4 Day Dwarka Somnath Gir Itinerary: A Complete Temple and Safari Trip

If you have four days, you can still take in the two great temple towns of Dwarka and Somnath along with a lion safari at Gir, covering the sacred and the wild in one efficient trip. This day-by-day itinerary, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, lays out a smooth, well-planned 4 day route with the temples, the coast and the Asiatic lion, ideal for travellers who want to see it all without a spare day.

The 4 day itinerary at a glance

Here is the full 4 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir itinerary at a glance, before the detailed day-by-day plan below:

This 4 day route flows from Dwarka at the far west of Saurashtra, down the coast to Somnath and inland to Gir, with no backtracking. The plan is efficient, combining the Dwarka sightseeing and the drive to Somnath into a single day, so that all three destinations and a full Gir lion safari, fit comfortably into four days for those short on time. Each day still has its own rhythm of darshan, sightseeing, driving and the safari, so you see the best of the region without wasted time or long detours.

Day 1: Arrive in Dwarka

Start your trip by arriving in Dwarka, the golden city of Lord Krishna and one of the four sacred Char Dham of India. Most travellers reach Dwarka by its own railway station, by road or by flying into Jamnagar, about 130 km away and driving in. After settling into your hotel, head to the magnificent Dwarkadhish temple, the Jagat Mandir, for darshan of Lord Krishna and to the sacred Gomti Ghat beside it for a holy dip and the beautiful evening aarti. As the sun sets over the Arabian Sea, soak in the devotional atmosphere of Krishna's city. Overnight in Dwarka.

Day 2: Dwarka sightseeing and drive to Somnath

The second day is the fullest of the trip, combining Dwarka sightseeing with the drive down the coast. Start early with the ferry to Bet Dwarka, the sacred island of Krishna and on the way back visit the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, with its towering Shiva statue. After an early lunch, drive down the Saurashtra coast to Somnath, about 230 km and around four to five hours via the scenic NH 51, with a possible quick stop at Porbandar. Reaching Somnath in the evening, take darshan and stay for the moving aarti at the great Somnath temple, the first Jyotirlinga, followed by the spectacular Jay Somnath sound-and-light show. Overnight in Somnath.

Day 3: Somnath to Gir

On the third day, spend the morning seeing the sacred sites around Somnath: the great temple again in daylight, the Bhalka Tirth, where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his mortal body, the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three rivers and the beach. Plan your morning around the Somnath temple timings. After lunch, drive the short distance of about 57 km, around an hour and a half, from Somnath to Sasan Gir, the gateway to Gir National Park, the last home of the Asiatic lion. Check into a lodge near the park, rest and prepare for an early morning safari. Booking your Gir safari permit well in advance is essential, as covered in our Gir safari ticket price guide. Overnight near Sasan Gir.

Day 4: Gir safari and departure

Rise early on your final morning for the highlight of the wild part of the trip: a jeep safari into Gir National Park in search of the majestic Asiatic lion, found nowhere else on earth in the wild, along with leopards, deer, crocodiles and rich birdlife. The early morning safari offers the best chance of sightings and the most magical light. After the safari and breakfast, your 4 day Saurashtra journey comes to an end and you depart. Gir is well placed for departure, with the nearest airports at Diu, Keshod and Rajkot and railheads at Junagadh and Veraval or you can continue your travels onward through Gujarat. In just four days, you will have seen two of India's holiest temples and the last home of the Asiatic lion, a remarkable range of experiences to pack into a short but rewarding trip.

How this differs from a 5 day trip

This 4 day itinerary is the efficient version of the Dwarka, Somnath and Gir circuit, designed for travellers with limited time. The main way it saves a day, compared with a more relaxed five day trip, is by combining the Dwarka sightseeing and the drive to Somnath into a single busy day, rather than giving Dwarka a full separate day of sightseeing and a separate day for the drive. This means Day 2 is a long, full day, so an early start is important. If you have an extra day to spare, adding a fifth day lets you take Dwarka and its coast at a gentler pace, with more time for Bet Dwarka, the Rukmini temple, Gita Mandir and the beaches, before the drive to Somnath. Either way, the heart of the trip, the two temples and the lion safari, is the same, so the choice comes down to how much time you have and how relaxed you would like the pace to be.

How to reach for this itinerary

This itinerary is designed to start in Dwarka and end at Gir, with no backtracking. To start, fly into Jamnagar, about 130 km from Dwarka or take a train to Dwarka's own station or drive in. To end, from Gir the nearest airports are Diu, Keshod and Rajkot, with railheads at Junagadh and Veraval. If you prefer to start and end at the same city, Rajkot or Ahmedabad works well as an entry and exit point, adding a little driving at each end. Our how to reach Dwarka and how to reach Somnath guides cover all the options and a car with a driver makes the whole four day route seamless.

Best time for this trip

The best time for this 4 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir itinerary is the cooler season, roughly November to March, when the coastal weather is pleasant and the Gir safari is at its best, in line with the best time to visit Gujarat. Crucially, note that Gir National Park's safari zones close during the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-October, so this itinerary, which depends on the safari, should not be planned during those months. Winter is ideal, with comfortable temperatures for the temples, the coast and the wildlife and clear skies for the coastal drive. Book well ahead in the peak winter and festival season, when hotels and safari permits fill quickly.

Tips for the 4 day itinerary

A few pointers make this efficient trip smoother:

• Start Day 2 early, as it is the fullest day, combining Dwarka sightseeing with the long drive to Somnath.

• Book your Gir safari permit well in advance, as it is essential and slots sell out in the peak season.

• Plan the trip outside the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-October, when the Gir safari zones close.

• Hire a car with a driver for the whole route, which links the temples, the coast and Gir seamlessly and stress-free.

• Stay near the Dwarkadhish and Somnath temples for the aartis and near Sasan Gir for the early morning safari.

• Add a fifth day if you can spare it, for a more relaxed pace in Dwarka and along its coast.

Plan or book your 4 day trip

Experience My India can arrange this entire 4 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir trip for you, with a car and driver, hotels, the safari and all transfers handled. Explore the Somnath Dwarka Gir tour package, which is built around exactly this kind of temple-and-safari route or the wider Somnath Dwarka tour packages. Book Somnath Dwarka hotels and Gir lodges and let a Somnath Dwarka taxi service handle the driving, so you can focus on the darshan, the coast and the lions across your four days.

Related guides

To plan the details of your trip, these related guides help:

Plan your trip

Experience My India can arrange your 4 day Dwarka, Somnath and Gir trip. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.