Where to Stay in Jaisalmer: A Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Area & Accommodation
Wondering where to stay in Jaisalmer? Compare staying inside Jaisalmer Fort, near the fort, backpacker hostels, boutique hotels, luxury desert camps, and family-friendly accommodation to choose the perfect place for your trip.
6/25/20265 min read
Where to Stay in Jaisalmer: A Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Area & Accommodation
Planning a trip to Jaisalmer is exciting, but one question comes up almost every time:
Where should I stay?
Should you stay inside the famous Jaisalmer Fort?
Choose a hotel just outside the fort?
Book a backpacker hostel?
Stay in a luxury desert camp?
Or spend a night beneath the stars in the Thar Desert?
The truth is, there isn’t one perfect answer.
The best place to stay depends on how you like to travel.
Some visitors want to wake up surrounded by more than 850 years of history.
Others want to meet fellow travellers over a rooftop chai.
Some dream of luxurious desert camps, while others are looking for authentic experiences far from the crowds.
Having welcomed thousands of travellers through Open Road Adventures, we’ve seen how different travel styles lead to different experiences.
This guide will help you choose the accommodation that suits your journey—not simply the most expensive or most popular option.
Why Your Choice of Accommodation Matters
Where you stay affects much more than where you sleep.
It influences:
How much walking you’ll do.
The atmosphere you’ll experience.
Your sunrise and sunset views.
Access to restaurants and cafés.
Your overall connection with Jaisalmer.
Two travellers can visit the same city and leave with completely different memories simply because they stayed in different areas.
Choosing the right location is one of the most important decisions you’ll make while planning your trip.
Option 1 — Stay Inside Jaisalmer Fort
For many travellers, staying inside the fort is the most memorable way to experience Jaisalmer.
Unlike historic forts that function only as monuments, Jaisalmer Fort remains a living community filled with homes, temples, cafés, artisan workshops, and boutique hotels.
When you stay inside the fort, history surrounds you every moment of the day.
Wake up to sunlight reflecting off golden sandstone.
Walk quiet streets before the crowds arrive.
Enjoy evenings when the fort becomes peaceful after most visitors leave.
It’s an experience that simply can’t be recreated outside the fort.
Perfect For
Couples
Photographers
History lovers
Slow travellers
Culture enthusiasts
Pros
Historic atmosphere.
Walk to major attractions.
Beautiful rooftop views.
Authentic local experience.
Incredible sunrise and sunset photography.
Things to Consider
Because the fort is a protected heritage site, vehicle access is limited during busy periods. You may need to walk a short distance with your luggage, although many hotels assist guests with this.
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→ Staying Inside Jaisalmer Fort – Everything You Need to Know
Open Road Boutique Hotel – Modern Comfort Inside the Living Fort
If you’re looking for the experience of staying inside the fort without sacrificing comfort, Open Road Boutique Hotel offers a unique balance of heritage and modern living.
Rather than recreating a traditional palace, we’ve restored a historic fort home into a peaceful boutique hotel featuring just three spacious rooms, each thoughtfully designed with minimalist interiors while preserving the character of the original architecture.
Every room offers views of the fort or the Golden City, allowing guests to wake up surrounded by centuries of history.
Whether you choose our Best View Room, Fairytale Room, or Cozy Room, you’ll enjoy a quiet stay in one of the world’s most extraordinary living heritage sites.
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Option 2 — Stay Near Jaisalmer Fort
If you prefer easier vehicle access while remaining within walking distance of the fort, staying just outside the fort is an excellent choice.
You’ll still enjoy easy access to restaurants, markets, rooftop cafés, and historic attractions while avoiding the small amount of walking sometimes required inside the fort.
This area suits families, road-trippers, and travellers carrying larger luggage.
Many hotels, cafés, and shops are concentrated here, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the day.
Option 3 – Stay at a Backpacker Hostel
If you’re travelling solo, on a budget, or simply enjoy meeting people from around the world, staying at a backpacker hostel can completely change your experience of Jaisalmer.
Unlike traditional hotels, hostels are built around community.
It’s common to meet fellow travellers over breakfast, join people exploring the fort together, plan a desert safari as a group, or spend the evening chatting on a rooftop long after sunset.
Many lifelong friendships begin in hostels.
For first-time solo travellers especially, a welcoming hostel can make a new city feel instantly comfortable.
Perfect For
Solo travellers
Backpackers
Digital nomads
Budget-conscious travellers
Long-term travellers
Advantages
Affordable accommodation
Friendly social atmosphere
Easy to meet other travellers
Local recommendations from staff
Shared experiences and activities
Great value for longer stays
Open Road Hostel & Cafe – More Than Just a Place to Sleep
At Open Road Hostel & Cafe, we wanted to create more than accommodation.
We wanted to create a place where travellers feel at home.
Located just a short walk from Jaisalmer Fort, the hostel welcomes backpackers, solo travellers, couples, photographers, digital nomads, and adventure seekers from around the world.
Guests can choose between comfortable mixed dormitories and private rooms, depending on their travel style and budget.
One of the highlights of staying here is the rooftop café, where travellers gather to enjoy fresh food, watch the sunset, share stories, and plan adventures together.
Many guests arrive planning to stay for one night and end up extending their visit because of the relaxed atmosphere and community.
The hostel also serves as the meeting point for many of our desert safari guests, making it easy to continue your adventure beyond the city.
Why Guests Love Staying Here
Comfortable dormitories and private rooms
Rooftop café with fort views
Friendly backpacker community
High-speed WiFi
Walking distance to Jaisalmer Fort
Authentic local hospitality
Easy access to desert safari experiences
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Option 4 – Luxury Hotels in Jaisalmer
Travellers looking for premium amenities, swimming pools, spas, and larger properties will find plenty of luxury hotels throughout Jaisalmer.
These hotels usually offer spacious rooms, restaurants, concierge services, and modern facilities.
They’re a great choice for visitors who prioritise comfort and convenience over staying within the historic fort.
Many luxury properties are located outside the old city, meaning you’ll usually need transport to reach major attractions.
Perfect For
Luxury travellers
Families
Honeymoon couples
Guests looking for resort-style facilities
Advantages
Larger rooms
Swimming pools
Restaurants and room service
Modern facilities
Easy vehicle access
Option 5 – Desert Camps
Many visitors choose to spend one night in a desert camp.
This can be an enjoyable experience, particularly for first-time visitors looking for cultural performances, folk music, traditional dance, buffet dinners, and Swiss tents.
However, it’s important to understand that not all desert experiences are the same.
Many commercial camps accommodate hundreds of guests every evening.
If you’re looking for a lively atmosphere, entertainment, and organised programmes, a desert camp may suit you well.
If you’re looking for peace, authenticity, and a deeper connection with the Thar Desert, a smaller non-touristic safari offers a very different experience.
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→ Best Desert Safari in Jaisalmer
Desert Camp or Sleeping Under the Stars?
This is one of the questions we’re asked most often.
Both experiences have their own appeal.
Desert Camp
✔ Private tents
✔ Folk music
✔ Kalbelia dance performances
✔ Buffet dinner
✔ Comfortable facilities
Sleeping Under the Stars
✔ Peaceful private dunes
✔ No crowds
✔ Authentic desert atmosphere
✔ Traditional dinner cooked over a fire
✔ Incredible night sky
✔ Sunrise over untouched dunes
Neither is right or wrong.
It simply depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for.
At Open Road Adventures, we offer both cultural desert experiences and authentic non-touristic safaris, allowing travellers to choose the adventure that best matches their travel style.
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