Experience a One Day Desert Camp Package in Jaisalmer
Many visitors to Jaisalmer have one free evening and a hotel already booked in the city. Our one day desert camp package is built for exactly that. You arrive at the dunes in the late afternoon, ride out by camel and jeep, watch the sun go down over the Thar, then spend the evening at our camp on Lakhmana Road with folk music, Kalbelia dance, a bonfire in season and a full Rajasthani dinner.
By about 10 PM the programme ends and you head back to Jaisalmer, so you get the essential Sam Sand Dunes sunset experience without packing an overnight bag or paying for a tent you will not sleep in.
If you would rather spend the night in the desert, the same evening is included with every tent and suite at our camp.
What Is an ODC Package in Jaisalmer?
ODC stands for One Day Desert Camp. In Jaisalmer the term is used for an evening package at a desert camp that includes the safari, the cultural programme and dinner, but not a room for the night. It is sometimes called a desert camp without stay, a day package or a Sam Sand Dunes evening package.
Because you do not book accommodation, an ODC package suits travellers on a tight schedule, groups already staying at a hotel in the city, and anyone who wants the desert evening but prefers to sleep in a familiar room. For a wider overview of how day packages compare across Sam, see this one-day desert safari package guide from our related camp.
Who Should Book a Desert Camp Without Stay?
- Short-stay visitors with one or two days in Jaisalmer who want the fort by day and the dunes by evening.
- Families who would rather put young children to bed in their city hotel.
- Groups and office outings that want one shared evening with dinner and entertainment.
- Travellers on a budget who want the desert dinner in Jaisalmer without paying for a night in a tent.
Complete Evening Experience Schedule
Tap a time to see what happens. Timings vary with the season, weather and operating arrangements.
- 4:00 PMArrival and Desert Safari
Arrive at the camp at Sam Sand Dunes, meet the team and get ready for the safari. Leave bags in your car and carry water, sunglasses and a scarf.
- 4:30 PMCamel and Jeep Safari
Ride over the dunes by open jeep with a local driver, then switch to a camel led by its handler for the slower ride towards the sunset point.
- 6:00 PMDesert Sunset Experience
Settle on a west-facing crest as the sun drops over the Thar. Timing shifts with the season, from before 6 PM in winter to after 7 PM in summer.
- 6:30 PMTraditional Welcome
Back at camp you are welcomed in the Rajasthani way before taking your seat around the courtyard.
- 7:00 PMEvening Snacks
Tea, coffee and evening snacks are served while the musicians set up.
- 7:30 PMCultural Programme
Live Rajasthani folk music followed by Kalbelia dance in mirror-embroidered black skirts.
- 8:30 PMDJ Music and Bonfire
The DJ takes over and the bonfire is lit when the weather allows.
- 9:00 PMRajasthani Dinner
A traditional Rajasthani dinner at the camp. Dietary requests are passed to the kitchen in advance.
- 10:00 PMEnd of Experience
The programme ends and you head back to Jaisalmer, about an hour by road.
One Day Desert Camp Package Inclusions
Camel Safari
A led camel ride across the dunes.
Jeep Safari
Open-jeep ride over the dunes with a local driver.
Desert Sunset Experience
Sunset over the Thar from the dunes.
Traditional Rajasthani Welcome
A Rajasthani welcome on arrival at camp.
Tea, Coffee and Evening Snacks
Served before the programme.
Live Rajasthani Cultural Programme
Folk musicians on the courtyard stage.
Traditional Kalbelia Folk Dance
Rajasthan’s best-known folk dance.
DJ Music and Entertainment
Music to close the evening.
Bonfire
Subject to weather conditions.
Rajasthani Dinner
A traditional dinner at the camp.
Camel Safari and Jeep Safari at Sam Sand Dunes
The package includes both rides, so you do not have to choose. Most guests take the jeep out first for the energy of the dunes, then switch to a camel for the slower ride into the sunset.
Each camel is led by a local handler who walks alongside. The ride is gentle enough for most ages; children usually share a camel with a parent. Lean back as the camel stands up and kneels down, and keep phones on a strap.
An open jeep driven by a local driver climbs and drops over the dunes. It is exciting and bumpy; tell the driver if anyone in your group is pregnant, has back trouble or prefers a gentler ride, and they will keep it calm.
Enjoy the Sunset Over the Thar Desert
Sunset is the centre of the evening. In winter the sun sets a little before 6 PM and in summer closer to 7:30 PM, so our timings shift with the season. Find a spot on a crest facing west, give your eyes a minute after the sun drops, and stay for the afterglow when the sand turns from gold to pink.
Traditional Rajasthani Cultural Evening
Back at camp you are welcomed in the Rajasthani way, then served tea, coffee and evening snacks while the musicians set up. The live cultural programme brings folk songs from the region, followed by Kalbelia dance, a swirling, fast-footed style from the snake-charmer community of Rajasthan, performed in black skirts embroidered with mirrors and coloured thread.
Seating is on low cushioned charpais around the courtyard stage. Later the DJ takes over and, when the weather allows, the bonfire is lit.
Dinner and Entertainment at the Desert Camp
The evening ends with a Rajasthani dinner served at the camp. Tell us in advance if anyone in your group is vegetarian, Jain, vegan or has an allergy, and we will pass the request to the kitchen.
Want something quieter? Ask about dinner on the dunes, laid out on the sand away from the courtyard, or our non-touristic desert safari on smaller tracks.
Best Time to Book a One Day Desert Safari
October to March is the main season. Afternoons are warm and evenings cool to cold, with December and January nights close to freezing. Bring a jacket for the cultural programme outdoors.
April to June is very hot by day, but the evening package still works because it starts late in the afternoon. Christmas, New Year, Diwali and the Desert Festival in February are the busiest dates; book early for these.
How to Reach Sam Sand Dunes
Our camp is on Lakhmana Road at Sam Sand Dunes, Kanoi, about 40 km west of Jaisalmer city, roughly an hour by road. Pickup and drop are not part of the package, but we can arrange a car from your hotel, the railway station or the airport through our taxi service.
Driving yourself? Leave Jaisalmer by 3 PM. The road passes Kuldhara and Khaba Fort turn-offs, which make a good short stop on the way.
Booking, Payment and Cancellation Policy
Days are counted before the experience date. To cancel, message us on the same WhatsApp thread or email samsanddunesdmc@gmail.com.
- 30% advance payment required for booking confirmation.
- All bookings are subject to availability and confirmation.
- Children up to six years are complimentary under the stated package policy.
- Overnight accommodation is excluded.
- Pickup and drop are excluded unless separately confirmed.
For another perspective, see this one-day desert safari package guide from a related business.
Related Jaisalmer experiences
Frequently asked questions
Camel safari, jeep safari, the desert sunset, a traditional welcome, tea, coffee and snacks, a live cultural programme with Kalbelia dance, DJ music, a bonfire when the weather allows, and a Rajasthani dinner.
No. The ODC package is a desert camp without stay. If you want to sleep at the camp, book one of our tents or suites, which include the same evening.
Arrival is around 4:00 PM and the programme ends around 10:00 PM. Timings vary with the season, weather and operating arrangements.
The price depends on your date and group size. Send your details on WhatsApp and we will share our best price.
A 30% advance payment is required to confirm your booking. All bookings are subject to availability and confirmation.
Children up to six years are complimentary under the stated package policy.
No. Pickup and drop are excluded unless separately confirmed. We can arrange a car from your hotel, the railway station or the airport.
15 or more days before the experience date: 100% refund. 7–14 days before: 30% refund. Less than seven days before: no refund.
Each camel is led by a handler and walks at a slow pace. Children usually share a camel with a parent. Tell us about any health conditions so we can advise.
Yes. Tell us when you book and we will pass vegetarian, Jain, vegan or allergy requests to the kitchen.