Diwali Trips From Ahmedabad by Car in 2026: 6 Places for a 4 to 6 Day Break
The best Diwali trips from Ahmedabad are the ones you book before festival week begins. Good cars and good drivers go first, and by the first week of November there is very little choice left.
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November. If your office and your kids' school give you the stretch from Dhanteras to Bestu Varas, you have four days. Add Bhai Dooj and you have six. This guide covers six road trips that fit that window, with real drive times and a few things worth planning around.
Diwali 2026 dates in Gujarat at a glance
| Date | Day | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| 6 November | Friday | Dhanteras |
| 7 November | Saturday | Kali Chaudas |
| 8 November | Sunday | Diwali, Lakshmi Puja |
| 9 November | Monday | Bestu Varas, Gujarati New Year |
| 11 November | Wednesday | Bhai Dooj |
Bestu Varas falls on a Monday, and that matters for one of the trips below. We come to it in a moment.
How long is your Diwali vacation in Gujarat?
Working families usually get the long weekend from Friday 6 to Monday 9 November. Students often get more. The Gujarat Board's 2026-27 academic calendar lists a 21 day Diwali vacation, but every school sets its own dates, so check your child's calendar before you fix a plan.
The number of days you have decides where you should go.
| Days you have | Trip that fits |
|---|---|
| 1 day | Statue of Unity |
| 2 nights | Mount Abu |
| 3 nights | Udaipur, or Kutch and the White Rann |
| 3 to 4 nights | Gir and Somnath |
| 3 days on the road | Somnath and Dwarka |
Places to visit near Ahmedabad for Diwali: the six trips compared
| Trip | Distance | Drive time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statue of Unity | 200 km | 3.5 hours | One day, kids and parents |
| Mount Abu | 225 km | 4.5 hours | Two nights, cool weather |
| Udaipur | 260 km | 5 hours | Three nights, lakes and palaces |
| Kutch and White Rann | 335 km | 6 hours | Three nights, Rann Utsav |
| Gir and Somnath | 365 km | 6.5 hours | Three to four nights, lions and temples |
| Somnath and Dwarka | About 1,030 km loop | 3 days | Pilgrimage |
Toll, permit and border tax are extra. Hatchbacks go round trip only, and Innova bookings are billed as round trips.
1. Statue of Unity: the easy one day escape
The drive is about 3.5 hours each way. Leave by 6 am, see the statue, the viewing gallery and the dam, and be home by evening. Book it as a round trip with the driver waiting, so nobody watches the clock while the kids queue for the gallery.
There is one thing to plan around. According to Gujarat Tourism, the Statue of Unity is closed on Mondays for maintenance, and Bestu Varas is on Monday 9 November. Go on Saturday 7 November or Tuesday 10 November instead. Check the official ticket site before you leave, because festival schedules can change.
Go early whichever day you pick. Festival week is crowded at every big attraction in Gujarat, and the first hour is the calmest.
Details: Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity taxi
2. Mount Abu: cool air, short drive
Mount Abu is 225 km away, about 4.5 hours by road. It is the only hill station in Rajasthan and one of the most popular weekend trips for Ahmedabad families. November is a comfortable month to be up there. Nakki Lake, the Dilwara temples, Sunset Point and the climb to Guru Shikhar fill a full day, and two nights is the right length.
Mount Abu is in Rajasthan, so border tax is charged separately.
Details: Ahmedabad to Mount Abu taxi
3. Udaipur: lakes, palaces and slow evenings
Udaipur is 260 km from Ahmedabad, roughly five hours on NH48. Three nights lets you see the City Palace, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola and spend an evening at Fateh Sagar without rushing anything.
A sedan or an Ertiga can go one way, and an Innova is booked as a round trip. We wrote a full breakdown here: Ahmedabad to Udaipur taxi guide
4. Kutch: Rann Utsav opens on 1 November
The official Rann Utsav website lists the 2026-27 season from 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027, at the Tent City in Dhordo. Diwali week lands right at the start of the season.
Bhuj is 335 km from Ahmedabad, about six hours. Give this trip three days: Bhuj on day one, the White Rann at sunset and a tent stay on day two, sunrise and the drive back on day three.
You also need a White Rann entry permit, which is issued separately from a tent booking on the Gujarat government's Rann permit portal. Sort that out as soon as your dates are fixed.
Plan it properly here: Ahmedabad to Kutch distance and Rann Utsav guide
5. Gir and Somnath: lions in the morning, temple by evening
Gir is closed to safaris from 16 June to 15 October and reopens on 16 October 2026, so Diwali falls in the first weeks of the season. Sasan Gir is 365 km from Ahmedabad, about 6.5 hours. Somnath is just over an hour beyond it.
Safari permits are limited. Book them on the official Gir online permit portal before you book anything else. We cannot book permits for you, but we can tell you which safari slot fits your arrival time.
Route and day plan: Ahmedabad to Gir, Somnath and Dwarka by car
6. Somnath and Dwarka: the pilgrimage circuit
This is a three day, two night loop of about 1,030 km. Ahmedabad to Somnath is 400 km via Rajkot, Somnath to Dwarka is 235 km, and Dwarka back to Ahmedabad is 395 km. We time the drive so you reach each temple for the evening aarti.
Every tour is priced around your dates and group size. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote. Hotels, meals, temple entry fees and the Bet Dwarka boat are not included.
Details: Somnath Dwarka darshan tour
How to pick from these Diwali trips from Ahmedabad
Match the trip to the people in the car, not only to the map.
- Young kids or grandparents: Statue of Unity or Mount Abu. Short drives, easy stops, no long days in the car.
- A couple or friends who love photography: Kutch. The salt flats at sunset are the reason to go.
- A family that wants both culture and comfort: Udaipur.
- Wildlife lovers: Gir, with Somnath added on the way back.
- A devotional trip with parents: Somnath and Dwarka, timed around the evening aarti.
How to book an Ahmedabad taxi for Diwali without stress
Booking an Ahmedabad taxi for Diwali is easier when you send everything in one message. Include your dates, pickup area, number of people, number of bags, and whether you want one way or a round trip. We reply with a fare confirmed before the trip starts.
A few habits make the trip smoother:
- Pick the car by luggage, not only by seats. An Ertiga with six people has very little boot space. If you are packing for three days, go up a size.
- Send your request in October. The more notice we have, the more choice you get on cars and drivers.
- Leave a day before the rush or a day after it. Roads out of the city are heaviest just before the festival days and again on the return day.
- Keep crackers out of the car. It is a fire risk on a long highway drive.
- Traveling with 10 or more people? One vehicle keeps the family together. See Tempo Traveller on rent in Ahmedabad for a Diwali family trip.
Questions people ask
Statue of Unity is the easiest because you are home the same night. Mount Abu is the next best choice, with a short drive and cool weather.
Yes, for a sedan or an Ertiga. Hatchbacks are round trip only, and Innova bookings are billed as round trips.
No. Toll, permit and border tax are charged separately, and we tell you what applies before you travel.
Yes. We pick up from anywhere in Ahmedabad, including Nikol, Naroda, Satellite, Bopal and the airport.
As early as your dates are fixed. For Diwali week, October is the right time to ask.
Plan your Diwali trip now
Diwali trips from Ahmedabad are easy when you decide early. Pick your place from the six above, check the Monday closure if you are heading to the Statue of Unity, and send us your dates in October. We take care of the car, the driver and the fare, and you take care of the holiday.