Jaisalmer: Overnight Camel Safari & Sleep Under Desert Stars

Summary

Ride camels through Thar dunes, share fireside chai, sleep beneath desert stars

You’ll ride your own camel into the Thar Desert from Jaisalmer, snack on fresh pakora as sunset colors the dunes, share stories around a campfire dinner, then fall asleep under an open sky packed with stars. Wake to chai at dawn and another gentle ride back—simple comforts in a world that feels far away from everything else.

What’s the experience like?

We were already bumping along in the jeep when I realized how far Jaisalmer would feel by the end of this. The air was dry but not harsh, and our guide—Ajay—kept pointing out little things I’d have missed: a flash of green where someone coaxed crops from sand, goats wandering with no hurry at all. At Khaba village we stopped for chai (the real kind, sweet and gritty), and Ajay tried to teach me how to say “thank you” in Marwari. I’m sure I got it wrong—he just grinned and poured more tea.

The camels were waiting at the edge of the scrubland, taller than I expected and so calm. Mine was called Raju. Getting on felt awkward but after a few minutes I found a rhythm with his slow steps. The desert changed as we went—first thorny bushes, then suddenly those soft rippling dunes you always imagine but never really believe until you’re there. We rode for about ninety minutes; my legs went numb but honestly it didn’t matter because sunset hit and everything turned gold. Someone handed around pakora still hot from the pan—spicy enough to make me cough—and we just sat in the sand eating with our hands.

Night comes fast out here. Dinner was simple—dal, chapati, rice—but cooked over the fire while we talked about nothing much at all. There’s something about eating outside that makes food taste different… or maybe it was just being tired from riding all afternoon. No tents: just thick bedding rolled out on the dunes under a sky so full of stars it almost looked fake. I lay awake longer than I meant to, listening to distant camel bells and trying to count constellations until I gave up.

I woke up cold but happy—Ajay had already made chai again by the time I sat up, and breakfast was fruit and bread with eggs if you wanted them. Another ride back through the morning light; somehow it felt shorter even though it wasn’t. By 11am we were back in Jaisalmer but my shoes still carried half the desert with them. Sometimes when city noise gets too much now, I think about that silent stretch of sand before sunrise.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Camel safari and desert overnight

• Depart Jaisalmer by jeep at 1:30 PM
• Visit Khaba and natural oasis
• Receive warm welcome and meet camels
• Ride camel for 90 minutes in desert
• Stop at dunes and watch sunset
• Enjoy snacks at dunes
• Sit around bonfire and have dinner
• Sleep under stars in cozy bedding

Day 2 — Sunrise ride and return to Jaisalmer

• Wake up to sunrise
• Eat healthy breakfast
• Ride camel for 90 minutes
• Take jeep ride back to Jaisalmer
• Arrive in Jaisalmer by 11 AM

Top questions

How long is the overnight camel safari from Jaisalmer?

The safari starts around 1:30 pm and ends about 11 am the next day.

Is hotel pickup included for this camel safari?

The tour includes pickup by jeep from Jaisalmer before heading into the desert.

Do you sleep in tents or outside during this safari?

You sleep outside on cozy bedding directly on the sand dunes under the stars; no tents are used.

Are meals provided during the overnight camel safari?

Yes, snacks at sunset, a traditional vegetarian dinner by bonfire, plus breakfast in the morning are included.

How long do you ride camels each day?

You ride camels for about 90 minutes each afternoon and again for 90 minutes after sunrise.

Is there any bathroom facility during this tour?

No bathroom facilities are available during this overnight desert experience.

What kind of food is served on this safari?

Dinner includes mixed vegetarian dishes like dal, chapati, rice; breakfast offers eggs, porridge, fruit, bread plus chai or coffee.

Can infants join this camel safari?

Infants can join if seated on an adult’s lap; specialized infant seats are available upon request.

What’s included

Your overnight trip includes jeep pickup from Jaisalmer to reach remote dunes, your own camel for two rides across varied desert landscapes, sunset snacks like pakora and chips with chai or coffee by campfire, a freshly cooked vegetarian dinner using bottled water only (with rice and chapati), cozy bedding right on open sand beneath the stars (no tent), plus breakfast with eggs or porridge and seasonal fruit before returning to town late morning.