How To Reach Jaisalmer - Travel Info

Jaisalmer doesn’t have a commercial airport as of yet. It does have a military airport which supports chartered flights only and these are not often used by tourists. The closest domestic airport here is Jodhpur Airport, which is the best way to reach Jaisalmer by air. There are regular flights to Jodhpur from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Udaipur. From the airport, it will take you around 5 to 6 hours to reach Jaisalmer. Most people hire prepaid taxis or private taxis to reach Jaisalmer from Jodhpur Airport. However, these also tend to be a little expensive. Another option would be to fly to Delhi Airport, which is an international airport and is connected to numerous countries across the world. From Delhi, you would have to take the road or train to reach Jaisalmer.

Some people like to drive down to Jaisalmer from cities like Delhi. You can do this with your own vehicle or a self-drive rental, or a rental car but it is recommended to stop in cities such as Jaipur or Ajmer. This is because it’s a long drive of nearly 15 hours and you will need to rest for a bit. Furthermore, you have a better chance of finding hotel and accommodation at either of these cities en route.

There are no direct buses from Delhi to Jaisalmer as it takes around 17 hours at the very least and the drive can be too long at a stretch. However, you can reach Jaipur and switch buses. You can also travel to Jodhpur and switch a bus to reach Jaisalmer. From Jaipur or Jodhpur, buses to Jaisalmer leave often and there are state-run sleeper coaches which you can get on, to reach the city. Tickets are limited, more often than not, so it’s a good idea to book the tickets in advance. There are buses from Udaipur and Bikaner also, which you can use to reach Jaisalmer. 

Travelling to Jaisalmer by train is a good idea as it is connected to several cities by train. There are several options for travellers from most places in India. Trains from Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur are common and some of the popular trains here are Delhi Jaisalmer Express, Howrah Jaisalmer Express and Lalgarh Jaisalmer Special, to name a few. Do remember that most of these trains run a little late, so be prepared for the delay. Also, the luxury train - Palace on Wheels - stops in Jaisalmer every Sunday. At the station, you can get an autorickshaw or a private taxi to take you into the town. These don’t charge too much.
Also check about the best time to visit Jaisalmer before you plan your journey to Jaisalmer.