A night in a desert camp near Jaisalmer usually means a tent or cottage at the Sam sand dunes, a camel ride at sunset, folk music and dance in the evening, dinner and breakfast. Prices vary a lot between private camps, so the clearest benchmark is the state run RTDC Sam Dhani resort, which publishes its tariff. For the 2026 to 2027 winter season, a Swiss tent there costs ₹4,000 a night for two people on a plan that includes breakfast, one main meal, a camel safari and a cultural programme, with GST extra. Use that figure to judge whether a private package is fair.
Know before you go
- Where: most camps are near the Sam sand dunes, about 45 km west of Jaisalmer.
- Season: RTDC pitches its tents from September to March, and Rajasthan Tourism names October to March as the best time for desert camping.
- Benchmark price: RTDC Sam Dhani Swiss tent, ₹3,000 single or ₹4,000 double, plus GST.
- Peak dates: 2 to 10 November 2026 and 24 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 cost more, at ₹4,000 single or ₹5,000 double for a tent.
- Included at RTDC (October 2026 to March 2027): breakfast, lunch or dinner, camel safari and cultural programme.
- Last checked: 3 November 2026.
In this Article
What a Jaisalmer desert camp package includes
Most packages follow a similar pattern. You reach the camp in the afternoon, ride a camel or a jeep onto the dunes for the sunset, come back for a folk music and dance programme around a fire, eat dinner, sleep in a tent or cottage, and have breakfast before you leave. The RTDC tariff for October 2026 to March 2027 spells this out as room, breakfast, either lunch or dinner, camel safari and cultural programme. Private camps often add a jeep ride or extra meals, so read the inclusions line by line before you compare prices.
The official tariff at RTDC Sam Dhani
The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation runs Sam Dhani near the Sam dunes. Its website lists the rates below per night, with GST charged on top. The resort has cottages all year, and its tents are pitched for the season from September to March.
| Dates | Room type | Single | Double | Extra person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 | Swiss tent (non-AC) | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹1,500 |
| 1 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 | AC cottage | ₹3,750 | ₹4,750 | ₹1,500 |
| 2 to 10 Nov 2026 (Diwali) | Swiss tent (non-AC) | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 2 to 10 Nov 2026 (Diwali) | AC cottage | ₹4,750 | ₹5,750 | ₹2,000 |
| 11 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Swiss tent (non-AC) | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹1,500 |
| 11 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | AC cottage | ₹3,750 | ₹4,750 | ₹1,500 |
| 24 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027 (New Year) | Swiss tent (non-AC) | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 24 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027 (New Year) | AC cottage | ₹4,750 | ₹5,750 | ₹2,000 |
| 3 Jan to 31 Mar 2027 | Swiss tent (non-AC) | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹1,500 |
| 3 Jan to 31 Mar 2027 | AC cottage | ₹3,750 | ₹4,750 | ₹1,500 |
Two details matter. During the Diwali and New Year periods the plan switches to all meals, with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and RTDC states that no discount applies. A non-AC cottage costs the same as a Swiss tent in each period.
From April to September the resort offers rooms with breakfast only. Non-AC cottages cost ₹1,100 single or ₹1,500 double in that period and AC cottages ₹2,100 or ₹2,750, and the tents are not pitched.
Jaisalmer desert camp price per person
Using the RTDC tariff, here is what one night works out to per person for two people sharing, before GST.
| Budget level | What you get | Per person, sharing | Two people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Swiss tent or non-AC cottage, normal season | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 |
| Comfort | AC cottage, normal season | ₹2,375 | ₹4,750 |
| Peak dates | AC cottage, Diwali or New Year, all meals | ₹2,875 | ₹5,750 |
A third person in the same tent or cottage adds ₹1,500, or ₹2,000 on peak dates. Travelling alone costs more per head, at ₹3,000 for a tent in the normal season.
Add your transport from Jaisalmer to the camp and back. Many camps include a pickup, and others expect you to come by taxi or jeep, so ask which applies and agree the cost of any vehicle before you set off.
How to choose a desert camp
The dunes near Sam have many camps, from simple tent rows to resorts with cottages and pools. A few questions sort them out quickly:
- Check whether the price covers dinner, breakfast, the camel ride, the jeep ride and the evening programme, or only some of them.
- Ask whether tents have an attached bathroom with running water, and whether the camp has electricity through the night.
- Confirm whether the quoted price includes GST.
- Find out if pickup from Jaisalmer is included and at what time.
- Camps near the main dunes are busy at sunset, and quieter camps sit further out, so ask how far the dunes are from your tent.
- Around Diwali, Christmas and New Year, book early and check whether a special dinner is compulsory.
- Ask for the cancellation policy in writing before you pay a deposit.
If a private package costs much more than the RTDC rate for similar inclusions, ask what the extra covers. Comparing like for like is the easiest way to avoid overpaying.
A typical evening and morning
Camps usually time the camel or jeep ride so you are on the dunes for sunset. After dark, the evening programme often includes Rajasthani folk music and dance, such as Kalbelia, the dance of the Kalbelia community. Dinner is usually a buffet of Rajasthani and north Indian dishes. In the morning, sunrise on the dunes is quieter than sunset, and it is worth getting up early for it.
Nights in the desert get cold in winter, especially from December to February, so pack a warm jacket even if the day feels hot. A torch helps for walking between tents at night.
When to book
Rajasthan Tourism names October to March as the best time for camping in the desert, and RTDC only pitches its tents from September to March. Prices are highest over Diwali and from Christmas to New Year. For the best value, aim for the weeks in between, such as mid November to mid December, or January to March outside long weekends.
Combining the camp with sightseeing
Most visitors spend at least one day in Jaisalmer itself before driving out to the dunes. Our Jaisalmer guide covers the fort, the havelis and the Jain temples. On the drive to Sam, many travellers stop at Kuldhara, the abandoned village about 18 km from Jaisalmer. For more on the dunes themselves, camel rides and sunset points, see our Sam sand dunes guide.
If Jaisalmer is part of a longer trip, our 7 day Rajasthan itinerary shows how to fit the desert night in after Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur.
FAQ
What is the price of a desert camp in Jaisalmer?
The state run RTDC Sam Dhani charges ₹3,000 single or ₹4,000 double for a Swiss tent in the 2026 to 2027 season, plus GST, including breakfast, one main meal, a camel safari and a cultural programme. Private camps set their own prices.
What is the Jaisalmer desert camp price per person?
At RTDC rates, two people sharing a tent pay ₹2,000 each per night in the normal season, before GST. On Diwali and New Year dates it rises to ₹2,500 each for a tent.
How do I book a Jaisalmer desert camp?
RTDC Sam Dhani can be booked through the RTDC website. Private camps take bookings directly or through travel sites, so confirm the inclusions and GST before paying.
When are desert camps open in Jaisalmer?
RTDC pitches its tents from September to March, and Rajasthan Tourism names October to March as the best time for desert camping.
Is a camel safari included in the desert camp package?
At RTDC Sam Dhani, yes, from October 2026 to March 2027. With private camps it varies, so ask before you book.
Official resources: RTDC Sam Dhani tariff and booking; Rajasthan Tourism: Jaisalmer
Photo credits
Featured image: Rohanguj2 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What a Jaisalmer desert camp package includes: Srishti Sethi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jaisalmer desert camp price per person: Rudolph.A.furtado / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; How to choose a desert camp: Aditi Singh 7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; A typical evening and morning: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; A typical evening and morning: Rudolph.A.furtado / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; When to book: Ashwin Kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; Combining the camp with sightseeing: कृष्ण कान्त शर्मा / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Combining the camp with sightseeing: Clément Bardot / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
