Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer: Desert Weather Guide

Quick answer

Visit Jaisalmer between October and February. Days are 24–31 °C and desert nights drop to 5–14 °C, which is ideal for a dune camp at Sam or Khuri. The Desert Festival runs over three days around the February full moon. From April to September the Thar regularly crosses 40 °C and most desert camps shut.

Month-by-month at a glance

Jan24°Best
Feb27°Best
Mar33°Good
Apr38°Fair
May42°Avoid
Jun41°Avoid
Jul38°Avoid
Aug35°Fair
Sep36°Fair
Oct36°Good
Nov31°Best
Dec26°Best

BestGoodFairAvoidTemperatures are average daily highs (°C).

Jaisalmer weather, crowds and what to expect

Monthly weather, crowds and our verdict
Month	High / Low	Rain	Crowds	What to expect
JanuaryBest	24° / 8°	2 mm	high	Coldest nights, 4–8 °C in the dunes; good camps provide quilts and heaters.
FebruaryBest	27° / 11°	3 mm	high	Desert Festival around the full moon; peak camp prices.
MarchGood	33° / 16°	3 mm	medium	Warm days, still pleasant nights; Holi in the fort lanes.
AprilFair	38° / 21°	2 mm	low	Hot; many camps start closing for the summer.
MayAvoid	42° / 25°	5 mm	low	Extreme heat, often 45 °C; dust storms.
JuneAvoid	41° / 27°	10 mm	low	Hot with dust storms; most camps shut.
JulyAvoid	38° / 27°	65 mm	low	Humid heat with occasional monsoon showers.
AugustFair	35° / 26°	75 mm	low	Brief rains green the scrub; still hot.
SeptemberFair	36° / 25°	25 mm	low	Hot; camps reopen late in the month.
OctoberGood	36° / 20°	3 mm	medium	Warm days, pleasant evenings; the season opens.
NovemberBest	31° / 14°	2 mm	high	Ideal weather; Diwali week is the busiest of the season.
DecemberBest	26° / 9°	2 mm	high	Christmas-New Year rush; cold nights in the dunes.

Long-term monthly averages. Individual years vary — check a forecast in the week before you travel.

Festivals and events in Jaisalmer

Three days ending on Magh Purnima, expected mid-to-late February 2027
Jaisalmer Desert Festival
Camel races, turban tying, the Mr Desert contest and folk music, ending with an evening at Sam dunes.
8 November 2026
Diwali
The fort is lit up; hotels and camps sell out across Diwali week.
24 December – 1 January
Christmas and New Year in the dunes
Camps run gala dinners at a premium; book by October.
Around 22 March 2027
Holi
A small-town Holi in the fort lanes, with music on the havelis' rooftops.

When is the best time to visit Jaisalmer?

October to February. Jaisalmer sits on the edge of the Thar, so the season is defined by heat. In these months days are warm and dry, and nights in the dunes at Sam or Khuri are cold enough for a bonfire and a quilt. November, December and February are the sweet spot; January nights in camps can fall to 4–6 °C.

Month by month

October. The season opens. Afternoons still reach 35 °C, but evenings are pleasant and camps reopen with fresh tents and lower rates before the Diwali rush.

November–December. Peak season. Diwali week (8 November in 2026) and Christmas-New Year see camps and fort guesthouses sell out, and New Year's Eve gala dinners in the dunes are charged at a heavy premium.

January–February. The coldest nights and the clearest skies for stargazing. The Desert Festival runs for three days ending on Magh Purnima, expected around mid-to-late February 2027, with camel races and folk music.

March. Still workable, with 33 °C days. Holi in the fort lanes is a good small-town experience.

April–September. Avoid unless you have no choice. May and June regularly hit 45 °C with dust storms, and most dune camps close from April until late September. The short monsoon brings little rain but sticky heat.

Camel rides are best in the first and last two hours of daylight. Book a sunset ride at the dunes, then a sunrise walk if you are camping.

Plan the rest

See things to do in Jaisalmer and where to stay in Jaisalmer, which compares fort guesthouses with desert camps. Jaisalmer is usually combined with Jodhpur and Udaipur on a Rajasthan itinerary, and the festivals hub has more desert-season dates.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jaisalmer too cold in January?

Days are pleasant at 22–25 °C, but nights in the desert camps at Sam and Khuri drop to around 4–8 °C. Good camps provide quilts and room heaters on request; budget camps may not. Pack a warm jacket, cap and socks for the evening cultural programme and the sunrise walk on the dunes.

Are desert camps open in summer?

Most camps at Sam and Khuri close from April to late September, because daytime temperatures exceed 40 °C and visitors dry up. A few permanent resorts with air-conditioned rooms stay open. If you visit in summer, stay in the city, go to the dunes only for sunset and skip the overnight tent.

When is the Jaisalmer Desert Festival in 2027?

The festival runs over three days ending on Magh Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Magh. In 2027 that is expected in mid-to-late February, but Rajasthan Tourism announces exact dates only a few weeks ahead. Book camps as soon as dates are out, because rates around the festival are among the highest of the season.

Which is better for Jaisalmer, November or February?

Both are excellent. November has warmer nights and Diwali crowds, while February has crisper air, colder nights and the Desert Festival. If you want quieter dunes and lower camp rates with similar weather, go in late October or early March instead.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.