Sasan Gir itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Sasan Gir

1. 01

   Day 1: One safari, one dam

   If you only have a single day, book the earliest possible morning jeep safari into the main Gir Jungle Trail zones and allow close to three hours for the drive, briefing and return. Rest and have breakfast once you're back, then spend the afternoon at Kamleshwar Dam for a quieter look at birdlife and the reservoir that sustains the forest through the dry months. If time allows before you leave, stop at the Crocodile Breeding Centre near Sasan, which needs only 30–45 minutes.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kamleshwar Dam	30–60 minutes	Easy	Winter mornings (November to February) for migratory birds; any clear morning for crocodile sightings

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Sasan Gir

1. 01

   Day 1: Settle in and a first safari

   Arrive the previous evening if possible, since permits are released for fixed morning and afternoon slots and an early start matters. Take a morning safari in one of the Gir Jungle Trail zones, rest through the middle of the day, then visit the Crocodile Breeding Centre and Kamleshwar Dam in the afternoon. If you are travelling with children or want a near-certain lion sighting, consider swapping one jeep safari for a visit to Devalia Safari Park instead.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kamleshwar Dam	30–60 minutes	Easy	Winter mornings (November to February) for migratory birds; any clear morning for crocodile sightings
   Devalia Safari Park (Gir Interpretation Zone)	45–75 minutes for the bus or jeep circuit	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon slots, when animals are more active and the light is softer

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: A second safari and Junagadh

   Take a second morning safari, ideally in a different zone from the first, to improve your chances and see different terrain. In the afternoon, drive to Junagadh (about an hour) for Uparkot Fort, or continue to Girnar hill if anyone in your group wants to attempt the ropeway and a shorter walk to the lower temples. Return to Sasan for the night, or press on to Diu or Somnath if that is your next stop.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uparkot Fort	1–2 hours	Moderate	Morning, before the midday heat builds over the exposed stone courtyards
   Girnar Hill	Half a day for the ropeway and lower temples; a full day for the complete climb to the summit	Demanding	Early morning, both for cooler temperatures and shorter ropeway queues

   Pace: Girnar Hill involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Uparkot Fort: Most of the fort's courtyards and ramparts are on level ground, manageable without much strain, but the two main stepwells, Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo, involve descending a long flight of rock-cut steps that some visitors may prefer to view from the top rather than climb down fully.

   With parents at Girnar Hill: The ropeway removes most of the elevation gain, but it still ends short of the final summit temples, which require further climbing on uneven stone steps with no shade. Anyone with knee, hip or breathing difficulties should treat the ropeway's upper station as the practical limit rather than pushing further.

Plan 03

3 days in Sasan Gir

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrival and first safari

   Settle in the evening before, then take an early morning safari in the Gir Jungle Trail. Spend the afternoon at Kamleshwar Dam and the Crocodile Breeding Centre, both easy, low-walking stops that suit any age.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kamleshwar Dam	30–60 minutes	Easy	Winter mornings (November to February) for migratory birds; any clear morning for crocodile sightings

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Second safari and Junagadh

   Take a second safari, in a different zone if your permit allows, then rest. In the afternoon, drive to Junagadh for Uparkot Fort and, for those with energy and good knees, the Girnar ropeway partway up the hill. Return to Sasan for the night.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uparkot Fort	1–2 hours	Moderate	Morning, before the midday heat builds over the exposed stone courtyards

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Uparkot Fort: Most of the fort's courtyards and ramparts are on level ground, manageable without much strain, but the two main stepwells, Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuvo, involve descending a long flight of rock-cut steps that some visitors may prefer to view from the top rather than climb down fully.

3. 03

   Day 3: Somnath or Diu

   Use the last day for a single longer excursion rather than trying to cover everything: either Somnath's Jyotirlinga temple on the coast (about 65 km) or Diu's Portuguese fort and beaches (about 100 km, better as an overnight than a rushed day trip). Travellers interested in local culture can instead spend a quieter morning at Jambur village, where the Siddi community performs the Dhamal dance, before heading onward.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Jambur Village (Siddi Dhamal)	30–60 minutes	Easy	The Dhamal dance is traditionally performed by Siddi men on Fridays; confirm current timing with a local guide before planning around it

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Sasan Gir trip for parents and children

• Book the earliest available safari slot; later morning drives are warmer and the jeep's open sides make early starts genuinely cold in winter, so bring a jacket and a blanket.
• The safari vehicle is a converted jeep with hard bench seats and no suspension to speak of; a cushion and a firm grip on the roll bar make a real difference over three hours.
• There is very little walking required anywhere in Sasan Gir itself; the sanctuary, Devalia Safari Park and the Crocodile Breeding Centre are all seen from, or close to, a vehicle.
• Carry water, sunscreen and a hat for daytime stops even in winter; shade is limited at dam viewpoints and the crocodile centre's open enclosures.
• If a second safari feels like too much, Devalia Safari Park offers a calmer, shorter alternative with a far higher chance of seeing a lion, since the animals are within a fenced enclosure.
• Mobile network coverage is patchy in the forest; download anything you need and tell your lodge your return time before a safari.

Sasan Gir with elderly parents: the full guide →