Jaisalmer desert: camel safari with sunset & dinner

Summary

A quiet camel ride into Rajasthan’s golden hour

Ride camels through Rajasthan’s desert from Jaisalmer with a local guide, visit Khabha Fort and an old oasis village, sip chai at sunset on quiet dunes, and share fresh-cooked dinner by campfire before returning to town — an evening you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was how the sand felt under my shoes at the camel point — not hot, but cool and soft, almost like flour. Our guide, Salim, handed me a tiny cup of chai before we even climbed onto the camels. He grinned and said something about “desert time” moving slower. I believed him. The ride out from Jaisalmer had already felt like we were leaving regular life behind; Khabha Fort stood empty and windblown, with just a few goats picking their way through the stones. I tried to imagine what it was like when people actually lived there — hard to picture with all that silence.

We stopped at this little oasis called Jassery on the way — honestly, I wouldn’t have spotted it if Salim hadn’t pointed out the green patch. He told us about how it was built as a dowry gift (I probably misunderstood half of it; his English is better than my Hindi). There was this faint smell of wet earth near the pond, which surprised me in all that dryness. Then back in the jeep for a bit before meeting our camels — mine was named Raju and kept making these low grumbling noises whenever I shifted around. I’m not sure if he liked me or not.

The actual camel safari part lasted about an hour, just as the sun started dropping lower. It wasn’t crowded at all — just us and two other travelers, plus Salim and the camel drivers chatting quietly in Marwari behind us. Watching the sky go from pale gold to deep orange while sipping sweet tea on top of a dune… yeah, that’s one of those moments you don’t really expect to stick with you, but it does. Dinner was simple: dal, rice, chapati cooked right there over a campfire (I tried flipping one chapati and nearly dropped it into the sand; everyone laughed). We ate sitting cross-legged on blankets while someone played music softly from their phone — not traditional or anything, but somehow perfect.

Afterwards we just sat there for a while listening to nothing except wind moving over sand. No rush to get back. Eventually we piled into the jeep again for Jaisalmer city — tired but feeling oddly peaceful. I still think about that view sometimes when things get noisy back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Desert Fort and Oasis Visit

• Visit Oasis Pond
• Explore Western Fort and Landscape

Top questions

How long is the camel safari from Jaisalmer?

The camel ride lasts around 1 hour through the desert dunes near Jaisalmer.

Is dinner included in this sunset camel safari?

Yes, dinner is cooked fresh over a campfire on the dunes and included in your tour.

What places do we visit before the camel ride?

You’ll stop at Khabha Fort and a small oasis called Jassery on your way to the desert.

Are there many people on this tour?

No, it’s limited to a small group or can be booked as a private tour for fewer travelers.

What time does this Jaisalmer camel safari start and end?

The tour leaves around 2pm from Jaisalmer and returns between 9:30–10pm.

Is hotel pickup included?

The tour includes pickup from Jaisalmer city by jeep at approximately 2pm.

Can I help cook during dinner?

Yes, you’re welcome to join the camel drivers in cooking if you want to try.

Are drinks provided during the tour?

Bottled water plus tea or coffee are included during your experience.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup by jeep from Jaisalmer city around 2pm, visits to Khabha Fort and Jassery oasis en route to the dunes, an hour-long camel ride with each person having their own camel, chai or coffee served at sunset atop the sand dunes, fresh vegetarian dinner cooked over a campfire (dal, rice, chapati), bottled water throughout, plus return transport back to town later that night.