India · Desert Adventure

8-Day Rajasthan Desert Tour with Bishnoi Safari and Sam Dunes

8 Days Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Mehrangarh Fort and the royal monuments of Jodhpur
02 Spot black buck, chinkara, and migratory Demoiselle cranes on a Bishnoi village safari
03 Enjoy sunset at Sam Sand Dunes with a camel ride, jeep safari, and Rajasthani folk dance
04 Visit Jaisalmer Fort, Jain Temples, Patwa Havelis, and Nathmalji ki Haveli
05 Pay respects at the Longewala War Memorial and visit Tanot Mata Temple near the Indo-Pak border
06 Discover Bikaner's Junagarh Fort, Lalgarh Palace, and the famous Karni Mata Temple

Embark on an exciting journey across three famous tourist destinations of Rajasthan. Explore India's history, culture, and religion as you visit old Hindu and Jain temples in Jaisalmer, marvel at the royal palaces and forts of Jodhpur and Bikaner, and enjoy a unique desert experience at Sam Sand Dunes with a camel ride, jeep safari, and Rajasthani folk dance. Learn about Rajasthani art and architecture, discover village life around Jodhpur, and enjoy time for local shopping along the way.

Then head to Sam Sand Dunes for a unique experience in the desert, and enjoy sunset with a camel ride, jeep safari, and Rajasthani folk dance.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Premium

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer

Languages English, Hindi

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Jodhpur and City Sightseeing

Pick up from Jodhpur Railway Station, Airport, or another arrival point, and transfer to the hotel. After some time to relax, visit Jodhpur as below.

Mehrangarh Fort: This majestic fort, stretching 5 km and standing on a 125 m high hill, is one of the most impressive and formidable structures in Rajasthan. Although invincible from the outside, its defences are approached through four gates along a winding road. Within the fort are magnificent palaces with marvellously carved panels, latticed windows, and evocative names.

These include Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana, and Daulat Khana. These palaces house a fabulous collection of the trappings of Indian royalty, including a superb collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, miniature paintings of various schools, musical instruments, and costumes.

Jaswant Thada: The imposing white marble memorial marks the site of a royal crematorium. It houses portraits of successive rulers. The four cenotaphs around it commemorate notable acts of bravery and generosity of four successive rulers.

Umaid Bhawan Palace: The imposing white marble memorial marks the site of a royal crematorium. It houses portraits of successive rulers. The four cenotaphs around it commemorate notable acts of bravery and generosity of four successive rulers.

Overnight stay in Jee Ri Haveli Hotel at Jodhpur.

Day 02

Bishnoi Village Safari in Jodhpur

Guda Bishnoi: A brief detail of the Jodhpur (Bishnoi) Village Safari is as follows. Visit the Bishnoi village, where guests can spot desert wildlife such as black buck, chinkara, blue bulls, desert foxes, partridges, and peacocks. Apart from the opportunity to meet the Bishnoi families, visitors can also enjoy a view of thousands of migratory Demoiselle cranes at Guda Pond and nearby places.

Khejarli: This village lies 26 km south-east of the city of Jodhpur. The town's name comes from the Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) trees that were once abundant here. In this village, 363 Bishnois died saving the Khejri tree about two centuries ago. The tree is the State Tree of Rajasthan.

Salawas: This village is located 22 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for rugs made by local craftsmen.

Singasani: This village is an excellent place where guests can join in mud handicrafts. Even the tiniest piece of art and craft speaks of a timeless era. This village, famous for the colourful culture of this magnificent land, still breathes its unique flair.

Kankani Village: This village is famous for pottery, where there will be a demonstration of the way people here make pottery, and you can also try doing the same.

Then drop back to the hotel. The rest of the time is free for leisure or to visit the market on your own.

Overnight stay in Jee Ri Haveli Hotel in Jodhpur.

Day 03

Drive from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer Desert Camp

After breakfast, drive towards Jaisalmer Desert Camp for an overnight stay.

En route, see Kuldhara Village, an abandoned village in Jaisalmer. It was established around the 13th century. Over the years, Kuldhara acquired a reputation as a haunted site, and the Government of Rajasthan decided to develop it as a tourist spot in 2010.

Then head to Sam Sand Dunes for a unique experience in the desert, and enjoy sunset with a camel ride, jeep safari, and Rajasthani folk dance.

Overnight stay in a desert camp.

Day 04

Excursion Around Jaisalmer

After breakfast, head out as below.

Longewala War Memorial: Marking the spot of a 1971 war, it shows the aftermath of the war between Pakistan and India through a range of military items.

Tanot Mata Temple: It is situated at the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan.

Bada Bagh: A fertile oasis on the bank of an artificial lake, surrounded by dense trees.

After finishing this day tour, come back to the Jaisalmer city hotel and visit the Jaisalmer market on your own.

Overnight stay in Jaisalmer city hotel.

Day 05

Jaisalmer City Sightseeing

After breakfast, visit Jaisalmer Fort. It is known as the Golden Fort of India and is believed to be one of the very few living forts in the world.

Jain Temple: The Jain Temple in Jaisalmer is dedicated to the Jain Tirthankaras - Rishabhdev, Sambhavnathh, and Parswanath.

Patwa Havelis: These are a cluster of five havelis aligned in a narrow lane in the heart of the city. Of the five havelis, the first haveli in the lane, also known as Kothari's Patwa Haveli, is not only extraordinarily preserved and restored but is also open to visitors to experience the lifestyle of the erstwhile patwas.

Nathmalji ki Haveli: It was constructed by Maharawal Berisal in 1885 CE to serve as the residence of Diwan Mohata Nathmal, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer.

The rest of the time is free for leisure or to visit the market on your own.

Overnight stay in Jaisalmer city hotel.

Day 06

Drive from Jaisalmer to Bikaner

After breakfast, drive to Bikaner. Before checking in at the hotel, visit the Camel Breeding Center, as its opening hours are from 02 PM to 06 PM.

Camel Breeding Center: This research center was established in 1984 by the government and has since also functioned as a breeding farm, museum, and a popular place for tourists to learn more about these animals and to experience a different variety of cuisine made from camel milk. The place is located around 8 km from Bikaner and can be easily visited in an hour or two by boarding an auto-rickshaw or a taxi for a round trip from the city.

The rest of the time is free for leisure or to visit the market on your own.

Overnight stay in Bikaner hotel.

Day 07

Bikaner City Sightseeing

After breakfast, explore Bikaner city as below.

Rat Temple: This famous 600-year-old temple is situated 30 km from Bikaner in Deshnok. It is also known as Karni Mata Temple. The temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. It has massive, intricately carved silver gates donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh. The most exciting thing about the temple is the rats that scamper freely within the precincts. They are regarded as sacred and are fed by priests and devotees due to the belief that they will be reincarnated in the goddess's family. These holy rats are called Kabbas, and many people travel great distances to pay their respects. The temple draws visitors from across the country for blessings and curious tourists from around the world.

Junagarh Fort: The fort was erected in 1593 A.D. by Raja Rai Singh, the illustrious general of the Mughal emperor Akbar's army. The fortress is bounded by a moat and consists of 37 palaces and pavilions, including Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Karan Mahal. The museum within the fort encloses priceless miniature paintings and extraordinary antiques of great interest to art lovers.

Lalgarh Palace: This majestic palace, built by Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji in 1902, is a magnum opus in red sandstone. This architectural wonder was created through the fusion of Rajput, Mughal, and European architecture and exhibits superb craftsmanship in striking latticework and filigree work. One part of Lalgarh Palace has recently been given on lease and is being used as a heritage hotel.

Evening time is free for leisure or to visit the market on your own.

Overnight stay in Bikaner hotel.

Day 08

Departure from Bikaner

After breakfast, guests will be dropped at their desired place in Bikaner, marking the end of this tour.

Where this trip takes you

Sam Sand Dunes sunset, Jaisalmer Fort, Mehrangarh Fort on a rocky hill, Umaid Bhawan Palace

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

3 Star hotel accommodation in each place
Breakfast at the respective hotel during the tour
Camel ride, jeep safari, and dinner at Sam Sand Dunes with camp stay in Jaisalmer
All transfers and sightseeing throughout the tour by an individual air-conditioned vehicle
Driver accommodation and food
Toll tax and parking
All currently applicable taxes

What's Not Included

Any kind of personal expenses such as monument fees, laundry, telephone bills, and alcoholic beverages
Camera fees (still or movie)
Entrance charges to places of interest and monuments
Any flight charges
Any type of guide service is not included