Overnight Camel Safari Jaisalmer: Desert Camp Under Stars

Twenty hours in the Thar: camel, dunes, and a night under the Milky Way

An overnight camel safari from Jaisalmer takes you by jeep to the Thar Desert, where you ride camels through farmland and scrub to isolated sand dunes, watch the sunset with tea and snacks, sleep under the stars with mattresses and blankets provided, and return after sunrise breakfast and a final camel ride. Hotel pickup and drop-off, meals, and a live guide in your language are included. The tour runs roughly twenty hours from afternoon departure to morning return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Overnight camel safari and desert experience

• Start tour from Jaisalmer by jeep at 2:30 pm
• Visit ghost village and natural oasis
• Explore Khaba Fort ruins
• Arrive at camel point and meet camel man
• Enjoy non-touristic camel safari and visit local village
• Watch sunset with tea and snacks
• Cook and have dinner in desert dunes
• Overnight stay under stars with bedding provided
• Watch sunrise and have breakfast
• Morning camel ride to jeep
• Return to city

The experience

The tour starts at 2:30 pm with pickup from your Jaisalmer hotel, or from the train station or bus stop if you prefer. A jeep takes you south toward the Thar Desert, stopping first at Longewala War Memorial and then at Khaba Fort, a 13th-century ruin that once anchored the village of Kuldhara before its residents vanished in 1825. The landscape shifts as you drive: arid scrub, ploughed fields worked by local farmers, rocky outcrops dotted with huts and temples. Wildlife appears along the way: nilgai, desert foxes, and birds adapted to the heat. By mid-afternoon you reach the camel point, where you meet the camel handlers and mount for the ride into the dunes.

The camel ride carries you across varied terrain: past working farmland, through villages where you'll see how people live in the desert, and finally onto the isolated sand dunes where the camp sits. You arrive in time to watch the sun drop toward the horizon with a cup of chai and freshly cooked snacks. After sunset, dinner is served at the camp. Mattresses and blankets are provided. You sleep on the dunes under the open sky, with the Milky Way visible overhead on a clear night. There is no electricity, no walls, no buffer between you and the desert at night.

Morning brings a sunrise over breakfast, then another camel ride for roughly an hour back toward the jeep. The return journey takes you back to Jaisalmer, arriving by mid-morning. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, afternoon tea and snacks, dinner, breakfast, bottled water, and a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages. Local taxes are covered. Two purchase options are available: one includes live music and dance at the camp. The other is the standard overnight safari without entertainment.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Jaisalmer.
• jeep transport to the camel point via Longewala War Memorial and Khaba Fort.
• afternoon tea and snacks.
• camel rides to and from the dunes.
• overnight stay on the sand dunes with mattresses and blankets.
• dinner and breakfast.
• bottled water throughout.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• local taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Thar overnight camel safariGuide in 7 languages · 14:30Sleep under the stars with wildlife, nature, and high desert tours. Duration: 1 day. Desert-style vegetarian food, Thar Desert jeep (Overnight Camel Safari). Pickup is included.

Camel safari featuring dance and musicGuide in 7 languages · 14:30Overnight under the stars: this safari lets you sleep on warm, cozy bedding, take a camel ride across the dunes, and enjoy sunset and sunrise views. Duration: 2 days. Includes dinner and breakfast, a visit to Kuldhara village and Khaba Fort, and jeep time to enjoy the desert.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (9 to 60 years) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian, Hindi, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rumis Desert Camp

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to sleep in the desert itself rather than in a camp with tents or structures: the dunes and the open sky are the whole point. The camel riding is moderate (roughly one hour each way), but the overnight on the ground and the early morning return suit travelers who are comfortable with basic conditions and don't need comfort infrastructure to enjoy the experience.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Hindi, Korean and Japanese.

What is Kuldhara village and why do we visit it on the way?

Kuldhara is a ghost town established in 1291 by Paliwal Brahmins who farmed the desert successfully. In 1825, all residents of Kuldhara and 83 nearby villages vanished overnight under mysterious circumstances. The ruins and the story of the abandoned settlement are stops on the jeep portion of the tour before you reach the camel point.

Do I ride the camel the whole time, or is there a jeep portion?

The tour combines both. A jeep takes you from Jaisalmer through the war memorial, fort ruins, and farmland to the camel point in the afternoon. From there, you ride camels to the dunes for the overnight camp. In the morning, you ride camels for roughly an hour back toward the jeep, which then returns you to the city.

What happens at the camp overnight? Is there electricity or shelter?

The camp sits on isolated sand dunes with mattresses and blankets provided on the ground. There is no electricity, no tents, and no walls. You sleep under the open sky. Dinner is served at the camp, and breakfast is cooked in the morning before you ride back.

Can I book this if I'm traveling with children?

Children can join if at least one adult is paying full price. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy due to the camel riding and extended time in the heat.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, afternoon tea and snacks, dinner, breakfast, bottled water, and the guide are all included. Local taxes are covered. Bring sun protection, a light jacket for the cool desert night, and any personal medications. The operator will advise on other essentials when you book.

Is there a difference between the two safari options?

One option includes live music and dance entertainment at the camp in the evening. The other is the standard overnight safari without the performance. Both follow the same route, include the same meals and guide, and run for the same duration.