7 Days / 6 Nights
Rajasthan Desert Tour
Jodhpur · Bikaner · Jaisalmer — 7 Days / 6 Nights
The Thar is the most distinctive landscape in India, and Jaisalmer is the only Indian fort city that still lives inside its walls. A well-run desert tour spends the right amount of time in all three anchors — Jodhpur for the fort and old city, Bikaner for the camel country and one of Rajasthan's finest working havelis, and Jaisalmer for two full days because one is never enough. This 7-day build gets you a sunset dune-camp overnight, a sunrise at Bada Bagh, and a dedicated Karni Mata detour — all with a single chauffeur who knows which highways have reliable fuel stations (several stretches do not) and which dune camps are genuinely quiet.
Tour highlights
- Sunset camel safari and overnight dune camp at Sam or Khuri
- Living Jaisalmer Fort — one of only six inhabited forts in the world
- Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur — three to four hours with an audio guide
- Karni Mata Rat Temple at Deshnok, 30 km from Bikaner
- Patwon ki Haveli and the carved sandstone facades of old Jaisalmer
- Sunrise at Bada Bagh cenotaphs and the abandoned village of Kuldhara
- Border visit to Tanot Mata Temple near the Pakistan LoC (optional, requires permit)
Why Jaisalmer deserves two nights, not one
The most common mistake on desert tours is a single-night stop at Jaisalmer. Yet the fort, Patwon ki Haveli and Gadisar Lake alone need half a day, the Sam dunes and a camp dinner take another half-day, and a proper morning at Kuldhara and Bada Bagh — the most photogenic part of the trip — needs its own slot. Two nights at Jaisalmer gives you all three blocks without compression. If you only have six nights total, we move Bikaner to a day-stop instead of an overnight.
The camp choice — Sam vs Khuri vs a high-end resort
There are three distinct types of desert camp near Jaisalmer. Sam (45 km west) is the classic camel-safari cluster — busy, family-friendly, with nightly folk performances. Khuri (40 km south-west) is quieter and more traditional, preferred by photographers and return visitors. Premium desert resorts like Suryagarh or Rawla Jaisalmer run year-round and give you an ensuite dune experience without the shared-camp atmosphere. We usually recommend Khuri for couples and Sam for first-timers or families with kids; we switch to Suryagarh for the honeymoon crowd.
Driving realities on this route
The Jodhpur–Bikaner stretch is 240 km of good divided highway (NH62), 5 hours with one tea halt. Bikaner–Jaisalmer is 330 km via Phalodi on NH15 — 6 hours, single-carriageway in parts, reasonable pace. The Jaisalmer city-to-dunes run is 45 km of desert highway. Fuel-station density drops sharply west of Phalodi, so we top up before leaving Bikaner in the morning. Winter mornings (December–January) are cold — 5–8°C at sunrise — and the return from a dune camp at dawn needs warm layers.
Local operational specifics
At Junagarh Fort (Bikaner) we enter via the eastern Surajpol to avoid the tourist-bus cluster at the main gate. The Karni Mata temple in Deshnok is best visited early morning (before 9 AM) when the rats are most active and the crowds are thinnest; barefoot is required, so we carry spare socks in the vehicle. At Jaisalmer, our drivers park at the Dussehra Chowk (outside the fort) and walk you up through the Amar Sagar Pol — guides who drive inside the narrow lanes damage the 900-year-old base. For Tanot Mata (on the border near the Longewala battlefield), we get the permit for you 48 hours in advance; you will need your passport and a filled BSF form.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1
Arrive Jodhpur
Jodhpur airport → Hotel
8 km · 30 min
- Meet-and-greet at Jodhpur airport. Transfer to a heritage hotel below the Mehrangarh cliff.
- Evening walk through Sardar Market and the Clock Tower — the spice stalls on the west side are where our drivers' families buy from.
- Dinner at Indique (rooftop view of a lit-up Mehrangarh) or a havel rooftop in the old blue city.
Places: Jodhpur Airport (JDH), Jodhpur Old City
Overnight: Jodhpur
Meals: Welcome drink
- 2Day 2
Jodhpur Sightseeing
- Full morning at Mehrangarh — audio guide included in the ticket; allow 3–4 hours.
- Short drop at Jaswant Thada (a marble cenotaph on the cliff below the fort).
- Afternoon at Umaid Bhawan Palace museum. The palace itself is residents-only; the museum section is open 9 AM to 5 PM.
- Optional: Mandore Gardens for the royal cenotaphs (less crowded than Jaswant Thada).
Places: Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace museum, Mandore Gardens
Overnight: Jodhpur
Meals: Breakfast
- 3Day 3
Jodhpur → Bikaner
Jodhpur — Bikaner via Nagaur on NH62
240 km · 5 hrs
- Morning drive to Bikaner via Nagaur — 5 hours with a tea halt.
- Afternoon at Junagarh Fort — unusually well-preserved because, unlike most Rajasthani forts, it has never been captured.
- Evening walk in the old city bazaars; dinner at Laxmi Niwas Palace or Gallops.
Places: Nagaur bypass, Junagarh Fort, Laxmi Niwas Palace
Overnight: Bikaner
Meals: Breakfast
- 4Day 4
Bikaner → Jaisalmer with Karni Mata and Camel Stud
Bikaner — Deshnok (Karni Mata) — Nokha — Pokhran — Jaisalmer
330 km · 7 hrs total
- Early breakfast and drive 30 km south to Deshnok for the Karni Mata rat temple — an hour is enough.
- Short stop at the Camel Research Centre (6 km out of Bikaner) for a cup of camel-milk tea if you're curious.
- Long drive to Jaisalmer via Phalodi and Pokhran — 5 to 6 hours; reasonable lunch at Phalodi Fort restaurant.
- Evening arrival and check-in at a Jaisalmer heritage haveli below the fort.
Places: Karni Mata Temple (Deshnok), National Research Centre on Camel, Phalodi, Pokhran, Jaisalmer
Overnight: Jaisalmer
Meals: Breakfast
- 5Day 5
Jaisalmer Sightseeing + Sam Sunset Camel Safari
- Morning walking tour inside the fort — Jain temples, Laxminath Temple, the fort-family havelis still lived in.
- Patwon ki Haveli — the carved sandstone facades alone take 40 minutes of unhurried looking.
- Late afternoon drive to Sam (45 km, 1 hour) for a camel ride into the dunes.
- Sunset on the dunes followed by a traditional Rajasthani dinner and a bonfire-side folk performance at camp.
Places: Jaisalmer Fort (living fort), Patwon ki Haveli, Nathmal ki Haveli, Gadisar Lake, Sam Sand Dunes
Overnight: Jaisalmer (return from Sam after dinner, or overnight at camp on request)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner at camp
- 6Day 6
Jaisalmer — Kuldhara, Bada Bagh, Tanot (optional)
- Early start for Bada Bagh — the sunrise light on the sandstone cenotaphs is the best photograph of the trip.
- Short drive to Kuldhara — the village abandoned overnight in 1825 per local legend. An hour is enough.
- Lunch back in Jaisalmer; afternoon free for haveli-hopping in the old town.
- Optional: permit-led visit to Tanot Mata (130 km west, 2.5 hours each way) for those who want the Pakistan-border story.
Places: Kuldhara abandoned village, Bada Bagh cenotaphs, Amar Sagar Jain Temple, Tanot Mata Temple (optional, permit required)
Overnight: Jaisalmer
Meals: Breakfast
- 7Day 7
Jaisalmer Departure
Jaisalmer → Jodhpur airport or Jaisalmer airport
15 km or 285 km · 15 min (Jaisalmer) or 5.5 hrs (Jodhpur)
- Leisurely breakfast and checkout.
- Option A: Fly out from Jaisalmer airport (limited flights; 15-min transfer).
- Option B: Drive to Jodhpur airport for a wider choice of flights — 5.5 hours on a single-carriageway highway, lunch stop at Pokhran.
- Drop at airport with time for check-in.
Places: Jaisalmer (JSA) or Jodhpur (JDH) airport
Meals: Breakfast
What's included
- Air-conditioned chauffeur-driven vehicle for all 7 days
- Professional English-speaking driver with desert-route experience
- Airport pickup and drop
- All toll taxes, state permits, parking and driver allowances
- Sam / Khuri evening camel ride and dinner (not overnight camp — quoted on request)
- Karni Mata entry and spare socks for temple visit
- Bottled water, phone chargers and a first-aid kit in the vehicle
- GST invoice in your name or company name
What's not included
- Hotel accommodation — quoted separately per chosen tier
- Monument entry fees (Mehrangarh, Junagarh, Patwon ki Haveli and similar — paid on the day, itemised on invoice)
- Camel safari beyond the evening ride (full-day/overnight separate)
- Tanot Mata permit fee (if requested)
- Meals not listed
- Flights, insurance, personal spend and tips
Vehicle cost for this tour
Rajasthan Desert Tour covers approximately 1250 KMs over 7 days.
- •Per-km rate × total kilometers
- •Minimum 300 KMs per calendar day
- •Driver allowance per day
- •Toll, parking and interstate taxes at actuals
- •GST at 5% on invoice
Available vehicles: Sedan (Dzire) | SUV (Innova / Ertiga) | Premium | Tempo Traveller
Hotel accommodation is separate — we can arrange hotels at your preferred budget tier on request.
Vehicle options for this tour
- Sedan — Dzire / Etios3 adults + 3 suitcasesBudget option. We prefer SUV on this route because of the long Bikaner–Jaisalmer leg.
- SUV — Toyota Innova Crysta5 adults + 5 suitcasesOur most-booked vehicle for the desert circuit.
- Luxury SUV — Fortuner / Hycross5 adults + 5 suitcasesHigher ground clearance helpful on sand-blown roads near Sam.
- Tempo Traveller — 12/15 seater10–14 adultsFor extended families travelling together.
Hotel tier options
Booking on request — hotel rates vary by season and are quoted separately.
- 3-Star / ComfortMarugarh Jodhpur, Lallgarh Palace Bikaner, Desert Tulip JaisalmerClean, well-run, budget-friendly.
- 4-Star HeritageRAAS Jodhpur, Laxmi Niwas Palace (Bikaner), Suryagarh / Serai / Fort Rajwada (Jaisalmer)Our default tier — heritage and desert-resort character.
- 5-Star LuxuryUmaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur), The Serai Jaisalmer (tented camp), Suryagarh Signature SuitesWorld-class palace and tented properties. Book early.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for a Rajasthan desert tour?
November to February is ideal — daytime 20–28°C, nights 8–14°C. October and early March are also good. Skip April–September: temperatures hit 42–48°C in Jaisalmer and Bikaner and the dune camps close for the monsoon and peak summer.
Is the overnight at the desert camp worth it?
If you want a full night under the stars, yes — the Milky Way is clearly visible from Sam or Khuri on any moonless night. If you prefer a more comfortable sleep, return to your Jaisalmer hotel after the 9 PM dinner (the evening includes camel ride, sunset, dinner and folk performance regardless).
How cold does the desert get at night?
Colder than most visitors expect. December and January nights at Sam can touch 4–6°C. We advise packing a warm jacket and socks even if Jodhpur and Bikaner are comfortable by day. Summer nights (April onwards) stay above 25°C.
Is Karni Mata really full of rats? Is it safe?
Yes — thousands of black rats (kabas) live freely in the temple complex, fed by devotees. It is considered highly auspicious. The temple is clean and well-managed; you remove your shoes and walk carefully. Children generally find it fascinating. We carry spare cotton socks if you prefer not to touch the marble floor directly.
Can we extend to Udaipur or Jaipur after this tour?
Yes — most guests combine this with the Heritage or Honeymoon tours. The cleanest extension is Jaisalmer → Jodhpur → drive or fly to Udaipur (add 4 nights) or Jaisalmer → fly to Jaipur → Golden Triangle (add 5–6 nights).
Is the Jaisalmer Fort safe to walk through?
Yes. It is a living fort with nearly 3,000 residents, Jain temples and hotels inside. The lanes are narrow and the paving is uneven in places, so flat walking shoes are essential. We do not drive our vehicles inside the fort because repeated traffic damages the 900-year-old base — we park at the outer Dussehra Chowk and walk up.
City-wise tour packages
Prefer a single-city package? See our city-centric tour packages: