Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
Your options
Ways to make the journey
5 h
The highway runs west via Balesar and Pokaran across flat desert, with small villages, camel carts and wind farms. The road is good and traffic light. With a stop at Pokaran fort or for lunch, plan for 6 hours. We leave after breakfast to arrive in Jaisalmer by mid-afternoon.
5.5–6 h
Daily trains link Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, some overnight and some by day. The day train is a comfortable way to cross the desert in executive or first class, with your car travelling ahead. Check current timetables before you travel.
Not direct
There is usually no direct flight between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer has seasonal flights from Delhi, Mumbai and a few other cities, which can be used to arrive or leave. Check current status before you travel.
Worth a stop
- Pokaran Fort
- Osian temples (detour north of Jodhpur)
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How long does it take to drive from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
About 5 hours for 285 km, closer to 6 hours with a stop. The road crosses the Thar and is good quality with light traffic. We avoid driving after dark. The highway runs west via Balesar and Pokaran, past small villages, camel carts and wind farms. We leave after breakfast, stop at Pokaran Fort or for lunch, and arrive in Jaisalmer by mid-afternoon.
Is there a train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
Yes, daily services take about 5.5–6 hours. The day train is a comfortable alternative to the drive. Some trains run overnight and some by day. We book the day train in executive or first class so you see the desert, while your car travels ahead with the luggage. Many guests take the train one way and drive the other. Timings change, so check current status before you travel.
Can I fly from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
Direct flights between them are not normally available, and the 285 km drive takes about 5 hours across the Thar. Jaisalmer has seasonal flights from Delhi, Mumbai and a few other cities, which we use to arrive or leave at the start or end of a journey. Between the two cities, we drive or take the day train. Check current status before you travel.
What can I see on the way from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
Pokaran Fort, a small 14th-century fort about halfway, and the open desert with villages and camel herds. With a detour north, the Osian temples near Jodhpur are among the oldest in Rajasthan. The road via Balesar also passes camel carts and wind farms. We stop at Pokaran for the fort or lunch, which keeps the drive to about 6 hours. Osian adds time, so we often suggest it as a separate morning from Jodhpur.