Route: Delhi - Jaipur - Pushkar - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur
Places covered: Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Sam Sand Dunes, Ranakpur, Udaipur
This is Rajasthan at full scale: the pink city, the blue city, the golden fort and the lake city, linked by a loop that takes in desert and mountain scenery. It suits travellers who have eight or nine days and want to see the main sights without flying. It is also one of the longest road itineraries we plan, so we describe it candidly.
Who it suits
Travellers who enjoy road journeys, couples and families with older children, and groups of friends. It works best from October to March. In hot months, the long drives and exposed forts are tough. If you want a shorter trip, the Desert and forts plan focuses on Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
How the days flow
You begin in Jaipur with two nights for Amer Fort, the City Palace and the bazaars. The third day goes via Pushkar, where you can see the lake and Brahma Temple, to Jodhpur for Mehrangarh Fort. The next two days take you to Jaisalmer and a night in a desert camp at Sam, with fort, havelis and dunes. A return day to Jodhpur breaks the long drive, and the next day crosses the Aravalli hills, stopping at Ranakpur's Jain temples before arriving in Udaipur. The last days are lake, palace and rest.
The honest side of the route
Drives here are long: Jaipur to Jodhpur is about six hours, Jodhpur to Jaisalmer five, and Jodhpur to Udaipur five to six with Ranakpur. We balance them by placing sightseeing in the morning, giving you rest in the afternoon and using good roads. If you prefer fewer drives, we can replace one segment with a flight or train, or drop Jaisalmer and add a day in Udaipur.
Things to know
- A desert camp night means basic comforts, so we choose camps with attached bathrooms and good bedding where possible.
- Winter nights in the desert can fall near freezing.
- Camel rides, jeep safaris and monument tickets are paid separately.
- Pushkar is vegetarian and alcohol-free.
- The Pushkar Camel Fair, the Jaipur Literature Festival and the Desert Festival raise rates and need early booking.
Customising
Swap Jaisalmer for Bikaner or Chittorgarh, add Ranthambore, upgrade to heritage hotels or reverse the route to start in Udaipur. Tell us what you would like and we will price it.
