Since my trip to Udaipur with my sister, I’ve been exploring the various cities in Rajasthan.

I had crossed off Jaipur and Jodhpur three months ago and Udaipur two years ago.

So, in September, I decided to explore the other cities of Rajasthan – Jaisalmer, Mount Abu and Bikaner.

Like I always say, if you want to explore India, road trips are the best.

In this 8-day Mt. Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner road trip guide, discover the routes, itinerary, hotels, places to visit, the best time to visit and travel tips.

THE ROUTE

I travelled from Pune to Rajasthan and back.

If you’re travelling from a different city, the route will differ.

A few days before travelling, I always map out the route.

I do this for two reasons. First, I’ll be aware if any highways are closed for construction, and I can find a different road. Second, I can search for hotels in the area where I’ll stay for the night.

So, I – mostly it was my father – researched and finally decided on the following route.

The total distance is a little over 3000 kms.

Pune – Chakan – Sangamner – Sinnar – Nashik – Saputara – Navsari – Surat – Bharuch – Vadodara – Ahmedabad – Mehsana – Palanpur – Mount Abu – Jaisalmer – Bikaner – Ahmedabad – Vadodara – Bharuch – Surat – Navsari – Saputara – Nashik – Sinnar – Sangamner – Chakan – Pune

Google Maps doesn’t show this route; I had to map out my route due to congestion and road closures.

Many state and national highways were damaged by the heavy rains this year. I kept seeing reels of flooded roads in Gujarat. That’s why I kept delaying my trip.

Also, I knew that reaching Mount Abu in one day was impossible, and I had to find a big city where I could stay for the night before heading to Mt. Abu.

The road conditions on this route were good for the most part, except for the Ahmedabad to Bharuch section of the Mumbai-Delhi expressway; that road is an absolute nightmare.

That road is unsuitable for driving.

The road dips at random times, and cars jump a few feet. When driving at high speeds, such dips are dangerous.

I almost damaged my car’s engine on this road. Thank God for the metal engine guard.

Besides that section of the route, the roads were in good condition.

8-DAY MOUNT ABU, JAISALMER AND BIKANER ITINERARY

Whenever I take a road trip, I try to cover as much distance as possible on the first day.

On the first day, I was excited and refreshed and didn’t mind the long hours in the car. However, as the days pass, I try to keep the driving distances short to avoid tiredness.

My family and I are used to driving long distances – my father, brother, and I drive; we take turns driving so no one gets tired.

If you’re not used to driving long distances, add a day or two to the itinerary.

DAY 1

On the first day, I leave my hometown early to avoid traffic. I left Pune at 5 a.m. and drove to Palanpur, where I stayed the night.

DAY 2

In the morning, check out of the hotel in Palanpur and head to Mount Abu, 84 kms away. I reached Mt Abu at 11 a.m. After checking in to my hotel, I spent the day walking around Mall Road and Nakki Lake.

DAY 3

On the third day, I left Mount Abu at 8 a.m. because Jaisalmer was 9½ hours away. I took the wrong turn and was lost. So it was almost 5:30 p.m. when I reached Jaisalmer. After checking in to my hotel, I rested before heading to Gadisar Lake to watch the sunset and the light and sound fountain show. Spend the night in Jaisalmer.

DAY 4

Enjoy a simple but delicious breakfast. Later, explore Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon ki Haveli, and Nathmal ki Haveli. Drive to Bada Bagh cenotaphs and then Kuldhara village or vice versa. Spend another night in Jaisalmer.

DAY 5

In the morning, drive to Tanot Devi, Laungewala and the Indo-Pak border. In the afternoon, head to Sam desert. Go on a sunset desert safari. End the day with a cultural programme and traditional Rajasthani food at the camp.

DAY 6

Wake up early, have breakfast and pack your bags for Bikaner. Drive for 5 hours to Bikaner. Upon reaching Bikaner, I immediately began sightseeing. After lunch, I headed to Junagarh Fort, followed by Rampuria Haveli and the cenotaphs at Devi Kund Sagar. In the evening, visit Seth Bhandasar Jain Temple because it is closed in the afternoon. Enjoy dinner in the city before heading to your hotel for the night.

DAY 7

Start the day early because you have a long drive ahead. Retrace your route to Vadodara, where you’ll stay the night.

DAY 8

It’s time to head home. Spend the day driving to Pune.

If you want to know each place and what to see, here are my Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner guides.

WHERE TO STAY DURING 8-DAY MOUNT ABU, JAISALMER AND BIKANER ROAD TRIP?

The most important thing when planning a road trip is doing research. You’ll be prepared for unforeseen situations, especially when travelling with family and children.

Hotels, especially on the highways, are something I research before going on a road trip.

So, here’s a list and reviews of all the hotels I stayed at during my 8-day Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner road trip.

• Madhvi Hotel in Palanpur
• Hotel Lake View in Mount Abu
• Heritage House in Jaisalmer
• Star Desert Camp, Sam Desert
• Vesta Bikaner Palace in Bikaner

MADHVI HOTEL, PALANPUR

On the first day, I travelled from Pune to Palanpur, 84 km from Mount Abu.

Before leaving for my 8-day road trip, I had researched accommodations in Mehsana and Palanpur.

It was a good and bad experience at the hotel.

When I was about two hours from Palanpur, I tried booking the hotel online, but there were no vacancies. So, I called the hotel to confirm. They said they had rooms available.

I negotiated the price. The manager said we didn’t have to pay advance to confirm the booking. We could pay the amount upon arrival.

When I got there, they said that the decided amount was false.

I had to pay extra money. It was late. I was tired and didn’t have the energy to look for another hotel. So, I paid the extra amount.

Besides that, the hotel was new and modern. The rooms were regular-sized with a queen bed. The bathrooms were big and clean and had the necessary toiletries.

Their restaurant offers an elaborate menu of vegetarian options. The food was tasty, and the service was quick.

Overall, it was an ok stay. I’m still prickly about paying extra money, hence only 2½⭐⭐.

HOTEL LAKE VIEW, MOUNT ABU

It was my second time visiting Mount Abu. The first time I visited was when I was a kid.

I remember staying at a hotel overlooking the lake. It was a memorable stay.

After some research, I found the hotel online, Hotel Lake View.

The hotel has changed, but the view is still killer.

Hotel Lake View reminds me of a cosy cottage. The rooms are enormous and minimally decorated. The bathrooms are clean and moderate-sized. Also, each room has warm, thick blankets. They are a blessing because it gets cold at night.

The hotel staff is helpful and cooperative. We arrived a few hours before check-in. Even then, the hotel immediately checked us in without complaint.

My favourite part of the hotel was their terrace. I spent a few hours here watching the sun setting on the lake.

The Mall Road is a short walk away, the view is even more stunning, and the rooms are cosy.

I recommend this hotel to those travelling solo or with friends and family. I would give it 3½⭐⭐⭐.

HERITAGE HOUSE, JAISALMER

Heritage House was my favourite of all the stays.

It was a cute little boutique hotel and had a homey vibe.

Hotel Heritage House might appear small, but the inside is spacious.

The rooms are a combo of rustic and modern, spacious and clean. Even with an extra bed, there is ample space to move around.

The bathrooms were large, clean and equipped with bathroom essentials.

I didn’t dine at the hotel except for the breakfast. So, I don’t know about their food. But based on the breakfast, it was delicious.

The hotel staff is attentive and welcoming. We were checking out early, and they had our breakfast ready despite the early hours.

They do have parking space for 2-3 cars.Overall, I had a great stay. The staff was great and hospitable.

Whether you’re travelling with family, friends, or solo, I recommend staying here.

I’ll give Heritage House 4⭐⭐⭐⭐.

STAR DESERT CAMP, SAM DESERT

The rains had just stopped in Jaisalmer a few days before my arrival. Many camps were still closed. So, I had limited options.

I wanted to go to a different camp, but there were no vacancies. Star Desert Camp had good reviews, so I booked that one.

The hotel staff was warm and welcoming at first. They were eager and enthusiastic.

I checked into my room. It was a semi-tent, meaning the walls were brick, and the ceiling was tent material (I don’t know what that material is).

The rooms were spacious and somewhat clean. The bathrooms were big but okay-ish. There was no hot water, and the sink was leaking.

Later, the hotel manager arranged a sunset safari for us. He said he had a connection at Sam Desert if we wanted to participate in the various activities.

My siblings and I decided to go on the ATV ride. We negotiated the price with the owner. Later, he demanded double the amount, saying the price was for one person. Three people took the ATV ride, so we had to pay double.

When we told the hotel manager, he said that wasn’t his contact, which was stupid because he introduced us to that guy.

Also, that guy was charging us Rs.300 per person for a camel ride. But others were charging Rs.100 for a camel ride for two people.

Also, the jeep safari included driving to three deserts. He took us to only one. So, it wasn’t worth it.

If you have an SUV or Jeep, drive to the desert. Just follow the hotel jeeps.

The manager pissed me off, but the other staff was good and kind. Ilam, one of the staff, made the rest of my stay bearable.

I’ll give Star Desert Camp 2⭐⭐.

VESTA BIKANER PALACE, BIKANER

The Vesta Bikaner Palace was my second favourite hotel of all my stays.

It was a haveli converted to a modern establishment.

Vesta Bikaner Palace offers modern rooms; the bathrooms are clean and spacious.

Another reason I chose this hotel was because it was near the highway and had a swimming pool. What better way to relax after a long day of sightseeing than the pool?

I arrived at the hotel around 5 p.m. and didn’t get much time to explore the hotel.

While this hotel is stunning, I would recommend this hotel only if you have a car. Hotel Vesta Bikaner Palace is outside the city, and the good restaurants are a short drive away. Also, finding a taxi or auto at night can be challenging.

Overall, I had a comfortable and relaxing stay.

I’ll give Vesta Bikaner Palace 3⭐⭐⭐.

WHAT ARE THE MUST-VISIT PLACES IN MOUNT ABU, JAISALMER AND BIKANER?

Now that you know the route and where to stay or not, here’s a list of must-visit places in Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

MOUNT ABU

Mount Abu is a hill station in Rajasthan. It might seem like any other hill station, but it’s a nature lover’s paradise.

Want to know more about Mount Abu? Refer to my Mount Abu travel guide.

• Nakki Lake
• Mall Road
• Toad Rock
• Dilwara temple
• Hiking trails

JAISALMER

The Golden City of Rajasthan is magnificent. It is home to some beautiful Havelis, Gadisar Lake and the Thar desert.

Want to know more about Jaisalmer? Refer to my Jaisalmer travel guide.

• Patwon ki Haveli
• Nathmal ki Haveli
• Jaisalmer Fort
• Gadisar Lake
• Sam Desert
• Bada Bagh
• Jain Temples
• Laungewala Museum
• Tanot Devi
• Indo-Pak border

BIKANER

Rajasthan’s purple city, Bikaner is known for its Havelis and Kundan jewellery.

Want to know more about Bikaner? Refer to my Bikaner travel guide.

• Junagarh Fort
• Rampuria Haveli
• Seth Bhandasar
• Jain Temple
• Devi Kund Sagar

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MOUNT ABU, JAISALMER AND BIKANER?

The best time to visit Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner is winter, from October to February.

It is the peak season. The temperature is low, and the weather is pleasant.

Peak season means lots of tourists and pricey hotels. October, November and December are the months of festivals and holidays. So, lots of families and office workers plan holidays during these months.

If you want to avoid crowds and book hotels for reasonable prices, visit in the early months of October, late November, and early December, after mid-January and early February.

March to June are the summer months. It is when schools are out for the summer, so families are travelling. However, I advise you to avoid travelling to Rajasthan during these months.

I travelled to Rajasthan in June– in hindsight, it was a stupid decision. The temperature reached 50° C during the day and dropped to mid -30°s at night.

Early March and late June are when the temperature is lower compared to April and May.

July to September are the monsoon months. Some parts of Rajasthan receive little or no rainfall, whereas others receive moderate rain.

However, in 2024, Jaisalmer received so much rainfall that the plants covered the dunes and large ponds were created.

I travelled to Jaisalmer in mid-September. According to locals, rainfall had stopped a few days before my arrival. It had been raining constantly in Jaisalmer.

The temperature was in the low 30°s during the day and mid 20°s at night.

Therefore, mid-January, early February, early March, late June, mid-September, October, late November, and early December are the best times to visit Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR 8-DAY MOUNT ABU, JAISALMER AND BIKANER ROAD TRIP

• Before your road trip, ensure the car is functioning well. A good, serviced car makes the journey easier and hassle-free. Refer to my road trip checklist for details.
• Book your hotels in advance if travelling during peak season.
• There are only a handful of hotels on Nakki Lake. If you want to stay on the lake, pre-book your hotel stay, especially on weekends.
• Locals try to rip off tourists, so always bargain and negotiate prices for rides in Sam Desert.
• Carry cash when visiting Sam Desert. The network is spotty in the dunes, so online payment is not an option.
• You’ll need at least two to three hours to participate in all the activities – ATV ride, Camel ride and parasailing. There are long queues for rides during peak season.
• Many camps in the Sam Desert close during the monsoons. It is low season, so call the camps before booking.
• Fuel up before heading to Tanot Devi, Laungewala and the Indo-Pak border. I don’t recall seeing any fuel stations near Tanot Devi.
• Carry IDs for visiting the Indo-Pak border. You’ll need them to get permission at Tanot Devi to go to the border.

CONCLUSION

That concludes the 8-day Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner road trip guide.

In this 8-day Mount Abu, Jaisalmer and Bikaner road trip guide, discover the routes, itinerary, hotels, places to visit, the best time to visit and travel tips.

I hope this guide was helpful. If you have any queries or suggestions, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

The road is there, it will always be there. You just have to decide when to take it.

chris humphrey