Jodhpur and Jaisalmer Desert Tour — 6 Days

A long road day, or a short flight with pick-up at Jodhpur airport.

• By road: Delhi to Jodhpur is about 600 km, 9–10 hours with stops. Leave at 6:30 a.m. and lunch on the highway near Ajmer.
• By air (recommended): A one-hour flight from Delhi to Jodhpur; your driver meets you at arrivals. We price either way.
• Evening: A walk to the Clock Tower and dinner facing the lit-up fort.
• Eat: Makhaniya lassi at Shri Mishrilal near the Clock Tower.
• Overnight: Jodhpur

A day in the city ruled from one of India's mightiest forts, standing 125 metres above the blue houses.

• 9:00 a.m.: Mehrangarh Fort at opening. The included audio guide is one of the best in India; allow 2½–3 hours for the palaces, the armoury, the howdah and palanquin galleries and the ramparts with their cannons.
• Late morning: Jaswant Thada, the white marble royal cenotaph below the fort, 5 minutes away, and the Rao Jodha desert rock park next to it for a short walk.
• Afternoon: Down into the blue lanes below the fort and the restored Toorji ka Jhalra stepwell, then the Clock Tower market in the late afternoon.
• Evening: Sunset from a rooftop in the old city looking up at the lit-up fort.
• Tickets: Mehrangarh about ₹600 including the audio guide; Jaswant Thada and the Umaid Bhawan museum have small separate tickets (approx. 2026 prices for foreign visitors; Indian citizens pay much less).
• Eat: Lunch at the café inside Mehrangarh. Try Jodhpur's makhaniya lassi and laal maas (spicy mutton curry) for dinner.
• Tip: The fort is steep; a lift near the main gate saves the climb for a small fee.
• Overnight: Jodhpur

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

A day in the only living fort in India, where 3,000 people still live within the 12th-century walls.

• 9:00 a.m.: Into Sonar Qila while it is cool: the royal palace museum with its audio guide and the carved Jain temples (open to visitors until about noon). About 2½ hours.
• Late morning: Patwon ki Haveli, five merchant houses of lace-like carved sandstone, then Salim Singh ki Haveli and Nathmal ki Haveli.
• Afternoon: Rest at the hotel.
• Sunset: Gadisar Lake with its carved gateway and chhatris on the water.
• Tickets: Entry to the fort is free; the palace museum and each haveli have their own modest tickets.
• Eat: Lunch at a rooftop café inside the fort. Try ker sangri and the sweet ghotua.
• Tip: Wear shoes you can slip off; you will be in and out of temples all morning.
• Overnight: Jaisalmer

The desert around Jaisalmer: royal cenotaphs, a village abandoned overnight 200 years ago, and the dunes at sunset.

• 8:30 a.m.: Bada Bagh, the hill of royal cenotaphs with windmills behind (30 minutes).
• Late morning: Kuldhara (18 km), the abandoned Paliwal village with its legend of a curse, about 45 minutes.
• Afternoon: Rest, then leave at about 3 p.m. for the Sam dunes (42 km, 1 hour).
• Sunset: A camel ride of about one hour onto the dunes. A jeep ride over the dunes is optional.
• Evening: Folk music and dinner at a desert camp, then back to Jaisalmer, or stay the night in the camp if you prefer (ask us).
• Tickets: Kuldhara has a small entry and parking fee. The camel ride is paid on the spot or included in a camp booking.
• Tip: Bring a scarf for the wind and a warm layer: desert evenings are cold from November to February.
• Overnight: Jaisalmer

Back east for a flight or train, or on to Udaipur.

• Option 1: Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, about 285 km, 5–5½ hours; drop at Jodhpur airport or station.
• Option 2: Fly from Jaisalmer airport if a flight runs that day (seasonal).
• Option 3: Continue to Udaipur via Ranakpur with extra days; ask us.
• Overnight: Your onward journey