceful place for a stroll. At the center of the lake stands the Lakhota Palace, a 19th-century fort converted into a museum. It houses a collection of ancient weapons, pottery, and other artifacts, offering a glimpse into Jamnagar's royal history. A boat ride on the lake offers a magnificent view of the palace.
*
Bala Hanuman Temple: This temple is famous for its continuous, uninterrupted chanting of the mantra "Ram Dhun" since 1964, earning it a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The peaceful atmosphere and rhythmic prayers create a profound spiritual experience.*
On the way to Dwarka, we will stop in a village where the Rabari Bhopa raise Kharai dromedaries, the "swimming dromedaries." The Kharai's most distinctive characteristic is their ability to swim in seawater for several kilometers to move from island to island in the mangrove areas. They are the only dromedaries known for this ability.*
Upon arrival in Dwarka, check into your hotel located near the Gomti River. You will then be able to stroll peacefully along the city's ghats.Day 17
Dwarka & Rabari Bhopa
A day dedicated to Dwarka, its monuments, and the Rabari Bhopa.
Dwarka, one of the seven holiest cities in India (Sapta Puri). It is said that the Hindu god Krishna migrated from Mathura to Dwarka to found his capital there 5,000 years ago.
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You will begin with the Dwarkadeesh Temple, the most revered of all, then visit several other shrines: Bhadkeshwar Mahadev, located on a rock in the middle of the Arabian Sea, and the temple of Rukmini, Krishna's divine wife. You will end your visit to Dwarka with the Nageshwar Temple, recognizable from afar thanks to its immense 12-meter statue of Lord Shiva. It houses the "lord of the cobras," another of the twelve "jyotir lingams" or "lingams of light."*
En route, we will stop in villages in Rabari Bhopa (depending on the availability of the villagers).Day 18
Dwarka > Porbandar > Junagadh (4h)
Departure for Junagadh, "Old Fort," a historic city at the foot of Mount Girnar. Its history dates back to the 3rd century BC, marked by various dynasties and a rich fusion of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Jain cultures.
*
This destination offers sacred sites such as Uparkot Fort and the Girnar temples, and masterpieces of Indo-Islamic architecture such as the Mahabat Maqbara.*
On the way, we will stop in a village to meet the Maher community, which boasts a vibrant cultural heritage, including unique dances such as the Maniaro Raas, a martial dance performed by men, as well as traditional costumes and distinctive jewelry.*
Upon arrival, check into your hotel.Day 19
Junagadh > Gir Rabari
Visit Junagadh and Mount Girnar, located east of the city.
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Girnar (or Mount Neminath for Jains) is a group of mountains and hills and the highest point in Gujarat (1,118 m). It is also an important pilgrimage site for both Jains and Hindus, as it houses temples of both religions.*
We will then travel to the outskirts of Junagadh to meet the Rabaris of Gir.*
Overnight stay in JunagadhDay 20
Junagadh > Palitana (4h)
Departure for Palitana, which, along with Mount Abu, Girnar, and Shravanabelagola, is one of the holiest sites of the Jain faith. Palitana Hill houses more than 800 temples spread across nine different enclosures; it's the largest Jain complex in the world.
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Upon arrival, check into your hotel.Day 21
Palitana pilgrimage
Early in the morning (around 6:00 or 7:00 a.m.), departure for Shatrunjaya Hill. You will climb the 3,500 steps of this sacred Jain hill on foot or with the help of porters (allow a 3-hour round-trip hike).
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Overnight stay in PalitanaDay 22
Palitana > Ahmedabad (4h)
Departure for Ahmedabad. We'll drop you off at your hotel or the airport.
End of your journey with us. Namaskaram.