Jaisalmer is the most remote of Rajasthan's great cities and, for many travellers, the most memorable. Its sandstone fort glows gold at sunset, and people still live inside its walls.
This short tour takes you there from Jodhpur and back, with a night in a desert camp in the dunes at Sam or Khuri. It is the easiest way to add the desert to a trip that is based around Jodhpur and Udaipur.
The drive each way is about five and a half hours across open desert on a good road. More Rajasthan routes, from short first trips to the full desert circuit, are on our Rajasthan tours page.
Jaisalmer Desert Safari at a glance
Length: 3 days by private car, with the same English-speaking driver throughout.
Price: the Jaisalmer Desert Safari starts from $267 for the whole car, not per person.
Route: Day 1 of the Jaisalmer Desert Safari: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer · sunset on the golden fort. Last day: Sunrise on the dunes, then back to Jodhpur.
Flexible: every day of the Jaisalmer Desert Safari itinerary can be changed, shortened or extended.
Jaisalmer Desert Safari: trip highlights
Jaisalmer's living golden fort
The carved Patwon ki Haveli
A camel ride on the dunes at sunset
A night in a desert camp under the stars
Jaisalmer Desert Safari itinerary, day by day
DAY01Day 1
Jodhpur to Jaisalmer · sunset on the golden fort
Into the Thar Desert. The road runs straight and empty past villages, camels and windmills to the golden fort rising out of the sand.
Morning: Check-out at about 8:30 a.m.
Drive: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer is about 285 km, 5–5½ hours with a tea stop at Pokaran.
Late afternoon: Gadisar Lake, the old reservoir with its carved gateway and chhatris on the water.
Sunset: The Bada Bagh royal cenotaphs or Vyas Chhatri, for the fort glowing gold at the end of the day.
Eat: Dinner on a rooftop facing the lit fort; try ker sangri (desert beans and berries) and the local sweet ghotua.
Tip: Bring a light scarf: the desert wind carries fine sand, and evenings in winter are cold.
Overnight: Jaisalmer
DAY02Day 2
Jaisalmer fort and havelis · camel ride and a night in the dunes
Morning inside the only living fort in India, where 3,000 people still live within the walls, and afternoon into the dunes for sunset by camel and a night under the stars.
9:00 a.m.: Walk into Sonar Qila, the 12th-century 'golden fort': the royal palace museum and the carved Jain temples (open to visitors in the morning until about noon). About 2½ hours.
Late morning: Patwon ki Haveli, five merchant houses of lace-like carved sandstone, and Nathmal ki Haveli.
Afternoon: Rest, then leave at about 3 p.m. for the dunes at Sam (42 km) or the quieter dunes at Khuri (45 km), about 1 hour.
Sunset: A camel ride of about one hour onto the dunes to watch the sun go down. A jeep ride over the dunes is optional.
Evening: Folk music and dance by the fire at the camp, dinner, and stars like you rarely see near a city.
Tickets: Entry to the fort itself is free; the palace museum and Patwon ki Haveli have their own modest tickets. The camel ride and camp dinner are normally included in the camp booking.
Eat: Lunch in the fort at a rooftop café; dinner at the camp.
Tip: Take a small overnight bag; the large suitcases stay safely in the car. Ask for a camp away from the main Sam strip if you want quiet.
Overnight: Desert camp in the dunes
DAY03Day 3
Sunrise on the dunes, then back to Jodhpur
Dawn in the desert, then east across the Thar.
6:30 a.m.: Sunrise over the dunes with tea, breakfast at camp.
Optional: Kuldhara, the abandoned village 18 km from Jaisalmer, on the way back.
Drive: Jaisalmer to Jodhpur is about 285 km, 5–5½ hours. Arrive by late afternoon.
Drop: Your Jodhpur hotel, the railway station or the airport.
Overnight: Jodhpur
What's included: Jaisalmer Desert Safari
What is included
Private air-conditioned vehicle for the entire route, exclusively for your group
Professional English-speaking driver for every day of the tour
All fuel
All road tolls, interstate and state taxes
Parking charges at every stop
Place permits where the route requires them
The driver's own meals and accommodation — never your responsibility on the road
Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off in the start and end city
Not included
Hotels and accommodation of any kind
All meals and drinks for travellers
Monument, fort, palace and national park entrance fees
Licensed local guides inside monuments
Camera and video fees where charged
Indian visa and any border fees
International and domestic flights
Travel insurance
Tips for the driver, which are welcome but never expected
Anything personal — laundry, phone, shopping, medical
We are happy to arrange hotels, guides, monument tickets and flights for you at cost. We take no commission on them, which is why they are not bundled into the price.
Verified Google reviews of GoIndiaNepal. They cover our service as a company rather than this individual journey.
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Jack van Iersel★★★★★
June 9, 2026
I travelled twice with Go India Nepal. In 2019 for 4 weeks with Babu, together with my 2 adult daughters, and in 2025 2 weeks with Suraj, together with my wife. Both trips were perfect !! Both are safe drivers, speak excellent English, and very respectful to their guests. Highly recommended.
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thank you jack for your valuable review. and also thank you for you choosing seconds time too with your wife travelling with our company.. We hope again to see you nepal trip. Thank you for your all what…
Michiel Meulendijk★★★★★
January 20, 2026
Our time in India was made truly special thanks to our driver, Anil. From the very beginning, he made us feel comfortable and well cared for, and throughout the trip he proved to be an excellent and reliable companion on the road. Anil is a highly skilled driver who navigated the busy and often chaotic streets with confidence and ease,…
GoIndiaNepal replied
Soo mush thank you Michael for your voluble review.and we always trying to give best service to our valuable clients.and thankyou for you choiching our little coprate driver company. With worm regarding Thepearlsofindia.com And babu.
Niels Lokman★★★★★
August 19, 2025
Just finished our fantastic tour around Rajasthan and Agra with Babu. Our 17 day journey was the first time we travelled with a driver since we have been travelling to quite some places just by ourselves over the last years but thought this modality was the right option in chaotic India. This journey was a great success in many ways;…
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thankyou for your valuable review.i do my best for our valuable guests. Thanks again for your great review. Rhd www.thepearlsofindia.com And babu
giuseppe petroro★★★★★
July 17, 2025
babu is the best driver i ever meet. he s more than a driver, he's a tour operator. he knows many stories about everything, he's very helpful to arrange your travel, before your arrival and during your visit. i really was satisfied about him and i suggest to everyone, for sure!
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thankyiu for your valuable review for our service and I do our best for our valuable clients. And I will be glad if I got chance to give you again my service for India or nepal.. Thnks 🙏…
Hans de Vries★★★★★
April 22, 2025
We recently completed a remarkable Golden Triangle tour in India and want to share our wonderful experience with Babu's company, particularly with our driver, Pramod. From the moment he greeted us at the airport in the middle of the night, we felt a genuine sense of hospitality. Pramod is a fantastic driver who navigated the busy streets with ease, ensuring…
GoIndiaNepal replied
Thankyou Hans de Vries for your valuable review about my service and drive service we always give best service and best drive and safe drive to our valuable guests. Thanks again for choosing our company and service. Rgd Thepearlsofindia. Com
Lorenza Corti★★★★★
March 2, 2025
Babu was perfect!
GoIndiaNepal replied
Ha ha babu is the best as always 😄😂😂!!!!! Thank you so mush Lorenza for your valuable reviews for the our best service and best drive. We always trying to give our best to our valuable guest. Thank you again…
carla ciatto★★★★★
March 2, 2025
Abbiamo vissuto una bellissima esperienza di viaggio grazie alla guida impeccabile e sicura del nostro driver Niki, sempre gentile, concentrato e molto professionale. Un lungo viaggio tra l'India e il Nepal alla scoperta di luoghi raggiungibili solo in auto. Un grande grazie a Babu e Niki!!
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thank you carla for your valuable reviews about our service and drive we always give our best service and best drive to our valuable guest. Thank you again for choosing our service hope to see you again Regard…
Philippe JUTEAU★★★★★
February 27, 2025
Je tenais à exprimer ma profonde gratitude envers Babu, qui a été un chauffeur exceptionnel et plus tout au long de notre voyage. Grâce à ses conseils avisés et à son accompagnement chaleureux, nous avons pu découvrir des sites merveilleux que nous n'aurions jamais trouvés seuls. Babu a su nous faire partager sa passion pour la région et nous a…
GoIndiaNepal replied
Soo much thank you philippe your valuable review about my service and driver service with skills. We always try to give our best service and best drive to our valuable guests. And thanks for all that you appreciate with my…
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