About this tour
When Tom from our team tried this two-day camel safari through the Thar Desert in India, he found a very different pace to the usual sightseeing circuit. Over 24 hours, you ride your own camel with a camel driver-guide, pass through remote villages and dune country, and spot native wildlife along the way. The highlight is the evening: you bed down under an enormous starry sky in clean, custom-made swags, with dinner cooked over an open campfire. The Thar is sparse, quiet and almost completely empty of other tourists, so it feels like you've stepped well off the beaten track. The operator has been running safaris here since 1987, which shows in how smoothly the camp side of things runs. Total duration is two days with one night out in the desert, and you return by jeep at the end.
Highlights
- Riding your own camel, one rider per animal, at a steady walking pace
- Sunrise and sunset over the dunes, the sky changing colour quickly
- Sleeping under open stars in swags, with no tents or walls
- Dinner cooked over the campfire, with dhal, vegetables and chapatti
- Chance to pick up local cooking tips from the camel guides
- Passing through small desert villages and seeing daily rural life
- Quiet nights, with the campfire and desert silence doing the work
- Jeep transfer to and from camp keeps the logistics simple
What to expect
Day one is mostly about settling into the rhythm of the camel. Tom found the first hour the hardest, as the sway takes a while to get used to and your legs will tell you about it by mid-afternoon. The guides are patient and happy to stop when needed, and the pace is gentle enough that the scenery has time to sink in. Lunch is a simple, filling affair with chapatti, rice and vegetables, and the tea stops are a good chance to chat with the guides about life in the desert.
Evening is where the trip really earns its place. Dinner is cooked over the fire and the camp settles into a slow, happy quiet once the sun drops. Sleeping in the open is less rough than it sounds, since the swags are clean and comfortable, but you will want an extra layer because desert nights get properly cold. Breakfast, with eggs, toast and porridge, is a good send-off before the jeep brings you back. Our team's read: go in expecting a simple, honest experience rather than luxury, and you'll come out glad you did.
What travellers say
- Authentic desert experience, away from typical tourist trails
- Starry night skies and sunrise and sunset views
- Clean, comfortable swags for sleeping under the stars
- Meals freshly cooked over the campfire, including vegetarian dishes
- Operator with decades of experience running desert safaris
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels, with guides on hand
- No toilets or tents; facilities are very basic
- Not suitable for pregnant travellers or those with spinal or heart issues
- Weather can cancel the tour, though a refund or new date is offered
- Alcohol and soft drinks are not included in the price
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is a proper, low-key desert experience, best suited to travellers who want authentic village life and genuine stillness rather than polish. Anyone who loves stargazing or photography will be in heaven, and it's an excellent fit for solo travellers joining a group. Food is included across all meals, which takes the guesswork out of budgeting.
There are no toilets or tents, so you'll be going behind the bushes, and that won't suit everyone. Nights are cold, the days are hot and bright, and you'll be on a camel for a fair stretch, so it's not kid-friendly for little ones (infants must sit on an adult's lap) and not recommended for people with spinal, pregnancy or heart concerns. Alcohol and soft drinks aren't included. Bring a warm layer, sunscreen, a hat, a torch, toilet paper, any medication you need, and your own travel insurance. Tell the team about food allergies in advance. Group size is 6 to 8 people, and tours can be cancelled for bad weather, with a refund or new date offered.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.