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Camels and riders silhouetted against the sunset on the Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer
Desert safari

Desert safari in Jaisalmer — camel, jeep and dune activities

Camel safari to sunset point jeep dune bashing, quad biking, parasailing, a private dinner on the sand and early-morning wildlife drives through the Desert National Park.

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Six activities

Desert safari options at Sam and Khuri, with prices

Book any of these on their own for the evening, or add them to a camp stay. All of it runs on our own camels, jeeps and trained operators — we do not hand you to a third party once you arrive.

Camels and riders silhouetted crossing the dunes at sunset in Sam, Rajasthan 45–60 minutes

Camel Safari

The ride everyone comes for. You set off from the camp edge around 4:30 pm and walk out across open dune field to sunset point, roughly twenty minutes each way with time at the top.

A handler walks alongside every camel for the whole route — nobody is left to steer their own animal. The pace is a slow walk, so it suits children from about five and guests well into their seventies. Our camels work a capped number of trips a day and are rested through the hot months, which is why we do not run this between mid-April and the end of June.

  • Handler with every camel, the entire route
  • Children from 5 can ride with a parent
  • Overnight and two-day camel treks on request
  • Not run April to June
Rider crossing the wide open sands of the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer 30 minutes

Jeep Safari & Dune Bashing

Modified Thar and Gypsy vehicles driven hard over the deep sand behind sunset point. Thirty minutes, and considerably more physical than it looks from the outside.

Priced per vehicle rather than per head, so a family of five pays once. Our drivers run this route daily and know which faces are safe at which time of year, because dune shape shifts with the wind. Roll bars and seatbelts are fitted and used.

  • Priced per jeep, not per person
  • Roll bars and belts fitted
  • Skip if pregnant, or with back or neck injury
  • Also the substitute for guests who cannot ride a camel
Tracks running over the crest of a sand dune in the Thar Desert 15–30 minutes

Quad Biking

Self-drive ATVs on a marked circuit through the dunes, with a briefing and a helmet before you start.

Minimum age is 16 to drive. Younger riders and anyone who would rather not drive can ride pillion with an instructor at the same price. The circuit is graded — the first loop is gentle, and the operator opens up the steeper section only once you are comfortable.

  • Minimum age 16 to drive
  • Pillion with an instructor at any age
  • Helmet and briefing included
  • Closed shoes required
Wide sand dunes under a glowing sunset sky in Jaisalmer 10 minutes

Parasailing

A towed ascent over the dune field, harnessed and helmeted, with a vehicle running the line below you.

This one is genuinely weather-dependent. We run it only when the wind sits in a safe range, which in practice means it is called off on maybe one evening in six through winter. If it is cancelled you are not charged, and we will usually put the money towards a jeep safari instead.

  • Weight limit 90 kg
  • Cancelled and refunded if wind is unsafe
  • Not suitable during pregnancy
  • Best light is the hour before sunset
Camel and rider silhouetted against a deep orange desert sunset Evening

Private Dinner on the Dunes

A table set out on the sand a good distance from the camp lights, with lanterns, a cook, and a folk singer if you want one.

Our most requested add-on, and the one most often booked for proposals. Tell us at least a day ahead so we can carry the table, the lights and the kitchen out to the spot. We will cook to whatever you ask for, including a Jain or no-onion-no-garlic menu.

  • Set well away from the main camp
  • Rajasthani thali cooked to order
  • Folk singer on request
  • 24 hours' notice needed
Acacia trees scattered across the open scrubland of the Thar Desert Half day, early morning

Desert National Park Safari

A morning wildlife drive through 3,000 sq km of protected desert grassland, out past Sudasari.

You are looking for chinkara, desert fox, spiny-tailed lizard and, if the morning goes well, the Great Indian Bustard — of which fewer than 150 remain in the wild, almost all of them here. Leave at 6 am; by 10 the animals have gone to shade. Forest department permits take a day to arrange and we handle them.

  • Forest permit arranged, 24 hours' notice
  • 6 am departure, back by 11
  • Naturalist guide included
  • Binoculars worth carrying
Timings

When each activity runs

Timings shift roughly 30 minutes earlier in December and January, when sunset falls before 6 pm.
ActivityDepartsDurationNotice needed
Camel safari4:30 pm45–60 minSame day
Jeep safari & dune bashing4:00–6:00 pm30 minSame day
Quad biking3:30–6:00 pm15–30 minSame day
Parasailing4:00–5:30 pm10 min24 hours
Private dinner on the dunes7:30 pm2 hours24 hours
Desert National Park safari6:00 am4–5 hours24 hours, permit

Combination pricing. Camel plus jeep together is for two people rather than. Camel, jeep and quad is for two. Ask when you book — we do not apply it automatically at the camp.

Before you go

Safety, suitability and what to bring

Who should skip which activity

  • Pregnant guests: no dune bashing, quad biking or parasailing. Camel safari is fine in the second trimester at walking pace.
  • Back, neck or knee injuries: avoid dune bashing and quad biking. The jeep transfer to sunset point is smooth and separate.
  • Heart conditions: talk to us first. The camel safari and the dune dinner are both gentle.
  • Over 90 kg: parasailing has a hard weight limit.

None of this stops you seeing sunset from the dunes. There is a graded route out to the same point by jeep for anyone who cannot ride, at no extra charge.

What to carry

  • Closed shoes — sand is hot until October and full of thorny scrub after
  • A jacket November to February; nights drop near 5°C
  • Scarf or buff for the wind at the top of the dunes
  • Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
  • Cash — card signal is unreliable past Sam
  • Torch, if you are staying for the dune dinner

Cameras. Sand gets into everything. If you are bringing a proper camera, change lenses before you leave camp, not on the dune.

Questions we get every week

Frequently asked questions

How much does a desert safari in Jaisalmer cost?

Camel safari and quad biking are priced per person; jeep safari, dune bashing and the Desert National Park drive are priced per vehicle, so a family of five pays once. The private dune dinner is priced per couple. Book two or more activities together and we discount the combination — ask when you book, we do not apply it automatically at the camp.

What is the best time of day for a desert safari?

Late afternoon, leaving around 4:30 pm so you reach the top of the dunes for sunset. In December and January the light goes early and we shift departure to about 4 pm. The Desert National Park drive is the exception — that runs at 6 am, because the animals are gone by mid-morning.

Is the camel safari cruel to the animals?

It is a fair question to ask before booking anywhere. Our camels work a capped number of trips per day, are rested completely through April to June, and are checked by a vet on a schedule. A handler walks with every animal rather than riders steering them. If you would rather not ride at all, the jeep goes to the same sunset point at no extra cost.

Do I need to book the safari in advance?

Camel and jeep safari can usually be arranged the same day if you call before noon. Parasailing, the private dune dinner and the Desert National Park drive need 24 hours, the last because a forest permit has to be filed.

Can children do the desert safari?

Camel safari from about five, riding with a parent. Jeep safari from around eight, though it is bumpy. Quad biking needs to be 16 to drive, but any age can ride pillion with an instructor. Parasailing is not suitable for young children.

What should I wear for a desert safari?

Closed shoes rather than sandals, because the sand is either hot or full of thorny scrub depending on the season. Long sleeves and a scarf for the wind, sunglasses and sunscreen. Between November and February bring a jacket — the temperature falls quickly the moment the sun goes.

Is desert safari included in the camping package?

The camel safari to sunset point is included in every overnight camp package. Jeep safari, quad biking, parasailing and the private dinner are add-ons, bookable when you arrive or in advance.

Can I do a desert safari without staying overnight?

Yes. An evening safari without the camp stay works well if you have a night train out of Jaisalmer. We collect you from the city around 3:30 pm, run the safari and sunset, give you dinner at camp, and drop you back by about 10 pm.

Add a safari to your evening

Tell us which activities and how many people. Same-day booking works for camel and jeep; the rest needs a day's notice.

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