THE GOLDEN CITY OF INDIA

THAR DESERT PRIVATE EXPEDITIONS

Jaisalmer Travel Guide: The Golden City, Thar Desert and Camel Safaris for International Travellers

Jaisalmer rises from the Thar Desert like a sandcastle. Built of honey-coloured sandstone that glows at sunset, it is known as the Golden City and was once a rich stop on the camel caravan routes to Central Asia. For international travellers, Jaisalmer offers two great experiences: a medieval fort where people still live, and a night among the dunes under a sky full of stars.

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Location Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Living Fort Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila)

Top Experience Thar Dune Safari & Camping

Best Months October to March

Jaisalmer at a glance

Detail	Information
Location	Western Rajasthan, in the Thar Desert
Nearest airport	Jaisalmer (JSA), with seasonal flights. Jodhpur (JDH) is about 5 hours by road.
Ideal stay	2 to 3 nights, including one in the desert
Best months	October to March
Languages	Hindi, Marwari, English
Known for	Living fort, carved havelis, sand dunes, camel safaris

Why visit Jaisalmer

A living fort: one of the few forts in the world still inhabited.
The Thar Desert: dunes, camels, villages and night skies.
Sandstone carving: merchant mansions with lace-like stonework.
Desert culture: Manganiyar folk music and Kalbelia dance.

Sightseeing Highlights

Top attractions in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Fort

founded in 1156, with palaces, temples and homes inside its walls. Part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Jain temples

seven finely carved temples inside the fort, from the 12th to 16th centuries.

Patwon ki Haveli

a group of five mansions with the city's finest stone carving.

Nathmal ki Haveli and Salim Singh ki Haveli

two more grand merchant houses.

Gadisar Lake

a 14th century reservoir ringed by shrines, lovely at sunrise.

Bada Bagh

royal cenotaphs on a hill, best at sunset.

Kuldhara

an abandoned village with a legend of a curse.

Sam and Khuri dunes

the main dune areas, about 40 to 45 km from the city.

Desert National Park

home to the rare great Indian bustard.

Curated Moments

Unique experiences in Jaisalmer

Camel safari at sunset

A night in a desert camp with folk music

Jeep safari to remote dunes and villages

Stargazing in the open desert

Heritage walk through the fort and old city

Sunrise boat ride on Gadisar Lake

Best time to visit Jaisalmer

October to March is the best time. Days are pleasant, but desert nights from December to February can be very cold.

April to June is extremely hot, and July to September brings some rain and humidity.

The Jaisalmer Desert Festival, with camel races, music and turban-tying contests, is held in February.

How to reach Jaisalmer

By air: Jaisalmer airport has flights from Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai in the main season.
From Jodhpur: about 280 km, 5 hours by road.
By train: overnight trains run from Delhi and Jaipur.
From Bikaner: about 330 km, 5.5 hours.

How many days to spend in Jaisalmer

2 days: the fort, havelis and Gadisar Lake, with one night in the desert.
3 days: add Bada Bagh, Kuldhara and a deeper jeep safari to quiet dunes.

Where to stay in Jaisalmer

Stay in a sandstone heritage hotel or luxury resort outside the fort walls, and spend one night in a desert camp. We recommend staying outside the fort itself, as heavy water use by hotels is damaging its foundations. Dream Day Tours operates its own Rumi's Desert Camp in the Jaisalmer desert.

Hotel choices depend on your dates and style of travel. Please check with our team for the best recommendations for your trip.

Travel Advice

Practical tips for international travellers in Jaisalmer

Warm clothes for winter desert nights: between December and February, desert temperatures can drop near freezing. Bring thermal layers, a fleece and a warm hat for your desert camp stay.

Sun protection: the desert sun is strong even in winter. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a scarf are essential.

Footwear: the fort has steep cobbled lanes and camel safari means walking on soft sand. Wear comfortable closed shoes.

Dune choice: Sam dunes are popular, lively and busy with music camps. Khuri is quieter. For a private and peaceful dune experience, ask your tour planner.

Support the fort responsibly: visit the fort during the day, eat at local cafes, but consider staying outside the walls to help protect the structure.

Shopping: Jaisalmer is famous for camel leather goods, mirror-work textiles, silver jewellery and sandstone carving.

Drinking water: drink bottled or filtered water only, especially in the desert.

ATMs and cards: carry enough cash for the desert camps and smaller shops. ATMs in the city work but can run out of cash during festivals.

Our favourites in Jaisalmer

Sunset from the cannon point on the fort ramparts
Chai and folk songs around a camp fire in the desert
Early morning light on the cenotaphs at Bada Bagh
Dal baati churma at a traditional Rajasthani restaurant

Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions about Jaisalmer

Yes. Jaisalmer is a small, friendly desert city and very welcoming to foreign travellers. Standard precautions apply: keep an eye on belongings in crowded bazaars and book desert camps through trusted operators.

The main dune areas, Sam and Khuri, are about 40 to 45 km from the city, which is 45 minutes to an hour by car. Remote, quieter dunes are about 60 to 70 km away.

Yes, children usually love the camel rides, desert tents, campfires and exploring the fort. Just remember that winter desert nights are cold and travel times by road from other cities are 4 to 5 hours.

Modest, comfortable clothing that covers shoulders and knees is best. Cotton or linen in the day, warm layers for winter evenings, and a scarf for sun, dust and temple visits.

We work with camel handlers who care well for their animals. Rides are usually short (30 to 45 minutes to reach the sunset point), and jeep options are always available for travellers who prefer not to ride a camel.

Yes. Jaisalmer is most commonly combined with Jodhpur (5 hours by road), Bikaner (5.5 hours) and Jaipur. A classic desert circuit is Jaipur - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur.

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   Based on 38 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Tiffany P 
 
 
 
 Verified An absolutely wonderful experience from start to finish!
We couldn’t be happier with the trip organized by Dreamday Tours. The service was impeccable, and we felt supported and well taken care of from the very beginning to the very end. Ashfaq was extremely responsive, helpful, and always available whenever we had a question or needed anything. The hotel he booked for us was perfect, and the restaurant at the hotel was also excellent. Everything was very well organized, which allowed us to simply relax and enjoy the experience without having to worry about the logistics. The two safaris were absolutely incredible and were definitely highlights of our trip. Of course, when it comes to wildlife, there is always an element of luck involved — something no agency can control or guarantee. But in terms of organization, communication, and overall service, Dreamday Tours was outstanding. We felt that we could completely trust them throughout the whole trip, and that made the experience even more enjoyable. It’s clear that they genuinely care about their clients and want everything to go smoothly. We highly recommend Dreamday Tours to anyone looking for a reliable, professional, and attentive agency. We are extremely happy with everything they organized for us and would absolutely book with them again!
  
 
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   Shyam S 
 
 
 
 Verified Udaipur trip
Had an amazing experience on my Udaipur trip! Everything was well organized and the overall experience was smooth and enjoyable. Udaipur is absolutely beautiful, with stunning lakes, palaces, and scenic views. The trip was memorable, relaxing, and full of wonderful moments. Really happy with the overall arrangements and service. Highly recommended for anyone planning a trip to Udaipur! ❤️
  
 
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   John C 
 
 
 
 Verified Dream Day Tours Golden Triangle and Tiger Safari Tour is definitely worth booking!
Review of Dream Day Tours - Golden Triangle plus Tiger Safari Tour This past June my wife and I traveled to India with one of my wife’s colleagues to visit her husband’s hometown in Assam, India. It was great seeing a part of India from the perspective of a family that lived there, but since this was my wife’s first time to India, we decided to book a tour to show her some other beautiful sites. And so, we booked a lovely tour through Dream Day Tours, which is based in Jaipur. It was called the Golden Triangle Tour with Tiger Safari. It was just the two of us on the tour, so Dream Day Tours catered everything to our needs and desires. To begin, we flew into Delhi and Dream Day arranged for a driver to bring us from the airport to the Welcomehotel by ITC in Dwarka. Excellent hotel with very good food. The next day, we started our tour with the driver that was assigned to us, Jeetu Singh. Jeetu was great and transported us to our various destinations for the entire tour. We were also provided with a local guide for Delhi, Aarif Sheikh. Aarif was an excellent guide. He gave us a lot of historical and cultural information and took us to Jama Masjid, which was a spectacular mosque built in the time of the Mughals in the 1600’s, and still used for prayer today. We also got a bicycle rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk, which is a lively and colorful market nearby. We were also taken to a grand Sikh Temple and learned of the generosity of the Sikh’s to their pilgrims and temple visitors. We appreciated the visits to the monuments and museums that were made around the life and death of Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi. The next morning Jeetu brought us to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. We were met there by our guide Vipin. The Taj is spectacular, and basically was the only site we visited in Agra. Vipin brought us to various places to see the Taj under different views and at sunrise and sunset. We had total access to the Taj and its grounds, and Vipin, an amateur photographer took many beautiful and romantic photos of us with the Taj as a background. In fact, he took such a beautiful photo of us that we both use it as our most recent FB profile page. He definitely has talent as a photographer! On our way from Agra to Jaipur, Jeetu had us visit Fatehpur Sikri, which was the capital of the Mughal empire under Emperor Akbar in the 1500’s. This was certainly worth the visit. And we also stopped at a step well, which was a structure that was used historically to provide water to the inhabitants of the area. It was really different, fascinating, and ingenious! In Jaipur, the Pink City, we were again provided with a guide that was very versed in Indian culture and history, Mr. Raghuveer. He immediately brought us the Hawa Mahal, or Wind Palace, which is an incredibly beautiful structure overlooking a large busy square. We were again brought there by the Dream Day Tours owner, Ashfaq, in the evening, to see its beauty at night. Phenomenal! We had stressed that, besides seeing traditional tourist sites, we wanted to get an experience that showed us some of what really goes on in Jaipur streets, so Mr. Raghuveer took us to the flower market, where we were showered with flowers. This seemed especially appropriate for us since we had just celebrated our 40th anniversary. It was wild, and the flowers were beautiful, and an Indian friend of ours said it was like we were getting married! Then we visited the extraordinarily ornate and expansive Amber Fort, which was built in the 1500s by a Hindu Raj that had a political alliance with the Muslim Moghul Emperor Akbar. Beyond beautiful! Didn’t think that could be topped, but then we were brought to the City Palace, which was unbelievable in its majesty! Other things that made the trip a super experience were seeing a real snake charmer and having a hands-on interaction with an elephant, which was very weird, very exciting, and a little unnerving! We were definitely in India, far from home! And since we were so far, my wife wanted to go on a tiger safari, which we did at the Ranthambore National Park. We were lucky enough to spot some tigers in their natural environment, and we also saw other wildlife like bears, crocodiles, wild boars, a slew of peacocks and peahens, and other big birds and wildlife! It was all good, and Ashfaq at Dream Day Tours made it all possible for us by coordinating our itinerary, providing us with excellent guides, great hotels (with dinners and breakfasts included most days), and providing us with our beloved driver, Jeetu, who got us to every site and more, and then to the airport in ample time to catch our flight home! Thank you, Dream Day Tours!
  
 
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   Menager S 
 
 
 
 Verified Tour Safari
This agency helped me organize a safari tour in Ranthambore; they are very professional and accommodating. I highly recommend them!
  
 
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   Elena T 
 
 
 
 Verified An experience made possible only by them, fantastic in every way!
I am truly happy to recommend this tour operator who has been incredibly accommodating towards me from the very beginning. They made the impossible possible, in the sense that I had little time but wanted to see too many things. With them, it was possible. Transfers and guides all for me, as I was traveling alone, and they were super friendly and efficient. They had breakfast ready for me in the car after a visit, they accommodated me in every way, and I arrived at the airport more punctual than ever despite the traffic to catch my return flight. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, especially to Ashfaq who personally welcomed me and was so, so patient. If you want to travel without worries and safely, choose this tour operator. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for my unforgettable experience. ❤️
  
 
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   thomas b 
 
 
 
 Verified Better than we could have imagined!
This was the most well organised trip we could have asked for! Ashfaq and the team couldn't have done more to make the trip better - hotel was stunning, lifts to and from Safari on time (and aircon!) and the best Safari, 2 groups and 1 private ( we saw 7 Tigers). This was a trip tailored to us, made very special! Highly recommend Dream Day Tours if you want the best trip of a life time at a great price!
  
 
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   Julius H 
 
 
 
 Verified Good Experience
We had a great experience. My friend and I booked the trip just two weeks before arriving in India, and they responded quickly and made everything possible. We shared what we wanted to see, and they created a plan around it. We also had a fantastic driver who was very kind and always made sure we had everything we needed, including water, soda, and beer.
  
 
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   William M 
 
 
 
 Verified Saw Tigers and Crocodiles!
We did 3 safaris, on the first two we saw lots of wildlife including monkeys, deer, hyenas, peacocks and other birds, but no tigers… And then on the third, we were lucky enough to see on four separate occasions a tiger casually strolling through its natural habitat. We got close enough to take good photos and one even walked straight past the Jeep! We also saw a couple of crocodiles by the lake which topped it off. Very enjoyable experience!
  
 
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   Esmeralda M 
 
 
 
 Verified FANTA
Hola!! Hi!! My husband and I went to India for 9 days and we couldn't have made a better choice than Day Dream Tours! They put together an incredible tour for us, with a guide in our language at each location, and they made sure everything was perfect! The safari in Rathambore was amazing and we even saw tigers! If you're planning a trip to India, don't hesitate to book with them. Besides having an incredible experience, you'll make some lifelong friends! Thank you!!!!!
  
 
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   Daniel N 
 
 
 
 Verified Incredible India
Our organized round trip through India with Ahmed was absolutely perfect and exceeded all our expectations! The itinerary including Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, and Agra was perfectly designed. We were able to experience India’s fascinating culture, impressive architecture, and breathtaking wildlife to the fullest. Every stop was a highlight in its own way! The hotels selected for us were excellent – very comfortable, clean, and thoughtfully chosen. It was clear that Ahmed places great value on quality and guest satisfaction. A very special thank you also goes to our driver, Malik. He was always punctual, professional, friendly, and drove very safely. We felt comfortable and well taken care of at all times. Ahmed was always available and responded immediately to all of our wishes. Even last-minute requests or spontaneous changes were arranged quickly and smoothly. This outstanding level of service truly made our journey extra special. Thanks to Ahmed and his team, we had a wonderful and unforgettable time in India. We are incredibly grateful for the perfect organization and can highly recommend this tour to anyone. Thank you so much for everything!
  
 
  
  
 
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