Saputara Tour Packages from Ahmedabad
Gujarat's own hill station in the Dang forest – a lake, cloud-covered ridges in the rain, waterfalls near Waghai and Nashik's temples an hour away – planned as a private road trip from Ahmedabad.
Saputara sits at about 875–1,000 m on a plateau in the Sahyadri hills, in Gujarat's Dang district right on the Maharashtra border. It is a small, planned hill town built around a lake, with a ropeway, viewpoints on every side and the Dang forest falling away below. For Ahmedabad families it fills a gap: a hill station where Gujarati is spoken, the food is familiar and the drive needs no ghats until the last hour. It is also far enough that the trip deserves two or three nights rather than a tired dash.
This page is for travellers starting in Ahmedabad. It covers what Saputara tour packages from Ahmedabad cost by trip length and hotel class, the best road route and the train-plus-car option through Surat, three day-wise plans including a Nashik, Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi combination, the Monsoon Festival and its usual timing, the Gira and Girmal falls, Don, Diwali crowds and what to pack. We also say plainly what Saputara is not: it is not Mount Abu or Manali, and the best of it is the monsoon and the forest around it.
Updated November 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
Saputara packages you can book now
Our latest Saputara packages on Vibrant Holidays — 1 to 12 nights. Every package can be customised for departure from Ahmedabad.
Saputara package price guide from Ahmedabad
Our Gujarat packages currently start at ₹11,000 per person, and 24 are on sale now. The bands below are per person on twin sharing, with hotel and breakfast, a private AC car with driver from your home in Ahmedabad and back, tolls and parking. Prices vary with season, hotel and car size, and Saputara rates jump on monsoon weekends and in Diwali week.
| Trip length | Standard (simple lake-area hotels) | Deluxe (best-rated resorts in town) | Premium (top resort, valley-view rooms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights (Saputara only) | ₹6,500 – 9,500 | ₹9,500 – 14,000 | ₹15,000 – 22,000 |
| 3 nights (adds Gira falls, Don or Vansda) | ₹8,500 – 12,500 | ₹12,500 – 18,500 | ₹20,000 – 30,000 |
| 4 nights (Saputara plus Nashik and Trimbakeshwar) | ₹11,000 – 16,000 | ₹16,500 – 24,000 | ₹26,000 – 40,000 |
| 5 nights (adds Shirdi) | ₹13,500 – 19,500 | ₹20,000 – 29,000 | ₹32,000 – 48,000 |
How to read these: Saputara has a modest hotel stock and only a handful of properties with real views; those few set the premium band. Two families sharing an Innova Crysta cuts the per-person cost noticeably, because the car is a large share of an 800 km round trip.
Usually paid on the spot: ropeway tickets, boating on Saputara lake (pedal boats around ₹35 per person for half an hour as of late 2026), paragliding and zip-line at the adventure park when operating, museum entry, the Vansda park fee, darshan or puja fees at Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi, and lunches and dinners.
Getting to Saputara from Ahmedabad
| Mode | Route | Time | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private car | Expressway to Vadodara, NH48 to Kamrej near Surat, then Bardoli, Vyara and Waghai up to Saputara | About 400–410 km, 7–8 hours | Our usual choice; the last 50 km from Waghai climb through forest |
| Train plus car | Vande Bharat, Shatabdi or other fast trains Ahmedabad–Surat, then car | About 3–4 hours by train, 3½–4 hours by road | Saves the tiring half; car meets you at Surat station |
| Nearest stations | Waghai (about 50 km) on the small Bilimora line; Bilimora (about 110 km) on the main line | - | Few useful trains; Surat is more practical |
| Flight | Surat and Nashik airports, both 3–4 hours' drive | - | Not worth it from Ahmedabad |
Where to break the drive: families with elders or small children often stay a night in Surat or Vadodara on the way back. A 6 am start from Ahmedabad gets you to the hills by early afternoon; leaving after 9 am means climbing the Waghai ghat in the dark in winter, which we avoid in monsoon fog.
Monsoon road note: the Waghai–Saputara ghat and the Don road can see landslips and low visibility on heavy-rain days. Drivers slow down, and on red-alert days we may hold the trip by a day.
Three Saputara itineraries from Ahmedabad
2 nights / 3 days – weekend in the hills
- Day 1: Leave Ahmedabad at 6 am; breakfast near Vadodara, lunch in Bardoli or Vyara. Reach Saputara by 2–3 pm, walk around the lake and catch the evening at Sunset Point by ropeway.
- Day 2: Sunrise Point (Valley View) early, Table Point by horse or on foot, the Step Garden and Rose Garden, boating on the lake, the Artist Village for Warli painting and bamboo work, and the tribal museum.
- Day 3: Gira waterfalls near Waghai on the way down (best July to October); drive home, reaching Ahmedabad by evening.
3 nights / 4 days – monsoon in Dang
- Day 1: Drive to Saputara; evening at the lake and the Monsoon Festival venue if it is running.
- Day 2: Don hill station, about 55 km away and slightly higher than Saputara, with Vulture Point, cliffs and the waterfalls near Pandav caves on the approach. Back for the evening programme.
- Day 3: Girmal falls near Subir, among the highest in Gujarat, and the Ahwa district town; or a forest walk at Mahal in the Purna sanctuary.
- Day 4: Gira falls and Vansda National Park on the way out; home by evening, or a night in Surat.
4 or 5 nights – Saputara with Nashik, Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi
- Day 1: Ahmedabad to Saputara; lake and Sunset Point.
- Day 2: Saputara sightseeing; afternoon drive to Nashik (about 80 km, 1½–2 hours); evening Godavari aarti at Ramkund.
- Day 3: Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga early (28 km from Nashik), Panchavati and Kalaram temple; a vineyard visit for those who wish.
- Day 4: Drive to Shirdi (about 90 km); Sai Baba darshan and Shani Shingnapur.
- Day 5: Long drive home via Nashik and Saputara or via Surat, about 9–10 hours; or a night on the way.
The Simhastha Kumbh Mela began at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar on 31 October 2026, and its bathing days through 2027 bring very large crowds and traffic limits. We check the official calendar before fixing Nashik dates. For the full Jyotirlinga circuit, see our Jyotirlinga tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Monsoon Festival, Gira falls and the best of the Dang forest
Saputara Monsoon Festival
Gujarat Tourism holds a Monsoon Festival, also called Megh Malhar Parv, every year. The timing moves: in 2025 it ran from 26 July to 17 August, and in 2026 from 8 to 29 August. Expect a parade, Dang tribal dance and music, craft workshops, nature trails, adventure activities and food stalls. The 2027 dates are usually announced in July; weekends inside the festival are the busiest of the year in Saputara.
Waterfalls
- Gira falls: on the Ambika river near Waghai, about 50 km below Saputara. Broad and powerful from July to September, still flowing in October; little more than a trickle by March. The viewing area gets slippery, so keep children back from the edge.
- Girmal falls: deeper in Dang near Subir, a tall drop with a viewing platform; worth the detour in the rain.
Around Saputara
- Saputara lake: the centre of town, with pedal and row boats and a lakeside walk.
- Sunset Point and the ropeway: the ropeway runs across the valley to Sunset Point; timings and fares change, and it stops in high wind or storms.
- Sunrise Point and Gandhi Shikhar: a short walk or drive from town, best before 6:30 am in winter.
- Artist Village: local tribal artists show and sell Warli painting, bamboo craft and jewellery; buying directly supports them.
- Hatgadh fort: a small Maratha-era hill fort just across the border on the Maharashtra side, a short drive and a steep walk.
- Don: about 1,000 m, 55 km away, often called Gujarat's second hill station. It is quiet and undeveloped, with very few stays, so we plan it as a day trip.
- Vansda National Park: a small, dense forest on the way to Waghai, with the Gira river and a tall bamboo belt.
- Dang Darbar: the district's traditional fair at Ahwa around Holi, with tribal music, dance and markets.
Month-by-month for Saputara
| Month | Weather | What it is good for | Crowds and rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cool, 8–10°C at night, sunny days | Sunrise points, clear views | Medium; Uttarayan week quiet |
| February | Pleasant | Walks, Hatgadh, quiet lake | Low to medium |
| March | Warming; Dang Darbar around Holi | Tribal culture | Medium around Holi |
| April | Warm days, cool nights | Short breaks from the heat of Ahmedabad | Low |
| May | Hot by day, pleasant evenings | Gujarat school vacation family trips | High on weekends |
| June | Monsoon arrives mid-month | First rains, mist | Rising |
| July | Heavy rain, fog, green hills | Waterfalls; Monsoon Festival may start late in the month | Very high on weekends |
| August | Rain, cloud on the ridges | Monsoon Festival, Gira and Girmal at full flow | Peak; book well ahead |
| September | Rain easing, still green | Our favourite month: green without the crowds | Medium |
| October | Clear, mild | Waterfalls still flowing, Navratri in Dang villages | Medium |
| November | Cool and dry | Diwali vacation trips | Very high in Diwali week |
| December | Cold nights, clear | Christmas and New Year breaks | High 24–31 December |
Diwali and monsoon weekends: Saputara is small. In Diwali week (around 8–11 November 2026) and on Monsoon Festival weekends, the good hotels sell out weeks ahead, the lake road jams in the evening and parking is hard to find. Book six to eight weeks ahead for those dates, or go midweek. In winter the town is calm and two to three weeks' notice is usually enough.
Food, comfort and tips for Ahmedabad families
- Food: Saputara's restaurants mainly serve Gujarati, Punjabi and simple South Indian vegetarian dishes; the town is used to Gujarati visitors. Try the Dang nagli (finger millet) rotla and local bamboo-shoot dishes if you are curious. Jain food is possible at the better hotels with notice, and we write it on the voucher.
- On the road: the Vadodara and Bharuch stretch of NH48 has reliable highway restaurants; after Vyara choices thin out, so carry thepla, khakhra and fruit for the ghat.
- Seniors: most viewpoints are reached by car with a short walk. The ropeway, Table Point and Hatgadh involve steps or slopes. Choose a hotel near the lake to keep evening outings short.
- Children: the lake, the boating, the adventure park and the Step Garden keep them busy. Hold their hands at Gira and the ropeway viewpoints, where railings are low in places.
- Packing: raincoat and spare footwear in the monsoon, a sweater or jacket from November to February, and something light from March to May. Monsoon clothes rarely dry overnight, so pack extra.
- Cash and network: UPI works in town, but Don, Girmal and Mahal have weak signal and few shops.
- Weather days: on very rainy days the ropeway and boating may stop; we keep the Artist Village, museum and a slower lunch as backup.
Why book Saputara with Vibrant Holidays
- From Ahmedabad, for 11 years: plan at our C G Road office, Monday to Saturday, or on WhatsApp; vouchers and invoices come as PDFs.
- Private car with an experienced ghat driver: no shared coaches; joint families and friends travel as a private group on their own dates.
- Honest hotel advice: Saputara has few good properties, and we tell you which rooms actually have a view and which are on the busy lake road.
- Combinations handled: Saputara with Nashik, Trimbakeshwar or Shirdi, with darshan timings and Kumbh crowd days checked.
- Support while you travel: 24×7 help and the toll-free line 1800-313-4262. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
See all Gujarat tour packages and Maharashtra packages for Nashik and Shirdi, compare closer hill trips in weekend getaways from Ahmedabad, or see all tour packages from Ahmedabad.
More Gujarat road trips: Dwarka and Somnath tours from Ahmedabad and Rann Utsav packages from Ahmedabad.
Plan your Saputara trip with an Ahmedabad team
Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling. We reply with a day-wise plan and a clear price, usually the same day.
Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Saputara tour from Ahmedabad: FAQs
How much does a Saputara tour package from Ahmedabad cost?
Our Saputara packages currently start at ₹11,000 per person for 1 nights. Most of our Saputara packages fall between ₹22,500 and ₹38,500 per person. The final cost depends on the travel month, hotel category, number of travellers and whether flights from {$from} are added. Open any package below to see exactly what is included, or ask us for a quote with flights.
How far is Saputara from Ahmedabad?
Saputara is about 400–410 km from Ahmedabad by road, roughly seven to eight hours by car via Vadodara, the NH48 to Kamrej, then Bardoli, Vyara and Waghai. The last 50 km climb through the Dang forest. Many families leave by 6 am to reach before the afternoon.
Is there a train from Ahmedabad to Saputara?
There is no direct train. The practical option is a fast train from Ahmedabad to Surat, about three to four hours, and then a car for the remaining three and a half to four hours. Waghai, about 50 km away, is the nearest station but has very few useful services.
How many days are enough for Saputara?
Two nights covers the lake, ropeway, viewpoints, Artist Village and Gira falls. Three nights lets you add Don, Girmal falls or Vansda without rushing. If you want to add Nashik, Trimbakeshwar or Shirdi, plan four to five nights in total.
When is the Saputara Monsoon Festival?
It is held each monsoon by Gujarat Tourism, but the dates move. In 2025 it ran from 26 July to 17 August, and in 2026 from 8 to 29 August. The 2027 dates are usually announced around July. Festival weekends are the most crowded time in Saputara, so book early.
What is the best time to visit Saputara?
July to September is best for green hills, mist and waterfalls, and September has the greenery with fewer crowds. October to February gives clear, cool weather for viewpoints. March to May is warm by day but still a relief from Ahmedabad's heat.
Is Saputara good in winter?
Yes, in a quieter way. Nights fall to about 8–10°C, days are sunny and the sunrise and sunset points have clear views. Waterfalls are much thinner by December. It suits couples and seniors who prefer calm, and rates are lower except in Diwali and Christmas weeks.
Can we combine Saputara with Nashik and Shirdi?
Yes. Nashik is about 80 km from Saputara, roughly two hours, and Trimbakeshwar is 28 km beyond it. Shirdi is about 90 km from Nashik. A four- or five-night private trip covers all of these. Check Simhastha Kumbh bathing days in Nashik through 2027, when crowds are very large.
What is Don hill station and is it worth visiting?
Don is a small plateau in Dang at about 1,000 m, 55 km from Saputara and slightly higher. It has cliffs, Vulture Point and waterfalls near the Pandav caves on the approach. There are very few facilities or stays, so it works best as a day trip from Saputara, especially in the monsoon.
Is Saputara crowded during Diwali?
Yes. Diwali week is one of the busiest times, together with Monsoon Festival weekends. Good hotels sell out weeks ahead, rates rise and the lake road jams in the evenings. If you must travel in Diwali, book six to eight weeks ahead and do sightseeing early in the morning.
Is Saputara suitable for senior citizens?
Yes. Most viewpoints are reached by car with short walks, the lake is flat and the food is Gujarati vegetarian. The ropeway, Table Point and Hatgadh involve slopes or steps. We choose a hotel near the lake, avoid driving the ghat after dark and can add a night in Surat to split the drive.
Is Jain food available in Saputara?
Gujarati vegetarian food is everywhere in Saputara, and the better hotels prepare Jain meals with notice. Smaller restaurants may not understand the full restriction on root vegetables, so we brief the hotel in writing. Carry some dry snacks for Don, Girmal and Mahal, where food stops are few.
