Which to choose: Bikaner or Jaisalmer (India)?

Hello and happy travels for 2025! Reading through the discussions, I’m wondering what to pick between Bikaner and Jaisalmer for spending a few days in the desert without running into too many tour groups. Should I skip Jaisalmer? Rent a motorcycle and go solo? I’d love to hear any tips. Thanks

Hi Marcamaou, personally I’d go with Jaisalmer if you want to head into the desert—but make sure you’re with someone who knows the small villages! For example, Shiva, who runs Shiva Guest House (my favorite spot with amazing food), and leave him a voice message on WhatsApp at 0091-77260 35662 from Madhu...

Thanks

Hi there,

If you want to avoid crowds, Bikaner is definitely the better choice. But the beauty of the Thar Desert really shines around Jaisalmer. By venturing off the beaten path, you can easily organize hikes or stay in villages that aren’t overrun by tourists.

Thanks

We ended up going to Jaisalmer: an extraordinary discovery of the citadel’s rich heritage. And as a bonus, we rented a Bullet and headed to Khuri—just the two of us on the dune with our two camels, plus a warm welcome for the night at Arjun’s place. On the way back, we stopped by Sam—total nightmare. So Bikaner and Jaisalmer? You can’t go wrong with either!