Pleasant Non-Touristic Overnight Camel Safari (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:30AM)

The desert night can be the best part. This pleasant, non-touristic overnight camel safari takes you from Jaisalmer into the Thar Desert for sunset camel riding and a quiet sleep under the stars. I love two things most: the open-fire dinner cooked for you and the no-fuss camel experience that keeps the focus on riding and the night sky (not performances). One consideration: you’re sleeping on custom-made bedrolls without a tent, so nights can feel chilly and you’ll want to pack for that.

You’ll start from Hotel Pleasant Haveli at 2:00 pm, and you’ll be back around 10:30 am the next day. Along the way you pause at Kuldhara Abandoned Village and Khaba Fort, then spend most of the night out in the desert with breakfast in the morning and a second camel ride before heading back.

This is also built for smaller groups, with a maximum of 12 travelers, and it’s priced at $40 per person with pickup, transport, meals, shower access, and luggage storage included—solid value if you want something authentic and calm.

Key things that make this safari worth your time

• Two meals made in the desert: dinner cooked over an open fire and a proper breakfast in the morning
• Bedroll sleep under stars, no tent: simpler, closer-to-the-desert than most “camp” versions
• Kuldhara + Khaba Fort stops: quick, meaningful breaks before the long Thar Desert stretch
• Jeep + camel is the core plan: one camel per person means you’re not crammed onto shared animals
• Small group feel (max 12): easier to manage, and usually a nicer pace
• Helpful extras included: round-trip transport, bottled water, shower before/after, snacks and evening tea

Entering the Thar Desert: the timing that makes stars possible

The schedule is long on purpose. You leave Jaisalmer at 2:00 pm and return around 10:30 am. That gives you enough daylight for a couple of cultural stops, plus time for a proper sunset camel ride and a full night outdoors.

The real payoff is that you’re not rushing in and out. You’re out there for the hours that change the desert: late afternoon light on dunes, the quiet shift after sunset, and then the early-morning sky when everything looks crisp.

If you hate tours that feel like a checklist, this one works because the desert block is the centerpiece. Your evening isn’t filled with music programs; it’s about food, stars, and sleep.

Price and value: what $40 covers (and why it matters)

At $40 per person, this safari is trying to do the most important things well without adding extra cost layers. In the included package, you get:

• Round-trip transportation by jeep
• Camel ride with 1 camel per person
• Dinner and breakfast
• Snacks and evening tea with Rajasthani snacks
• Bottled water
• Shower access before and after the safari
• Luggage storage in the city at no extra cost
• All fees and taxes

That matters because overnight camel safaris can get expensive fast when you add camping upgrades, separate meal costs, and “optional” extras. Here, the pricing is straightforward. Also, you’re paying for an experience that’s mostly labor-driven—guiding, cooking, and preparing for the ride—so you’re not just buying a seat on a bus.

One thing to keep in mind: alcohol isn’t included. If you want drinks, you’ll need to plan on not having them during the main meals.

Getting picked up from Hotel Pleasant Haveli (and what the small-group setup changes)

Your meeting point is Hotel Pleasant Haveli, on Chainpura Street, Gandhi Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Jaisalmer. You’re picked up there and brought back there at the end.

The safari runs with a small maximum group size of 12 travelers. In practice, that usually means:

• fewer bottlenecks during camel boarding
• more direct attention with your guide
• less time waiting around while someone figures out what goes where

Transport is by jeep both ways, and you’re covered for luggage storage in Jaisalmer. So you don’t have to wrestle with bags while you handle the camel ride and the desert night.

Another included perk: Wi‑Fi is listed as available. It may not be fast (desert reality exists), but it’s a nice bonus if you need to upload a few photos or message someone before the night goes fully offline.

Stop 1: Kuldhara Abandoned Village for that eerie-feeling pause

Kuldhara Abandoned Village is about 21 km from Jaisalmer, and the stop lasts around 30 minutes with an admission ticket included.

This is the kind of stop that works best when you treat it like a short story break, not a long museum visit. You’ll see deserted alleys, ruins, old buildings—enough to spark the famous ghost-story vibe, without turning the day into an indoor slog.

The main practical value here is pacing. You’re about to head deep into the desert. A quick stop like this helps you reset your brain, stretch your legs, and get a taste of Rajasthan’s dramatic contrasts: lively town life one side, abandoned silence on the other.

Stop 2: Khaba Fort for forts without the marathon

After Kuldhara, you move to Khaba Fort, also with an admission ticket included and about 30 minutes there.

Rajasthan forts can be overwhelming if you try to do too many in a single day. This stop is sized right. You get a look at the fort itself and a sense of why this region kept building strongholds near trade routes and strategic terrain.

If you’re the type who likes photos, Khaba is a good place to take them. If you’re not, it still works because it’s short and doesn’t eat the most valuable part of the day: the camel riding and the night sky.

Sunset camel ride: the part you’ll remember in the dark

Once you’re out toward the Thar Desert, the experience shifts from sightseeing to rhythm. The plan is a camel ride in the late day with the sunset experience being a major highlight.

A key detail: you’ll have bottled water during the tour, and your ride is built around comfort and clear guiding. The package includes that each person gets one camel, which is a big deal for how smooth the ride feels. You’re not sharing an animal with someone else, and that usually makes boarding and balance simpler.

The sunset moment matters because the desert changes color quickly. Even if you’ve seen dunes before, watching the light shift while you’re on a camel adds a different tempo—slower, steadier, and more physical than just walking.

Dinner under the open fire: where the tour earns its score

Dinner is cooked over an open fire, and the menu is described as: dal, rice, mix veg, chapati, with spices and garlic chatney. You’ll also have evening tea with Rajasthani snacks.

This is a big part of why people rate the experience so highly. Desert food can be hit-or-miss on poorly run safaris. Here, it’s clearly planned and listed, and it’s paired with a social-but-quiet atmosphere in the dark.

A practical note: open-fire dinners are often soothing, but they also mean you should expect smoke and warm-but-not-hot air. Wear layers you can tolerate near the fire. If you’re sensitive to smoke smell, keep that in mind when choosing what you wear.

Sleeping arrangements: bedroll under stars, and the no-tent tradeoff

Here’s the defining difference: you do not get a tent, and there’s no dance/music/folk program as part of the overnight stay.

Instead, you sleep on custom-made bedrolls under the stars. That’s why this feels more real than a packaged “camp” experience. You’re not separated from the night by fabric walls. You feel the outdoors—wind, temperature change, sky overhead.

A few practical takeaways:

• Bring warm layers. The reviews mention people staying comfortable even when it gets chilly, but the desert still cools fast once the sun drops.
• Expect the night to feel more exposed than you’re used to in a tent setup.
• If you’re expecting a staged show, you’ll want to shift your mindset to stargazing and quiet time.

The tour also includes shower access before and after the safari, which is a very welcome “real life” detail. It helps a lot if you’re doing this after a day in the heat and dust.

Morning routine: breakfast plus a second camel ride

You’ll wake up in the desert and get breakfast described as jam bread, toast, porridge, tea, biscuits, seasonal fruits, and juice.

Then you do another camel ride in the morning before returning to Jaisalmer. That second ride is a smart choice. It means you experience the desert twice: once at sunset pace, and again when the morning feels calmer and clearer.

Breakfast being included matters because it keeps the morning from turning into a scramble for food. You’re not hunting for a café right after waking up. You start the day with something planned, warm, and filling.

Who should book this safari (and who should skip it)

This safari fits best if you want:

• a quieter overnight in the desert
• a real camel experience with 1 camel per person
• a night focused on stars and food, not entertainment programming
• an option that includes a shower and luggage storage

It may not be the best match if you:

• hate sleeping without a tent
• need constant structured activities in the evening
• strongly prefer alcohol or expect a bar setup (alcohol isn’t included)

If you’re traveling solo, this can be especially appealing because the group is small and you’ll likely have a calm, organized flow with your guide and driver.

If you’re a couple or a small group, you’ll probably enjoy the pace too. The tour has enough structure to keep you comfortable, but the desert night still feels personal.

Guides and driving: why the human touch shows up

The quality of these safaris often comes down to the people running them. In the most positive accounts, names like Ukka, Oka, and Arun come up—each described as capable with driving and guiding, and helpful with the overall experience.

A couple of practical reasons to care about this:

• Good guidance makes camel boarding and riding less awkward.
• Strong cooks and organized staff make the meal feel like a real highlight, not just something to fill time.
• A smooth driving plan matters because the day includes multiple stops plus the long desert stretch.

You can’t fully choose your guide from the info given, but you can choose the operator that consistently assigns professional, service-minded staff to the experience. That’s what the safari’s reputation points toward.

A few smart packing tips for a no-tent night

Since you’re sleeping on bedrolls outdoors, your comfort depends on what you bring. The data doesn’t list a gear kit, so plan like you’re responsible for warmth and practicality.

I’d pack:

• warm layers for nighttime cooling
• comfortable footwear for boarding and walking at the stops
• a light layer you can handle near the open fire
• a small bag you can keep with you (your main luggage stays in city storage)

If you’re the type who needs things fully controlled, this might feel simpler than you expect. If you like feeling close to the place you’re visiting, it’s exactly the point.

Quick FAQ

FAQ

What are the main times for the overnight camel safari?

You depart at 2:00 pm and return around 10:30 am the next morning, for a total duration of about 18 to 20 hours.

Where do I start and end the tour?

You start at Hotel Pleasant Haveli in Jaisalmer and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

What stops are included during the day?

The tour includes Kuldhara Abandoned Village (about 30 minutes) and Khaba Fort (about 30 minutes), followed by a long stretch in the Thar Desert.

How long is spent in the Thar Desert?

The desert portion is listed as 14 hours.

What meals and snacks are included?

You get dinner (dal, rice, mix veg, chapati, spices, garlic chatney), evening tea with Rajasthani snacks, and breakfast (jam bread, toast, porridge, tea, biscuits, seasonal fruits, and juice).

Do I ride a camel twice?

Yes. The itinerary includes a camel ride at sunset and another camel ride the next morning.

Does the tour provide a tent or a show at night?

No. The overnight stay does not include a tent, and there is no dance/music/folk program included.

Is luggage storage available?

Yes. Luggage storage is available in the city with no extra cost.

Is there a shower, and is Wi‑Fi included?

Yes. A shower is provided before and after the safari, and Wi‑Fi is listed as included.

What if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Should you book this Pleasant Haveli overnight camel safari?

If you want an overnight camel safari that feels like a calm desert night—good meals, stars, and riding—this is worth booking. The big value is that so much is included for $40: transport, 1 camel per person, dinner and breakfast, showers, and luggage storage.

I’d book it if you’re excited by the idea of sleeping under the sky and you can handle a night without a tent. I’d skip it if you need staged entertainment or you’re uncomfortable with colder conditions after sunset.