Day 1 France -> Delhi
Depart France with a flight to Delhi. Arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Typical welcome with a flower necklace. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 Delhi - Ahmedabad (Night train)
After breakfast, you will set off to explore Old and New Delhi. You will visit the most important and significant places in the Indian capital. During the day, you will admire the Gate of India, a monument to the soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War. You can also visit the Humanyuo Tomb, a magnificent example of Mughal architecture. Lunch during the visits. You will then set off to discover the new Delhi with the Raj Ghat, home to the memorial to Gandhi, the father of the nation. You will be able to contemplate the Qutub Minar, also known as the Victory Tower, which remains the tallest tower in India and the third tallest in the world. Finally, you'll head to the Connaught district, which is characterised by its lively, modern feel. Here you can see the Presidential Palace, Parliament and the country's other institutions. At the end of the day, and depending on the time of your train, transfer to Delhi station to catch your train to Ahmedabad. Picnic lunch and overnight on the train.
Day 3 Ahmedabad - Poshina
On arrival, welcome and departure for Poshina. Arrive in Poshina and check into your hotel. You will then set off to discover the incredible Bhils and Gharasai tribes. You will discover their way of life, their activities and experience authentic moments with them. Lunch during the visits. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Poshina
After breakfast, departure for another day to discover the tribes and landscapes of the region. This day will be another opportunity to share in the daily life of these tribes and to capture moments that will remain magical for you. Lunch time. In the afternoon, you will visit the city's markets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Poshina - Dasada
After breakfast, set off by road for Dasada and meet the wild donkeys. Arriving in the small villages, you can wander around and meet the typical, traditional nomad camps. You can also meet nomadic "Bajana" tribes walking their large herds. Lunch during the visits. Continue on to Dasada. Arrive in Dasada and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 6 Dasada - Bhuj
After breakfast, departure for Bhuj, in the far west of the state of Gujarat. Bhuj is a fortified town in the Rann desert, an extension of the Thar desert, on the old caravan route from Persia. The road runs alongside large expanses of marshland that provide much of India's salt. On the way, a stop at Rajkot, a pleasant little town and former capital of the princes of Saurashtra. Crossing the town of Morvi, built around its pretty palace. Lunch stop. Continue on to Halvad, a village with houses decorated in carved wood. Arrival in Bhuj in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Bhuj
After breakfast, departure for a visit to the city of Bhuj. You will discover its incredible bazaar. You will explore the Aina Mahal Palace (or Palace of Mirrors), the Folk Art Museum and the Swaminarayan Temple. You will then set off on an excursion to the delicate Shara Bagh Palace, near the sea, the residence of the last Maharajah of Bhuj, part of which has been converted into a museum. Lunch during the visit. In the evening, return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 8 Bhuj - Wankaner
After breakfast, departure for the town of Wankaner, a former Rajput stronghold. Arrive in Wankaner and check into a 19th-century palace where the Maharadja still lives. Lunch en route. You can discover the stud farm of the famous Kathiawari horses, a collection of old cars and a beautiful well. Dinner and overnight at the palace.
Day 9 Wankaner - Dwarka
After breakfast, departure for Dwarka, one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism. It has always been an important pilgrimage centre, as for the Hindus it was here that Krishna built his capital after leaving Mathura. Lunch en route. Arrive in Dwarka at the end of the day and check into the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Dwarka
After breakfast, you will set off to visit the Dwarka temple. According to legend, it was built in a single night by Krishna's grandson. In reality, most of the temple was built during the reign of Akbar. Some older parts date from the 15th century. The entrance to the temple faces north. The main body of the temple consists of five storeys supported by 60 sculpted columns. Every year, the anniversary of Krishna's birth is celebrated here with great pomp. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Dwarka - Gondal
After breakfast, departure for Gondal, home of the Saurasthra nomads. Arrive in Gondal and check into the hotel. You will then visit one of Gondal's ancient palaces dating from the 17th century. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 Gondal
After breakfast, visit this pretty green town. You will visit its magnificent temples, its ayurvedic pharmacy created by the Maharadja and its princely stud farm. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 Gondal - Sasangir
After breakfast, departure for Junagadh, a fascinating town, extremely well preserved and off the beaten tourist track. This town is an ancient fortified city built at the foot of the sacred mountain of Ginar. Its citadel, narrow streets, Buddhist caves and magnificent mosques will plunge you into an age-old India. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 Sasangir
After breakfast, the day will be devoted to a safari in the last refuge of Asia's lions. This mountainous region is home to this endangered species as well as hyenas, leopards, parrots, peacocks, crocodiles, antelopes and monkeys. Picnic lunch on an incredible and unforgettable day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 Sasangir - Somnath - Diu
After breakfast, departure for Diu, a small island in the Gulf of Kutch. On the way, you will visit the Somnath temple, one of the most famous in India, as described in the most ancient texts. It is one of the 12 most sacred places in India dedicated to the God Shiva. It is said to contain the relics of the creator and destroyer God. Lunch en route. Arrive at Diu for a leisurely afternoon by the sea. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 Diu - Palitana
After breakfast, visit Diu. Until 1961, the town was a former Portuguese trading post and owes its fame to its imposing fort. The town of Diu is built on the island of the same name, with salt flats and marshes to the north and rocky coves and sandy beaches to the south. You'll discover its magnificent fortress, as well as the church of Saint Paul, the only one still in use today. Then visit the church of Saint Thomas, home to the town's small museum. The third church has been converted into a hospital. Lunch during the visits. Departure at the end of the day for Palitana, arrival and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 17 Palitana - Bhavnagar - Palitana
After breakfast, departure for an excursion to the most important Jain pilgrimage site. Climb the 3,500 steps, either on foot or in a sedan chair, to reach all 863 Jain temples, high up in the hills overlooking the Saurasthra plain. This place is called "Shatrunjaya", "place of victory" in French. Visits to the temples end at 5.30pm and no one is allowed to stay, not even the priests. These temples, divided into nine enclosures, took over 900 years to build on this sacred mountain dedicated to the gods. The most beautiful sanctuary is surrounded by a magnificent frieze of dragons, while another is regularly visited by barren women who ask the gods to give them the chance to give birth. From the summit there is a superb view of the region and, on a clear day, of the Gulf of Cambay. Return to Bhavnagar for lunch. Afternoon at leisure to relax before returning to Palitana. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 18 Palitana - Lothal - Uthelia
After breakfast departure for the city of Lothal, one of the well-known cities of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. The origin and history of Lothal can be dated back to 2400 BC. Lothal in Gujarat is one of the major archaeological sites. It was discovered during the year 1954, but its excavation work began on February 13, 1955, which continued until May 19, 1960. Lunch. Continuation to Uthelia, arrival and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 19 Uthelia - Jambugodha
After breakfast, departure for Jambudhoga, stopping off at Champaner on the way. The historic monuments at Champaner consist of a series of fortifications, some of which start at the top of the hill and end in the plains. The fortifications are made of solid sandstone with intermediate bastions with beautiful balconies. Of the massive ruins, five mosques are still in good condition. The most important of these is the Jama Masjid, which lies to the east of the royal enclosure. The buildings represent a perfect fusion of Hindu-Muslim architecture, especially in the Great Mosque (Jami Masjid), which was a model for later mosque architecture in India. This particular style dates back to the important period of the regional sultanates. Lunch during the visit. Continuation to Jambugodha. Arrival at Jambugodha. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 20 Jambugodha - Chhota Udaipur - Jambhugodha
After breakfast departure for one of the most picturesque and tribal regions of India, Chhota Udaipur, to a number of hamlets of the Bhils Ratwas and other tribal people and handicrafts like pottery, arrow craft, bow making, mural paintings. You will spend incredible moments in contact with the locals. Lunch during these visits. Return to Jambhugodha. Arrival at Jambhugoha. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 21 Jambhugodha - Ahmedabad - Delhi (Flight) -> France
After breakfast, explore the village and surrounding area. Then lunch. Visit to Ahmedabad, the country's largest city with a population of 6 million. It boasts a wealth of Hindo Islamic architectural marvels. Visit to the Roop Mati mosque and the calico museum, a textile museum presenting the different weaving techniques used throughout India today and in the past. You will explore the city's markets and bazaars. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport for the domestic flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi, and depending on your flight schedule, fly to France. End of our services.
Day 22 France
Arrival in France
