Overnight Camel Trek

This is the desert experience that existed before tourism arrived — no fixed camp, no generator, no stage. You ride out with a local camel man into the non-touristy Thar, help cook dinner over an open fire, and sleep on mattresses laid directly on the sand under a sky that will genuinely surprise you. Run by Shrinath Adventures with camel families who have crossed this desert their whole lives.

The Route and the Rhythm

You'll be driven to a trailhead away from the main dune belt, where your camels and handlers wait. The afternoon trek covers open dunes and desert scrub, passing herders, the occasional khejri tree and — if the route allows — a small desert village where you'll stop for chai.

By late afternoon you reach the night's camping spot: a dune ridge chosen for its view and shelter. The handlers unload, hobble the camels, and start the fire. Dinner is cooked in front of you — dal, sabzi and chapatis pressed and cooked directly on the coals, which is the best bread you'll eat in Rajasthan.

Then the sky. With no camp lights within kilometres, the Milky Way is clearly visible on moonless nights between October and March, along with satellites, shooting stars and more stars than most people have seen in their lives.

Morning: chai at sunrise, a short ride back, and you're in Jaisalmer by late morning.

What's Provided — and What Isn't

Provided: camel and handler-guide, all meals from afternoon chai to morning breakfast, mattresses, blankets and quilts, and transfers to and from the trailhead.

Not provided: washrooms. This is genuine wild camping — nature is your bathroom, and we brief you honestly before departure. There is no electricity, so bring a power bank. Basic tents can be arranged on request — ask our team to confirm availability for your dates.

Who This Is For

Travellers who want the real thing and don't need comfort to enjoy it. It's consistently our most-praised activity among backpackers, solo travellers and couples in their twenties and thirties, and consistently the wrong choice for anyone who needs a bathroom at 2 AM. If you want the desert night with an attached washroom and a proper bed, book an overnight desert camp stay instead — you'll still get the camel safari, bonfire and folk music.

What to Bring

A genuinely warm jacket (December and January nights on open dunes can approach 5°C, and there's no shelter), long pants for riding, closed shoes, a scarf for sand, sunscreen, a power bank, a head torch, toilet paper and hand sanitiser, and any personal medication. Pack light — everything rides with you.

Best Time

November to February is ideal: comfortable riding temperatures, cold clear nights, and the best star visibility. Avoid full-moon dates if the night sky is the point — moonlight washes out the Milky Way entirely. Treks don't operate April to June.

Related Experiences

For a shorter version of the same magic, take the sunset camel safari and stay at a camp. Astrophotographers should look at our dedicated stargazing night. The full trek is also bookable as a package: Jaisalmer overnight camel trek. For quieter dunes generally, see Khuri.