Ghogha Hazira Ro Ro Ferry Travel Guide
The comfortable season for the Ghogha to Hazira ferry is about October to March , when the Gulf of Khambhat is calm and the crossing is smooth. The service usually pauses for...
The best time to sail, and when the ferry stops for the monsoon
The comfortable season for the Ghogha to Hazira ferry is about October to March, when the Gulf of Khambhat is calm and the crossing is smooth. The service usually pauses for several weeks in the monsoon, around June to August or September, when the sea turns rough. Plan your crossing for the drier months if you can.
- October to March: the calm, easy monthsThis is the settled season on the gulf. The sea is gentle, the boat keeps closer to its timings, and the crossing is comfortable even if you get seasick easily. It is also the pleasant travel season across Gujarat, so it pairs well with a Saurashtra or south Gujarat trip. Book ahead on weekends and around festivals, when cars fill the deck first.
- April and May: hot but usually calmThe pre-monsoon months are very warm on both coasts, but the sea is usually still fine and the ferry keeps running. Crowds thin out after the winter peak, so seats and car slots are easier to get. Carry water and sun cover for the open deck, because the middle of the day at sea can be strong.
- June to September: the monsoon pauseThis is when the gulf gets rough, and rough water is the one thing that stops this boat. The operator usually suspends the service for several weeks in this window for safety, and even when it runs, sailings can be delayed or cancelled. If you are travelling in these months, always check the day before and keep a road plan ready as a backup.
The Ghogha to Hazira ferry is a working sea link across an open gulf, not a fair-weather joyride, so the sea decides the calendar. When the monsoon sets in, the harbour holds the boat for safety and the service takes its annual break. Treat about October to March as your safe window, and never build a tight, unmissable connection on a monsoon sailing.
What the long drive costs you, and what the crossing saves
Without the ferry you drive the long way around the head of the Gulf of Khambhat, roughly 370 to 394 km and about 10 to 12 hours through Ahmedabad and Vadodara. The RoPax ferry turns that into a sea crossing of about 90 km and, by the government's figure, about 3 to 4 hours. This is the whole reason the boat exists.
- The drive it replacesGhogha sits near Bhavnagar in Saurashtra, and Hazira sits near Surat in south Gujarat, but a wide gulf lies between them. To drive it you must go all the way around the top of the gulf, through Ahmedabad and Vadodara, roughly 370 to 394 km. On a normal day that is about 10 to 12 hours of highway, tolls and truck traffic, often more if you hit city jams at either end.
- The crossing that replaces itThe ferry runs straight across the mouth of the gulf, about 90 km of water. The government quotes about 3 to 4 hours port to port, and many travellers find it takes about 4 to 5 hours in practice with boarding and berthing. Either way, you swap most of a hard driving day for a rest on a boat, and you arrive fresh instead of stiff.
- What the crossing gives you backYou get back a day, a tank of fuel and your back. Instead of gripping a wheel around the gulf, you sit, eat, walk the deck and watch the water. For families and older travellers the difference is not just hours saved, it is a tiring drive turned into the nicest part of the trip.
Think of the gulf as a deep notch cut into the coast of Gujarat. The road has to trace all the way around the notch; the ferry cuts straight across its open mouth. That is why about 90 km of sea does the work of nearly 400 km of road, and why so many people now put the car on the boat instead of driving the long way round.
How to reach the Ghogha and Hazira terminals
The Ghogha jetty is near Bhavnagar in Saurashtra, and the Hazira jetty is near Surat in south Gujarat. Both ends are an easy road hop from their city, so reaching the terminal is simple, but leave a comfortable margin, because the boat will not wait for a late passenger or a late car.
- Reaching Ghogha (the Saurashtra end)Ghogha is a small port town about 20 km from Bhavnagar city. Bhavnagar has an airport and a railway station with trains from Ahmedabad and beyond, and a taxi or bus covers the last stretch to the Ghogha terminal in well under an hour. If you are coming from Somnath, Diu, Palitana or the rest of Saurashtra, Bhavnagar is your natural gateway to the jetty.
- Reaching Hazira (the south Gujarat end)Hazira is an industrial port area on the edge of Surat, roughly 25 km from the city centre. Surat has a busy airport and a major railway station on the Mumbai to Ahmedabad line, so it is very well connected. From Surat you take a taxi or app cab to the Hazira ferry terminal; give yourself extra time in Surat's traffic, especially at peak hours.
- Do not cut the road leg fineWhichever end you start from, treat the drive to the jetty as part of the ferry journey, not a separate errand. A puncture, a wrong turn into the port complex, or a slow security queue can cost you the sailing, and there may only be one or two boats a day. Aim to be at the terminal well before departure, not exactly on time.
You board at the Ghogha jetty on the Saurashtra side and at the Hazira jetty on the south Gujarat side. Both are inside working port areas with security gates, so follow the signs and the staff, keep your ticket and photo ID handy, and do not rely on a landmark you half remember; ask a marshal which lane your class and your vehicle should use.
What the crossing is like once you are on board
Once the ramp lifts, the Ghogha to Hazira ferry is a calm, easy few hours. You have a seat in your class, open decks to stretch on, and food on board. In the calm season the water is gentle and the crossing feels like a short cruise across the Gulf of Khambhat rather than a hard journey.
- Your seat and the decksYou book a class, and that gives you an assigned area, from an executive seat to a business or sleeper seat, a lounge, or a private cabin on some sailings. Travellers say the lower-deck seats are roomy and comfortable, and the top deck is the place to stand in the breeze and watch the gulf go by. You are free to move around during the crossing.
- Food and time on boardThere is a canteen or restaurant on board, and outside food is discouraged, so plan to eat there or carry only light snacks. Over about 3 to 5 hours you will want a meal or chai, so keep some cash and a card handy. There is usually some entertainment playing, but bring a book, headphones and a power bank, because you are at sea and phone signal comes and goes.
- The feel of itIn the calm months this is the gentlest way to cross, and children and grandparents often enjoy it more than any road trip. You watch fishing boats, the far shore, and sometimes birds over the water. It is not a luxury liner, it is an honest working ferry, but for the price it turns a dead driving day into a small adventure at sea.
Keep one small bag with you for the crossing and leave the rest in the car or with your checked luggage. Put water, snacks, any medicines, a light jacket for the breeze, sunglasses, a power bank and your documents in it. That way you settle into your seat and enjoy the gulf, instead of hauling everything up and down the decks for a few hours.
Taking your car, bike or bus across
This is a true roll-on, roll-off ferry, so yes, you can drive your car, ride your bike, or send a bus or truck straight onto the deck. That is the point of a RoPax boat: you and your vehicle cross together, and you drive off the other side ready to carry on into Saurashtra or south Gujarat without changing cars.
- Cars and two-wheelersA car crosses for about 1200 to 1400 rupees and a two-wheeler for about 99 to 300 rupees, on top of the fare for each person riding. You book the vehicle slot along with your seats, reach early so the crew can load in order, and follow the marshals onto the deck. Slots are limited, so on busy weekends the vehicle space sells out before the seats do.
- Buses, trucks and temposThe ferry was built for freight as much as tourists, so it carries buses, trucks and tempos too. A small truck or tempo has been priced about 3000 rupees and an empty bus about 5500 rupees, by weight and vessel. For transporters this is the real prize, cutting a long, fuel-heavy road haul around the gulf into a single short crossing.
- How loading worksYou do not sit in your vehicle during the crossing; you park it on the vehicle deck, lock it, take your small bag, and go up to your seat. At the far end you come back down when the crew calls your deck and drive off in order. Keep your vehicle papers and licence with you, and note where you parked, because the deck fills up quickly.
If you want to bring a car, bike or bus, book that slot as soon as your date is fixed, not at the counter on the day. Vehicle space is the first thing to fill, especially on weekends and holidays, and the fare is separate from your passenger ticket. Reconfirm the current vehicle charge on the operator portal, because these figures move.
How to book the ferry online, and at the counter
You book the Ghogha to Hazira ferry online on the operator's portal at dgferry.com, run by Indigo Seaways as DG Sea Connect under the Gujarat Maritime Board. There is also a Hazira Ghogha RoRo app. When seats remain, you can pay at the terminal counter, but booking ahead is safer, especially if you are bringing a vehicle.
- Book online, ahead of the dayGo to the operator portal at dgferry.com or the app, pick your date, direction and class, add any vehicle, and pay. Book as soon as your plan is firm, because there may be only one or two sailings a day and the vehicle deck fills first. Save the ticket to your phone and take a printout too, in case the signal is poor at the port.
- Paying at the counterIf you have not booked and seats are still free, you can buy at the terminal counter on the day. This works better in the quiet season and for a single foot passenger than for a car on a busy weekend. Do not count on it in peak season or around festivals, when both seats and vehicle slots can be gone by the time you arrive.
- Who runs it, so you trust the ticketThe service is operated by Indigo Seaways, branded DG Sea Connect, on terminals owned by the Gujarat Maritime Board, a Government of Gujarat body. That is why you book through dgferry.com rather than a random reseller. If a page asks for far more than the official fare, step back and use the operator portal, so your money and your booking are safe.
Once you pay, screenshot the confirmation, the sailing time and the terminal name, and note the helpline. Port areas can have patchy data, so a booking that lives only in your email may be hard to open at the gate. A screenshot on your phone plus a printout gets you through security and onto the boat without a scramble.
What the ferry costs, in honest ranges
Fares depend on your class, your vehicle and the year, and they have risen over time, so treat every figure here as a hedged guide and reconfirm on the operator portal. As a rough picture, a passenger seat runs about 500 to 900 rupees in the everyday classes, and a car crosses for about 1200 to 1400 rupees.
- Passenger fares by classAn executive seat runs about 500 to 800 rupees, a business or sleeper seat about 700 to 900 rupees, and a lounge seat about 1400 to 1700 rupees, by vessel and year. On recent sailings a lounge seat has been quoted about 1500 rupees and, on older boats, a business seat about 600 rupees, which shows how the fares move. A private cabin is the top option at about 5000 rupees.
- Vehicle faresOn top of your seat, a two-wheeler crosses for about 99 to 300 rupees and a car for about 1200 to 1400 rupees. A small truck or tempo has been priced about 3000 rupees and an empty bus about 5500 rupees, by weight and vessel. So a couple with a car might reckon on two seats plus the car charge, and reconfirm the day's exact rates before booking.
- Value against drivingSet the fare against a long drive around the gulf. Driving nearly 400 km burns a good deal of fuel and tolls and eats most of a day, so once you add up petrol and your time, the ferry often works out close to even, and far kinder. For a car full of family, the sums usually favour the boat in the calm season.
We will not print a single hard price, because these fares change with the vessel, the class, the fuel cost and the year, and a wrong number would strand you at the counter. Every figure here is hedged with about, or given as a range, and each one is on our watch list to re-check. Always confirm the live fare on dgferry.com before you travel.
The timings and daily sailings
The Ghogha to Hazira ferry usually runs one to two sailings each way a day, and the exact clock times change with the vessel and the season. A common pattern has a boat leaving Ghogha in the morning and Hazira in the late afternoon or evening, but you must confirm the live timetable on the operator portal before you plan around it.
- How many sailings, and whenDepending on the season and the boat, there are usually one or two crossings each way a day, not an hourly service. Over the years the timings have shifted; patterns have included a morning departure from Ghogha and a late-afternoon or evening departure from Hazira, and on some vessels the reverse. Because it changes, always read the current timetable on dgferry.com rather than an old blog.
- Build slack around the timingWith only a sailing or two a day, a missed boat can mean a lost day or the long drive around the gulf. So arrive early, and on the far side do not schedule anything you cannot move for a couple of hours after the quoted arrival, since berthing and unloading a full vehicle deck takes time. Loose plans make this crossing a pleasure instead of a stress.
Timings on this route have changed more than once, and the monsoon and rough weather can move or cancel a sailing at short notice. The safe habit is to reconfirm your exact departure the day before you travel, on the operator portal or the helpline, and again on the morning of a monsoon-season crossing, so you are never caught out by a change.
At the jetty: how early to reach, boarding and luggage
Reaching the jetty early is the single practical rule that makes this crossing smooth. You are entering a working port, so there is a security check, a class or vehicle lane to find, and a queue to load. Give yourself a comfortable buffer before departure, keep your ticket and photo ID ready, and travel light on the bag you carry up.
- Reach the terminal earlyAim to be at the jetty well before the sailing, more if you are bringing a vehicle, because cars are loaded in order and latecomers can be left on the shore. The port has security gates and checks, and the queue at boarding time can be long, so an early, calm arrival beats a last-minute dash every time.
- Documents and securityCarry the same photo ID for everyone in your party that you used to book, and keep your ticket, on the phone and on paper, easy to reach. Indian travellers can use any government photo ID; foreign visitors should carry a passport. Expect a security check like an airport-lite, so pack your small bag so it is easy to open and re-close.
- Luggage, and what stays in the carIf you are on foot, you can take your luggage on board, but you carry it up to the decks yourself, so pack light and use bags you can lift. If you are bringing a car, the neat trick is to leave the big luggage locked in the vehicle on the deck and take up only a small bag with your water, medicines and documents for the crossing.
Inside a port complex the lanes for each class and for vehicles are not always obvious, and a wrong queue can cost you the boat. The staff and marshals at the gate know exactly where your class and your car should go, so ask them the moment you arrive rather than guessing. A minute of asking saves the panic of joining the wrong line.
Safety, seasickness and cancelled sailings
The ferry is a safe, licensed service run under the Gujarat Maritime Board, and the crew will not sail in genuinely unsafe water. The two things to plan for are mild seasickness in choppy conditions, and the chance of a delayed or cancelled sailing when the sea is rough, mainly in the monsoon. A little planning takes the worry out of both.
- If you get seasickIn the calm season the gulf is usually gentle, but if you are prone to motion sickness, take a tablet about an hour before you sail, sit low and central where the boat moves least, keep your eyes on the far horizon, and go up to the open deck for fresh air if you feel queasy. Eat something light before boarding rather than travelling on an empty stomach.
- If the sea is roughRough water is the one thing that stops this boat, and the harbour master holds sailings for safety when the gulf is high. This happens most in the monsoon months. If your sailing is delayed or cancelled you are usually refunded or moved to the next boat, but that can mean a long wait or the drive around the gulf, so keep your plans flexible.
- Do not tie the crossing to a same-day flightNever book your crossing for the same day as your flight home. If a rough sea cancels the sailing, you do not want to be racing for a plane. Cross a day early, spend a comfortable night on the Surat or Bhavnagar side, and keep the ferry as the relaxed middle of your trip, not a nervous dash to catch a flight home.
Almost every problem on this route comes down to the sea, not the operator, and the fix is always slack in your plan. Keep a spare half-day, do not schedule anything unmissable right after you land on the far shore, and never connect a monsoon sailing to a flight or a train you cannot afford to miss. Plan loose and the crossing stays a pleasure.
Which side to base yourself on
The ferry links two very different halves of Gujarat, so where you base depends on what you have come to see. Base on the Saurashtra side, around Bhavnagar, for temples, lions and the old princely towns; base on the south Gujarat side, around Surat, for the city, the beaches down to Diu, and easy links towards Mumbai. Many travellers do both, with the ferry as the bridge.
- Base in Saurashtra (Bhavnagar side)If your trip is about Saurashtra, base around Bhavnagar and Ghogha. From here you reach Palitana's hill of Jain temples, Gir for the Asiatic lions, Somnath and Dwarka on the coast, and the old town of Bhavnagar itself. This is the deeper, slower, more traditional half of Gujarat, and the ferry lets you arrive into it or leave it without the long drive.
- Base in south Gujarat (Surat side)If you are drawn to the south, base around Surat and Hazira. Surat is a big, energetic city known for diamonds and textiles and superb food, and from here the coast runs down to Daman and Diu, while the highways and trains to Mumbai are close. This half is busier, more urban, and well connected to the rest of western India.
- Use the ferry to join the twoThe smartest way to use the boat is not to pick one side, but to string both together. Base a few nights in Saurashtra and a few in the south, and let the ferry carry you and your car between them in an afternoon instead of a whole hard driving day. That is how the crossing earns its place in a real Gujarat itinerary.
In the calm months either side is comfortable, but if you are travelling near the monsoon, base with an escape route in mind. Keep your last night on the side you must fly or train out of, so that even if the sea cancels the boat, your onward journey is not riding on a crossing. Let the ferry be a bonus leg, never the only way out.
How many days you need, and how to sequence the two halves
For a trip built around the ferry, think in terms of a few nights on each side with the crossing in the middle. A comfortable plan pairs Saurashtra and south Gujarat over about a week to ten days, using the boat once to move between them, so you see two very different parts of Gujarat without a punishing drive around the gulf.
- A relaxed week to ten daysA satisfying trip gives you three or four nights in Saurashtra, one ferry crossing, and three or four nights in south Gujarat. That is enough to touch Palitana, Gir or Somnath on one side and Surat and the coast towards Diu on the other, with the boat as a restful bridge in the middle rather than a rushed dash between long drives.
- A short, focused versionIf you only have a long weekend, pick one anchor, say Gir or Palitana on the Saurashtra side, cross once, and end in Surat for your flight or train out. Keep it to a single crossing and do not try to hop back and forth, because with only a sailing or two a day the timetable, not your wish, sets the pace.
- Sequence with your exit in mindPlan the order so your last night sits on the side you leave from. If you fly out of Surat or Mumbai, end in the south; if you fly out of Bhavnagar or Rajkot, end in Saurashtra. That way the ferry is always a leg you take with time to spare, never the fragile last link before a flight home.
Because there are only one or two crossings a day, and they can move with the season, build your route around the timetable rather than forcing the timetable around your route. Fix your ferry day first, then hang the nights on either side of it. Plan this way and a Gujarat trip that would be two hard drives becomes one easy loop with a crossing in the middle.
By traveller type: families, seniors, honeymooners and solo
The ferry suits almost everyone, but each kind of traveller gets the best of it a slightly different way. Families love the space to move, seniors love being spared the drive, couples enjoy the small cruise feeling, and solo travellers get an easy, safe crossing. Match your class and your timing to who you are travelling with.
- Families with childrenFor families the ferry is a gift, because children who would fret through a 10 to 12 hour drive can walk the decks, watch the boats and eat on board. Book seats together, keep a small bag of snacks, water and games, take a calm-season sailing, and use the car deck to carry all your luggage so you climb up with only light bags.
- Seniors and grandparentsOlder travellers gain the most, since the crossing spares them the long, jolting drive around the gulf. Choose a comfortable class, board early so there is no rushing, carry regular medicines in your hand bag, and if anyone is unsteady, ask a marshal for help on the ramp and stairs. Sit low and central for the smoothest ride.
- Couples and solo travellersFor couples the calm-season crossing has a small cruise feeling, especially from the open top deck at the golden hour, so it is a lovely leg of a honeymoon loop through Gujarat. Solo travellers will find it easy and safe: book ahead, keep your bag with you, and enjoy a few unhurried hours at sea between two halves of the state.
Whoever you travel with, paying one class up for a few hundred rupees more usually buys a roomier, quieter seat, which matters most for seniors, small children and anyone who gets restless. It is a small sum against the comfort of a smooth few hours, so if the calm seat is within your budget, take it and enjoy the crossing.
Real questions travellers ask
The questions people actually type before this crossing, answered plainly and honestly.
- Can I take my car on the ferry?Yes. It is a roll-on, roll-off ferry, so you drive your car onto the deck and off the other side. A car crosses for about 1200 to 1400 rupees on top of the seats, and you should book the vehicle slot early, because deck space fills before seats do.
- Is the ferry running right now?It usually runs through the drier months and pauses for several weeks in the monsoon, around June to August or September, when the sea is rough. It has also been suspended a number of times over the years, so always confirm the live status on the operator portal or helpline before you travel.
- How long does the crossing take?The government quotes about 3 to 4 hours across the gulf, and many travellers find it takes about 4 to 5 hours in practice with boarding and berthing. Either way it replaces a road drive of about 10 to 12 hours around the gulf, so it is a big time saving.
- What are the timings, and how do I book?There are usually one or two sailings each way a day, and the clock times change with the vessel and season, so read the current timetable on dgferry.com. You book online on that operator portal or the app, and can pay at the counter when seats remain.
This is a route where the fares, the timings and even whether the boat is running today can all change, so no single blog is the last word, including this one. For the live picture, always finish your planning on the official operator portal at dgferry.com or its helpline, and confirm the day before you travel, especially near the monsoon.
For visitors from abroad: passport, payment and planning
If you are coming to Gujarat from overseas, the ferry is an easy, safe way to join Saurashtra and the south without a long domestic drive. There is no special permit to ride it; you just need your passport as photo ID, a way to pay online, and a plan that keeps the crossing well clear of your international flight home.
- No permit, but carry your passportYou do not need any special permit to take this ferry; it is an ordinary public crossing inside Gujarat. What you do need is a valid photo ID, and as a foreign visitor your passport is the natural one to carry and show at the security gate. Keep it on you, not buried in your checked luggage on the car deck.
- Paying and booking from abroadYou book on the operator portal at dgferry.com or the app. If an Indian card or wallet does not go through, have a travelling companion book, ask your hotel or a local operator to help, or keep enough cash for the counter in the quiet season. Do not leave the vehicle slot to chance if you are hiring a self-drive or chauffeured car.
- Fit it around your flightsPlan the crossing as a relaxed middle leg, never the day you fly out. If a rough sea cancels the sailing you do not want it sitting between you and an international flight home. Cross a day or two before you leave, spend your last night near your departure airport, and let the ferry be a highlight, not a risk to your journey out.
Come to this crossing expecting an honest, well-run Indian ferry rather than a tourist cruise, and you will enjoy it. You will share the decks with families, transporters and pilgrims moving between the two halves of Gujarat, which is exactly what makes it a real slice of the state, and a far nicer way to cross than any highway.
For visitors from abroad: connectivity, food and taking parents
A few practical things smooth the crossing for overseas visitors. Phone signal comes and goes at sea, the food is Indian and on board, and if you are travelling with elderly parents the ferry is a kindness that spares them the drive. A little preparation on connectivity, cash and comfort makes the day effortless.
- Connectivity and staying in touchCarry an Indian SIM or eSIM, because you will want mobile data to open your ticket and to reach the helpline, and there is no reliable wifi mid-gulf. Signal drops in and out during the crossing, so download anything you need beforehand, tell family you may be offline for a few hours, and keep a power bank charged for the boat.
- Food, water and cashThere is a canteen or restaurant on board and outside food is discouraged, so plan to eat there; the food is simple Indian fare. Carry a full water bottle, and keep some Indian cash as well as a card, because a card machine at sea or at a small port counter may not always work. A light meal before boarding settles the stomach too.
- Taking elderly parentsFor many overseas families the whole reason to use the ferry is to spare visiting parents the long drive around the gulf. Book a comfortable class, board early so nobody is rushed, keep medicines in the hand bag, and ask the crew for help on the ramp and stairs. Sitting low and central gives the steadiest ride for anyone who tires easily.
Coming from abroad, your days in India are precious and your flights are fixed, so give the ferry leg a buffer. Keep a spare half-day around the crossing and do not stack it against your international departure. With that one cushion, a cancelled or delayed sailing becomes a minor change of plan instead of a scramble that threatens your flight home.
The ferry that turns a long drive around the gulf into a short crossing
For as long as anyone could remember, the two halves of Gujarat sat within sight of each other across the Gulf of Khambhat and yet a hard day's drive apart. Saurashtra, with its lions and Jain temples and old princely towns, lay on one shore; the busy south, with Surat and the road to Mumbai, lay on the other. To get from one to the other by road you had to trace the whole rim of the gulf, nearly 400 km and 10 to 12 hours through Ahmedabad and Vadodara. The sea was right there, but there was no way across it. That is what the Ghogha to Hazira RoPax ferry changed. Inaugurated on 8 November 2020, it runs straight across the mouth of the gulf, about 90 km of water in a few hours, carrying not just people but their cars, buses and trucks. A drive that ate a whole day became a rest on a boat. For a farmer sending milk and vegetables, for a family visiting Gir, for a transporter hauling freight, the ferry did a quiet, remarkable thing: it stitched a gulf-sized tear in the map of Gujarat back together, and turned the longest way round into the shortest way across.
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