Talk about Kutch and the images that come to mind are those of rolling sand dunes and scorching heat. What may surprise you is the immense diversity of wildlife in the desert. If there is sand, there is also the coastal area forming part of the largest Marine National Park in India. Kutch is where you find hardy people and remnants of a bygone royal era as well as a unique lifestyle and culture dictated by the local conditions. Explore Kutch in the Kutch Tour of Gujarat.

Itinerary-

Day 1: Ahmedabad to Little Rann of Kutch

Arrive in Ahmedabad to a warm welcome by our tour guide who escorts you to the waiting vehicle that will whisk you off to the little Rann of Kutch. Check into a desert resort, refresh yourself, and explore the desert in an evening safari. Watch as wildlife such as the Blackbuck, wolves, jackals, snakes, wild asses, lizards and foxes come out of their hiding places. Enjoy campfire dinner before you go to bed.

Day 2: Little Rann of Kutch to Bhuj

Rise next morning and breakfast on local fare after which we proceed to Bhuj, a once royal city where we visit the priceless Aina Mahal Museum with relics of royalty and artifacts collected from the surrounding area. You also visit the Cenotaphs of the royal family of Bhuj, the Bhartiya Sanskriti Darshan Exhibition, and the Prag Mahal Museum.

Day 3: Bhuj to Banni, Pachcham region, Hodka, and Dhordo

The never-ending stretches of sandy areas are interspersed with delightful rustic villages where time seems to have frozen as you will find when you set out from Bhuj. Banni and Pachcham regions are the first stop, a natural wildlife preserve known for the unique desert wild asses at the edge of the Great Rann of Kutch. Then go over to Hodka to view the handicraft and the embroidery works, and proceed to Bhirandiyara, Ludiya, and Khavda. Finally the group visits Kalo Dungar or the Black Hill and the Dattatreya Temple. The day ends with a grand spectacle of the sun setting in a crimson blaze. End the day at Hodka/Dhordo, rustic with dessert flavors.

Day 4: Hodka-Mata no Madh-Lakhpat-Narayan Sarovar-Koteshwar-Nakhatrana

Today you set out deeper into the Great Rann and find that despite the hostile environment, it is full of vibrant color and teeming life. Lakhpat is the first stop, home to the ancient Lakhpat Fort. Though in a dilapidated state, it gives a glimpse into the grand place this old city was in the times of the ancient civilization, forming part of the trade route. There is also a unique Gurudwara here as well as the tomb of Gosh Muhammed in black granite, unusual for this region. After that, we proceed to Narayan Sarovar, which, in winter, teems with birds that come from far up North. It is also a centre for pilgrimage and it is quite lively. From here we proceed to Koteshwar Shiva temple and spend the night in Nakhatrana, a desert and frontier town.

Day 5: Nakhatrana – Mandvi

It takes 2 hours to drive the 100-kilometer distance to this thriving port city and you will love its pristine, unspoiled beach. Spend the evening exploring local bazaars and buy handicrafts or Kutchchi embroidered skirts with mirror work—they can be quite heavy! Spend the night here.

Day 6: Mandvi to Ahmedabad

Breakfast and board the coach for the day-long trip to Ahmedabad where the tour ends and our tour guide bids you a fond farewell. You can be dropped off at the airport or the railway station or a hotel if you plan to stay on.