Gir National Park Tour Packages 2026

At Gujarat Expert, our Sasan Gir tour packages are built around the Forest Department's actual safari calendar. A 2-day lion safari trip works for a quick weekend. Travelers with more time usually extend it into a Gir wildlife tour package combined with Somnath, Dwarka or Diu.

Quick Answer: Gir Jungle Trail safaris run from 16th October to 15th June, and shut every year from 16th June to 15th October for the monsoon. December to February gives the most comfortable weather. A Gir tour package price depends heavily on hotel category, number of safaris and group size — our current packages on this page start from ₹3,500 and go up depending on duration and destinations added.

Safari timings, permit fees and route information below have been checked directly against the Gujarat Forest Department's official Gir booking portal (girlion.gujarat.gov.in) as of September 2026. These get revised by the department without much notice, so reconfirm before you travel.

A Conservation Success Story Worth Seeing in Person

Gir National Park is a genuine wildlife-conservation success story. A century ago, unchecked hunting by British officers and local rulers pushed the Asiatic lion to the edge of extinction. The Nawab of Junagadh stepped in to protect the last surviving lions and their forest habitat, and the Gujarat Forest Department has carried that protection forward since the sanctuary's establishment in 1965.

That effort is still paying off. As per the 16th Asiatic Lion Census (2025), Gujarat's Asiatic lion population has reached 891 lions, up from 674 in 2020 — a 32% jump in five years. Around 394 lions live within the core area of Gir National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining land; the rest have spread into satellite habitats such as Girnar, Mitiyala and Barda as their range has widened across Saurashtra. Gir remains the stronghold of the species, and it's the one place where you can go on a jungle safari and see one.

The forest itself carries over 600 recorded species of flora and fauna — 41 mammal species, 47 reptile species, and more than 300 resident and migratory bird species, per the Forest Department's own count. Leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, sambar, chital, chinkara, nilgai and wild boar all share the same landscape as the lions. On a good Gir jungle safari, spotting more than one species in a single trip is routine, not lucky.

Best Time to Visit Gir National Park

Season	Months	What to Expect
Winter (Best)	December – February	Cool, pleasant weather, comfortable safaris, good visibility
Summer	March – mid-June	Hot days; water sources draw animals out, so sightings can improve, though nothing is guaranteed
Monsoon (Closed)	16 June – 15 October	Gir Jungle Trail is closed; Devalia stays open, minus every Wednesday

Go between December and February if comfort matters more than anything else. If you're willing to handle the heat, March through May is worth considering too — animals cluster around waterholes, which can work in your favour, though we won't promise you a sighting either way.

Gir Safari Zones — Gir Jungle Trail vs Devalia

Two very different experiences get sold under the "Gir safari" name, and mixing them up is the easiest way to end up disappointed.

Gir Jungle Trail is the real forest safari — a Gypsy ride through the actual protected forest, on trails laid out across the Dedakadi and Sasan ranges, each route averaging around 35 km. This is closed every year from 16th June to 15th October for the monsoon.

Devalia (the Gir Interpretation Zone) is a fenced, 412-hectare section built specifically so visitors get a near-certain sighting even when the main forest is closed or booked out. It actually runs two separate safaris: a mini-bus safari and a Gypsy safari, priced and timed differently — more on that below. Devalia is shut every Wednesday, safari or no safari, so don't plan a visit around that day.

Only open Gypsy jeeps are used on the Jungle Trail; there's no canter or elephant safari at Gir.

Gir Safari Timings 2026

Timings change with the season, and the official Gujarat Forest Department schedule (checked directly on girlion.gujarat.gov.in) currently shows this:

Gir Jungle Trail

Season	Morning	Extra Morning Slot	Evening
Winter (16 Oct – 28/29 Feb)	6:30 AM – 9:30 AM	9:00 AM – 12:00 PM	3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Summer (1 Mar – 15 Jun)	6:00 AM – 9:00 AM	9:00 AM – 12:00 PM	4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Monsoon (16 Jun – 15 Oct)	Closed	Closed	Closed

Devalia Gypsy Safari runs in tighter 55-minute slots — 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 AM in winter, shifting half an hour earlier from March to June, plus three evening slots. The mini-bus safari runs even more slots through the day, in 30-minute batches, and costs a lot less per head since you're sharing a bus rather than a private Gypsy.

Book against these slots directly, not against whatever a third-party blog says — timings get revised by the Forest Department without much notice.

Gir Safari Permit & Price

Permits are booked online only, through the Gujarat Forest Department's own portal — girlion.gujarat.gov.in. There is no walk-in counter, and the department explicitly warns travelers about fraudulent third-party sites promising "confirmed" permits at a premium. Stick to the official portal.

The pricing structure has three separate pieces — permit, vehicle, guide — and they don't come bundled:

Component	Weekday (Mon–Fri)	Weekend / Festival
Jungle Trail e-permit, up to 6 Indian nationals	₹800	₹1,000
Jungle Trail e-permit, up to 6 foreign nationals	₹7,600	₹9,500
Extra child (3–12 yrs), Indian	₹100	₹125
Extra child (3–12 yrs), foreign	₹1,900	₹2,375
Jungle Trail Gypsy — 4-seater	₹2,500	₹2,500
Jungle Trail Gypsy — 6-seater	₹3,500	₹3,500
Jungle Trail Gypsy — 8-seater	₹4,500	₹4,500
Devalia Gypsy vehicle (4/6/8-seater)	₹2,000 / ₹2,500 / ₹3,000	same
Devalia mini-bus, per Indian visitor	₹150	₹190

So a group of six sharing a 6-seater Gypsy on a weekday jungle safari pays ₹800 permit + ₹3,500 vehicle = ₹4,300 for the whole group, before guide charges — which get paid separately to the guide, not through the portal. One e-permit covers a maximum of six people plus one child aged 3–12.

This is exactly why we don't quote a flat "Gir tour package price" without knowing your group size and season — the permit-plus-vehicle math changes with both.

Skip the arrival-day gamble. Permits sell fast on weekends and around festivals. If your travel dates are fixed, lock the safari permit first — hotels and cabs can be adjusted around it; a sold-out permit date can't be undone.

How to Reach Gir National Park

The Forest Department's own distance table, measured from Sasan Gir, is the one to trust over the assorted numbers floating around travel blogs:

From	Distance to Sasan Gir
Veraval	45 km
Junagadh	60 km
Diu	100 km
Rajkot	160 km
Ahmedabad	370 km

By Air: Keshod is the closest airport at roughly 60 km, though flight connectivity there is limited. Diu Airport is about 100 km out. For anyone flying from farther away, Rajkot (160 km) and Ahmedabad (370 km) are the two airports with real domestic and international connectivity — most travelers end up routing through one of these two rather than Keshod.

By Rail: Sasan Gir has its own station, about 60 km from Junagadh and 45 km from Veraval, both linked to Ahmedabad by broad-gauge rail via Rajkot.

By Road: State highways connect Gir to Junagadh, Veraval, Amreli and Una, with regular GSRTC and private buses running these routes.

For destinations the Forest Department table doesn't cover — Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai — we're going by standard road-route distances rather than an official figure, so treat these as approximate:

From	Distance (Approx.)
Vadodara to Sasan Gir	~400 km
Surat to Sasan Gir	~465 km
Mumbai to Sasan Gir	~845 km

How to Reach Sasan Gir from Ahmedabad — the 370 km stretch — is the most searched route on this page, which makes sense: Ahmedabad is where most travelers land first. A private cab covers it in a day, but if you're also stopping at Somnath or Dwarka, break the drive rather than pushing straight through.

Flying into Ahmedabad or Rajkot and driving the last leg is the practical option for anyone coming from Mumbai, Delhi or further — the road distance from Mumbai alone runs past 800 km.

Places to Visit in Gir & Nearby

A Gir tour package rarely means "just the safari" — most travelers combine it with a few nearby attractions:

• Devalia Safari Park – ideal for families or when jungle-trail permits aren't available.
• Kamleshwar Dam – on the Hiran River, inside the sanctuary buffer, good for crocodile and bird sightings.
• Gir Interpretation Zone Museum – small but useful for understanding lion conservation history before your safari.
• Kankai Mata Temple – a local pilgrimage spot inside the forest, accessible on specific safari routes.
• Somnath Temple – approximately 45 km from Sasan Gir via Veraval, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, commonly clubbed with Gir tours.
• Junagadh – 60 km away, home to Uparkot Fort and the base of Girnar hill.

Things to Do in Gir

• Visit the Gir Interpretation Zone for a guided, family-friendly wildlife experience.
• Try birdwatching early morning near Kamleshwar Dam — Gir has recorded over 300 bird species.
• Stay at a jungle resort or eco-lodge near the park boundary for a full forest-stay experience rather than a plain hotel.
• Combine the trip with Somnath darshan the same evening, since it's less than an hour's drive away.

Sample Gir Tour Itineraries

2 Days / 1 Night — Quick Lion Safari Getaway

Day	Plan
Day 1	Arrive Sasan Gir, check-in, evening jungle safari, overnight stay
Day 2	Early morning safari, visit Kamleshwar Dam / Devalia, departure

3 Days / 2 Nights — Gir Wildlife Tour Package

Day	Plan
Day 1	Arrive Sasan Gir, check-in, evening safari
Day 2	Morning safari, visit Somnath Temple, evening at leisure or second safari
Day 3	Devalia Safari Park visit, local sightseeing, departure

5 Days / 4 Nights — Dwarka Somnath Gir Tour Package

Day	Plan
Day 1	Arrive Ahmedabad, drive to Dwarka
Day 2	Dwarka sightseeing, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
Day 3	Drive to Somnath via Porbandar
Day 4	Somnath Darshan, drive to Sasan Gir, evening safari
Day 5	Morning safari, departure to Ahmedabad or onward

These are base structures — we customize the exact itinerary, safari count and hotel category based on your dates and group size when you book.

Popular Combination Packages

Since Gir sits close to some of Gujarat's biggest pilgrimage and coastal destinations, most travelers don't visit it in isolation:

• Gir Somnath Tour Package — pairs the lion safari with Somnath Jyotirlinga darshan, roughly 45 minutes apart.
• Dwarka Somnath Gir Tour Package — a longer circuit covering Dwarka, Nageshwar, Somnath and Gir together, usually 5–6 days.
• Gir Diu Tour Package — combines the forest safari with Diu's beaches and Portuguese-era architecture, about 100 km from Sasan Gir.
• Gujarat Wildlife Tour Package — for travelers who want to add Gir alongside other Gujarat wildlife spots like Velavadar Blackbuck National Park or Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

Gir Tour Packages by City — Where Are You Traveling From?

• Gir Tour Packages from Ahmedabad — the most common starting point, with daily departures and the best flight connectivity.
• Sasan Gir Tour Package from Rajkot — the shortest route, around 3 hours by road, making it ideal for a quick weekend trip.
• Sasan Gir Tour Package from Vadodara — usually clubbed with Statue of Unity or Saurashtra darshan tours.
• Sasan Gir Tour Package from Surat — a longer drive, so we usually recommend an overnight halt en route or a flight to Rajkot.
• Gir Tour Packages from Mumbai — best done by flying into Ahmedabad or Rajkot first, then a road transfer to Gir.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Booking hotels before confirming the safari permit — permits run out faster than rooms.
• Planning a same-day arrival-and-safari trip without buffer time for road delays.
• Assuming Devalia and the Gir Jungle Trail are interchangeable — they're very different experiences.
• Visiting between 16 June and 15 October expecting a core jungle safari, when only Devalia is open.
• Carrying the wrong ID — the name on your government ID must exactly match the safari permit.

Practical Tips for Visiting Gir

• Morning safaris in winter get genuinely cold in an open Gypsy — carry a jacket even though Gujarat overall stays warm.
• Book more than one safari if your schedule allows. A single safari is a single roll of the dice; two gives you a real shot.
• Devalia's shorter format suits kids and elderly travelers better than the 3-hour Jungle Trail.
• Carry printed copies of your safari permit and ID. Forest-area mobile network is patchy, and a dead phone battery shouldn't be the reason you're turned away at the gate.

FAQs

1. What is the best time to visit Gir National Park?

December to February for the most comfortable weather. March to mid-June also works if you don't mind the heat, since animals move toward waterholes and can be easier to spot.

2. How many lions are there in Gir National Park in 2026?

As per the 16th Asiatic Lion Census (2025), Gujarat has 891 Asiatic lions in total, with around 394 in the core area of Gir National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining land.

3. How do I book a Gir jungle safari?

Permits are booked online only, through the Gujarat Forest Department's official portal at girlion.gujarat.gov.in. Gujarat Expert handles this booking directly as part of your tour package.

4. What is the Gir tour package price?

It depends on hotel category, number of safaris, group size and season — check the live package listing on this page for current pricing, which currently starts from ₹3,500. Longer combination packages with Somnath, Dwarka or Diu cost more.

5. When is Gir National Park closed?

The Gir Jungle Trail is closed every year from 16th June to 15th October for the monsoon. Devalia stays open through this period, except every Wednesday, which is its fixed weekly closure.

6. What is the difference between Gir Jungle Trail and Devalia Safari Park?

Gir Jungle Trail is a roughly 3-hour safari through the actual protected forest, with sightings not guaranteed. Devalia is a fenced 412-hectare zone built for a much higher likelihood of sightings, with both a mini-bus and a Gypsy safari option, and it operates year-round apart from Wednesdays.

7. How far is Sasan Gir from Ahmedabad?

The Ahmedabad to Sasan Gir distance is 370 km by road, per the Forest Department's own distance table.

8. Can I combine a Gir tour with Somnath or Dwarka?

Yes, Somnath is about 45 km from Sasan Gir and is commonly combined with Gir. Dwarka Somnath Gir tour packages typically run 5–6 days covering all three destinations plus Diu.

9. Is Gir National Park good for a weekend trip from Ahmedabad or Rajkot?

Yes. A 2 days 1 night weekend trip works well, especially from Rajkot, which is only about 3 hours away. From Ahmedabad, a 2N/3D plan gives a more relaxed schedule.

10. What animals can I see in Gir apart from lions?

Leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, sambar, chital, chinkara, nilgai, wild boar and over 300 bird species are found across the sanctuary.

11. Is there an age restriction for the Gir jungle safari?

The official permit system doesn't publish a strict minimum age. Very young kids may find the 3-hour Jungle Trail long — Devalia's shorter format suits families better.

12. How many people can travel in one safari Gypsy?

One e-permit covers a maximum of 6 persons plus one child aged 3–12 years.

13. Do I need to carry any documents for the Gir safari?

Yes, a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence) is mandatory, and the name must match the safari permit exactly.

14. What is the nearest airport to Sasan Gir?

Keshod, about 60 km away, is the closest airport, though flight options there are limited. Rajkot (160 km) and Ahmedabad (370 km) offer far better connectivity and are what most travelers actually fly into.

15. How do I book a Gir tour package with Gujarat Expert?

You can call us at +91-7838908606, send a WhatsApp enquiry, or fill the quick enquiry form on this page, and our team will share a customized itinerary and price within a few hours.

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