Gujarat is India's westernmost state, a broad sweep of Arabian Sea coastline, salt desert, and temple towns on the border with Pakistan and Rajasthan. It holds four UNESCO World Heritage Sites plus the walled city of Ahmedabad, the only Asiatic lion population on earth at Gir, the white salt flats of the Rann of Kutch, and the 182-metre Statue of Unity. It is also an alcohol-prohibition state with a famously vegetarian kitchen, from the multi-course Gujarati thali to Surat's locho and Kutch's dabeli.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
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1
Girnar Steps to Ambaji and Dattatreya Peak
Gujarat's great stairway pilgrimage, climbing a granite massif above Junagadh on close to 10,000 carved steps past Jain temple complexes to the Ambaji shrine at roughly 5,000 steps and on to the Guru Dattatreya summit at 1,031 m.
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2
Shatrunjaya Hill Pilgrim Climb, Palitana
A stepped ascent from Palitana town to one of Jainism's holiest sites, a walled summit city of some 900 marble temples that must be emptied of all people before nightfall, since no one may sleep on the sacred hill.
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3
Pavagadh Hill Climb, Champaner
A stepped climb up an eroded volcanic hill inside a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological park, passing Hindu and Islamic ruins, fortified gateways and the Jami Masjid below, to the Kalika Mata shrine on the summit.
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4
Polo Forest and Sharneshwar Temple Trail, Vijaynagar
Forest walking through a dry deciduous Aravalli valley scattered with 15th-century Jain and Hindu ruins, including the Sharneshwar Mahadev temple, along the Harnav river and up to the Vanaj dam.
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5
Wilson Hills Plateau Walks, Dharampur
Gentle plateau and viewpoint walking on a green hill station above the Valsad coastal plain, with monsoon waterfalls, sunset points over the Arabian Sea haze and the Dharampur forest below.
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6
Saputara Sunset Point and Governor's Hill Walk
Viewpoint walking around Gujarat's Sahyadri hill town, linking Sunset Point, Governor's Hill, the Step Garden and the lake shore, with the forested Dangs valleys dropping away on all sides.
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7
Kalo Dungar Ridge Walk, Kutch
Short ridge walking at the highest point in Kutch, looking out over the white expanse of the Great Rann from a basalt hilltop crowned by the 400-year-old Dattatreya temple.
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8
Taranga Hill Jain Temple Climb
A quiet Aravalli hill climb above one of Gujarat's finest 12th-century Jain temples, past rock-cut Jain and Buddhist remains to the Kotishila and Siddhashila shrines on the ridge.
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9
Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Trails
Dry deciduous hill walking in a little-visited sanctuary behind Porbandar, now a second home for translocated Asiatic lions, with forest tracks, seasonal streams and Maher pastoral settlements.
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10
Dholavira and Fossil Park Walk, Khadir Bet
Level walking around one of the largest Harappan cities ever excavated, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on an island in the Great Rann, paired with a nearby fossil park of petrified wood.
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.
Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.
Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.
Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.
Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Sudden weather changes — always carry rain gear and warm layers.
Wildlife encounters — make noise on the trail and store food properly.
Trail conditions can deteriorate after rain — check recent reports before setting out.