Day by Day itineraryDay 1: New Delhi
Arrive at Delhi airport/ railway station, meet with our representative and get transferred to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.
Day 2: New Delhi to Jodhpur (By flight)
Morning after breakfast check out from Hotel and transfer to Airport. Fly from Delhi to Jodhpur.
Reach Jodhpur, the Blue City of Rajasthan where our representative shall greet you and transfer you to a hotel.
Get fresh and proceed for the local sightseeing of Jodhpur. Visit Mehrangarh Fort which sits majestically atop a hill, Mahamandir Templ, and the Kailana Lake.
Night stay in Jodhpur.
Jodhpur
Before we proceed to the Desert Festival Jaisalmer tour, we will stay just 1 day in Jodhpur, for visiting the most important places here.
- Mahendragarh Fort: This magnificent fort situated on the top of a hill is just 5 km from Jodhpur. It remains open from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry fee for Indians is Rs 60 while for foreigner, it is Rs 500. Indians have to pay Rs. 150 for audio guide while foreigners have to pay Rs 400 for it. Video camera charge is Rs. 200.
- Jaswant Thada: This wonderful mausoleum opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm. Children and senior citizens have no entry fee. For Indians, entry fee is Rs 15 and that of foreigners is Rs 30. Still camera fee is Rs 30 and video camera fee is Rs 50.
- Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum: The enchantingly beautiful palace cum museum remains open from 9 am to 5 pm and you will need at least 2 hours to visit it. Entry fee for the Indians is Rs 15 and that of foreigners is Rs 50.
- Balsamand Lake: It has no entry fee and it remains open all day and night. Keep at least 2 hours in hand for witnessing the splendid beauty of this place.
- Mandore Gardens: Tourists can visit this place between 8 am and 8 pm and its entry fee is Rs. 50 per person.
Day 3: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer ( By road ) (271 Kms/ 6 Hrs )After a sumptuous breakfast, proceed for Jaisalmer by road.
By late afternoon reach Sam sand dunes and check in into Desert Camp.Later go for an enjoyable camel ride at Sam sand dunes.Also enjoy the breathtaking view of the sunset at Sam sand dunes. After camel ride comes back to the swiss tent in the desert camp and in the evening enjoy dinner with Rajasthani folk music & dance.
Night stay in Sand Dunes.
Jaisalmer
It will take around 5-6 hours to reach Jaisalmer from Jodhpur by car depending on the road condition and traffic.
- Sam Sand Dunes: Desert festival Jaisalmer tour package includes 1 night stay in same Sane Dunes. Ideal time to visit these dunes in the morning from 4 am to 6 am and in the afternoon from 4 pm to 7 pm. Enjoy the camel safaris, Rajasthani folk music and dances, yummy Rajasthani foods and stay either in the mud cottages or in the Swiss tents. There are different desert camps here and you need to pay between 4000 INR and 10000 INR per night depending on the camp you choose.
Desert Festival Jaisalmer: Things You Must Know
1. Jaisalmer desert festival will be held from February 8th to February 10th in 2017. The festival starts with the Shobha Yatra or the Ceremonial Procession from the Jaisalmer Fort and it proceeds to Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium by 11 am and after that the Desert Festival Jaisalmer is inaugurated.
2. Dresses: People wear traditional colorful dresses and describe the calamities and accomplishments of the desert through their dances and songs.
3. Major Highlights: The Gair and the fire dance are the main attractions. Gymnastic acts are shown by a group of local wanderers who are known as the Kalabaz or the Nat’s group. Emotional folk music recitals as well as ballads are done by the Bhopa’s Langhas and Manganiars.
4. Competitions held during the Jaisalmer desert festival: Camel polo between Border Security Force and polo club, dancing in different camel formations, camel races, and gymnastics on the back of the camels. After these competitions are over, Camel Tattoo competition by the BSF is held. Other competitions include turban tying, the longest mustache, Miss Moomal, tug of war and Mr. Desert or Maru-Shri. Pitcher race or Matka race is also held.
5. End of the festival: The Desert festival Jaisalmer ends with the Rajasthani folk concert by the Manganiyar and Langa musicians and Kalbelia dancers, cricket match display by Air Force and parachuting. It is a ritual to end the festival on a full moon day having Jaisalmer Fort in the background.
6. Other attractions: Enjoy yummy food, numerous stalls having Rajasthani handicrafts, souvenirs and artifacts, puppet shows, acrobatic shows.
You need not buy tickets to view the warmth and grandeur of this festival. It is organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in order to attract more tourists.
Day 4: Jaisalmer Desert FestivalAfter your morning breakfast ,leave for Jaisalmer town to enjoy the Desert Festival.
During the desert festival Jaisalmer witness the Shobha Yatra (Ceremonial Procession ) which proceeds to Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium at around 11:05 AM followed by the formal inauguration of Desert Festival .
Also enjoy the Moomal - Mahendra Competition, Moustache Competition, Turban Tying Competition, Miss Moomal & Mr. Desert Competition and many such thrilling events.
Overnight stay at hotel in Jaisalmer.
After your morning breakfast spend the day enjoying the desert festival where you would witness the Camel Decoration Competition, Shan-E-Marudhara Competition, Tug of War between Indian hosts & their foreigner guests, Pitcher Race(Matka Race), Camel Polo Match between Polo Club Jaisalmer and Border Security Force(BSF).
Later in the evening enjoy the soulful folk music & dance by renowned folk artists of Rajasthan which include performances by the Manganiyar and Langa musicians and dance by Kalbelia dancers also.
Overnight stay in Jaisalmer.
Day 6: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur / transfer to New Delhi by flightEarly morning after breakfast check out from a hotel at around 06.00am and leave for Jodhpur by road to catch the flight for New Delhi.
Arrival at Delhi Airport and transfer to Hotel.Overnight stay at hotel.
After your morning breakfast check out from Hotel. Transfer to airport for onward journey.