Hi there!
So you’re looking at planning your trip to Rajasthan, and you’re trying to figure out your itinerary and how many days to spend in Jaisalmer.
3 days can be a PERFECT number of days to spend in Jaisalmer!
Below is a guide to Jaisalmer and ideas for how exactly to plan out each of those days in Jaisalmer.
You can also see how to spend your days in the Thar Desert (camel safari), Jaipur (pink city), Jodhpur (blue city), Udaipur (city of lakes), Agra, and the Taj Mahal!
And oh hey! After Jaisalmer and North India, you can head to South India which is where Kerala is! Also see how to spend one week in Kerala and how to spend one month in South India!
Get ideas on how to get around Rajasthan, including by local train to Jaisalmer and overnight train from Jaisalmer, along with taking the bus.
And if you’re backpacking to Jaisalmer alone, you may like the idea of staying at one of the best hostels in Jaisalmer.
How golden is the Golden City?
Rajasthan is a state of colors.
With Jaipur being called the Pink City, there are certain parts of the city, as well as the Jaipur City Palace, that are truly pink.
With Jodhpur being called the Blue City, you kind of need to go hunting for the blue streets.
How about Jaisalmer as the Golden City?
It is truly “golden” everywhere! You really don’t have to go looking for it, and you don’t need to be in a certain part of the city to see it. You can truly see the same shade of color no matter where you are!
Now…
First, the quick list of the must-visit places in Jaisalmer.
Then, a more detailed look into how you can fit ALL of these places into your 3 day Jaisalmer itinerary.
6 best places to visit in Jaisalmer in 3 days
1. Jaisalmer haveli
2. Gadisar Lake
3. Jaisalmer Fort
4. Sunset point
5. Golden streets of the Golden City
6. Thar Desert for overnight camel safari
How to put the best places to visit into a 3 day Jaisalmer itinerary?
Day 1 in Jaisalmer
List of things to do for day 1:
- Visit to a Jaisalmer haveli
- Sunset boat ride on Gadisar Lake
Day 2 in Jaisalmer (and desert)
List of things to do for day 2:
Make a trip to the Thar Desert on an overnight camel safari tour from Jaisalmer.
- Sunset camel ride with overnight desert tour
- Campfire in the desert with Rajasthani cuisine
- Sleeping under the stars in the desert
Day 3 in Jaisalmer (and desert)
List of things to do for day 3:
- Sunrise over the sand dunes
- Morning camel ride through the desert
- Visit to Jaisalmer Fort
- Get lost on the golden streets of the Golden City
- Visit a sunset point for iconic views
I took a midnight train from Jaisalmer to Jaipur. I talk a little bit about public transportation in Rajasthan, including the Jaisalmer to Jaipur train, in this backpacking India itinerary for 2 weeks in Rajasthan.
More for your Rajasthan itinerary:
- 3 days in Udaipur
- 2 days in Jodhpur
- 3 days in Jaisalmer
- 3 days in Jaipur
- 1 day in Agra
Now, here’s a bit more about the Jaisalmer itinerary to see if it’s something you want to follow!
DAY 1 IN JAISALMER
Visit to a Jaisalmer haveli
Apart from desert experiences, one thing that Jaisalmer is famous for is its havelis. These are a specific style of homes or buildings, and there are a number of them scattered throughout the city.
Among the famous havelis are:
- Patwa-ki-Haveli
- Nathmal-ki-Haveli
Sunset boat ride on Gadisar Lake
For a nice relaxing evening, you can head on over to the Gadisar Lake.
This boat does require manual labor though!
These are cycling boats, which means it requires pedal power in order to move! So be prepared to get a little bit of exercise during this sunset boat ride!
DAY 2 IN JAISALMER (and Thar Desert)
Overnight camel safari in the Thar Desert
There are a number of different types of overnight desert tours that start at different times during the day, and that last for a different number of days.
You can find overnight tours that start in the morning or afternoon. And you can find overnight tours that last for just one night, or you can stay longer in the desert if you want to.
I did an overnight desert tour that started in the afternoon and ended the next day in the morning.
Best things about an overnight desert tour
1. Sunset camel ride
2. Campfire dinner with Rajasthani cuisine
3. Sleeping under the stars in the desert
4. Sunrise over the sand dunes
See here for more about what you get with an overnight camel safari, including the average cost of these kinds of tours.
DAY 3 IN JAISALMER
After you return from the overnight camel safari in the morning…
Get lost on the golden streets of the Golden City at the Jaisalmer Fort
The Jaisalmer Fort has a lot of narrow streets that can make you feel like youβre in a maze the first time you go.
This can make it a good place to explore!
Youβll want to make sure you locate the cannon. This is where you can find some of the best views of Jaisalmer from inside the fort!
There are also places to stay within the fort if you’re looking for a unique experience!
Visit a sunset point for iconic views
The best way to locate the sunset points in Jaisalmer near where you are staying is to ask the staff at your hotel!
Whether it’s one of the spots that’s called a sunset point across the city, or it’s on a rooftop of a restaurant or building, there’s no better way to end your time in Jaisalmer than watching the sunset!
HAPPY JAISALMER ITINERARY PLANNING!
How to spend 2 weeks in Rajasthan
- 3 days in Udaipur (city of lakes)
- 2 days in Jodhpur (blue city)
- 3 days in Jaisalmer (golden city)
- 3 days in Jaipur (pink city)
- 1 day in Agra
PLUS: One month in South India
For examples of general class train travel, see:
For examples of AC train travel, see:
For examples of local bus travel, see:
For examples of overnight bus travel, see:
- Pondicherry to Madurai
- Madurai to Kerala (South India)
- Mumbai to Udaipur
See more backpacking India travel tips!