Day 1:
Morning Safari
Devaliya National Park
Timings: 07:30 AM – 11:00 PM
The day begins early and you will be given a wakeup call and then be picked to go for the Morning Safari.
To avoid long queues at the permit reception counters, it is better to make reservations and get your permit online prior to your visit at https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in/.
You can opt for any one of two modes of safari:
1. Jeep Safari – lasts for 1 hour and costs Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 for 1 jeep.
2. Bus Safari – lasts for 3.5 hours and costs Rs. 150 to Rs. 190 per person.
Taking a tour in the bus gives you better chances of sightings and is much cheaper than jeep safari. Make sure that on the first day your focus is to spot the big daddy- The Asiatic Lion. You will however also have a chance to spot the Indian leopard.
Have your lunch at your hotel and get adequate rest. Later prepare yourself for the second safari of the day.
Evening Safari
Gir National Park
Timings: 03:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Gir National Park is the most important attraction in this region.
Permits can be acquired online and timings for your safari can be checked at https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in/.
Gypsy safari is the only option to take the jungle trail. The safari is usually 3 hours long and charges for reserving one Gypsy will be around Rs. 1000 and can accommodate 6 people.
One safari is not what tourists plan when they pay a visit here.
After the evening safari, book a morning safari for the next day.
Also read: Best Area To Book your Hotel in Gir
Day 2:
Morning Safari
Gir National Park
Timings: 06:00 AM – 09:00 AM / 08:30 AM – 11:30 AM
In the morning, the chances of animal sighting are better. 6 -9 slot is what you should aim for.
Permits can be acquired online and timings for your safari can be checked at https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in/.
Gypsy safari is the only option to take the jungle trail. The safari is usually 3 hours long and charges for reserving one Gypsy will be around Rs. 1000 and can accommodate 6 people.
You can look for the various species of birds and reptiles. If you’re going during winters, you can expect to see a lot of rare migratory birds.
Have your lunch at your hotel and get adequate rest. Later prepare yourself for the second safari of the day.
Evening Safari
Devaliya National Park
Timings: 03:00 PM – 05:00 PM
The day begins early and you will be given a wakeup call and then be picked to go for the Morning Safari.
To avoid long queues at the permit reception counters, it is better to make reservations and get your permit online prior to your visit at https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in/.
You can opt for any one of two modes of safari:
1. Jeep Safari – lasts for 1 hour and costs Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 for 1 jeep.
2. Bus Safari – lasts for 2 hours and costs Rs. 150 to Rs. 190 per person.
Taking a tour in the bus gives you better chances of sightings and is much cheaper than jeep safari. Make sure that on the first day your focus is to spot the big daddy- The Asiatic Lion. You will however also have a chance to spot the Indian leopard have.
Also read: Things to do in Diu
Day 3:
Check out from your hotel in Sasan Gir and head towards any one of the two options.
Option 1: Somnath is just 40 km away from the forest and houses some of the most beautiful and significant temples in the country.
Option 2: Diu Island is 110 km where you have the option of cooling off on the beaches and explore historical forts.
Option 1: Somnath Sightseeing
10:00 AM – 07:00 PM
Book a hotel in Somnath for 1 day near the railway station. Freshen up and explore the historical town.
Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple is an ancient temple and a popular religious site. The temple has been destroyed and constructed in the past and the current structure was completed in 1951.
The Darshan timings for the temple begins at 07:30 AM and ends at 10:00 PM
You can book your slot for darshan in advance online at https://www.somnath.org/
The Aarti happens 3 times a day – 07:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 07:30 PM.
500 meter from the temple is the Prabhas Patan Museum. A museum that houses the large collection of historical and ancient artefacts that belonged to the temple. A must visit place in Somnath.
Somnath Beach is just 1 km from the temple. The beach attracts large crowd. Children enjoy the camel ride along the shore. The Street Market at the entrance is where you can buy traditional and local artefacts and cloths.
At a distance of 1.5 km from the beach is the Triveni Sangram. This is a confluence of three rivers – Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati. An ideal to place to unwind and experience serenity with the view of sunset.
Later you can attend the evening aarti in the temple.
Option 2: Diu Sightseeing
08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Book a hotel in Diu for 1 day near Diu Fort. Freshen up and explore the historical town.
Diu Fort is the first place to explore in Diu. The 500-year old fortress was built and ruled by the Portuguese and is now a landmark of Diu. The fort is considered as one of the seven wonders of Portuguese origin. History buffs will love to stay here for a longer duration.
Time duration: 1 – 2 hours
Diu Museum was previously known as St. Thomas Church and has been converted to a museum, showcasing the historical artefacts used in the colonial era. St. Paul Church is in the same vicinity.
Time duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
The area gives you many options for having your lunch that suits your budget.
Another wonder of Diu is the Naida Caves. Naida caves is a unique cluster of man-made caves. These were built by the Portuguese settlers. This is still not very popularly known so number of tourists visiting the attraction is very less. Photographers will make this their paradise.
Time duration: 45 min – 1 hour
The last place is Chakrathirth Beach. The speciality of this beach is that it houses the miniature of INS Khukri a warship that was used in the 1971 battle and was destroyed. The INS Khukri Memorial Park has been developed to commemorate the officers and sailors of the sunken ship.
The beach is also a perfect place to enjoy the sunset over the Arabian Sea.
