2 Days-1 Night Camel Tour

Sleep beneath the Thar stars. This two-day Jaisalmer camel safari leaves the city behind for remote dunes, small villages, campfire meals, and a night outdoors on clean bedrolls. The family-run Adventure Travel Agency has organized camel safaris since 1987, and that long experience shows in the clear schedule and attentive camel guides.

I especially like the one camel per person arrangement, which gives you your own ride rather than taking turns. I also like the fresh cooking, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared at camp and the chance to learn simple local cooking skills. The main drawback is basic camping: there are no tents or washrooms, so toilet stops mean finding privacy behind the bushes.

The tour costs $112 per person and includes transport from Jaisalmer, meals, water, a camel, a guide, and sleeping equipment. With a maximum group size of 15, or around six to eight people on many departures, it offers a fairly personal way to see the desert without arranging every detail yourself.

Key points to know before booking

• A full day away from Jaisalmer: You leave at 6:30 am and return around 6 pm the next day.
• Your own camel: One person rides one camel, accompanied by a camel driver and guide.
• Remote desert camping: The night is spent outdoors on clean bedrolls, with no tents, toilets, or built facilities.
• Fresh campfire food: Meals include vegetables, dhal, chapatti, rice, fruit, eggs, porridge, tea, coffee, and water.
• Small villages and open dunes: The route combines village visits, sand dunes, desert plants, and glimpses of wildlife.
• Weather matters: Bad weather can cancel the safari, with a refund or alternate date offered.

Leaving Jaisalmer at 6:30 am

Your day starts early at the Adventure Travel Agency office on Jaisalmer Fort Road, near Amar Sagar Pol. The meeting point is about 50 meters south of the Fort’s First Gate. The early departure is useful because you reach the desert before the heat builds, but it means you should be ready to move first thing in the morning.

A jeep takes you roughly 50 kilometers from the city to the campsite. That transfer is included in the price, and it saves you the trouble of arranging a separate taxi to a remote starting point. Breakfast is served at camp, with tea or coffee, toast and jam, porridge, fruit, and eggs.

The jeep ride also creates a clear break between city sightseeing and desert time. Once you leave Jaisalmer, the focus shifts from forts and streets to sand, scrub, villages, and the steady pace of camel travel.

If you are booking alone, contact the agency in advance. The company tries to place single participants with a group, but that depends on availability. You can also arrange a private departure, and a private family trip may cost only a little more according to one account, though you should confirm the exact supplement before paying.

Meeting your camel and beginning the village route

The camel safari begins around 8:30 am and runs until noon on the first morning. Each person gets an individual camel, which is one of the strongest practical features of this trip. You do not need to wait for someone else to finish riding, and you can settle into your own pace with the guide’s help.

Camel riding is not difficult in the same way as a long mountain walk, but it can be tiring. The camel’s rising and sitting movements can feel awkward at first, and the saddle may become uncomfortable after several hours. Use the rest periods wisely, keep water close, and listen to the camel guide when mounting or dismounting.

The first section passes small villages and introduces you to the human side of the desert. These stops are not presented as large attractions with visitor facilities. That is part of their value, but it also means you should approach respectfully, follow the guide’s advice, and avoid treating village life like a stage show.

The safari company has a family history in this work. Vikram and Indar handle the office side, while guides and drivers such as Salim and Taka have been praised for helping with communication, safety, and the practical details of the route. Arun has also led private overnight trips. Guide assignments can change, so do not assume you will have a particular person, but the repeated praise for the team’s friendly care is encouraging.

The long midday break under desert trees

Lunch comes around noon, followed by a rest period until about 3 pm. This is not wasted time. In the open Thar, stopping in the shade protects your energy and gives the camels a break during the hotter part of the day.

Lunch includes tea or coffee, mineral or filtered water, a mixed vegetable dish, chapatti, rice, and fruit. The food is cooked fresh rather than supplied as a packed meal. The guides also welcome you to learn some local cooking skills, so this can become one of the more memorable parts of the trip if you enjoy helping around a campfire.

The menu is vegetarian in the information provided, with eggs offered at breakfast. If you have a food allergy, tell the agency before departure. Alcohol, soft drinks, and packed juices are not included, so do not count on buying refreshments once you are away from the city.

The timing is sensible, but you need to accept the heat and stillness. This is not a nonstop sightseeing trip. For some people, resting under trees will be a welcome pause. For others, three hours may feel long, especially if the shade is limited or the group wants a faster schedule.

Afternoon dunes and a desert sunset

At about 3 pm, the camels set out again for two hours. This section crosses more isolated sand dunes, giving you a stronger sense of distance from Jaisalmer and its busy streets.

The dunes are the visual reward of the safari. You get open views, shifting sand, desert vegetation, and the chance to spot small creatures adapted to the dry environment. The material provided does not promise specific wildlife sightings, so treat any animal encounter as a bonus rather than a guaranteed part of the trip.

The camel guides are central here. They do more than lead the animals. They help manage the pace, explain what you are seeing, and keep the ride organized. Salim and Taka have been singled out for being helpful and pleasant, including assisting with communication during the journey.

You reach camp in time for sunset. This is one of the best reasons to choose the overnight option instead of a short camel ride. The sunset is not squeezed between a pickup and a return drive. You have time to watch the light change over the dunes before dinner.

Dinner includes two mixed vegetable dishes, dhal, chapatti, rice, fruit, tea or coffee, and water. The combination of a freshly cooked meal and the fading desert light gives the evening a simple pleasure. It is not luxury dining, but that is not the point. The appeal is eating food prepared by the people who have guided you through the day.

Sleeping outdoors under a star-filled sky

After dinner, you sleep under the stars on clean custom-made bedrolls, sometimes called swags. Clean sleeping gear matters here because there are no tents or cabins to separate you from the sand and night air.

You should understand the setup before you book. There are no man-made facilities, including no tents and no washrooms. For the toilet, you go behind the bushes. That may be perfectly manageable for someone who wants a simple desert night, but it will not suit anyone seeking a conventional campsite.

The lack of buildings also gives the night its strongest feature. You are not looking through a tent opening or sleeping inside a fixed camp. You are directly under the sky, with the desert around you. The star-filled setting and quiet are repeatedly described as highlights of the experience.

Bring clothing that can handle changing temperatures, though the tour information does not specify nighttime conditions. You should also carry any personal items you need for comfort, while remembering that you are being transported into a remote area by jeep and camel rather than staying near shops.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the second morning

The second day begins with sunrise and breakfast. This is another reason the overnight trip offers more than a standard sunset camel ride. You see the desert at a different hour, when the light is softer and the day has not yet become hot.

Breakfast includes tea, coffee, mineral or filtered water, toast with jam, porridge, fruit, and eggs. The meal gives you a practical start before the morning ride, though you should not expect a hotel-style buffet or a wide choice of dishes.

The second morning continues through villages and sand dunes. The route also highlights desert vegetation and the creatures that live on the sand. If you want to visit a village along the way, the itinerary says that can be arranged, so raise the request with your guide rather than waiting until the last moment.

The published schedule places the morning section from 8 am to 2 pm, then lists lunch and rest from noon to 3 pm. Those times overlap, so treat them as an approximate outline rather than a strict timetable. The guide will set the actual pace based on heat, the group, the camels, and the route.

Afternoon riding and the jeep back to Jaisalmer

After lunch and the rest period, riding resumes from about 3 pm to 5 pm. The itinerary mentions camel riding and galloping along the way. Do not assume that every participant will gallop or that every camel will move at the same speed. The guide will decide what is suitable for the animals and the people in the group.

The final ride leads back toward the campsite, followed by an approximately one-hour jeep drive to Jaisalmer. The tour ends at the original meeting point around 6 pm.

This return arrangement makes the trip easy to fit into a wider Jaisalmer plan. You are not left at a remote desert camp searching for transport. Still, the final day is long, and you may be tired after two days of riding, heat, early starts, and limited facilities.

What the $112 price really covers

At $112 per person, the tour is not simply a camel ride. The price includes:

• Jeep transfer to and from the desert
• One camel per person
• A camel driver and guide
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Tea and coffee
• Mineral or filtered water
• Clean bedrolls for the night

That package gives the price solid value, especially because the overnight stay, meals, transport, and guide are all covered. You would need to arrange and pay separately for each of those parts if you tried to build the same trip yourself.

The value is strongest for someone who wants a straightforward desert experience with local staff and little planning. It is less compelling if you mainly want a short photo stop on a dune or if you prefer a camp with bathrooms, tents, and fixed beds.

Group size can reach 15 people, though many departures run with six to eight. A smaller group should feel easier during meals, riding, and village visits. If your group is larger or you want a more private pace, ask about a private departure before booking.

Who will enjoy this safari most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want:

• A genuine overnight desert experience rather than a quick camel photo opportunity
• Time in remote areas away from Jaisalmer
• A personal camel and a guide-led route
• Fresh vegetarian camp meals
• Sunrise and sunset in the dunes
• Outdoor sleeping under the stars
• A small group or private family arrangement

Families may find a private departure easier, especially with children. One account describes a private overnight trip with kids and says the extra cost was modest, but the precise amount is not provided. Confirm the details directly with the agency.

You should think twice if you need indoor toilets, private rooms, regular showers, air conditioning, or a carefully fixed schedule. The safari is also a poor fit if you dislike animal riding, though the supplied information does not provide a specific alternative activity.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, and service animals are allowed. Insurance is not included, so you remain responsible for arranging travel insurance that suits your trip.

Booking, weather, and simple preparation

Confirmation is provided when you book. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 6:30 am start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The safari requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, the agency offers another departure date or a full refund. That policy is useful, but remember that weather decisions can affect your wider Jaisalmer plans.

Before you go, I would confirm four points: the final group size, the exact guide, the private-trip supplement if needed, and the day’s practical timing. I would also tell the agency about food allergies and ask any question you have about the outdoor toilet arrangement.

Should you book the 2-day camel safari?

Book it if you want the desert at its most peaceful, with enough time for villages, dunes, sunset, sunrise, campfire food, and a night under the stars. The individual camel, included jeep transfers, fresh meals, and clean bedrolls make the $112 price reasonable.

Skip it if basic camping is a deal breaker. The absence of washrooms and tents is not a small detail. For the right person, though, it is the trade-off that makes the night feel like a real desert stay rather than a staged campsite visit.

FAQ

Where does the camel safari start?

It starts at Adventure Travel Agency Camel Safari on Jaisalmer Fort Road, Amar Sagar Pol, about 50 meters south of the Fort’s First Gate in Dhibba Para, Jaisalmer.

What time does the tour begin?

The meeting time is 6:30 am on the first day.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two days and one night. It ends back at the meeting point around 6 pm on the second day.

Is transport from Jaisalmer included?

Yes. A jeep transfer to the desert campsite and the return jeep journey to Jaisalmer are included.

Does each person get a camel?

Yes. The tour includes one camel for each person to ride, along with a camel driver and guide.

Are tents and toilets available in the desert?

No. The tour has no man-made facilities such as tents or washrooms. Toilet stops require going behind the bushes.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose another departure date or receive a full refund if the safari is canceled because of poor weather.