The Most Complete Desert Journey Rajasthan Has to Offer
Twelve days for travellers who want to experience the full depth of Rajasthan's western desert region — not just the well-known stops of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, but the painted havelis of Shekhawati, the remote textile town of Barmer, and the lesser-visited dunes of Khimsar, woven into a single comprehensive circuit.
The journey opens with two days in Delhi before heading into the desert proper: Mandawa, the heart of the Shekhawati region, often called the world's largest open-air art gallery for its hundreds of elaborately frescoed merchant havelis. From there, Bikaner's flat-built Junagarh Fort and camel research centre, followed by Jaisalmer — the Golden City and one of the world's last 'living forts'.
A night camped at the Sam Sand Dunes, complete with a sunset camel trek and folk music, is followed by a genuinely off-the-beaten-path stop in Barmer — a centre for traditional wood carving, block printing, and embroidery rarely visited by standard Rajasthan tours. The circuit continues through Jodhpur's dramatic Mehrangarh Fort and a further desert night at Khimsar, known for its own smaller dune field and 16th-century fort, before concluding with two days of royal heritage in Jaipur.
This is the itinerary for travellers who have more time available and want the most thorough, least-rushed possible introduction to Rajasthan's desert heritage, off-the-tourist-trail stops included.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to India! Transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is free to explore Connaught Place or simply settle in after your flight.
A full day across Old and New Delhi. The Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb — three of the city's most significant UNESCO and historic sites, reflecting Delhi's layered Mughal and pre-Mughal history.
Drive to Mandawa (170 km, ~4 hrs), the heart of the Shekhawati region — often called the world's largest open-air art gallery for its hundreds of elaborately painted merchant havelis. Afternoon walking tour: Goenka Double Haveli, Murmuria Haveli, and Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, their facades depicting deities, royal processions, and (charmingly) early motor cars and trains painted by artists who had only heard them described.
Drive to Bikaner (190 km, ~4 hrs). Check in. Afternoon: Junagarh Fort, built unusually on flat ground and never successfully captured, with ornately mirrored palace interiors. Visit the National Research Centre on Camel, reflecting the region's centuries-old camel-breeding heritage.
Drive to Jaisalmer (330 km, ~6 hrs), deep into the Thar Desert. Check in. Evening: explore Jaisalmer Fort, one of the few 'living forts' in the world, where homes, shops, and temples still operate within its golden sandstone walls.
Morning: Patwon ki Haveli and Salim Singh ki Haveli, intricately carved merchant mansions. Afternoon: drive to the Sam Sand Dunes (42 km, ~1 hr) for a camel trek across the dunes at sunset, followed by folk music and dinner at a desert camp under an exceptionally starry sky.
A peaceful desert sunrise before breakfast and checkout. Drive to Barmer (160 km, ~3.5 hrs) — a genuinely off-the-beaten-path town known for traditional wood carving, hand-block printing, and intricate embroidery work, rarely visited by standard Rajasthan tours. Afternoon: visit local artisan workshops and the town's bazaar for textiles found nowhere else in Rajasthan.
Drive to Jodhpur (150 km, ~3 hrs). Check in. Afternoon at leisure to explore the indigo-washed lanes of the old city and Sardar Market beneath the towering silhouette of Mehrangarh Fort.
A full day in the Blue City. Mehrangarh Fort, rising 125 metres on a sheer rock face, widely regarded as India's most dramatic fort, with a museum of royal palanquins, armour, and miniature paintings. Jaswant Thada, a white marble cenotaph whose walls glow faintly when sunlight strikes them.
Drive to Khimsar (95 km, ~2 hrs), a smaller and considerably quieter desert town with its own dune field and a 16th-century fort, now a heritage hotel. Afternoon: a camel or jeep safari into the Khimsar dunes — a different, more intimate desert experience than the busier Sam Dunes, with far fewer visitors.
Drive to Jaipur (270 km, ~5 hrs). Check in. Afternoon: Amber Fort by jeep for the Sheesh Mahal and royal courtyard gardens, fitting in the day's sightseeing before settling in for the evening.
A final full day in Jaipur. The City Palace, still home to the Jaipur royal family. The iconic Hawa Mahal. Midday: drive to Delhi (280 km, ~5.5 hrs) for your departure flight, or extend with an evening at Chokhi Dhani village before an early morning departure the following day. Tour concludes.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ 11 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels & one desert camp
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout; dinner on Sam Dunes night
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers & sightseeing
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ Sunset camel trek & overnight desert camp at Sam Sand Dunes
- ✓ Camel or jeep safari at Khimsar dunes
- ✓ All monument, fort & haveli entry fees
- ✓ All applicable taxes
Not Included ✗
- ✗ International flights to / from Delhi
- ✗ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Lunches throughout
- ✗ Camera fees at monuments (nominal)
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping
- ✗ Gratuities for driver-guide
- ✗ Chokhi Dhani village evening (optional add-on)
Your questions, answered
They're genuinely different experiences. Sam Dunes, near Jaisalmer, are the most famous and accessible dunes in Rajasthan, with a well-developed camp infrastructure and a livelier, more social desert-camp atmosphere. Khimsar's dunes are smaller, far less visited, and offer a quieter, more intimate desert experience — many travellers who have already done Sam Dunes specifically seek out Khimsar for this contrast. Including both gives you the complete range of Rajasthan's dune environments.
Barmer is one of Rajasthan's most distinctive craft towns, known nationally for its wood carving, hand-block printing, and the intricate embroidery and applique work practised by its artisan families — yet it sees a fraction of the visitors that Jaisalmer or Jodhpur do. For travellers with the extra day available, it offers a genuinely different, far less touristic window into Rajasthani craft traditions.
This is intentionally our most comprehensive desert itinerary, designed for travellers who have the time and want real depth rather than a highlights-only tour. If 12 days isn't feasible, we can remove Barmer and/or Khimsar to bring the tour down to 9-10 days while retaining Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, the Sam Dunes camp, Jodhpur, and Jaipur — please let us know your available time and we'll suggest the best-fit version.
October to March is ideal — comfortable temperatures (15–28°C), clear skies, and the best conditions for sightseeing, fort treks, and wildlife safaris. April–June brings intense heat (up to 45°C); July–September is monsoon, with some relief from the heat but reduced safari access in the tiger reserves.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and built around your preferences. We can adjust the duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry and our specialists will redesign the itinerary for you at no obligation.
We include carefully selected 4-star and 5-star hotels throughout — heritage havelis, palace hotels, and well-appointed properties near the wildlife reserves, all personally vetted by our team. Upgrades to palace hotels or luxury tented camps are available on request.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Processing typically takes 3–5 business days and costs $25–$80 USD depending on your nationality. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
Cancellations 60+ days before departure receive a full refund minus a small admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50% refund. Under 15 days: no refund. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.
