Woods at Sasan is a 38-room hotel on an 8-acre Kesar mango orchard in Sasan Gir, Gujarat, at the edge of Gir National Park, the only wild home of the Asiatic lion. Built in local stone and lime plaster around 280 mango trees left standing, it is the first hotel in Gir, Gujarat to hold a MICHELIN Key.

These are the questions our reservations team answers most often, gathered in one place.

At a Glance

About the Place

What is Woods at Sasan?

Woods at Sasan is a 38-room hotel in Sasan Gir, Gujarat, built inside a working mango orchard at the edge of Gir National Park. It brings together forest stays, naturalist-led wildlife safaris, regional food and the SOM wellbeing space. The property is designed around the land rather than on top of it: the orchard was kept, the buildings were drawn between its trees, and much of the craft on its walls comes from artisans of Gujarat.

Where exactly is Woods at Sasan?

Woods at Sasan is on Sasan Talala Road in Sasan, the village that serves as the main entry point to Gir National Park in the Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. The full address is Sasan Talala Road, Gir Forest, Sasan, Gujarat 362135. Sasan Gir railway station is 5 minutes away, and the Somnath temple is within a comfortable day's drive.

Is Woods at Sasan inside Gir National Park?

No. Woods at Sasan sits just outside the park boundary, on the forest's edge in Sasan village. No hotel stays inside the protected core of Gir. Being on the edge means the safari gate is close, and that birds, chital and, on rare nights, the sound of a lion's call reach the orchard.

Who owns and runs Woods at Sasan?

Woods at Sasan is an initiative of 1000 Island Hotels & Resorts, an Indian hospitality, design and lifestyle company. The property was designed by the 1000 Island design atelier with international consultants, drawing on the architecture, crafts and food of Gujarat.

Has Woods at Sasan won a MICHELIN Key?

Yes. Woods at Sasan holds one MICHELIN Key, awarded in 2026, and is the first hotel in Gujarat to receive one. The Key is the MICHELIN Guide's hotel distinction, judged by inspectors who stay anonymously and assess architecture, service, character, value and a place's relationship with its surroundings. Read the full story in The Key That Was Already Here.

What makes the design different?

The orchard came first. The buildings use local stone and lime plaster that keeps rooms cool, reclaimed teak, handwoven khadi and terracotta, and none of the mango trees were felled to build them. More than 32 artisan collaborations run through the property, including Lippan mudwork, Mata ni Pachedi textiles and nail and thread art from nearby Borvaav village. The building holds an IGBC Platinum green rating (2023). More in Biophilic Design in India.

How does Woods at Sasan care for the land around it?

Over 60% of what the kitchens cook is sourced locally, a growing share from the property's own GOPCA certified organic garden and food forest. Over 40% of the team comes from the surrounding villages. Water is recycled for the landscape, kitchen waste is composted, and the property is working toward net-zero plastic through Project Netting Zero. More in Regenerative Hospitality in Gir.

Rooms and Stays

What rooms does Woods at Sasan have?

There are four room types, 38 keys in all:

• Woods Studio (18 keys): 550 sq ft with a 300 sq ft private sit-out facing the morning sun. King or twin beds.

• Woods Studio with Terrace (6 keys): 650 sq ft with a 350 sq ft private terrace over the orchard.

• Woods Pavilion (12 keys): 800 sq ft on two levels, with a 1,000 sq ft semi-open area, private garden porch and an open-to-sky shower found only in this category.

• Woods Villa (1 key): a 3,000 sq ft private home with three bedrooms, each with its own bath, a heated plunge pool, 3,500 sq ft of semi-open space and a personal butler.

See every room on the Stay page.

Which room is best for couples, and which for families?

Couples who want the most privacy and space usually choose the Woods Pavilion for its garden porch and open-sky shower. The Studio with Terrace suits those who like slow mornings outdoors. Families and groups of four to six are best in the Woods Villa, with three bedrooms, a plunge pool and a butler. Twin-bed Studios work well for friends travelling together.

What comes in every room?

Every room has air-conditioning, a private outdoor sitting area, an en-suite bathroom with bath amenities, bathrobes and a hairdryer, a mini fridge, an electronic safe, a tea and coffee set, a flat-screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Across the property there is a 24-hour front desk, concierge, an infinity-edge pool, a fitness centre, an open library, a children's play zone and express laundry (no dry-cleaning).

Safaris and Wildlife

Can you see lions from Woods at Sasan?

Lions are seen on safari inside Gir National Park and the Devaliya interpretation zone, both a short drive from the property. Gir is the only place in the world where Asiatic lions live in the wild. Leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, jungle cats, honey badgers, chital and sambar share the forest, along with more than 300 bird species. More in Asiatic Lions of Gir.

Does Woods at Sasan arrange Gir safaris?

Yes. Our team helps book Gir Jungle Safari and Devaliya Safari permits and sends a naturalist with you, with refreshments from the kitchen. Permits are issued by the Gujarat Forest Department in limited numbers, so we suggest booking 30 to 60 days before you arrive, especially for weekends and holidays. Read the Gir Safari Guide for slots and seasons.

Who leads the wildlife experiences?

Our naturalists are from Sasan Gir and know the forest by its tracks and calls. The team includes a former WWF conservation outreach professional who has spent more than a decade studying big cats and birds, a former park gypsy driver from Sangodra, and a Gir National Park guide and tracker. They lead safaris, birding tours, nature walks and the Hilltop and Bonnet Breakfast mornings.

When is the Gir safari season?

The main Gir National Park safari runs from mid-October to mid-June and closes for the monsoon. November to February brings cool mornings and migratory birds. April to June brings open forest and some of the clearest sightings, though afternoons are hot. Woods at Sasan stays open through the monsoon, when the forest turns green and quiet.

What else is there to do besides safari?

Plenty. Guests take birding tours along the Hiran river, forest bathing walks, stargazing sessions, cycling along village lanes, pottery with the resident potter, village visits with Maldhari herders, the Siddi Goma dance, farm lunches, Somnath darshan, barbecue dinners under the stars and a back-of-house tour of the property's regenerative systems. See all Experiences.

Food and Dining

Where do you eat at Woods at Sasan?

There are four places to eat. Swadesh serves a vegetarian Kathiawadi thali beside the water, cooked by Narmada Ben, known to everyone as Kaaki, often with live folk music. Terracotta is the all-day restaurant for regional specialities and international classics. Al Fresco shares Terracotta's menu outdoors, with a wood-fired oven for pizzas. Mango Bar sits under one large mango tree and serves mocktails, juices, smoothies and health drinks. See Dining.

Is the food vegetarian?

Woods at Sasan has two restaurants, Swadesh and Terractotta. Terracotta is a multi cusine that serves both vegetarian and non vegetarian. Swadesh is a fully vegetarian restaurant focusing on Saurashtra cuisine in the form of a thali made with local produce.

Is alcohol served at Woods at Sasan?

Gujarat is a dry state, but guests who don’t live in Gujarat can buy alcohol legally with a liquor permit. That includes visitors from other Indian states, foreign nationals on a valid visa and NRIs travelling on a foreign passport. Permits are issued through the Gujarat government’s online permit service and at authorised permit counters, and our team can help you with the process before you arrive.

Where does the food come from?

Over 60% of ingredients are sourced locally. Dairy comes from Maldhari herders, grains and greens from nearby farms, and a growing share from the property's own GOPCA certified organic garden and food forest. In summer, the orchard's Kesar mangoes reach the menu.

SOM Wellbeing

What is SOM?

SOM is the wellbeing space at Woods at Sasan, named after Soma, the elixir of life in Vedic tradition. Across more than 3,500 sq ft it offers Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, naturopathy, acupuncture and sound healing, with six treatment rooms plus a dedicated Ayurveda room, mud therapy room and couple's room. See Wellbeing.

What treatments and programmes are offered?

SOM offers Ayurvedic therapies such as Abhyanga and Udwarthanam, signature Som Rituals, Woods Stone Therapy, Vanaushadhi herbal scrubs and wraps, and holistic body therapies. Longer programmes include Ayurveda and lifestyle consultations, Vedic diet guidance, weight loss and millet diet programmes, and Gut Restore. Yoga runs at sunrise and sunset in the Yogashala.

What is the Sonorium?

The Sonorium is the sound healing chamber within SOM. Lithophones, monochords and sound stones create frequencies that settle the nervous system into deep rest, with no touch and no movement. Sessions include the 5 Elements Sound Journey. Enquire about the Sonorium.

What is Som Udyaan?

Som Udyaan is a 675 sq ft medicinal herb garden beside SOM, growing plants such as ashwagandha, ajwain, betel leaf, cardamom and pattharchatta, many native to the region. Practitioners pick leaves straight from it for herbal infusions based on each guest's Ayurvedic assessment, and an acupressure walkway runs through it.

Getting Here and When to Come

How do I reach Woods at Sasan?

The nearest airport is Keshod, 60 km away (about 1 hour), with limited flights. Diu airport is 100 km away (about 2 hours), and Rajkot, with the best connections from Indian metros, is 160 km away (about 3.5 hours). Sasan Gir railway station is 5 minutes from the gate. Our team arranges pick-ups from every nearby airport and station. Guests driving in will find EV charging on site.

What is the best time to visit?

For safaris, come between mid-October and mid-June. For birding and cool weather, November to February. For the clearest wildlife sightings, April to June. For a green, quiet forest and fewer visitors, the monsoon months of July to September, when the core safari is closed but the property and Devaliya [confirm Devaliya monsoon opening] remain open.

How many days should I stay?

Two nights allow one or two safaris and an evening at Swadesh. Three to four nights let you add birding, a SOM treatment, a village visit and a day at Somnath without hurrying. Gir tends to show more of itself to guests who stay longer.

Families, Pets and Events

Is Woods at Sasan good for children?

Yes. There is a children's play zone, an open library, a pool and naturalist walks that hold a child's attention, and the Woods Villa gives families their own three-bedroom home. Guests under 14 can receive SOM therapies with a parent's consent.

Are pets allowed?

Yes, Woods at Sasan is a pet friendly retreat. We welcome all pets, however require them to be declared while reserving the room to make neccessary arrangements. Additionally we request pet parents to retain their pets on leash in public spaces of the retreat, for the comfort of other guests.

Can I host a wedding or event at Woods at Sasan?

Yes. Woods at Sasan hosts intimate weddings, family celebrations, corporate offsites and product launches. Venues include the Orchard Lawn (25,000 sq ft, up to 350 guests), the Event Lawn (7,650 sq ft, up to 160 theatre style), the Alfresco Poolside deck (6,500 sq ft, up to 150), the SOM Garden (5,100 sq ft, up to 100) and the wood-panelled Social Hall (728 sq ft, up to 50, with audio-visual equipment). Write to sales@1000island.in.

Booking

How do I book a stay?

Book directly on woodsatsasan.com, call +91 95122 71000, message us on WhatsApp, or write to reservation@1000island.in. Booking directly lets our team plan your safaris, meals and SOM sessions with you before you arrive. [Add the direct-booking benefit once agreed, for example a SOM credit.]

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation terms depend on the rate and season booked. The full policy is on our Terms and Conditions page, and our team will confirm the terms for your dates before you pay.

By the time the orchard comes into view on the Sasan road, most of these questions have already been answered. The rest are better asked in person, over tea at Mango Bar, with the naturalist who drove you in.