Guide to Planning an Overnight Camel Safari in Jaisalmer

The overnight camel safari in Jaisalmer (Thar Desert) was one of my favorite experiences in Rajasthan. Here’s what I learned.

While Jaislamer’s massive fort walls and intricately carved Jain temples within are mindblowing, no activity or attraction could eclipse this must-do overnight camel trip to the Thar desert from Jaisalmer.

After a lot of research and speaking to other travelers, I decided to do an overnight camel safari, sleeping in the desert among the sand dunes, followed by a day visiting local desert villages. Here I’ll detail and compare a few options for 1-day, 2-day, and even 3-day camel rides in the desert to help you decide what’s best for you.

Quick Things to Know About Jaislamer's Camel Safaris

So, what exactly is a "camel safari?"

• These trips are organized "tours," whereby you will ride a camel far out into the Thar Desert.
• The experience is worthwhile because it is an opportunity for visitors to experience authentic camel herding and ancient desert culture.
• There are short 1-day camel trips, which are often "sunset rides" These are great if you just want to ride a camel and enjoy dinner for sunset in the desert.
• The better camel safaris in Jaisalmer are overnight trips, where a guide leads you and your camel to a designated camping spot deep in the dunes near the border of Pakistan.
• Be careful which company you book with, many don't treat their camels very well (tips below).
• The campsites for these camel trips range from simple, open-air beds to full-scale glamping setups with tarpaulin covers and other flashy features.

How to Book a Camel Safari in Jaisalmer

Overnight camel safaris are the most popular tours and activities in Jaisalmer. So, there's going to be some competition– there are plenty to choose from.

Important: Go with a reputable agency. You can choose the ultra-budget route, but the experience probably won't be as magical (plus the trips are all pretty affordable).

Secondly, you'll want to book with a group that respects both the camels and the camel guides.

There are also "high-end glamping safaris," which are much more expensive and, in my opinion, not really the same adventure, I'll explain more below.

How Much Does a Desert Safari Cost?

So, how much do the camel safaris in Jaisalmer cost? Like most tours and experiences in Rajasthan, they are surprisingly affordable but vary by season.

In Jaisalmer, prices for quality trips start at around 1,500 rupees per person for a sunset ride and approximately 1,750 to 2,500 rupees for quality overnight camel safaris.

Since I highly recommend the Real Desert Man Camel Safaris, I'll list their prices below.

Tour	Price
Sunset Camel Trip (half-day)	$30
1-Day 1-Nights	$35
2-Day 1-Nights	$90
3-Day 2-Nights	$110
"Glamping" Overnight Safari	$65

Again, as mentioned, you could probably get a cheaper rate if you bartered with tour operators near the fort, but just know the quality of the trip may be less than you'd expect.

What's Included?

Any good overnight or sunset camel safari trips in Jaisalmer, like the ones I've linked to, will include:

• Hotel pickup in Jaisalmer
• Jeep transfer to the desert (usually with a stop like the Kuldhara Abandoned Village)
• Guided camel ride to Thar Desert dunes
• Bottled water and chai
• Campfire-cooked dinner (at the sunset camp)

Of course, for overnight trips, you'll also get bedding and breakfast the next day.

As I touched on earlier, although overnight trips are the most popular, I'd highly recommend the 1-night, 2-day trip. This way, you'll get to experience the sunset ride into the desert, and the camping, and, as a bonus, while everyone heads back, you'll have the day to explore the desert with your guide and much smaller group.

This second day was a highlight for my trip as we roamed the desert on camel-back. We prepared lunch under a small desert oasis tree and visited the remote villages of the Thar Desert before returning back to Jaisalmer in the afternoon.

There are also options for 3-night, 2-day trips if you'd prefer to spend an extra night in the desert.

My Experience: Riding a Camel Through the Thar Desert of Jaisalmer

I organized the afternoon trip in Jaisalmer after exploring the fort and Gadisar Lake. The trip for us started at around 2:00 pm.

We arrived in Jaisalmer on an overnight bus without any accommodation. So, we went straight to the Real Desert Man office in Jaisalmer, just outside of the fort. The guys greeted us warmly and even let us use the showers and stash our backpacks.

After getting ready, we were picked up by a Jeep, where we met the other travelers joining us on the camel trip.

First Stop: Kuldhara Abandoned Village

The Jeep drive out to the desert began with a quick stop at the Kuldhara Abandoned Village, just outside of Jaisalmer. Here, we were able to explore the ruined buildings and learn the story of why it was known as the "Ghost Village."

This town was formerly inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins, which is an agricultural community that migrated from the Pali region of India. However, one day in 1825, the entire village disappeared without a trace.

We were told that the reason for this urgent flight was that the then Diwan of Jaisalmer, Salim Singh, demanded the beautiful daughter of the local chief's hand in marriage. It's said that he gave the Paliwal only 24 hours to accept the proposal to avoid consequences. Since the local inhabitants saw Diwan as a tyrannical ruler, the entire village instead decided to leave that very night, laying a curse on the grounds as they went.

Since, nobody has lived in Kuldhara Village for over 200 years.

The Camel Safari Through the Sand Dunes

After exploring the remains of the Ghost Village, we then set off for the camel safari. We were taken further into the desert, again, by Jeep, where we would meet our camels and guides.

After a short demonstration, we set off into the desert on our camel caravan as the afternoon sun gently began to sink behind the dunes.

The Overnight Desert Camp

Once we arrived at the camp, our guides promptly lit a bonfire and started making fresh chai tea. While we waited for sunset, we explored the dunes and photographed the camels.

The sunset dinner was one of the highlights of my overnight camel safari trip in Jaisalmer. We were treated to freshly made roti and traditional desert cuisine cooked on the campfire.

With bellies full, we watched as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, making way for the "million-star" galactic show to come.

Day 2: Visiting Thar Desert Villages

The second day was another clear highlight of the trip. After a delicious pancake breakfast, we again prepared our camels and set off into the desert. This time, the group was very small, with only four of us, including our guide. This really felt like an authentic experience as we got to know our camel guide and heard his stories of life in the desert.

As the heat picked up around midday, we wandered to a small oasis underneath a large tree where we prepared another meal by campfire. This time, since it was a smaller group, we participated and helped in the preparation of the roti and the dahl.

After lunch, we were shown how to work the camel ropes and care for the animals before departing for a very remote desert village. Here, we were greeted by curious children and men very keen to have their photographs taken. All the while, with little interest in the villagers, our camels downed a well-earnt drop from the village well.

The day continued by passing other small villages and clay huts before returning to our initial starting point the day prior. Here, we were picked up by Jeep to return to Jaisalmer at around 6:00 pm.

Review: Is a Camel Safari Worth It?

If you can't tell from my experience, I had a great time! In fact, I still recommend the camel safari experience to anybody visiting Jaisalmer. Our guide showed us the real life of the Thar Desert and they were very kind to their camels (you can tell that they really respected them).

The food, camping, and beds were basic. But hey, we were there for the experience, and it sure was up there with one of the best things I did in all of India!

What to Pack For Camel Trips in Jaipur

Wondering what to pack for an overnight desert safari in Jaisalmer? The truth is you really don't need that much. Nevertheless, here's a list of what I'd call essentials:

• Light, full-length cotton pants and shirt
• Jacket for the night (it gets cold)
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Pens and school stationery (to give to the village children)

You can buy lightweight "desert clothing" at several stalls in Jaisalmer. This is relatively cheap and very comfortable as the cotton material provides much-needed protection from the sun while being light and breathable.

Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert

The best time to visit Jaisalmer for an overnight camel safari is between September to March, which is considered the winter season. During this time, the desert experiences pleasant and dry conditions.

After September, Jaisalmer experiences a short and often sporadic "monsoon." This often occurs in October, when showers are usually brief. However, this rain tends to add to the already increasing heat, making the humidity a little hard to deal with.

During the months of April to August, Jaisalmer experiences the hottest temperatures. This summer season sees temperatures commonly rising over 40 degrees celsius and sometimes even into the 50s. For this reason, summer is considered the "low season" in Jaisalmer. However, if you've got sunscreen handy and can tolerate the heat, the low season is easily the cheapest time to visit Jaisalmer and go on a camel desert safari.

I hope that this quick guide to booking an overnight camel safari in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan has been useful in planning your epic desert adventures.

If you liked this article and you're looking for more India travel tips and inspiration, check out the links below. If you have any questions or travel updates for this trip, let me and other travelers know by leaving a comment!

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• Things to do in Rishikesh - explore the adventure & yoga capital of India in this travel guide.
• Training & HMI Darjeeling - my experience completing my Basic Mountaineering Course in Darjeeling.
• India Packing List - everything you need to bring on a trip to India (and what you should leave at home)

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