Delhi to Jaisalmer Distance: Route and Guide

Jaisalmer, the golden fort city rising from the sands of the Thar desert, is one of India's most magical destinations, but it lies far to the west of Delhi, deep in the desert near the frontier. This is a long journey, best made by overnight train or flight, or as part of a multi-day Rajasthan road trip, rather than a quick drive. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers the Delhi to Jaisalmer distance in both directions, the best ways to travel, and what to see, ideal as a desert extension to a Golden Triangle tour.

I was born in Delhi, and in more than 11 years arranging trips for Experience My India I have planned many desert journeys out to Jaisalmer, by overnight train, by flight and by the long road via Jaipur. Here is the clear, practical guide.

Delhi to Jaisalmer at a glance

How far is Delhi to Jaisalmer by road?

Delhi to Jaisalmer is about 753 km and takes roughly 13.5 hours by road via NH11, a very long drive across the flat, open desert of western Rajasthan.

How far is Jaisalmer to Delhi by road?

Jaisalmer to Delhi is about 758 km by the fastest route, taking a similar long time in reverse.

Either way, this is a very long drive of around 13.5 to 15 hours across the open desert, far too much for a single comfortable day, so it is best done by the overnight train or a flight, or broken over several days as a wider Rajasthan road trip.

What is the best route from Delhi to Jaisalmer?

The best routes from Delhi to Jaisalmer run around 753 to 780 km and take about 13.5 to 15 hours, across the vast, flat, arid landscape of western Rajasthan. The routes via NH11 are the fastest, though all of them are long.

Because of the sheer distance, driving the whole way in one go is genuinely exhausting and not recommended, being some 13.5 to 15 hours at the wheel across the desert. If you do choose to drive, it is far better to break the journey over two or more days, most naturally via Jaipur and then Jodhpur, both wonderful Rajasthan cities in their own right that make ideal and rewarding overnight stops, turning a long slog into a proper Rajasthan tour, as our Jaipur to Jaisalmer distance guide covers the final onward desert leg. For most travellers, though, the direct overnight train or a flight is a far more sensible, restful and time-saving way to reach Jaisalmer from Delhi.

Ways to travel from Delhi to Jaisalmer

Given the long distance, the way you travel matters a great deal, and there are three good options:

• By overnight train: the most popular and sensible way from Delhi, a direct overnight train to Jaisalmer, letting you cover the long distance restfully while you sleep, and arriving in the morning ready to explore, without a single hour lost to a tiring drive.

• By air: you can fly, either on a direct flight to Jaisalmer's own airport, which operates seasonally with limited services, or, reliably year-round, via Jodhpur, which has good air links, and then drive the last few hours across the desert.

• By road: by private car, ideally broken over two or more days via Jaipur and then Jodhpur, making a fuller and richer Rajasthan road trip of it rather than one single gruelling day at the wheel.

For most travellers from Delhi, the direct overnight train is the easiest and most comfortable choice, with flying a good option if time is short, and a multi-day road trip best for those wanting to see more of Rajasthan on the way.

The overnight train to Jaisalmer

For the journey from Delhi, the overnight train is a wonderful and practical option. A direct train runs from Delhi to Jaisalmer, departing in the evening and arriving the next morning, so you cover the long, otherwise tiring distance comfortably in your sleep, and step off refreshed and ready for the desert.

It is a restful, economical and rather romantic way to travel out to the Golden City, a classic Indian rail journey across the slowly changing landscape as the green plains give way to the arid, golden desert. Booking a berth in advance is wise, especially in the peak season from October to March, as the train is deservedly popular and fills up. Choosing a sleeper or air-conditioned class to suit your comfort, and travelling overnight, means the long distance simply disappears while you sleep. For many travellers, the overnight train is not just the most practical way to reach Jaisalmer from Delhi, but a memorable and atmospheric part of the trip in itself, arriving at dawn to the sight of the golden fort.

About Jaisalmer: the Golden City

Jaisalmer is one of Rajasthan's most enchanting and unforgettable cities, known the world over as the Golden City for the honey-gold sandstone from which its great fort, its havelis and its houses are all built, glowing a warm amber in the desert sun. Set deep in the Thar desert near India's western frontier, it was once a wealthy trading post on the old caravan routes, and that wealth built some of the finest carved-stone architecture in the country.

At its heart rises the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort, or Sonar Qila, one of the very few living, inhabited forts in the world, still home to shops, houses, temples and guesthouses within its ancient golden walls, so that a whole quarter of the old city lives inside the fort itself. Around and below it spread the old city's exquisitely carved havelis, its winding, atmospheric bazaars, and, beyond the walls, the great golden sand dunes of the open Thar desert. Remote, romantic and utterly unlike anywhere else in India, Jaisalmer is worth every hour of the long journey out from Delhi, and a highlight of any trip into Rajasthan.

Things to do in Jaisalmer

There is a great deal to enjoy in and around the Golden City:

• Jaisalmer Fort: the golden living fort, its lanes full of shops, homes, beautiful Jain temples, carved havelis and rooftop cafes, with sweeping desert views from its ancient ramparts.

• The havelis: the exquisitely carved golden-sandstone mansions of the old merchants, above all the famous Patwon ki Haveli, masterpieces of intricate stonework.

• Gadisar Lake: the tranquil, historic reservoir on the edge of town, ringed by little shrines and ghats, lovely at sunrise and sunset and good for a boat ride.

• The Sam sand dunes: the great golden dunes just outside the city, the base for the classic desert experience of camel and jeep safaris and overnight desert camps.

• A camel safari and desert camp: riding a camel over the dunes at sunset and staying the night at a desert camp under a canopy of stars is the quintessential Jaisalmer experience.

• The bazaars: the colourful markets, full of textiles, mirror-work, silver and handicrafts, are a delight to explore.

A couple of days lets you enjoy the fort, the city and a desert night, the very essence of Jaisalmer.

The Thar desert and camel safaris

Beyond its golden architecture, the great draw of Jaisalmer is the Thar desert itself, which begins just outside the city. At the Sam and Khuri sand dunes, a short drive from town, you can have the classic Rajasthan desert experience: a camel ride over the rippling golden sands as the sun sets, the vast silence and space of the desert, and a night at a desert camp with folk music, Rajasthani dance, dinner and a starry sky.

This desert experience is what draws many travellers all the way out to Jaisalmer, and it is genuinely unforgettable. Camps range from simple tented sites to luxurious desert resorts, and a sunset camel safari followed by a night under the stars is, for many, the single highlight of their entire Rajasthan trip. It is best enjoyed in the cooler months, when the desert days are pleasant and the nights crisp.

Best time to visit Jaisalmer

The best time to visit Jaisalmer is the cool season, October to March, when the desert weather is pleasant by day and cool at night, ideal for exploring the fort and city and for a comfortable desert camp under the stars. This is the peak season, and includes the colourful Jaisalmer Desert Festival, usually held in winter.

Summers, from April to June, are extremely hot in the Thar desert, with fierce daytime heat that makes sightseeing and desert safaris genuinely unpleasant, so they are best avoided altogether. The monsoon brings a little relief and occasional rain. For the classic Jaisalmer and desert experience, aim firmly for the cool months of October to March, which is also the most comfortable time for the long journey.

Combining Jaisalmer with your trip

Because of the distance, Jaisalmer is best woven into a wider Rajasthan journey rather than done as a there-and-back trip:

• Via Jaipur and Jodhpur: a road trip via the Pink City of Jaipur and the Blue City of Jodhpur makes the long journey a rich Rajasthan tour, with two great cities to enjoy on the way, as our things to do in Jaipur guide covers the first.

• As a Golden Triangle extension: Jaisalmer is a superb addition to a Golden Triangle trip extended into Rajasthan, flying or taking the train out to the desert and back.

• With more of Rajasthan: the state has much more to see, from Pushkar to Udaipur, as our Jaipur to Pushkar distance guide describes, so Jaisalmer can be one jewel in a longer string.

Our things to do in Delhi guide covers the capital before you set off, and our best time to visit Delhi guide helps with timing.

Travel tips for the Delhi to Jaisalmer trip

• Do not attempt the drive in a single day; it is far too long at 13.5 hours or more.

• Take the direct overnight train from Delhi for the easiest, most restful journey.

• Or fly, direct in season or via Jodhpur, if your time is short.

• For a road trip, break the journey over two or more days via Jaipur and Jodhpur.

• Visit October to March for pleasant desert weather; avoid the fierce summer heat.

• Book a desert camp and a sunset camel safari for the classic Jaisalmer experience.

Want Jaisalmer and the desert planned into a wider Rajasthan trip, by train, flight or road, with everything sorted? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

A long desert journey is easiest when the train or flights, the route and the desert experience are all handled, and that is what we do, the overnight train or flights booked, or a comfortable multi-day road trip via Jaipur and Jodhpur, and your Jaisalmer stay, fort visit and desert camp and safari all sorted, so you simply enjoy the Golden City and the dunes.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. Start with the classic circuit on our Golden Triangle tours, and extend it into Rajasthan and the desert, or see the Taj at its finest on our Sunrise Taj tour. We can build it all within our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

Related guides

• Nearby places to visit in Delhi: the best getaways from the city.

• New Delhi tour: the capital's imperial landmarks.

• Old Delhi tour: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.

• Delhi day tour: the best of the capital in a day.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.