Rajasthan · 7 days / 6 nights
7 Days in Rajasthan: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur
The classic circuit, with a night in the desert
About this route
Seven days is the point where a desert night stops being a detour and starts fitting naturally into the route. This plan follows Jaipur, then Jodhpur, then out to Jaisalmer for the fort and a night in the dunes, before the long leg down to Udaipur to finish.
The Jaisalmer-to-Udaipur leg is the one stretch that needs a decision: drive it in a long day, or take a short flight if one is running and save the time for Udaipur instead.
Day by day
Day 1Arrive in Jaipur
Transfer to your hotel. Evening walk to Hawa Mahal and the old-city bazaars.
Day 2Jaipur
Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal, with time in the markets in the afternoon.
Day 3Jaipur to Jodhpur
A travel day via Ajmer and Pushkar — worth an hour's stop at the lake and the Brahma Temple if timings allow. Reach Jodhpur by evening.
Travel: Jaipur to Jodhpur via Pushkar: roughly 335 to 350 km depending on the route, 6 to 7 hours with the stop.
Day 4Jodhpur, then on to Jaisalmer
Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada in the morning, then the drive west into the desert.
Travel: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer: about 285 to 300 km, 5 to 6 hours.
Day 5Jaisalmer and the Sam dunes
The fort and the merchant havelis in the morning, then out to the Sam dunes in the afternoon for a camel ride, dinner and a night at a desert camp.
Day 6Jaisalmer to Udaipur
Sunrise over the dunes, then back to town before the long leg to Udaipur. This is the route's one demanding day — a short flight (where available) is worth considering over the full drive.
Travel: Jaisalmer to Udaipur: about 490 to 590 km by road (9 to 10 hours), or roughly an hour by air where a flight is running.
Day 7Udaipur, then depart
City Palace and a lake walk in the morning, then transfer to Udaipur airport.
Who this route suits
- Travellers who want the desert night as well as the three headline cities
- Anyone comfortable with one long transfer day, or willing to fly that one leg
- A first Rajasthan trip with a week to spend
What it costs
| Hotels (per night, twin-sharing) | Budget ₹800–2,500 · Mid-range ₹3,000–8,000 · Heritage/luxury ₹10,000+ |
|---|---|
| Desert camp at Sam (per person, one night, with dinner and a camel ride) | About ₹1,500–3,000 standard; ₹8,000+ for a luxury tent |
| Private car with driver (per day) | About ₹2,000–3,500 for a sedan; more for an SUV, and more again for the long Jaisalmer–Udaipur leg |
| Short Jaisalmer–Udaipur flight, where available (per person) | Varies by season and how far ahead you book |
| Entry fees and activities (per person, per day) | About ₹300–800 |
Indicative planning figures, last checked October 2026. Send an enquiry for a firm, dated quote — see our full Rajasthan trip cost guide for the breakdown by hotel category.
Practical tips
- Book the desert camp before you travel in the December to February peak — the good ones fill up.
- Decide on the Jaisalmer–Udaipur leg (drive vs. fly) before you book hotels either side, since it changes your Day 6 and 7 timings.
- Carry warm layers for the desert camp night — it gets properly cold from November to February.
- If flights aren't running that season, break the long drive by routing back through Jodhpur rather than driving the direct desert road.
FAQs
Is 7 days enough for Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur?
Yes, this is the length most people use for exactly this combination. The trade-off is one long transfer day between Jaisalmer and Udaipur, which you can shorten with a flight if one is operating.
Can I skip the drive between Jaisalmer and Udaipur?
Only by flying, where a route is running that season — check before you commit to the plan, as Jaisalmer's flight schedule is limited and seasonal. Otherwise, routing back via Jodhpur breaks the drive into two more manageable days instead of one long one.
Is the desert camp worth the night, or is a day trip enough?
The camps are set up for an overnight stay — sunset, dinner with folk music, and sunrise over the dunes the next morning. A day trip from Jaisalmer sees the dunes but misses most of what makes the stop worthwhile.
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