Jaisalmer Camel Safari: Overnight Desert Camp & Kuldhara Village

Summary

Ride camels past Kuldhara village & sleep beneath desert stars

You’ll ride your own camel from Jaisalmer into the Thar Desert, explore ghostly Kuldhara Village with a local guide, eat fresh-cooked Rajasthani food under open skies, and sleep right on the sand beneath a blanket of stars. It’s quiet out there—so quiet you might hear yourself think for once.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit it: I was nervous about the camel at first. They’re taller than you think, and when mine lurched up outside Jaisalmer I nearly lost my grip (our guide just grinned—he’d clearly seen this before). The afternoon sun was still hot but there was a breeze carrying that dry, almost sweet smell of the Thar Desert. We set off in a slow line, just us and the camels’ soft snorts, heading toward these pale dunes that seemed to go on forever.

We stopped at Kuldhara Village—a place with more silence than I expected. Our guide told us stories about why it’s abandoned (I won’t spoil it), and you could feel how old everything was. Dusty lanes, broken walls, even the wind felt different there. Later we rode on to Khaba Fort; from the top you can see all the empty houses and imagine what life used to be like before everyone left. It’s odd how quiet it is—almost like time got stuck.

By sunset we reached our camp spot. No tents—just thick bedrolls laid out right on the sand. Dinner was dal, rice, chapati, and this spicy garlic chutney that burned in a good way (I ate too much). Someone brewed chai over a fire while we watched the sky turn deep purple. There were no city lights—just stars everywhere. I woke up once in the night and honestly thought I’d never seen so many; it made me feel tiny but happy somehow.

In the morning there was porridge and toast while the sun came up pink over the dunes. The camels looked half asleep too. On our way back to Jaisalmer by jeep I realized my legs were sore but I didn’t care—I still think about that sunrise sometimes when things get noisy back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Thar Desert Camel Safari and Village Visits

• Start from Hotel The Pleasant Haveli
• Visit Kuldhara Village heritage site
• Explore Khaba Fort ruins
• See traditional desert village life
• Cross many desert dunes
• Reach remote Thar Desert locations
• Watch beautiful desert sunset
• Sleep under stars on bedrolls
• Experience desert night sky and sunrise

Top questions

How long is the overnight camel safari from Jaisalmer?

The tour starts at 2:00 PM and returns around 10:30 AM the next day.

Is pickup included for this Jaisalmer camel safari?

Yes, both-way transportation by jeep is included from Hotel Pleasant Haveli in Jaisalmer.

Do we each get our own camel?

Yes, every person has their own camel for riding during the safari.

Are meals provided during the overnight desert trip?

Yes, dinner (dal, rice, chapati), evening snacks with tea, breakfast (porridge, toast), fruits and bottled water are included.

Will we sleep in tents on this Thar Desert safari?

No tents are provided; you’ll sleep in custom-made bedrolls directly on the sand under open sky.

Is there a shower available before or after the safari?

Yes, showers are available at Pleasant Haveli in Jaisalmer before and after your trip.

What villages or attractions will we visit?

You’ll visit Kuldhara Village and Khaba Fort during your journey through the desert.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with health issues?

This tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular problems.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off by jeep from Jaisalmer city, your own camel for riding across dunes to remote parts of the Thar Desert, dinner cooked fresh over a fire plus breakfast with chai in the morning, bottled water throughout, snacks at sunset, all entry fees to sites like Kuldhara Village and Khaba Fort—and after sleeping beneath desert stars in bedrolls (no tent!), you can use showers and luggage storage back at base before heading off again.