1The route and the distance
Jaisalmer is about 560 km from Jaipur, 9 to 10 hours of driving through Ajmer and Jodhpur. It can be done in one long day, but it's far better split at Jodhpur, which is about 340 km from Jaipur and 285 km from Jaisalmer. We plan long drives to start in the morning so you arrive before dark, and we don't drive through the night.
2How to split 3 or 4 days
With 4 days: drive Jaipur to Jodhpur on day 1 and see Mehrangarh Fort in the afternoon; drive on to Jaisalmer on day 2 and watch the sunset at the Sam dunes; spend day 3 at Jaisalmer Fort, the havelis and Gadisar Lake; and drive back on day 4. With 3 days, drive straight to Jaisalmer on day 1, spend day 2 there with the dunes in the evening, and drive back on day 3. Ending in Jodhpur instead saves the long drive back.
3Sam sand dunes and desert camps
The Sam dunes are about 40 km west of Jaisalmer, an hour's drive, and Khuri is a quieter set of dunes to the south. Most desert camps are open from October to March. Camps, camel rides and jeep safaris are booked by you directly; we drive you to the camp in the evening and pick you up the next morning. Choose a camp with recent reviews, and ask what's included, as cheap camp deals often add extras on the night.
4Stops worth making
On the way, Pushkar or Ajmer make a good break on the first morning, and Pokhran sits on the Jodhpur–Jaisalmer road. Around Jaisalmer, the royal cenotaphs at Bada Bagh are best at sunrise, and Kuldhara, a village abandoned about 200 years ago, is on the road to Sam. Inside Jaisalmer Fort, people still live and run shops and temples, so go in the morning before the lanes get busy.
5Which car, and what it costs
Our Jaisalmer desert tour starts from ₹11,450 for a small car with driver, as an estimate, with fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's food and night stay in. Over 4 days, an Ertiga works out at about ₹15,000 to ₹17,500, and an Innova Crysta at about ₹17,800 to ₹20,600. For 500 km days the Innova is the more comfortable car. Hotels, camps, meals and safaris are yours to choose and pay.
