Quick answer
Fly into Jaipur for two nights, drive to Bikaner for one, then two nights in Jaisalmer with a dune camp, two in Jodhpur, and finish with two nights in Udaipur after stopping at Ranakpur. Drives are mostly five to six hours. Fly out of Udaipur. Mid-range land costs for this 9-night route start around ₹58,000 per person.
The route
- Jaipur
- Bikaner
- Jaisalmer
- Jodhpur
- Ranakpur
- Udaipur
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Jaipur
Morning: Fly or take the train into Jaipur and check in.
Afternoon: City Palace and Jantar Mantar, side by side in the old city.
Evening: Hawa Mahal from a café opposite, then the lit-up bazaars.
Stay: Jaipur
- 2
Day 2
Jaipur's forts
Morning: Amber Fort at 8 am, Jaigarh and Panna Meena ka Kund.
Afternoon: Lunch and rest, then Albert Hall Museum.
Evening: Sunset at Nahargarh Fort.
Stay: Jaipur
Buy the composite ticket at Amber; it covers most of today and yesterday's government monuments.
- 3
Day 3
Jaipur to Bikaner
Morning: Drive about 335 km to Bikaner, roughly 5.5–6 hours.
Afternoon: Junagarh Fort, one of the best-preserved palace complexes in Rajasthan.
Evening: Old city walk with Bikaneri bhujia and rasgulla.
Stay: Bikaner
- 4
Day 4
Karni Mata and on to Jaisalmer
Morning: Karni Mata temple at Deshnoke, 30 km south, then the drive to Jaisalmer, about 330 km.
Afternoon: Arrive in Jaisalmer around mid-afternoon and rest.
Evening: Sunset at Vyas Chhatri or Bada Bagh, then dinner facing the floodlit fort.
Stay: Jaisalmer old city
- 5
Day 5
Jaisalmer Fort and the dunes
Morning: The fort and its Jain temples, which admit visitors only in the morning, then Patwon ki Haveli.
Afternoon: Drive to the dunes, stopping at Kuldhara.
Evening: Camel ride at sunset, folk music and dinner at camp.
Stay: Desert camp at Sam or Khuri
- 6
Day 6
Jaisalmer to Jodhpur
Morning: Dune sunrise, then the drive to Jodhpur, about 285 km and five hours.
Afternoon: Arrive and rest.
Evening: Clock Tower and Sardar Market, with a makhaniya lassi and mirchi vada.
Stay: Jodhpur
- 7
Day 7
Mehrangarh and the blue city
Morning: Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, then Mehrangarh Fort and its museum.
Afternoon: Jaswant Thada and the Umaid Bhawan Palace museum.
Evening: A walk through the blue lanes of Brahmpuri, then a rooftop dinner below the fort.
Stay: Jodhpur
- 8
Day 8
Jodhpur to Udaipur via Ranakpur
Morning: Drive about three hours to Ranakpur.
Afternoon: The Jain temple from noon, a thali lunch, then about 2.5 hours on to Udaipur.
Evening: Arrive in Udaipur and have a quiet dinner by the lake.
Stay: Udaipur
Leave Jodhpur by 8:30 am so you reach Ranakpur when it opens to visitors.
- 9
Day 9
Udaipur's palace and lake
Morning: City Palace at opening time, then Jagdish Temple.
Afternoon: Saheliyon ki Bari and Fateh Sagar, or a rest at the hotel.
Evening: Sunset boat on Lake Pichola and the Bagore ki Haveli dance show.
Stay: Udaipur
- 10
Day 10
Udaipur and departure
Morning: Old city lanes and shopping, or Sajjangarh if you have a late flight.
Afternoon: Transfer to Udaipur airport, about 22 km, for flights to Delhi, Mumbai and other metros.
Evening: Fly home.
Why this route?
This is the classic first-timer's loop, built to avoid backtracking. It starts in Jaipur, which has the most flight connections, crosses the desert through Bikaner to Jaisalmer, comes back east to Jodhpur, and ends in Udaipur, where you can fly straight home. Bikaner breaks up what would otherwise be a nine-hour drive from Jaipur to Jaisalmer, and Ranakpur turns the Jodhpur-to-Udaipur leg into a highlight rather than a transfer.
What the cost covers
The mid-range figure of about ₹58,000 per person assumes nine nights in 4-star and heritage hotels plus one night in a premium desert camp, on twin sharing with breakfast, an air-conditioned sedan with driver for the whole route including the one-way drop, local guides in each city, and entry fees. It excludes flights and most meals. See the Rajasthan trip cost for budget and luxury versions.
Change it to suit you
- Families with young children: skip Bikaner and fly Jaipur to Jaisalmer if seasonal flights are running, or take the overnight train.
- Wildlife fans: add two nights at Ranthambore between Jaipur and Udaipur instead of the desert.
- Slower pace: add a night in Udaipur or a heritage hotel near Ranakpur.
Drivers on multi-day trips need a room and meals; most operators include a driver allowance, but confirm it in writing.
Plan the rest
Check the best time to visit Rajasthan, see things to do in Rajasthan, and use the city plans for Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur to fine-tune each stop.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Rajasthan?
Can this Rajasthan itinerary be done by train?
Should I start in Udaipur or Jaipur?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
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.
