How to Reach Sasan Gir by Air, Train & Road: 2026 Travel Guide

All distances are approximate road distances; drive times depend on traffic and the season.

• Talala: about 15 km — 20 to 30 minutes
• Somnath / Veraval: about 45 km — around 1 hour
• Junagadh: about 60 km — around 1.5 hours
• Keshod airport: roughly 60–70 km — about 1.5 hours
• Diu: roughly 100–110 km — about 2.5 to 3 hours
• Rajkot: about 160 km from the city — 3.5 to 4 hours
• Bhavnagar: roughly 220 km — about 5 hours
• Ahmedabad: about 350–370 km — 7 to 8 hours

Rajkot is the most practical airport for most travellers. The newer international airport is outside the city at Hirasar, so allow roughly four hours by road to Sasan. It has regular flights from Mumbai, Delhi and other major cities.

Ahmedabad has the widest choice of flights in Gujarat. It is a long drive (7 to 8 hours), but it works well if you plan to see other parts of the state on the way.

Keshod is the closest airport, about an hour and a half away, and Diu is around three hours away. Both have limited and sometimes seasonal flights, mostly from Mumbai, so check the current schedule before you build a plan around them.

Whichever airport you choose, pre-book your cab. Taxis are available at Rajkot and Ahmedabad, but a driver who already knows your hotel in Sasan — and the timing of your safari — saves a lot of phone calls on the road.

Junagadh Junction (about 60 km) and Veraval / Somnath (about 45 km) are the most useful stations. Both are on the broad-gauge network with trains from Ahmedabad and Rajkot, and some long-distance trains from Mumbai and other cities. Overnight trains are a comfortable option — you arrive in the morning, take a taxi and reach Sasan by lunch.

Sasan Gir also has its own small station on a slow metre-gauge line that runs through the forest between Junagadh and Delvada. It is a charming ride when it operates, but services are infrequent and have changed in recent years, so check whether it is running before you rely on it.

Trains to Saurashtra fill up quickly around Diwali, the winter holidays and long weekends, so book as early as you can. Both Junagadh and Veraval have taxis and auto-rickshaws outside the station; arrange a pickup in advance if you are arriving late in the evening.

The usual route runs south-west via Rajkot, Gondal, Jetpur and Junagadh, then through Mendarda to Sasan. It is roughly 350–370 km and takes 7 to 8 hours with a meal stop. The highways are good for most of the way; the last stretch after Junagadh uses narrower state roads.

Start early in the morning so you arrive before dark. If you have time, break the journey with a night in Rajkot or Junagadh — Junagadh in particular is worth a stop for Uparkot fort and the Girnar ropeway.

Rajkot is about 160 km from Sasan, a drive of 3.5 to 4 hours via Gondal, Jetpur and Junagadh. If you are flying into Rajkot’s airport at Hirasar, add another 30 to 45 minutes.

This is the route most of our travellers use: land in Rajkot by midday, drive down through the afternoon, and check in at Sasan in time for dinner. Rajkot also has good trains from across Gujarat and beyond, so it works as a hub whether you fly or take the train.

If you land early, you have time for a quick look at the city before driving south — the Kaba Gandhi no Delo, where Mahatma Gandhi spent part of his childhood, and the Watson Museum are both in central Rajkot. Gondal, on the way, is known for its old palaces and is a good lunch stop.

Somnath and Veraval are about 45 km from Sasan via Talala — around an hour by car. This makes it easy to attend the evening aarti at Somnath and still reach Sasan for the night, or to visit the temple after a morning safari.

Junagadh is about 60 km away via Vanthali or Mendarda, roughly an hour and a half. Many travellers combine the Girnar ropeway or the Girnar Nature Safari with Gir on the same trip.

From any of these towns, shared jeeps and state buses run to Sasan, but a private taxi is far easier with luggage and gives you control over timing.

Diu is roughly 100–110 km from Sasan, a drive of about 2.5 to 3 hours via Una. The roads pass through villages and farmland, so the drive is slower than the distance suggests.

Diu makes a relaxing beach finish to a Gir trip. A popular plan is Sasan for two nights, then Diu for one or two nights of forts, churches and quiet beaches before flying out of Diu or driving back to Rajkot or Ahmedabad.

Remember that Diu is a separate Union Territory with its own rules, so carry your IDs, and keep some daylight in hand for the drive — the coastal villages around Una and Ahmedpur Mandvi are pleasant to pass through, but the roads are narrow.

From Mumbai or Pune: the quickest option is a flight to Rajkot followed by a four-hour drive. Overnight trains to Veraval, Somnath or Junagadh are a good alternative if you prefer rail.

From Surat: you can drive the whole way (roughly 10 to 11 hours via Ahmedabad), take a train to Rajkot or Junagadh, or fly to Rajkot where routes are available. The ro-pax ferry between Hazira and Ghogha can shorten the trip to the Bhavnagar side of Saurashtra — from there it is about five hours to Sasan. Ferry schedules change with the season and weather, so check before you plan around it.

App-based cabs are rarely available around Sasan, so plan your transport in advance. The most comfortable option is a private cab with driver booked for your whole Saurashtra trip — it picks you up at the airport or station, waits for you between safaris and takes you on to Somnath, Junagadh or Diu.

Auto-rickshaws and local taxis are available in Sasan and Talala for short trips, and state transport buses connect Sasan with Junagadh, Veraval and Talala. Remember that your own vehicle can only take you as far as the safari reception; the safari itself is always in a forest-department vehicle.

If you are self-driving, tell your hotel what time your safari starts. Most resorts in Sasan are used to early starts and can arrange a wake-up call, an early tea and directions to the reception, which is easy to find but busy in the half-hour before each slot.

• Avoid driving through forest areas after dark. Some roads through the sanctuary have restricted hours, and animals cross without warning.
• Slow down near villages — cattle, buffalo herds and tractors are common on the roads.
• Fuel up in the bigger towns. Junagadh, Veraval and Talala have reliable fuel stations; small villages may not.
• Keep offline maps. Mobile signal can be weak near the forest.
• Respect wildlife. If you see a lion near the road, stay in the vehicle, keep your distance and never try to attract its attention.

Gir, Somnath and Diu (5 days, from Rajkot): drive Rajkot to Sasan for two nights, then Somnath for one night and Diu for one or two nights. Fly out of Diu if flights suit you, or drive back to Rajkot.

Dwarka, Somnath and Gir (6 to 7 days, from Ahmedabad): Ahmedabad to Dwarka for two nights (Dwarkadhish, Nageshwar, Bet Dwarka), along the coast to Somnath for one night, then Sasan for two nights before returning via Rajkot.

The eastern route (5 to 6 days): Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar and Velavadar for blackbuck, Palitana for the Shatrunjaya temples, Ambardi or Sasan for lions, and Junagadh for Girnar before ending in Rajkot. It is longer on the road but shows a very different side of Gujarat.

The highways of Saurashtra are lined with busy roadside restaurants serving fresh Kathiyawadi food, and a long drive is a good excuse to try it. Look for bajra rotla with white butter and jaggery, sev tameta nu shaak, ringan no olo (smoky mashed brinjal), khichdi with kadhi and a tall glass of chaas.

Gondal, Jetpur and Junagadh all have reliable places to stop. Most highway eateries are vegetarian, clean and quick, but choose ones that are busy with local families — it is the best sign that the food is fresh. Carry your own snacks and water for the final stretch, as options thin out near the forest.

• Original photo IDs for every traveller named on your safari permit, plus a copy of the permit.
• Water and light snacks for the drive and the safari.
• Earth-coloured clothes for the safari, and a warm layer from November to February — open Gypsies are cold at dawn.
• Cap, sunglasses and sunscreen for March to June.
• Power bank and offline maps, since mobile signal is patchy near the forest.
• Some cash for small eateries, tips and on-the-spot charges at the safari reception.
• Basic medicines, including motion-sickness tablets if anyone is sensitive to winding roads.

From October to February the weather is pleasant for long drives and the safari season is in full swing. March to mid-June is hot, so start drives early and carry plenty of water — the safaris are often excellent at this time.

During the monsoon (mid-June to mid-October) the jungle trail is closed, roads can be slower after heavy rain and some trains and flights change. Devalia Safari Park runs for much of this period, and the countryside is beautifully green if you do travel.

Whatever the season, the busiest travel weeks are Diwali, Christmas to New Year and long weekends. Trains, flights, cabs and hotels in Sasan all fill up at the same time, so book transport together with your safari permit rather than leaving it for later.

Sasan is the best base for safaris — the reception is minutes away, so you can sleep a little longer before the first slot. Talala has a few options about 20 to 30 minutes away. Somnath has the widest choice of hotels and works well if temples are your main focus, but it adds an hour’s drive each way to the safari.

For a first trip, two nights in Sasan followed by a night in Somnath or Diu is a comfortable balance.

We arrange airport and station pickups from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Veraval and Diu, with a driver who stays with you for the trip. We can also help with your safari permits, hotel in Sasan and onward plans for Somnath, Dwarka or Diu.

Share your dates and starting city on WhatsApp, and we will suggest the simplest route and a realistic day-by-day plan before you pay anything.

Once you know how you are getting to Sasan, the next decision is which safari to book. Our Sasan Gir safari guide compares the jungle trail, Devalia, Ambardi and Girnar, with season dates and slot timings. If you have extra days, see our list of places to visit near Sasan Gir.