Opens ~9 amFort
Jaisalmer Fort
A living sandstone fort, still home to a few thousand people.
- Time needed: 3–4 hrs
- Best time: In the morning
- Distance: In the city
- Entry: ~₹200 entry
Often asked: fort tickets, camel safari prices, taxi from Jodhpur, when to go.
Jaisalmer Fort and the golden city
Places to see
Seven sights in the city, five in the desert and two on the border road. The fort needs a morning; the dunes need an evening.
Opens ~9 am
Camp seasonSand dunes
Sam Dunes
The big, lively dunes — camel rides, jeeps and camp nights.
- Time needed: Afternoon + overnight
- Best time: At sunset
- Distance: ~42 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Opens ~9 amHaveli
Patwon ki Haveli
Five merchant mansions with stone carved like lace.
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hrs
- Best time: Late morning
- Distance: ~1 km away
- Entry: ~₹150 entry
Open · till ~9 pmLake
Gadisar Lake
The old rain-fed reservoir, ringed by shrines and ghats.
- Time needed: 1 hr
- Best time: At sunrise or sunset
- Distance: ~2 km away
- Entry: Free entry
Opens ~8 amRoyal cenotaphs
Bada Bagh
Royal chhatris on a ridge, facing a field of wind turbines.
- Time needed: 1 hr
- Best time: At sunrise or sunset
- Distance: ~6 km away
- Entry: ~₹50 entry
Opens ~8 amAbandoned village
Kuldhara
A Paliwal Brahmin village left empty for two centuries.
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hrs
- Best time: Late afternoon
- Distance: ~18 km away
- Entry: ~₹10 entry
A night on the dunes
Most people spend one night in a camp at Sam or Khuri, about an hour west of town. Here is how the two differ.
Sam, 42 km
The big dunes, and most of the camps. Evenings are lively: camel rides at sunset, jeeps on the sand, a folk show after dinner. Good for a first visit or a group. Sam guide
Khuri, 45 km
Smaller dunes beside a working village of mud-and-thatch houses. Quieter nights and darker skies; better if you want to sleep early and see the stars. Khuri guide
Desert camp
Sam Dunes Swiss Tent Camp
- Where: Sam Dunes · ~42 km
- Meals: Dinner & breakfast
Sample listing
From ₹4,500 a night for two, approx.
Enquire
Desert camp
Khuri Village Hut Camp
- Where: Khuri Dunes · ~45 km
- Meals: Dinner & breakfast
Sample listing
From ₹3,200 a night for two, approx.
Enquire
Luxury camp
Sam Luxury Cottage Camp
- Where: Sam Dunes · ~42 km
- Meals: All meals
Sample listing
From ₹11,000 a night for two, approx.
EnquireTrips we put together
Prices are worked out from the parts: rooms for two, a jeep shared by six, tickets, and a car sized to your group. Bigger groups pay less each.
Package
Sam Desert Camp Overnight
The classic Jaisalmer night out: Kuldhara on the way, a sunset camel ride, dune-bashing in a jeep, folk music under…
- Duration: 1 night / 2 days
- Suits: Couples, Friends
From ₹3,800 per person, approx.
EnquirePackage
Golden City & Dunes — 2 Nights
One night in a heritage hotel below the fort and one on the dunes — the fort, havelis and Gadisar with a guide, then…
- Duration: 2 nights / 3 days
- Suits: First-timers, Couples
From ₹6,950 per person, approx.
Enquire
Package
Jaisalmer, Dunes & Tanot Border — 3 Nights
Adds a full day to the border belt — Tanot Mata temple and the Longewala war memorial — to the fort, havelis and a…
- Duration: 3 nights / 4 days
- Suits: History lovers, Families
From ₹10,250 per person, approx.
EnquireBook direct with locals
We are Jaisalmer people. The hotels, camps, drivers and guides we book are people we have known for years.
Large booking websites add their own commission to every room and tour. We work directly with our own network, so that cost does not reach you: in most cases our price is lower than you will find online for the same room or service. If you find a lower genuine price, show us and we will do our best to match it.
You also get local judgement: which rooms have the fort view, which camps are quiet after dinner, and which drivers take the Sam road carefully. More about us.
- Stays: Hotels and havelis, inside the fort, by the lake or on the Sam road
- Camps: Desert camps at Sam and Khuri, simple to luxury
- Safaris: Camel and jeep safaris, folk evenings, sunset points
- Transport: Airport and station transfers, sightseeing cars, cabs across Rajasthan
- Guides: Licensed local guides for the fort, havelis, Kuldhara and Tanot
- Tours: Multi-day trips, group travel, and help with trains and buses
How booking works
Send your dates
Who is coming, when, and what you would like. It takes two minutes, and there is no obligation.
Get a written quote
Usually within a few hours, on WhatsApp or email, with what is included and what is not. Nothing is added later.
Confirm and travel
Pay a deposit by UPI, bank transfer or a secure link, and get your confirmation. One of us stays in touch for the whole trip.
Before you go
Ticket prices and what food costs. The figures are approximate and kept in one place, so every page agrees.
Tickets
| Place | Indian | Foreign | Camera | Usual hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Palace Museum (Raj Mahal) | ~₹200 | ~₹600 | ~₹100 | about 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Jain temples inside the fort | Free | ~₹200 | ~₹100 | about 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Patwon ki Haveli | ~₹150 | ~₹250 | ~₹50 | about 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Bada Bagh cenotaphs | ~₹50 | ~₹100 | ~₹50 | about 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM |
| Kuldhara village | ~₹10 | ~₹100 | — | about 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Vehicle ~₹50 |
Where to eat
- Thali lunch
- ₹200–₹450
- Makhaniya lassi
- ₹50–₹120
- Rooftop main dish
- ₹250–₹600
- Best months
- October to March
Getting here
Jaisalmer is at the far western edge of Rajasthan. Most people arrive by overnight train or by road from Jodhpur; flights run in winter.
- By airDirect flights in winter; Jodhpur has flights all year, about 285 km away.Read the guide
- By trainDaily trains from Delhi (about 17–19 hrs), Jaipur and Jodhpur.Read the guide
- By busFrom Jodhpur about 5.5–7 hrs; overnight sleepers from Jaipur and Udaipur.Read the guide
- By cab or carJodhpur ~285 km; a sedan costs about ₹4,250 one way.Read the guide
Cab fares from nearby cities
| Route | Distance | Drive | Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jodhpur to Jaisalmer | ~285 km | 5–5.5 hr | ₹4,250 |
| Jaipur to Jaisalmer | ~565 km | 9.5–10.5 hr | ₹8,450 |
| Bikaner to Jaisalmer | ~330 km | 5.5–6 hr | ₹4,950 |
| Udaipur to Jaisalmer | ~500 km | 8.5–9.5 hr | ₹7,500 |
| Jaisalmer to Full-day city & Sam sightseeing | ~80 km | 8 hr | ₹2,200 |
| Jaisalmer to Tanot & Longewala day trip | ~150 km | 9–10 (round trip) hr | ₹3,900 |
How to reach Jaisalmer, with a mapFare calculatorLocal transport
Guides
What things cost, how long they take, and which option suits whom.
Desert, camps & safaris
Desert safari prices
Jaisalmer desert safari prices for camel rides, overnight treks, jeep dune-bashing and quad bikes, plus…
Desert, camps & safaris
Choosing a desert camp
How desert camps in Jaisalmer work: budget to premium prices, a typical evening, what is included, winter…
Permits
Border & park permits
Tanot border permit rules for Jaisalmer: who can visit Tanot, Longewala and the Babliyan BSF post, ID and…
Plan your trip
Jaisalmer itinerary
Jaisalmer itinerary for 2 days, plus 1, 3 and 4 day plans: fort, havelis, dunes and border, where to sleep…
First-time family guide
Jaisalmer with family & kids
Planning a Jaisalmer trip with kids? Best months, places by age, safe desert activities, live family costs…
History & culture
Jaisalmer history in brief
Jaisalmer history in plain words: Rawal Jaisal and the 1156 fort, Bhati rulers, caravan wealth, sieges…
Send us your dates
We will send a written quote for a camp, a car and an order for the sights that avoids the midday heat, at our local rate.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Jaisalmer?
Two nights works for most people: one in town for the fort and havelis, one on the dunes at Sam or Khuri. Add a day for Tanot and Longewala, or for Desert National Park.
When is the best time to visit Jaisalmer?
October to March, when days are warm and nights cool. Desert camps mostly run in these months. April to June is very hot. See the month-by-month guide.
How much does a desert camp cost?
Roughly ₹1,500–3,000 a night for two in a basic camp, ₹3,000–6,000 for a standard Swiss tent and ₹8,000–18,000 for a luxury camp, usually with dinner, breakfast and a folk evening. Prices rise at Christmas, New Year and during the Desert Festival.
Is this the official Jaisalmer tourism website?
No. We are a private group of local travel operators. Official tickets and permits are sold only by the relevant authorities; we arrange everything else for your trip.
Why book directly with you?
We are based in Jaisalmer and book hotels, camps, drivers and guides through our own local network, without a big booking site's commission in between. In most cases that means a lower price, and one local contact for the whole trip.
How do I pay?
After you accept our written quote, a deposit (usually 25%) confirms the booking, by UPI, bank transfer or a secure payment link. The balance is usually paid on arrival. See our terms and cancellation policy.