Arrivals at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Airport pickup any time night or day. 

The Old City of Ahmedabad was entered on the World Heritage list in 2017

We will start our day in a family workshop that specialises in Mata ki Pachardi, painting. Hand painted with vegetable dyes on cloth panels celebrating the Goddess. Beautiful work.

Then we will take a spin through the Old City in tuk-tuks, Visit an intricate a Hindu Temple, Step Well, old Mosque, beautiful hand carved teak traditional house, have a thali lunch. Then wander some of the narrow laneways before returning to our heritage hotel, an oasis in this bustling city.

Sparkle Central this evening at the Law Garden Night Market

Welcome dinner in a popular Restaurant nearby.

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We’re going Shreyas Museum of Folk Art and Crafts- contains exquisite pieces of colourful embroidery, beadwork, woodcarving, metalwork, and leather work.

Inspiration with lunch at Gandhi Ashram and an afternoon visiting the wonderful work of Manav Sadhna in the nearby slums.  A Women’s Centre, a children’s learning centre and an inspiring women’s recycling project that is enhancing street sweepers income and social status. This is an inspiring place to visit, and an uplifting experience.

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Heading to the handloom hub of Sayla, arriving around lunch time we will visit a family of weavers that practice Tangaliya, a time-consuming form where the warp is wrapped in cotton to create a subtle texture.

We are staying in the family Palace of the local Princely State.

Hopefully we can also visit the Old Palace of this Princely State

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Travelling across country to Bhuj today.

In the afternoon a stroll through the market to get a feeling for Bhuj. We will visit the Aina Mahal, the old palace, damaged by the 2002 earthquake and yet still full of charm.

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We will visit the world famous Ajrakh printers of Ajrakhpur, have their complicated and lengthy processes explained to us, look at their fantastic new water recycling plant and enjoy the hubbub of the busy workshops. 

Lunch is a fabulous local thali [mixed plate meal] and fortified by that we are moving on to visit Khamir an artisan support organization.

We can visit a local antique textile guy in the evening if you would like, they source amazing work and are always friendly and informative, they are not a pressured sell type family.

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Out and about today, the White Desert salt flats- a memorable landscape- it will be brilliant white salt as far as the eye can see.

Returning via some local tribal villages and Kala Raksha.

Heading into Bhuj there is a charming stepwell and the old memorials of past Maharajas to wander around if we have time.

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Qasab- a training group that has worked with rural development for many years and built up an impressive team of embroidery women will be our hosts today. First a presentation on how they work and why, some fabulous examples of tribal embroidery will be handed around for up close inspection [ hard to put down once you get your hands on them] and then sit with some of their women and see if we can learn what it takes to join their team through an embroidery workshop.

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Travel onto Mandvi today. This is a poke around type of day at this small seaside town. 

There are huge wooden handmade boats to see, and maybe the guy who makes boats in glass bottles will be open. We will have a beach experience, Indian style- food sellers, camel rides and a whole lot of activity.

Tie and dye is famous in Gujarat. It sounds easy to pinch the fabric and wrap it with thread; once you try you realise the time and patience that goes into the work. This area was famous for work that was as fine as sand grains scattered across the cloth, we will visit an amazing workshop.

Lunch is a cooking class with a local family.

Visit Vijaya Vilas Palace [ when you have a palace next door, you have to pop over]

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This morning we will visit a Batik workshop, very fine work and always a beautiful storeroom of cloth to raid.

Then we move onto a local village and take a stitching workshop in Rabari embroidery. We are also invited for lunch; it will be an interesting afternoon.

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Time to move on,  back across the flats of The Little Rann of Kutch to a peaceful eco-resort. We will take an afternoon jeep safari to the Wild Ass Reserve.

Dance with the local women around the campfire tonight.

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If you like to get up for sunrise we can head out and look for flamingo on the salt flats via jeep safaris.

Heading across country, it will slowly turn greener and more productive, we will visit another impressive stepwell at Modhera Sun Temple.

On our way to the Salvi family masters of double ikat weaving. Both the warp and weft are coloured with natural dyes to make intricate woven saris

Onto our home away from home a very comfortable 15th Century Fort.

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A day in the Zenana [women’s quarters of this old fort]  

Much to do here– lots of relaxing, stitching, journals in the courtyard, jeeps to visit local villages. 

Wander through the market to see the arrow makers [and yes, they are still used out there in the hills], potters and an ancient Hindu temple defaced by the last Mughal Aurangzeb hundreds of years ago. 

Afternoon, Jeep safari to visit terracotta horses in a shrine by the river and tribal villages. 

Feel like a king or queen and do nothing just relax…. Drinks of the terrace in the evening a must

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A slow morning at our fort, always hard to leave, then back to Ahmedabad. Time for a little last-minute shopping.

Let's celebrate our adventures with a farewell dinner. together.

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Departures from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India 

We will drop you to meet your flights.

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Physical Fitness for Sightseeing 

This adventure is crafted for enthusiastic, active travellers with a good general level of health and mobility.

To make the most of your experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 3–4 hours a day — sometimes over uneven ground, up hills, and climbing a few flights of stairs.

You may also find yourself getting in and out of local transport and navigating the occasional over-the-bath shower.

If you enjoy a bit of daily movement and love discovering new places on foot, you’ll thrive on this tour.

Just a friendly heads-up: we need to walk at an average pace - it will not be suitable for those who prefer a slow pace or need frequent rest stops.

Etiquette

• Be mindful when taking photos, especially in temples, on the ghats, or in private spaces. Always consider how you’d feel with a camera in your face. 

• That said, many Indian people love a good selfie—say hello, ask politely, show them the photo, and then ask if you can take one of them. Works a charm.

• Learning a few local courtesies in the language of the region is always appreciated.

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Food

Food is a huge part of culture, and we’re there to try it all. For group meals, we usually order a range of dishes to share, exploring local specialties as we go.

Indian food is cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients, so it’s usually easy to keep track of what’s in your meal. Manufactured products (soy milk, faux meats, etc.) aren’t common.

• Vegetarian – very easy

• Vegan – possible, but a little more challenging

• Chilli-free – not really possible, but we can order mild

• Onion/garlic-free – tricky

• Wheat-free – generally easy

Remember, for Indian cooks “no chilli” feels like “please don’t breathe”—but they’ll do their best!

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Health

Drink only filtered or bottled water—never from the tap, even for brushing your teeth.

Stay hydrated: aim for at least 2 litres of water a day. You’ll feel better and be less likely to get a wobbly tummy.

• See your doctor or a travel medicine specialist before you leave.

• Bring enough medications for the whole trip plus copies of your prescriptions.

• Menstrual products: tampons can be hard to find; pads are readily available.

And don’t forget bug spray.

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Money

• KNOW YOUR CARD PIN—ATMs will not accept tap.

• There are ATMs everywhere, and it’s easy to withdraw cash once you have your PIN.

Tell your bank you’re travelling so they don’t block your card for “unusual activity.”

• Travel cards can be handy, but check they work before you leave. Many guests have had good luck with Wise cards.

Have a backup card tucked away in your suitcase.

• Cash is good as a backup but can be tricky to exchange at a fair rate—ask at the hotel desk.

• Credit cards: less widely accepted, and sometimes incur extra fees.

Currency: Indian Rupee.

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Shopping

There will be treasures! Shopping supports the local economy.

If you know you’re interested in something (carpets, spices, textiles), do a little research—knowing prices back home helps.

Bargaining is the norm in markets. If you’re not experienced, Google a few tips and go in with a smile.

NGOs and social enterprises are usually fixed-price.

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Suitcase

A medium normal-sized suitcase plus a fold-up soft bag for extras works best. Big cases are hard to manoeuvre on the bus.

Recommended size for a medium suitcase:

60–70 cm (H) × 40–50 cm (W) × 25–30 cm (D)

or 24–28" × 16–20" × 10–12"

It’s not easy to buy decent luggage at the last minute on the road.

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Weather

Days are warm; mornings and evenings can be cool. Layers are your friend. A cardigan and socks are often appreciated.

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Power

Power is 240V. European two-pin adaptors are most useful.

The older Indian three-prong plugs are now rarely seen.

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Clothing

Lightweight, loose layers are ideal. Three or four outfits are usually enough, and you’ll find plenty to buy along the way.

A scarf is always useful—for cool air-con, temple visits, modesty, sun protection.

For temples, mosques, and other religious sites, wear long trousers or a mid-calf skirt and bring a scarf to cover your head if needed. Otherwise they’ll lend you a cover-up… and it’s usually a polyester sack!

Aim for modest tops: no cleavage. Midriff is surprisingly fine—just look at the aunties in saris!

Leave expensive jewellery at home.

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Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes—sneakers or well-strapped sandals—are essential. Footpaths can be uneven and you’ll be too busy looking around to watch every step.

A pair of rubber thongs/flip-flops is great for bathrooms.

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Laundry

Any two-night stay is a perfect time to send laundry out. Indian laundry is a joy—washed and ironed, and I’ve never lost a thing.

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Fitness

We get on and off the minibus every day. Markets, monuments, and towns all beg to be explored.

You should be comfortable walking for an hour or two, and expect some steps.

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• Begging

In general, please don’t encourage begging. Avoid giving lollies, pens, or treats to children—it creates a begging mentality. If you’d like to donate items, we can pass them to a school.

• There’s no pension system: giving a few coins to an elderly or disabled person is a kind and appreciated gesture.

• If you love interacting with kids, a friendly chat, joke, or shared moment is far better than a gift.

• OR bring a bubble blower - bubbles floating through the air are a universal language of joy.

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Tipping

Tipping is customary. Keep small notes handy:

• 20–50 INR for small services (bags, room service, laundry delivery)

• Around 100 INR for guides, performers, or street photo models

Please also set something aside for our driver - they keep us safe on the roads.

As a guide, think US$2–3 per person per day. Often a group volunteer organises a thank-you at the end of the trip.

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Environment

Tread lightly: conserve water and electricity, and carry your rubbish out where possible.

Say NO to plastic.

Please bring a cloth shopping bag.