Jaisalmer is the last big town before the Pakistan border, built from the same yellow sandstone as the desert it stands on. Its fort is one of very few in the world still lived in — around three thousand people have homes inside the walls. Two nights is the right length: one for the fort and havelis, one out at the dunes.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site with 99 bastions. Inside are the Jain temples, the Raj Mahal and a warren of lanes. Go early to beat both the heat and the crowds.
A cluster of five havelis built by a brocade-trading family, with the most intricate jaali screens in the city.
Instantly recognisable for its peacock-shaped upper storey.
A fourteenth-century reservoir with ghats and shrines; best at sunrise with a boat.
40 km west, the centre of the desert-camp scene. Arrive around 4pm for a camel ride, sunset and a folk-music dinner under canvas.
Quieter than Sam, 45 km southwest, better if you want the desert without the crowds.
An abandoned village from the early 1800s, 18 km out, with a good local story attached.
Royal cenotaphs on a ridge, at their best in late-afternoon light.
November to February. Days sit around 24°C and nights fall close to freezing in December and January, which matters if you are sleeping at a desert camp — bring warm layers. The Jaisalmer Desert Festival in February is the big annual event. Avoid April to July, when temperatures pass 45°C.
Jaisalmer Airport (JSA) is 15 km from the city and operates seasonally, mainly October to March, with limited flights from Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
Jaisalmer (JSM) is the end of the line, with overnight trains from Jodhpur, Jaipur and Delhi.
Jodhpur is about 5 hours on a good highway, Bikaner 5 hours 30 minutes and Jaipur 9 to 10 hours.
Jaisalmer Airport (JSA) is a small seasonal civil enclave. Schedules change between summer and winter, so confirm your flight before planning connections. Cabs meet all arrivals when flights are operating.
Jaisalmer station is 2 km from the fort, a five-minute drive.
| Destination | Distance by road | Approx. drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Sand Dunes | 42 km | 50 min |
| Khuri | 48 km | 1 hr |
| Pokhran | 110 km | 2 hr |
| Jodhpur | 285 km | 5 hr |
| Bikaner | 330 km | 5 hr 30 min |
| Jaipur | 560 km | 9 hr 30 min |
Distances and drive times are approximate and depend on traffic, road conditions and the stops you make.
We run local sightseeing cars, airport and station transfers and outstation taxis in Jaisalmer. A local package covers a set number of hours and kilometres with the driver waiting at each stop, which is far more practical than hailing a new ride at every monument. For longer trips, the same car and driver can stay with you across the whole itinerary.
Seven days across the Thar — Bikaner, the Jaisalmer dunes and a night under canvas, ending in Jodhpur.
Eight days through the great forts, palaces and havelis of Rajasthan, from Jaipur to the desert and down to the lakes.
Twelve days and eight destinations — forts, desert, tigers, hills and lakes, at a pace that lets you enjoy them.
Two. Spend the first on the fort, havelis and Gadisar Lake, and the second at a desert camp near Sam or Khuri.
Yes, if you pick the right one. Camps range from basic tents to properly appointed suites with attached bathrooms. Tell us your budget and we will arrange the transfer and recommend camps we have used before.
Roughly five hours on well-maintained highway through open desert, with Pokhran as the natural halfway stop. It is one of the more enjoyable long drives in Rajasthan.
It is one of the more relaxed towns in Rajasthan. The usual sensible precautions apply, and having a known driver makes late-evening returns from the dunes straightforward.
