Jodhpur is a good base. Within an hour you can be in a village, on a dune, or beside a lake where blackbuck come to drink. Here are six trips, from a short morning to a long day out.
Bishnoi villages, about 40 minutes
The Bishnoi community has protected trees and wildlife as a matter of faith for more than five hundred years, which is why the land around their villages still holds blackbuck, chinkara and desert birds. A village safari usually includes a visit to a home for tea, a potter or a weaver at work, and time at a waterhole at dawn or dusk.
Go early or late, when animals are active and the light is good. Pick an operator who pays the families properly and does not treat the visit as a performance. Ask us and we will point you to one.
Salawas, about 30 minutes
A weaving village known for durries, flat woven cotton rugs made on pit looms. You can watch the weaving, understand why a good rug takes weeks, and buy straight from the workshop. Pair it with the Bishnoi villages in one morning, since they sit in the same direction.
Mandore Gardens, about 20 minutes
The capital of Marwar before Jodhpur was founded. The cenotaphs here are built like temples rather than the usual domed pavilions, set in green gardens full of langurs. There is a hall of heroes carved into rock and a small museum. It is free, shaded and easy, which makes it a good first or last morning.
Osian, about 1 hour 30 minutes
An old desert town with a cluster of Jain and Hindu temples from the eighth to twelfth centuries, some of the oldest standing in Rajasthan. The Sachiya Mata temple sits up a flight of steps with a view over the town. Nearby there are dunes where camps run camel rides and evening music, which is the easiest way to get a desert night without driving to Jaisalmer.
Khichan, about 2 hours 30 minutes
Every winter, thousands of demoiselle cranes fly over the Himalaya and settle at this village, where residents feed them each morning. Between roughly November and February you can stand at the feeding ground and watch the sky fill. It is a long drive for a short window, so leave before dawn and make a day of it.
Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh, about 3 hours
Ranakpur is a fifteenth century Jain temple carved in white marble with more than a thousand pillars, no two alike. Kumbhalgarh, an hour further, has the second longest continuous wall in the world wrapped around a hill fort. Together they make a long but excellent day, or a good stop if you are driving on to Udaipur.
Going further. Jaisalmer is about five hours west and deserves an overnight rather than a day trip. Udaipur is around five hours south. Both work well as the next stop after two or three nights here.
How to arrange a day out
- Hire a car with a driver for the day. Fixed price, air conditioning, and someone who knows the roads. This is what most guests do.
- Agree the route and the waiting time before you leave, so there is no discussion at the end of the day.
- Carry water, cash and a hat. Small villages will not always have a card machine.
- Start early. The desert is best in the first and last two hours of daylight, and you avoid the worst of the heat.
We can arrange a car and a driver we trust for any of these. Message us the night before and it will be at the gate when you want it.
Staying in the city instead? Start with our guide to Jodhpur itself.
Come and stay
We host two container stays and a two bedroom farm flat in Jodhpur. Tell us your dates and we will hold one for you.
