Experience Overview
A deeper dive into Rajasthan's royal heritage with Pushkar and Jaisalmer included. Desert safaris, sacred lakes, and mighty fortresses.
This is the itinerary for people who came to Rajasthan for the desert. It runs Jaipur, then Pushkar, Jodhpur and out west to Jaisalmer — the golden sandstone fort city on the edge of the Thar, and the only inhabited fort in India where people still live inside the walls.
Pushkar is the other thing this version has that the seven-day does not. It is a small pilgrimage town around a sacred lake, with one of the very few Brahma temples anywhere, and it changes the rhythm of the trip between two big fort cities.
The desert night at Jaisalmer — camel ride out to the dunes, sunset, and dinner under the sky — is what most people book this for. The drive west is long and there is no way around that, which is why this needs eight days rather than seven.
Hour-by-Hour Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Delhi, overnight at luxury hotel
Day 2
Drive to Jaipur, Amber Fort, evening bazaar walk
Day 3
Jaipur sightseeing, drive to Pushkar
Day 4
Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, drive to Jodhpur
Day 5
Jodhpur: Mehrangarh Fort, blue city heritage walk
Day 6
Drive to Jaisalmer, Golden Fort exploration
Day 7
Jaisalmer: Desert safari, camel ride, dune sunset
Day 8
Fly from Jaisalmer/Jodhpur to Delhi, departure
What the price covers
Stated plainly here rather than left to be discovered on the day.
Included
- Seven nights across Delhi, Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, including heritage and desert properties on a twin-sharing basis with breakfast
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional chauffeur for the whole trip, including every inter-city drive
- A government-licensed guide in each city, each holding a Ministry of Tourism regional licence
- Airport or hotel pickup in Delhi and the departure transfer at the end
- All tolls, parking, fuel, driver allowances and inter-state taxes
- Monument and fort tickets arranged in advance across the whole route
- A female guide on request, at no extra charge, subject to availability on your dates
- Camel safari and dune sunset at Jaisalmer, with the desert camp arrangement
Not included
- Monument and fort entry fees along the route — we book them and confirm the full amount in writing before you pay anything
- Lunches and dinners; breakfast at your hotel is included
- Domestic flights at the end of the trip if you fly back from Jaisalmer or Jodhpur rather than driving — we will quote both
- Camera and video fees, and optional add-ons such as the Amber Fort jeep ride
- Tips and personal spending
Good to know
The drive west is long, and honestly so
Jodhpur to Jaisalmer is around 280 km and five to six hours across increasingly empty country. It is a genuinely interesting drive rather than dead time, but it is a driving day. Flying out of Jaisalmer or Jodhpur at the end saves you repeating the whole distance back to Delhi.
Jaisalmer fort is still a living city
Around three thousand people live inside the walls, which makes it unlike Mehrangarh or Amber. It also means real strain on the drainage and foundations, so we stay outside the fort and visit it rather than adding to the load — a small thing, but it is the reason the fort is on watch lists.
Pushkar has rules worth knowing
It is a Hindu pilgrimage town. The lake ghats require shoes off and shoulders covered, alcohol and meat are not sold, and you may be offered a "Pushkar passport" blessing at the ghats that ends in a donation demand. Your guide will steer you past it.
October to March is the season, and it matters more here
Rajasthan in April to June regularly passes 45°C, and the desert stretches become genuinely punishing rather than merely hot. October to March is comfortable throughout. July to September brings the monsoon — the state turns green, prices drop, and the crowds thin, though desert activities are limited.
Questions about this tour
Does this tour include a desert safari in Jaisalmer?
Yes — a camel ride out to the Sam or Khuri dunes for sunset, with the desert camp arrangement included in the price. It is the reason most people choose this itinerary over the seven-day one, which stops short of the desert entirely.
How far is Jaisalmer from Jodhpur?
Around 280 km, five to six hours by road across increasingly empty desert country. It is a real driving day and there is no shortcut. Flying home from Jaisalmer or Jodhpur at the end avoids repeating the full distance back to Delhi, and we will quote that option when you enquire.
What is Pushkar and why is it on this route?
A small Hindu pilgrimage town built around a sacred lake, with one of the very few Brahma temples in the world. It sits between Jaipur and Jodhpur and changes the pace between two large fort cities. It is also a town with genuine religious etiquette — shoes off at the ghats, no alcohol or meat sold.
Is 8 days enough to see Rajasthan including the desert?
It is enough for Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer at a workable pace, which is the desert version of the state. It does not include Udaipur and the lakes — for both the desert and Udaipur you want the nine or twelve day itineraries.
Where do we stay in the desert?
At a desert camp near the dunes outside Jaisalmer, included in your tour price. We stay outside the Jaisalmer fort walls rather than inside — around three thousand people live in the fort and the drainage strain from hotels there is the main reason it appears on heritage watch lists.
Free Cancellation
Up to 24 hours before tour start
Licensed Guides
Government-approved heritage experts
Reserve Now, Pay Later
Flexible booking on most day tours