Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer

Located in Rajasthan, Jaisalmer is One of India’s best desert holiday destinations. Along with the local culture of Rajasthan, this place offers you Sam Sand Dunes, which are loved by travelers. You can also have a sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer city to explore its beauty.

Basically, there is three popular sand dunes area which is located in Jaisalmer:

  • Sam Sand Dunes
  • Khuri Sand Dunes
  • Lodhruva Sand Dunes

Though, Sam dunes are popular among all of them as it is spread over an area of 3-5 km this area has pure sand with no vegetation. You can witnesses desert camps, camels, and Jeeps in this area. Sam Sunset point is another famous spot in this location.

In this post, we have mentioned about sand dunes of Jaisalmer and also have shared all details related to the Khuri sand dunes and the other 2 dunes also. We have also mentioned what activities you can plan when you are here and what is the best option to reach Jaisalmer city.

Sam Sand Dunes Jaisalmer


Sam dunes are considered the number 1 desert dune of Rajasthan, which is visited by millions of travellers every year from across the globe.  Spread over an area of 3-5 km, these sand dunes are 30 to 60 meters in height, and their height increases or decreases every day as the sand changes its shape and it constantly gives a new dimension to this stunning desert landscape.
Walking on these dunes and rolling down will definitely give you immense pleasure and watching the sunset while sitting idle in the sand will mesmerize you. Nature presents its great work of art.

Sand dunes are so famous on social media platforms that if you search #samsanddunes on Twitter and Instagram. You will get thousands of pictures, which is evidence that how beautiful this place is.

Activities in Sam Sand Dunes:

Once you are in Jaisalmer, you will be thrilled by the culture and activities, that this place offers you to enjoy. Though most of the activities at Sam Sand Dunes are paid for, the best one according to us is to sit idle on the sand for some time and watch the sand flow with the wind. You can also witness the magical sunset which colors the whole atmosphere on orange color, and this is all for free. We have mentioned some activities below.

Camel Safari

There are more than 1000 camels in the area of Sam Sand dunes and riding on the back of camels is the most exciting activity to do here. This ride is such a thrilling one that every tourist who makes a visit to sam sand dunes, wants to go on a camel ride, deep into the dunes. It is once in a lifetime experience and also one of the musts to do activities in Jaisalmer.

Best time for ride: 

Most travelers prefer the evening slot between 5 to 7 pm for the ride as it is the best time to enjoy when the sun is hiding through the high sand dunes in the west. But some guests also prefer morning camel safari which is around 4:30 am to 6 am. The locals said it was ‘The sunrise camel safari’. The prices of the ride differ and normally it starts from RS. 500 per person.

You can also plan a 2-hour-long Rajasthani dance and musical program after the camel ride. This musical evening was organized by many desert camps in Sam Sand Dunes area.

Jeep Safari


Jeep Safari in high sand dunes will give you a thrilling experience, as the jeep here goes up the top and rolls down through the rolling sand dunes at high speed. The speed of the jeep is enough which makes you feel the rush of excitement. You will surely enjoy the journey as your body will ascend and descend the wave-like sand dunes.
If you are in the jeep, make sure to grab your seat hard and cover your face. Driving fast in the sad dunes is a thing that is surely enjoyed in the Sam Sand Dunes only.

Sunset Point

Though every corner of the sand dunes offers you a sunset point, but the Sam sunset point is the best place to watch the sunset, when the sun goes down in the west and the birds return back to their nest.
If you are the one you love to capture pictures, take your DSLR and capture the magic sunset with all its glorious details. The picturesque landscape is beautiful enough to make you mesmerized by the wonderful nature, and you can sit here for an hour and an hour. This place is also considered to be the best place for a selfie too and capturing the best shot with the sun setting in the background with your smartphone.

Popular Itinerary :

Desert Camping


There are several luxury camps and resorts in the Sam sand dunes, where you can stay overnight so that you can enjoy the desert even more. These luxury camps are equipped with bathrooms and tiles along with a comfortable bed and wooden furniture. These camps also have verandahs and all are fully air-conditioned.
In the evening time, these camps also organize Rajasthani musical dances by local tribes of Rajasthan. There is also a buffet dinner around the campfire and you can even enjoy breakfast in the mornings.
Every tourist, who makes a plan to visit Jaisalmer, should surely make a plan to visit one of these camps and enjoy the Rajasthani hospitality as it most supreme.

Distance from Jaisalmer City: 

Sam Sand dunes are located at a distance of 45 the westward. You can easily get a bus or you can hire a local cab or taxi.

What does this place offer you?

This place offers you golden-colored sand dunes and stunning sunsets from the famous sunset point. Apart from that, there are several other activities to do there if you are in Jaisalmer.
 
Entry fees for Sam Sand dune?

There are no entry fees for visiting Sam Sand Dunes. However you have to pay for the other cultural activities such as camel rides, jeep rides food, and musical events.

Best time to visit Sam Sand Dunes:

You can plan your visit in the evening at around 4 pm as it is considered to be the best time to visit Sam Sand Dunes. After arriving here, you can directly go for a camel ride from 5 to 7 pm in the evening. After that you can plan accordingly and go to your desert camps and enjoy your night stay there from 8 pm onwards. You can enjoy the evening with a campfire along with music and local cuisine.

Khuri Sand Dunes


Khuri is another small town, which offers you a traditional house made up of clay and cow dung with a thatched roof. This is 2nd site in the list of Sand dunes in Jaisalmer. It is unusual to stay in the Kutcha houses of Khuri, and the village folk here have carefully maintained these rugged surroundings which will surely give you a Rajasthani feel.
These Kutcha houses are located at a distance of 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from Khuri town and the best part of Khuri is that this place is less crowded when compares to Sam Sand dunes. Though the sand dunes of Khuri are almost the same size as that of Sam sand dunes and they are equally magnificent.

Activities to do at Khuri:

Khuri is not commercialized as Sam Sand dunes, At Khuri, the charm of the simple village of Khuri will make you fall in love with this place.  
When you are in Khuri, you can witness that villagers are going to their daily routine, some are riding camels while some are taking their cattle for grazing. This place will entertain you with its unique style and eye-catching sight.
Here we have mentioned some must-do activities while you are in Khuri:

You’ll see simple villagers going about in their daily routine, grazing cattle, riding camels, and entertaining you with their unique musical styles & more eye-catching sights. At Khuri, you can enjoy:

Walling Trips:

You can have a walk from Khuri town to Khuri sand dunes. If you are with your partner, then walking hand-in-hand on sand will surely romanticize your walk. And if you are on a solo trip, this walk can be a treat to you as you can witness cacti, desert vegetation, and traditionally built houses.

Camel Safari:

Another great thing to do in one of the popular sand dunes of Jaisalmer is a camel safari. It provides you a chance to see the beauty of the desert and the local vegetation that grows in the arid desert of Rajasthan.

Rajasthani Folk Songs:

Khuri offers you the traditional music of Rajasthan. Listing to folk music and watching local dance is one of the most amazing things to experience when you are here.

Dinner at Khuri

You can have the local cuisine of Rajasthan which will give you an idea that what food people consume in the desert area according to their geographical location. Khuri gives you a chance to mingle with the villagers over dinner

Wildlife:

The natural beauty of Khuri resides in its wildlife. If you are a bird lover, you can surely spot peacocks, cranes, and even dung beetles who carried mounds of sand and scamper just to hide beneath the sand.

Distance from Jaisalmer:

Khuri sand dunes are located at a distance of 50 km from Jaisalmer city. You can easily get a local taxi or shared cab which will take you to Khuri.

Also Know About Rajasthan Travel Guide

Lodhruva Sand Dunes


Lodhruva is a small village which is located on the outskirt of Jaisalmer city. This village is located at a distance of 5 km from Jaisalmer and it is also the closest place to the city where you can go and witness the sand dunes. Though the sand dunes of Lodhruva are quite small in size in comparison to other dunes such as Sam sand dunes and Khuri Sand dunes.

Why visit Lodhruva:

Jain Temple

This temple is located in the middle of the Lodhruva village and it is one of the favorite tourist spots for visitors who are on a trip to Jaisalmer. The gateways, pillars, sculptures of gods, and carved jalli will astonish you. This temple is also home to a wishing tree which is known by the name of Kalp Vriksh. It is dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism named Parshwanath. You can have a relaxing time while sitting at the complex of the temple. The spacious interior and the stone pillar were reinstated to their pristine condition. Extensive repairs and reconstruction is done here over a period of time.

History:

Lodhruva is very rich in its history. This is the same place that set the doomed love story of Princess Mumal and Mahendra who was the prince of the Amarkot region. You can listen to them in the local folklore and song which were sung around the region. In ancient times, Lodhruva was the capital of Jaisalmer.

Cuisine:

As this place is located near the city center, this place has a variety of options when it comes to cuisine. Along with the local cuisine of Rajasthan, you can even have other dishes in the city as well. Thanks to the Globalisation.

How to reach:

Lodhruva is located hardly at a distance of 6 km from Jaisalmer city. You can easily get a share taxi or cab to reach there. You can even hire a private cab to reach Lodhruva.

Jaisalmer Travel Guide -