Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days

Destinations Covered: Mumbai - Ahmedabad - Utelia - Balaram - Gowala - Patan - Rann of Kutch - Bhuj - Mumbai

Tribes Visited: Bharwad, Gowala, Garacia, Banjara, Rabari, Megwar, Samma, Jat, Mutwa and Ahir among many others.

Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
On arrival at Mumbai, you will be met by our company representatives and transferred to the Hotel. Check into the Hotel and relax.

Overnight stay will be at Mumbai.

Day 02: Mumbai - Ahmedabad - Utelia
Morning, in time transfer to airport to board the flight for Ahmedabad. On arrival, we drive to Utelia (78 km-1 ½ hrs), a feudal village clustered around a medieval palace. Arrive and check into the Hotel.

Overnight stay will be at Utelia.

Day 03: Utelia - Excursion to Bharwad Tribal Village
The Bharwad tribes, a pastoral people of the region, are by profession are shepherds and cattlemen. Now leading a settled life and no longer wanderers, the Bharwadi live in villages. Known for strong likings to colors, they paint their houses primarily in blues, greens and white. On your tour, visit these colorful tribal people wandering in the neat lanes and perhaps few tribal homes to get an insight into day-to-day tribal life. Some Bharwadi are now engaged in different occupations such as the polishing and cutting of diamonds. Catch the steps that turn a handful of dull looking opaque lumps into sparkling gems in your Camera. Also visit a local camel-breeding farm, producing the finest stock of camels.

Overnight stay will be at Utelia.

Day 04: Utelia - Balaram (120 km- 2 hrs)
After Breakfast, we drive to Balaram. Located at about 155 km from Ahmedabad, Balaram is a beautiful holy town. Situated amidst lush green and picturesque forest areas, Balaram offers an ideal spot for a day picnic from Ahmedabad. Enroute to Balaram, visit three amazing tourist attractions of Gujarat - Calico Museum, Adalaj Wav (step well) and the Modhera Sun Temple. The Calico Museum is one of the most famous and important museums of Gujarat, exhibiting an extensive array of tribal fabrics and antiques like wall hangings, tapestries, and costumes. The Adalaj Wav, the most famous of the Gujarati step-wells, was built in 1499 by royal families as a reliable source of water, throughout the year. The Modhera Sun Temple was built in 1026 AD during the reign of King Bhimdev I of solanki dynasty. The Temple is said to resemble the famous Konark temple in Orissa.

Arrive and check into the Balaram Palace Resort, one of the most famous heritage resorts of Gujarat. Overnight stay will be at Balaram Palace Resort.

Day 05: Balaram - Excursions to the Gowala and Garacia Tribal regions
Located around the hills bordering Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Gowala and Garacia are primarily sheepherders, known for their unique culture and traditions. The Gowala and Garacia tribes are second cousins to each other, differing only in the manner of living. While the Gowala are more settled, the Garacia are still wanderers, and their women dress in slightly less ostentatious manner than the Gowala females.

Visit and see these tribes on your Gujarat tribal tour to get an insight into their unique tribal life. Also enjoy a private performance of tribal dances.

Day 06: Balaram - Patan - Little Rann of Kutch
Today, we drive to Patan. Once the capital of medieval Gujarat, Patan is known for its Hindu and Jain architecture like Rani-ki-Vav, Rani and Dhanderwad Jain Temple among many other attractions. Patan is also famous for patola (an intricate form of double ikkat weaving) sarees.

Arrive Patan and visit one of the three families of patola weavers, known for their unique patola art. The fact that one patola sari can take up to six months to complete, proves that how difficult and demanding is the patola art. Also visit the famous 11th century Rani-ki-Vav (step well). All three families live close to this step well.

Continue drive into the Little Rann of Kutch. Arrive and check into the Desert Courser Camp. Overnight stay will be at the Desert Camp.

Day 07: Little Rann of Kutch
Composed of marshy salt flats and inhospitable Terai, the Little Rann of Kutch separates Kutch from the rest of Gujarat. Home to endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, the area is known for its unique wildlife and birds. Rabari and Banjara are the two important tribes of the region. While the Rabari, the most nomadic of Gujarat's tribes, constantly migrate in search for better grazing ground for their camels and sheep, the Banjara and other tribes have settled here.

Overnight stay will be at the Desert Camp.

Day 08: Little Rann of Kutch - Bhuj
Today, we enjoy a daylong drive westward into the bleak countryside of Kutch towards Bhuj, the region's capital. If it's the season when the Rabari migrate, then our journey may be enlivened by meeting a group of them, along the way. Arrive and check into the hotel for 4 nights, in order to know the unique tribes of the region.

Overnight stay will be at Bhuj.

Day 09 - 11: Bhuj -Little Rann of Kutch
Known as the 'Melting Pot of Tribes', the Rann of Kutch region is home to many unique tribes, known for their fascinating and colorful culture and traditions. The major tribes of the region are the Megwar, Samma, Jat, Mutwa, Ahir and Rabari. Enjoy daily excursions to the wonderful tribal regions of the barren and inhospitable Rann of Kutch and catch the various facets of tribal life in your camera. Also explore Bhuj, which was devastated by the earthquake that struck in January 2001. Visit and discover the Old City. See the Aina (Old) and Prag (New) Mahals (palaces) and visit the Bhartiya Folk Museum with its exhibits pertaining to local tribal life. Also meet an artist who is one of three people continuing to paint in the unique and distinct Rogan style.

Overnights stay will be at Bhuj.

Day 12: Bhuj - Mumbai
Morning at leisure. On time transfer to Bhuj airport to board the flight for Mumbai. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel.

Overnight stay will be at Mumbai.

Day 13: Mumbai - Departure
In time transfer to international airport / railway station to board flight / train for onward destination with interesting memories of Gujarat Tribal Tour.

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