Jaisalmer has got to be one of the most stunning desert cities in the world.
Encompassed within the grandeur of the Thar desert in north-west India, Jaisalmer has retained its old-world charm, splendor and beauty.
With the imposing Jaisalmer Fort as its focal point, the city bewitches you from the moment you set your eyes on it.
For most tourists, the main attractions remain the fort, the extraordinary temples, havelis, grand architecture of Jaisalmer and its culture.
However, it is also a city where you can have some genuinely exciting and unusual experiences to tick off your bucket list.
Therefore, for today, I am focusing mainly on the exciting and unusual things to do in Jaisalmer for vacationers.
Page Contents
- How to reach Jaisalmer, it’s location and brief history
- Exciting and Unusual Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- Spend the night in Thar Desert
- Go on an overnight remote camel safari
- Watch the sunset and cultural program on a camel
- Explore Jaisalmer Fort and its heritage on a private walking tour
- Go on a Jeep desert safari
- Go glamping in Jaisalmer desert
- Take a private Tuk-Tuk day tour
- Have dinner on sand dunes
- Go stargazing in Thar desert
- Explore a rural desert farm
- Go on a culture and heritage trail
- Explore Jaisalmer Fort with Havelis
- Jaisalmer Travel Tips
- Final thoughts
How to reach Jaisalmer, it’s location and brief history
Jaisalmer is located in the state of Rajasthan, in north-west India.
The entire state is known for its spectacular desert landscape. However, it is in Jaisalmer that you get the complete experience of the Great Indian Desert.
Situated right in the center of the Thar Desert, you are never too far away from the majestic sand dunes.
To get to Jaisalmer, you have the option of air, road and railways.
Although Jaisalmer has its own airport, it is not a busy one. At the moment, there is just one flight that reaches Jaisalmer.
You can land at either Jodhpur airport or Jaipur airport and take a car to Jaisalmer. It takes about 5 hours from Jodhpur and 10 hours from Jaipur to reach Jaisalmer by road.
The national highway network in Rajasthan is quite good and the drive by taxi is comfortable.
However, due to the long distance, many tourists prefer to combine Jaisalmer with other towns first. For example, visiting Jaipur first, then going to Jodhpur and after that to Jaisalmer.
If you do not mind taking an overnight train, then there are plenty of options from Mumbai and Delhi.
Rail network is the best for traveling within Rajasthan although the time taken could be more than other transport options.
Brief History
Rawal Jaisal, a Rajput warrior, was the founder of Jaisalmer in the year 1156.
He is the one who built the great Jaisalmer Fort. In the local language, Jaisalmer directly translates to Hill Fort of Jaisal.
Thanks to the desert landscape and use of yellow sandstone all over the city fort, Jaisalmer is also known as The Golden City.
You can clearly see the ‘glow’ as you arrive and marvel at the fort both during the day and night.
Today, Jaisalmer Fort is alive with residences, shops, hotels, restaurants etc.
The grand Jain Temples, palaces and trading centers give tourists an idea of its past glory before the British Empire.
Exciting and Unusual Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Jaisalmer provides one of the most memorable travel experiences in India.
These are my top things to do in the city. They are not just unusual but also a great way to experience the best of what Jaisalmer has to offer.
Spend the night in Thar Desert
Spending the night in one of the most majestic deserts in the world, the Thar Desert is an absolute dream.
With an immaculate overnight stay setup on the golden dunes of the great Indian desert, this is a must-do activity.
As the title suggests, in this activity you get to spend the night in Thar desert.
However, it is so much more than just sleeping in a desert.
First, you get picked up on a jeep from a location within Jaisalmer. On most occasions, this will be from your hotel in the city.
After that, you are driven through the mesmerizing sand dunes of the desert to a centuries old village.
You get to then ride a camel to your final destination for the evening.
There is dinner, cultural dance shows, musical performances plus more around a cozy fireplace.
I just love this particular activity from Jaisalmer. It allows you to experience the culture, life in a desert village with lots of good food and entertainment.
Of course, the feeling of spending the night in the cold desert in a luxury tent is quite surreal.
I really would put spending the night at Thar desert on top of my unusual things to do in Jaisalmer.
It is a bucket list kind of activity.
Go on an overnight remote camel safari
Do you know how it feels to ride a camel overnight in a desert? Well, if you don’t, you need to find out.
In this activity, you get picked up from your hotel and taken to a spot where a new adventure awaits.
This site is basically where the great Indian desert begins just outside of Jaisalmer.
It is here that you start your camel ride going through villages and the great sand dunes of Thar desert.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to ride the camel all night long. You do get a wonderful local meal and places to rest.
This activity is quite similar to our ‘spend the night at Thar desert’ suggestion.
However, the focus here is more on the camel ride. It is a bit more adventurous but less of luxury.
Nevertheless, it is a fantastic way to absorb Jaisalmer, its surroundings and all that the desert has to offer.
Watch the sunset and cultural program on a camel
Thar desert presents some of the most awe-inspiring sunsets you can ever see.
Sunsets over a beautiful ocean can sometimes pale in comparison to sunsets over an ocean of sand.
What better way to view this sunset than on a camel safari through the desert.
Best part is it is not just the sunset that you get to watch. This activity involves viewing forts, desert villages and a wonderful cultural program.
Dinner, tea or coffee and bottled water is included as well.
Unlike the other two activities above in our list, this one is not an overnight excursion.
Therefore, you will be dropped back to your hotel in Jaisalmer at the end of the day.
Explore Jaisalmer Fort and its heritage on a private walking tour
Jaisalmer Fort is the focal point of the city.
It is pretty much the most important site that you need to explore in Jaisalmer.
Within the fort, there are a myriad of extraordinary temples, havelis (mansions), bazaars and other monuments with exceptional architecture.
The best way to truly understand and experience each of these marvels is via a private heritage walking tour.
Firstly, this ensures that you do not miss any of the important aspects within the living fort.
You also will know exactly where to go, what to see and more importantly, understand what you are seeing.
I do feel this is a must-do activity and better than just wandering around Jaisalmer Fort.
Since it’s a private guided tour, the schedule is flexible and you can choose your timings as per your convenience.
Go on a Jeep desert safari
If camel rides or overnight desert stays are not your thing, you could simply opt for a Jeep safari.
Keep in mind the Jeep desert safari in Jaisalmer is unlike what you may have experienced in the Middle East.
It is not about dune bashing or adventurous rides.
In Jaisalmer, it is all about culture. So you get to ride on a Jeep deep into the desert. You will visit villages, check the desert national park and have a nice Rajasthani meal.
Just like most things in Jaisalmer, cultural programs, dinner, tea or coffee is included in your safari.
You can also customize the Jeep desert safari as per your needs and get hotel transfers.
Go glamping in Jaisalmer desert
Glamping in the great Indian desert in Jaisalmer is simply an outstanding experience.
This activity is similar to our spending the night in the desert recommendation above.
The only bit that is different is the focus on luxury camping rather than the sightseeing activities.
Mind you, there is camel ride to the camp, village tour, snacks, dinner, cultural and musical entertainment included.
Hence, glamping in Jaisalmer is quite different from the standard glamping excursions you may have been on in the past.
I personally love the fact that you can indulge in stargazing with the chill of the desert night.
Do keep in mind that luxury camping here means a nice tent, comfortable bed and a private bathroom.
Don’t expect other modern amenities, kitchenette facilities etc.
Good thing is food, tea or coffee, bottled water are all included so you don’t have to worry about those.
Take a private Tuk-Tuk day tour
Firstly, in India, it is not called Tuk-Tuk. It’s referred to as an auto-rickshaw.
Since the word Tuk-Tuk from Southeast Asia has become popular with global tourists, I am using it here.
Now that I have cleared that up, private Tuk-Tuk day tour is one of the best ways to explore Jaisalmer.
Your driver will pick you up from you hotel around 8.30 am and take you on an all day tour.
The size of the Tuk-Tuk means you can easily move around even on congested or narrow roads.
You will be able to explore all the spectacular landmarks of Jaisalmer including its temples, forts, mansions, markets etc.
Riding on a Tuk-Tuk is actually quite fun.
Two things to remember though. First, the ride won’t have air-conditioning. Second, realistically only 3 can fit comfortably on the back of the Tuk-Tuk.
Therefore, if you have a bigger family or traveling with lots of friends, you need more than one Tuk-Tuk.
Typically, the tour lasts about 8 hours. You can stop over wherever you like, try nice restaurants or go shopping in any of the bazaars.
Have dinner on sand dunes
You may have had candle light dinner on the beach, but have you experienced candle light dinner in a desert?
It’s quite a wonderful setting for a nice local Rajasthani meal.
With the incredible star kissed night sky above and tranquil earthen Indian lamps lit around you, it’s just mesmerizing.
You sit on the sand dunes on gorgeous low seating with beautifully designed carpets. Food is served on brass Indian dinnerware.
Menu consists of local delicacies. You can get an all-vegetarian menu as well that’s equally lip-smacking.
Before all this, you ride couple of hours deep into the desert on a jeep and then on a camel.
So you know it’s a remote location deep within the Thar desert. This is where the experience of having dinner on the sand dunes truly comes alive.
If you are up for an awesome local meal with a bit of an adventure, then this activity is perfect.
You have Jeep safari, camel ride, camp fire, stargazing and of course, a superb meal at an impeccable setting.
Go stargazing in Thar desert
A lot of the experiences in Jaisalmer includes staying overnight in the Thar desert.
In this activity, you get to spend the night in a beautiful mud hut in the middle of the desert.
There is camel ride with cultural programs plus breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
However, the real highlight for me is when everything goes quiet at night and the stars come out to play.
Stargazing, while sitting on the sand dunes in an incredibly remote desert camp site is the best way to explore the heavens above.
You can even view the stunning sunrise over the desert in the morning if you are up for it.
After a hearty breakfast, you will be dropped back to your hotel or point of choice within Jaisalmer.
Explore a rural desert farm
I feel this is a heart-warming activity that you must try when in Jaisalmer.
You can visit a rural desert farm at a remote village.
Here, you can pick local indigenous berries, fruits and vegetables directly from the respective trees or plants.
Villagers even prepare a local meal for you from the handpicked vegetables.
You can spend time exploring the farm and nearby village. See life in this part of the world and make new friends.
There are refreshing Indian drinks offered as well such as lassi and masala chai.
Overall, I like the holistic nature of this activity. It helps you learn a bit about life in a rural farm in Rajasthan.
Go on a culture and heritage trail
There is the grand fort and spectacular havelis but Jaisalmer is so much more than that.
The wonderful culture and heritage of the city is unique to the region. You need to experience that while walking around the many lanes, nooks and corners of Jaisalmer.
There are guided walking tours available that offer superb insights into life in Jaisalmer and its royal heritage.
This is going beyond simply sticking to the touristy areas. You can walk around where locals live, work and play. You can see a part of Jaisalmer that otherwise the standard tourist might completely miss out.
Best of all, you can learn about Jaisalmer, its past glory, it’s royal family and about its residents.
Explore Jaisalmer Fort with Havelis
Last but not least in our list is the comprehensive private all-day tour of Jaisalmer.
Now this by no means is an unusual activity. Exploring Jaisalmer Fort with its spectacular havelis should be on top of your to-do list.
However, this is an exciting and comprehensive activity that I am proposing.
In this private all-day tour, you will experience everything there is to see and do in Jaisalmer.
So, it includes sightseeing, Jaisalmer Fort, all of the grand havelis, temples etc. plus camel ride, desert safari and more.
If you have just one or two days in the city, then this tour is perfect. It takes about 10 hours for the entire activity and includes a great buffet lunch.
You don’t just explore Jaisalmer from within, you get to go out in the desert as well.
Ending your day on a camel, watching the stunning sunset over the Thar Desert is the perfect conclusion of the Jaisalmer experience.
Jaisalmer Travel Tips
To make the most of your Jaisalmer trip, do keep these points in mind before planning your itinerary.
1) Health
Pregnant women and those with a bad back should avoid camel rides.
While they are a lot of fun, there is a significant forward and backward movement.
As a result, they are not recommended for pregnant women as well as people with lower back pain.
2) Weather
Jaisalmer has extreme weather conditions.
In summer, it can get as hot as 49 degrees Celcius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
In winter, it can get as cold as 0 to 5 degrees Celcius (32 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit).
Do not venture out till after lunch during summers. Otherwise, you can get severe sunburn. The nights are quite pleasant even during summers thanks to desert weather drop.
If you are spending the night in the desert, keep warm clothing in a bag even during summers.
Needless to say, during winters you will need warm clothing throughout the day.
3) Season
The best times to visit Jaisalmer is from the third week of November to first week of March.
Days are nice and pleasant while nights are quite chilly during those months.
The months of September and October can see rain. During monsoon, desert safaris, glamping etc., may not be available.
4) Jaisalmer Itinerary
3 days is the ideal time you need to spend in Jaisalmer to experience it all.
However, 2 days are enough to cover all the major activities and sightseeing in Jaisalmer.
5) Rajasthan Trip
Ideally, if you have the time, keep Jaisalmer as part of your Jodhpur and Jaipur trip.
The three towns give a brilliant glimpse into Rajasthan and provide a completely different travel experience.
The other town besides the above three that is a must-visit is Udaipur.
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Final thoughts
Jaisalmer is often referred to as an open-air museum.
The entire town is a heritage place with extraordinary architecture that is a blend of Hindu, Jain and Islamic cultures.
You just have to experience Jaisalmer Fort – India’s only living fort.
With all of the stunning havelis, temples, forts, heritage sites and of course, the great Indian desert, Jaisalmer is a place like no other.
Do visit Jaisalmer and let me know about your experience.
