Gir Travel Guide
The park is open from about mid-October to mid-June and shut through the monsoon. Winter is the comfortable choice, but the hot months of April and May give the best...
When to visit Gir, and the comfort-versus-sighting trade-off
The park is open from about mid-October to mid-June and shut through the monsoon. Winter is the comfortable choice, but the hot months of April and May give the best lion-sighting odds.
- November to February: cool and comfortableThe most pleasant window, with days around 25 degrees and chilly dawns near 10 degrees, so carry a warm layer for the open gypsy. Animal movement is good and the light is kind, which is why most first-timers and families choose these months.
- April and May: hot, but the best oddsHigh summer on the Saurashtra plain is fierce, often nearing 45 degrees, and tiring in an open jeep. The pay-off is that thinning waterholes draw lions into the open, so sighting odds are at their best and the park is quieter. Come early in the day and rest through the heat.
- March and early June: the shoulderMarch is a fair compromise, warm but bearable, with rising odds as the land dries. By early June the heat is intense and the park is days from closing, so plan an early-morning drive and do not linger at midday.
- Decide comfort or sighting firstWinter is gentler on you; late summer is gentler on your chances of a lion. Both are good, but the choice shapes what to pack and when to book, so settle it before you reserve a permit.
The Gir Jungle Trail and the core park close every year for the monsoon, the animals' breeding season, from about 16 June to 15 October. The official girlion.gujarat.gov.in portal showed the booking suspension running 16 June to 15 October when checked in mid-2026. Plan any wild safari for the mid-October to mid-June open season, and reconfirm the exact reopening date on the official portal before you book flights or rooms, because the date can shift slightly with the rains. If your trip falls in the monsoon, Devalia Safari Park usually stays open.
How to reach Sasan Gir
Sasan Gir has no airport of its own. Most travellers come by road from the Veraval or Junagadh railheads, or fly into Rajkot, Diu or the small Keshod field and drive in.
- By rail, via Veraval or JunagadhVeraval is the nearest railhead, about 40 km from Sasan, roughly an hour by road; Junagadh is about 70 km. A small metre-gauge line also runs near Sasan itself. From either station, taxis and buses cover the last stretch, and many travellers pair Veraval with the Somnath temple nearby.
- By airThe closest airfield is small Keshod, about 70 to 90 km away, with limited and changeable flights, so check current routes before relying on it. Diu, about 95 to 110 km, has more reliable connections, and Rajkot, about 160 km, is the larger gateway. From any of these it is a road transfer into Sasan.
- By roadSasan is well connected by good highways from Junagadh, Veraval and Rajkot, and sits on the Saurashtra loop with Somnath and Diu. We can arrange a car with an experienced driver, which is the easiest way to string Gir together with the temple and the coast.
- From AhmedabadGujarat's main city and airport, Ahmedabad, is a long drive of roughly 340 to 400 km, so most travellers either fly or take a train down to Rajkot, Junagadh or Veraval and cover the final hop by road rather than driving the whole way in one go.
Fly into Ahmedabad (or via Mumbai), then take a domestic flight or train towards Rajkot, Diu or Veraval and drive in to Sasan. There are no international flights anywhere near Gir.
Fly into Ahmedabad, which has good Gulf connections, then continue by domestic flight or road into Saurashtra. Gir sits easily on a Somnath, Dwarka and Diu circuit.
Train or fly to Rajkot, Junagadh or Veraval, then drive the short road leg to Sasan. Veraval is the handiest railhead, and it puts Somnath on your way.
The Gir Jungle Trail safari, and the permit you must book
The wild lion safari, the Gir Jungle Trail, is the reason you come. It is a three-hour open-jeep drive on a permit you must book online, in advance, with no Tatkal option.
- What the safari isAn open 4x4 gypsy drive of about three hours along one of the fixed forest routes through the Dedakadi and Sasan ranges, each averaging roughly 35 km, with a trained forest guide and artificial waterholes that raise your chances. You ride with up to six people on one permit and stay in the vehicle throughout.
- Book online, only on the official portalAll permits are issued online through the official Gujarat Forest portal girlion.gujarat.gov.in. There is no offline counter sale of advance permits, no Tatkal or urgent booking, and the window opens about three months ahead, so book the moment your slot opens in peak season.
- The slotsDrives run in fixed morning and evening slots; in winter the first morning slot starts about 6:30 am and there is an afternoon slot about 3 pm to 6 pm, while in summer the first drive starts about 6 am with the evening slot about 4 pm to 7 pm. The early-morning and late-evening drives give the best light and the best odds, and exact times shift a little by season, so confirm on the portal.
- Carry the right IDThe gate checks your original photo ID against the online booking, so carry the original passport for foreign nationals, or Aadhaar, voter ID or driving licence for Indians, matching the name on the permit. A mismatch can cost you the slot.
A wild Gir Jungle Trail drive does not guarantee a lion. The odds are good, best in the first and last light, but the forest is large and the cats move. Seasoned visitors book two or three drives across two days rather than stake everything on a single safari, so that a quiet drive is balanced by another. If a near-certain sighting matters more than the wild experience, read the Devalia section below.
Devalia Safari Park: the fenced near-certain alternative
Devalia, the Gir Interpretation Zone about 12 km from Sasan, is a fenced enclosure where a lion sighting is near-certain in a 30-to-50-minute tour. It is the sensible choice for seniors, small children and tight schedules.
- What Devalia isA large fenced section of Gir habitat where lions, leopards and herbivores roam, toured by a park bus or a gypsy. The visit is short, about 30 to 50 minutes, and because the animals are within an enclosure a sighting is close to certain. It is honest to think of it as the controlled, reliable version of the wild safari.
- Open every day except WednesdayDevalia runs every day of the week except Wednesday, in a morning and an afternoon session. The bus session and the gypsy session have slightly different timings, so check the portal, but the morning is the cooler and better-lit choice.
- Bus or gypsyThe bus is the cheaper, simpler option, good for families and seniors; the gypsy is a little more flexible and personal. Both deliver the near-certain sighting that the wild core cannot promise.
- When to choose Devalia over the corePick Devalia if you have small children, a senior who cannot manage a long bumpy drive, only a few hours, or a single chance and you must see a lion. Pick the wild Jungle Trail if the open-forest experience and the thrill of an uncertain sighting matter more than a guarantee. Many travellers do both.
On the official portal the Devalia mini bus is about 150 rupees for Indians on weekdays and about 190 rupees on weekends, and about 3,720 rupees for foreigners on weekdays and about 4,650 rupees on weekends. The Devalia safari vehicle (gypsy) permit is about 800 rupees for Indians on weekdays and about 1,000 rupees on weekends, and about 7,440 to 9,300 rupees for foreigners, with the open safari vehicle charged separately. These are girlion.gujarat.gov.in rates; reconfirm on the portal before you book, and remember online bookings are non-refundable.
Where to stay near Gir, and how many nights
Sasan village and the road towards Talala hold most of the lodges and resorts, from simple guesthouses to forest resorts. Two nights is the sweet spot so you can fit several drives.
- Sasan village and the safari gateStaying in or near Sasan keeps you minutes from the Sinh Sadan reception and the safari gate, which matters for the pre-dawn start. This is where the simpler hotels and many mid-range lodges sit, walkable to the orientation centre and the souvenir shops.
- Forest resorts on the Talala and Mendarda roadsA short drive out, the larger resorts offer pools, gardens and more comfort, better for families and couples who want to slow down. You will need transport for the early safari, so confirm the property can arrange a pre-dawn pickup or your own gypsy.
- How many nightsTwo nights is the right length: it lets you fit a morning and an evening drive, or a couple of mornings, which is how you build real sighting odds, plus a Devalia visit. One night and a single safari is a gamble. Add a third night only if you also want to bird, visit Kankai Mata temple, or slow the pace.
- Book early in peak seasonLodges near Sasan fill up in the November to February peak and around long weekends, just as the permits do. Book your rooms and your safari permits together and well ahead, because a room with no permit, or a permit with no room, is a frustrating split.
The single thing that smooths a Gir stay is booking a room close enough to the gate that an early start of around 6 am to 6:30 am is easy. The wild drives reward an on-time pre-dawn arrival, and a long transfer in the dark sours the morning. If your resort is further out on the Talala or Mendarda road, lock in the pickup time the night before, and keep your permit and ID ready by the door.
Gir safari costs and a realistic budget
The permit is only part of the bill. Here is the official fare split and what a full Gir day really costs, so you are not surprised at the gate.
- The Jungle Trail permit fareOn the official portal the Gir Jungle Safari permit is about 800 rupees for Indians on weekdays and about 1,000 rupees on weekends and festival days, and about 7,600 rupees for foreigners on weekdays and about 9,500 rupees on weekends, for up to six people on one permit. Weekends and festival days cost more, so a weekday drive is cheaper and usually quieter.
- The gypsy and guide on topOn the Jungle Trail the permit does not include the vehicle or guide. The registered open safari vehicle hire runs from about 2,500 rupees for a 4 seater up to about 4,500 rupees for a larger 8 seater, and the trained guide is about 400 to 700 rupees depending on whether you take a basic guide or a naturalist, paid at the gate and shared among the people in the vehicle. Filling the seats brings the per-head cost right down, which is why solo travellers often join a group.
- Devalia, the cheaper quick optionDevalia is far cheaper and all-in: about 150 rupees for an Indian on a weekday bus, rising to about 190 rupees on weekends, with the gypsy about 800 to 1,000 rupees. For a family on a budget, or as a near-certain top-up to an uncertain wild drive, it is excellent value.
- What a full day adds up toAdd the three official parts for the Jungle Trail: the weekday Indian permit of about 800 rupees, the safari vehicle from about 2,500 rupees and the guide from about 400 rupees, all shared across the up to six people in the vehicle. Filling the seats keeps the per-head cost low, while a near-empty vehicle is dear. Foreign nationals should budget several thousand rupees more per drive because of the higher permit fare of about 7,600 rupees on weekdays.
Many travellers see only the permit price online and forget the safari vehicle and guide hire added at the gate on the Jungle Trail, from about 2,500 rupees and about 400 rupees, shared across the vehicle. Budget for the whole package, not just the permit, and fill the six seats to keep the per-head cost low. Devalia, by contrast, is a single permit plus its vehicle, which is part of why a budget family often finds it simpler.
Practical logistics: ID, money, what to wear and the park rules
The small things that make a Gir day smooth, from the original-ID rule and safari dress code to cash, connectivity and the park's do's and don'ts.
- Carry original ID and your permitThe gate matches your original photo ID to the online booking, so bring the original passport (foreign nationals) or Aadhaar, voter ID or driving licence (Indians) in the name on the permit. Keep a printed or saved copy of the permit too.
- Dress for the forestWear muted pastel, green or brown clothing rather than bright colours, keep noise down, and never smoke or litter inside the park. In winter the open gypsy is genuinely cold at dawn, so carry a warm layer; in summer carry sun protection and water.
- Money and connectivitySasan is a small place; carry cash for the gate charges, tips and small shops, as not everywhere takes cards or UPI. There are ATMs in Sasan and Talala but they can run dry, so draw what you need before you arrive. Mobile signal in the village is generally fine, patchier deep in the forest.
- Photography rulesStill photography is fine on the drives, but flash is not allowed and you must not get down from the vehicle. Inside Devalia the rules are similar. Respect the guide's instructions on distance and silence, which is how you get the calm, close sightings anyway.
Our own Gujarat travellers find the early-morning safari is the best one, that weekend and festival drives are the most crowded, and that booking online well ahead is essential because permits usually sell out online. Pack pastel or green and brown, avoid noise and smoking inside the park, and carry sunscreen, sunshades and plenty of water; even in mild winters a warm layer for the dawn gypsy is worth the bag space.
Safety, the permit-scam trap, and staying well
Gir is a well-run, safe park, but the booking is where people get caught. A little awareness of fake permit sites and the heat keeps the trip happy.
- The fake-permit trap, and how to avoid itMany private sites look official and promise confirmed permits at a premium, but the only official portal is girlion.gujarat.gov.in, which itself warns against fraudulent sites charging premium rates for confirmed bookings. Book on the government portal, and if you use a tour operator, ask them to book on the official system and show you the permit, rather than paying a markup for a guaranteed slot that the system does not actually offer.
- No Tatkal, so beware promises of oneBecause the portal does not allow Tatkal or urgent bookings, anyone promising a last-minute confirmed permit for a fee is selling something the official system does not provide. Some travellers do try a spot booking at the Sinh Sadan counter, but it is uncertain, so do not rely on it.
- Heat, water and the open jeepIn April to early June the heat is severe; carry water and sun protection and keep the middle of the day for rest. In winter the dawn gypsy is cold, so layer up. Drink bottled or filtered water and take the usual care with street food.
- Wildlife etiquette is safetyStay in the vehicle, keep quiet, do not feed or provoke any animal, and follow the guide. These are wild lions; the rules that protect them protect you, and they are also what gives you the calm, close encounters.
The single safety rule that saves the most money and stress at Gir is to book your permit only on the official portal, girlion.gujarat.gov.in, which is the one government booking site and which warns travellers against the many lookalike sites charging premium rates for confirmed permits. There is no Tatkal, so no one can legitimately sell you a guaranteed last-minute slot. Book early on the official site, or have a trusted operator do it and prove the booking, and the most common Gir problem disappears.
Gir for every kind of traveller, and on access
Gir suits very different visitors in different ways. Here is what it offers you, and the one tip that matters for each, including when Devalia is the smarter call.
- Families with childrenA real thrill for kids, but the wild drive is long, bumpy and offers no guaranteed sighting. For young children, the short, near-certain Devalia tour is often the happier choice, or pair one wild drive with Devalia so they are sure to see a lion.
- Senior travellers and on accessibilityThe three-hour open-jeep drive over rough tracks can be hard on older backs. Seniors who want comfort and a sure sighting are well served by the Devalia bus, which is short, gentle and reliable. If a senior does want the wild drive, choose a cool-season morning and a shorter route, and sit forward in the gypsy.
- PhotographersBook the early-morning and late-evening wild drives for the light, and book two or three of them for the odds. Carry a long lens, expect dust, and remember flash is banned. The wild core gives the natural-habitat shots; Devalia is a near-certain backup frame.
- First-time wildlife travellersManage expectations: this is a wild forest, not a zoo, so a blank drive is possible. Two days and several drives, plus a Devalia visit, is the formula that sends almost everyone home having seen a lion.
- Couples and weekendersGir works as a two-night escape, often looped with Somnath and Diu. Stay at a forest resort, do a dawn drive and an evening one, and keep a relaxed day for the coast or the temple.
- Solo travellersJoin a shared gypsy to split the vehicle and guide cost, which makes a solo wild drive affordable. Gir is a safe, well-run park, and the forest staff and guides are used to independent visitors.
A suggested Gir itinerary, and the Saurashtra loop
How to shape two unhurried days around several drives, and how Gir slots into the wider Somnath and Diu circuit.
- Day one: arrive and evening driveReach Sasan by mid-afternoon, settle in, and take the evening Jungle Trail drive in the soft late light, one of the two best slots for a sighting. Visit the orientation centre beforehand if you have time.
- Day two: a morning drive and DevaliaTake an early-morning wild drive, the prime slot, then visit Devalia later for a near-certain sighting and a gentler pace. Two wild drives plus Devalia is the formula that maximises both odds and experience.
- The Saurashtra loopGir pairs naturally with Somnath, about 43 to 67 km and roughly an hour away, and with Diu beyond. A common five-day loop is two nights at Gir for the lions, then Somnath for the Jyotirlinga temple and aarti, then Diu for the beaches, before flying or training out from Diu or Rajkot.
- The short versionIf you only have one night, do an evening or morning wild drive and a Devalia tour so you are almost certain to see a lion. It is tighter than ideal, but it works when time is short.
The single thing that breaks a Gir plan is leaving the permit to chance. Because slots are 100 percent online, sell out weeks ahead in peak season, and have no Tatkal, decide your dates and book the safari the moment the three-month window opens, then build the rest of the loop, the rooms, Somnath and Diu, around the confirmed drives. A trip planned permit-first almost never goes wrong; one planned permit-last often does.
The real questions travellers ask about Gir
Straight answers to the questions that come up again and again on traveller forums, so you arrive already knowing the score.
- Is a lion sighting guaranteed?Not on the wild Jungle Trail. The odds are good, best at first and last light, but the forest is large and a blank drive is possible. Devalia, the fenced zone, is near-certain. Do two or three wild drives, or pair one with Devalia, and you are very likely to succeed.
- Is one safari enough?It can be, but it is a gamble. Two days with a morning and an evening wild drive, plus a Devalia visit, is the formula that sends almost everyone home having seen a lion. Build the odds rather than betting on one.
- Summer heat or winter comfort?Winter, November to February, is comfortable and good for movement. April and May are punishingly hot, often near 45 degrees, but give the best odds as lions gather at shrinking waterholes. Choose comfort or odds and pack accordingly.
- Devalia or the core?Core for the wild, open-forest experience and the thrill of an uncertain sighting; Devalia for a short, near-certain tour suited to children, seniors or tight schedules. They are different things, and many people do both.
- Do permits really sell out, and is there Tatkal?Yes, peak-season slots sell out weeks ahead, and no, there is no Tatkal or urgent booking on the portal. Book the moment your three-month window opens. A spot booking at the Sinh Sadan counter is sometimes possible but uncertain, so do not rely on it.
- Can I combine Gir with Somnath?Easily. Somnath is about 43 to 67 km away, roughly an hour by road, so a common plan is a morning Gir drive then on to Somnath for the evening aarti, often continuing to Diu.
Planning Gir from abroad
Gir is the only place on earth to see a wild Asiatic lion, and it pairs with Somnath and Diu on a Gujarat loop. A little preparation makes the higher foreigner fee and the online permit easy to handle.
- Budget for the foreigner fareForeign nationals pay a much higher permit fare than Indians, about 7,600 rupees on weekdays and about 9,500 rupees on weekends for the Jungle Trail, plus the shared safari vehicle and guide. It is still modest by international safari standards, but budget for it and reconfirm the figure on the official portal.
- Book the permit early, from homeAll permits are online only at girlion.gujarat.gov.in, with no Tatkal and a three-month window. The portal can feel dated, so register early, have your passport details ready, and book the moment your slot opens. Or have a trusted operator book on the official system and prove it.
- Carry your passport to the gateThe gate checks the original passport against the booking, so the name must match and the original must be with you. Keep a saved copy of the permit too.
- Make it a Gujarat loopFly into Ahmedabad, then reach Saurashtra by domestic flight or train via Rajkot, Diu or Veraval. Loop Gir for the lions, Somnath for the temple and Diu for the beaches, an easy and rewarding circuit for a first or second trip to India.
Money, connectivity and timing for foreign visitors
The practical basics an overseas traveller needs for a small forest town: cash, a SIM, the no-guarantee mindset, and how many days to give Gir on a wider India trip.
- Carry cash, expect small-town ATMsCards and UPI work at the bigger resorts, but the gate charges, tips and small shops in Sasan run on cash, and the few ATMs can run dry. Draw enough cash in Rajkot or before you arrive, and keep small notes for the guide and the vehicle.
- Get a SIM at the airportPick up an Indian tourist SIM or an eSIM when you land in Ahmedabad or Mumbai rather than hunting for one near Gir. Coverage in Sasan is fine for maps and calls, patchier deep in the forest, which is fine.
- Come with the right mindsetGir is a wild forest, not a safari park with guaranteed big cats at every turn. A blank drive is possible. Book two or three wild drives, add Devalia for a near-certain sighting, and you will almost certainly succeed and enjoy the forest along the way.
- How long to give itTwo nights is the right weight on a Gujarat trip: enough for several drives and a Devalia visit, without slowing the whole itinerary. Add a night if you want to bird or pair it slowly with Somnath and Diu.
Gir is an unusually meaningful first Indian safari: it is the last home of the Asiatic lion, the 2025 census put the landscape population at about 891, and the forest is calm and well managed. Slot it into a Gujarat loop, give it two nights and several drives, book the permit early on the official portal, and let Devalia be your insurance for a sighting. Many overseas visitors say the wild lion they finally spotted, after a patient drive or two, is the memory of the whole trip.
Why the world's only wild Asiatic lions live in this one Gujarat forest
A century ago the Asiatic lion was all but gone, hunted across its old range from the Middle East to eastern India until only a tiny remnant survived in the private hunting preserve of the Nawab of Junagadh, in the Gir forest. Early protection by the Nawab and then by independent India pulled the subspecies back from the edge. From perhaps a couple of dozen animals, the 2025 census counted about 891 Asiatic lions across the Gir landscape, up from 674 in 2020, with about 384 of them inside Gir National Park and the wildlife sanctuary and the rest now ranging across wider Saurashtra. It remains the only wild population of the Asiatic lion on earth, which is what makes a quiet drive through these teak and acacia ranges, waiting for a tawny shape to lift its head by a waterhole, unlike any other safari in the world.
Tour packages that visit Gir
Every journey below is private, hand-crafted and fully customizable. Tell us your dates and we tailor the itinerary, the pace and the priests or guides around you.
7D / 6NGujarat Wildlife Tour
- Visit Gir National Park
- Visit Rann of Kutch
6D / 5NGujarat Holiday Packages
- Visit Somnath and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.
- Visit Dwarkadheesh Temple and Bhet Dwarka.