Jaisalmer Desert: Camel Safari & Stargazing with Local Guides

Summary

Ride camels from Jaisalmer to the dunes for sunset tea and sleep under desert stars with local guides

You’ll meet local guides in Jaisalmer before heading out by jeep to see Jasery Lake and Khaba Fort. Ride your own camel into Thar Desert dunes for sunset tea and a campfire dinner cooked fresh by your hosts. Sleep outside under bright stars before breakfast and return to town—expect laughter, quiet moments, and real desert flavors.

What’s the experience like?

We met our guide, Salim, just outside the old city walls of Jaisalmer. He handed us a bottle of water and grinned, “Ready for some real desert?” I nodded — maybe too eagerly. On the drive out, he told us about Jasery Lake and how it was built as a dowry gift. I tried to repeat the story back in my clumsy Hindi and got a laugh from Salim. The jeep rattled past little villages where kids waved at us, dust swirling everywhere.

Khaba Fort was next — half-ruined but somehow alive with stories. You could see all these tiny desert villages stretching out below. It’s quiet up there except for goats somewhere nearby (I never saw them). After that we reached camel point. My camel was called Raju; he looked unimpressed by me but let me climb on anyway. The ride itself is slow and kind of hypnotic — you start noticing how dry the air feels on your skin, and how every sound gets swallowed up by sand.

We stopped on the dunes just as the sun started dropping — orange light everywhere, wind picking up a bit. Salim made chai right there over a fire while we watched shadows stretch across the sand. Dinner was simple: dal, chapati, vegetables cooked fresh by our camel drivers who joked around in Marwari (I caught maybe one word). There’s something about eating with your hands out there that makes food taste different — or maybe it’s just hunger after riding camels for an hour.

I didn’t expect to sleep so well under open sky but honestly? I barely remember drifting off — just lying back on my cot with a blanket pulled up, watching stars flicker above me while someone nearby snored softly. In the morning we had toast and sweet chai before another short camel ride back to the jeep. I still think about that silence in the desert sometimes — it’s not empty at all, you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Afternoon desert tour and camping

• Visit Jasery Lake
• Explore Khaba Fort
• Enjoy desert thali dinner
• Sleep under open sky

Day 2 — Morning camel ride and return

• Morning camel and jeep ride
• Breakfast with porridge and tea

Top questions

How long is the camel safari from Jaisalmer?

The overnight camel safari starts at 2:00 pm in Jaisalmer and returns around 10:30–11:00 am the next day.

Is this a private or group tour?

This is a non-touristic group safari with local guides; each person has their own camel.

What food is included on the tour?

Dinner includes dal, mixed vegetables, rice, chapati; breakfast has toast, porridge, tea, biscuits, fruit.

Are bathrooms available during the desert stay?

No bathrooms are available in the desert; guests use nature (find a bush).

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Jaisalmer?

The tour includes transportation by jeep from a starting point in Jaisalmer city.

What should I bring for sleeping in the desert?

Beds, blankets, pillows are provided; bring warm clothes for night temperatures.

Can infants or children join this camel safari?

Infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap; specialized infant seats are available.

Is this suitable for travelers with health issues?

The tour isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal/cardiovascular problems.

What’s included

Your experience includes round-trip jeep transportation from Jaisalmer city to the desert edge, entry fees for Jasery Lake and Khaba Fort, your own camel for riding into Thar Desert dunes at sunset with local guides leading the way, evening tea and snacks as you watch sunset colors shift across sand hills, a freshly cooked vegetarian dinner over campfire prepared by your hosts (with dal, rice, chapati), bottled water throughout your journey plus breakfast—toast or porridge—with hot chai before returning to town late morning.