Bikaner to Jaisalmer
Your options
Ways to make the journey
5.5 h
The road runs south-west via Kolayat and Bajju, or via Phalodi and Pokaran, across flat desert with scattered villages, camel carts and wind farms. With a lunch stop, plan for 6.5 hours. We leave Bikaner after breakfast to arrive at Suryagarh by mid-afternoon.
≈ 6 h
A limited train service has run between Bikaner and Jaisalmer. Timetables change, and most guests prefer the car. Check current status before you travel.
Worth a stop
- Kolayat lake and temples
- Phalodi
- Pokaran Fort
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How long is the drive from Bikaner to Jaisalmer
About 330 km, 5.5 hours without stops, 6.5 hours with lunch. The road is good and traffic light, but there are few places to stop, so we plan rest breaks in advance. The road runs south-west via Kolayat and Bajju, or via Phalodi and Pokaran, across flat desert. We leave Bikaner after breakfast, stop at Kolayat about 50 km out, and arrive in Jaisalmer by mid-afternoon.
Is there a train from Bikaner to Jaisalmer
A limited service has run between them. Most travellers drive for flexibility. The road is about 330 km, 5.5 hours, or 6.5 with lunch, on good roads with light traffic. By car, we can stop at Kolayat for its lake and temples, or at Pokaran Fort on the southern route, and still arrive by mid-afternoon. Train timetables change, so check current status before you travel.
What can I see between Bikaner and Jaisalmer
Kolayat, a lake town with temples and ghats, and Pokaran Fort if you take the southern route. The open desert itself, with villages and camel herds, is the main sight. Kolayat is about 50 km from Bikaner, a good break in the first hour. Phalodi lies on the southern route before Pokaran. We plan the stops before we leave, as there are few places to rest, and arrive by mid-afternoon.
Should I go to Bikaner before or after Jaisalmer
Coming from Jaipur or Shekhawati, Bikaner fits before Jaisalmer, then Jodhpur after. This loop avoids retracing the long desert roads. Bikaner to Jaisalmer is about 330 km, 5.5 hours, and Jaisalmer to Jodhpur about 285 km, 5 hours. In that order, each long day crosses new desert. We stop at Kolayat on the first leg and Pokaran on the second, or take the day train to Jodhpur.