Feel Like a Maharaja or Maharani at Our Luxury Desert Camp

Travelling across the sands of the desert on camel and staying in a luxury desert camp can be amongst the most beautiful and memorable experiences a traveller can have.  Maharajas, Maharanis, traders and travellers alike have been visiting the sands of the Thar desert in Rajasthan since time immemorial. And like the Maharajas and Maharanis of old, you too can experience the desert while staying in luxury tent accommodation – at Queen of Thar Desert Camp.

Thar Desert – where Rajput warriors and Maharajas journeyed

Queen of Thar Desert Camp in Jaisalmer region sits on the edge of the Thar Desert beside Sam Sand Dunes, around 40 km west of Jaisalmer city.  If your imaginings take you to travelling a desert with golden sand dunes, the setting sun, a rich history and then staying in a luxury desert tent with modern amenities, then a luxury desert camp in Jaisalmer like the Queen of Thar is for you.

While it is difficult to know how long travellers have been travelling the Thar Desert, we do know that in the past it was part of the vast network of trading routes known as the silk road, connecting the west to China. Many merchants travelling to and from China at that time preferred to use the southern route via India instead of travelling the Silk Road through the treacherous central Asia mountains. And as caravans often carried luxurious and lucrative goods such as silks or jewellery, they attracted many rulers to conquer and set up kingdoms along important trade routes. Thus, in the mid-12th century Rawal Jaisal, a Bhati Rajput king, established his capital and ruled his kingdom in Jaisalmer.  And the main source of income for the Jaisalmer kingdom in the Middle Ages was levies on caravans.  Rajputs are the descendants of ruling Hindu warrior classes of North India and they travelled and fought many battles across this part of India. To this day, the Rajput rulers are known for their bravery and chivalry, as well as for their courts which were centres of culture where literature, music, dance, painting and sculpture flourished. Rajputs are closely associated with the culture of Rajasthan. It is they who made this culture distinctive.

So desert camps and camel safaris have been a mainstay of life in the Thar Desert for eons, and today are an essential part of your desert experience too. Where once camels carried Maharajas, Rajput warriors, traders and precious cargo, they now offer you the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle for a while, ride across the desert and experience the same awesome immensity, windswept horizons and ancient Rajasthani hospitality as they did long ago.   

Our local hosts

Come explore this magnificent country, guided by those who know it best. Hasem, one of the joint proprietors of Queen of Thar, is a son of the Thar Desert. He was born in Padiyari Village nearby and has successfully managed hotels, camps, tours and camel safaris with skill and care for 30 years, before he realised his dream and opened Queen of Thar Jaisalmer desert camp. As Hasem and his staff have grown up in and around Thar Desert, they possess an intimate knowledge of the local traditions, the history, the peoples and the mysteries of this region. And they have developed a reputation of trust and excellence among our desert camping clients from across the globe.

Our desert camp, hospitality and entertainment

Queen of Thar lets you enjoy the desert the way the Maharajas and Maharanis did, bringing discreet, understated luxury to your desert experience. Our goal is to provide an experience which combines an unforgettable and fun desert adventure with simple luxury and hospitality. 

The Queen of Thar camp itself is a boutique camp located beside Sam Sand Dunes, and it is from the camp that tours set out across the desert. The camp hosts fourteen luxury safari tents, all of which are elegantly appointed with comfortable king size beds, quality bedding and marbled floors. Each tent has its own private bathroom with western toilet, shower, toiletries, premium towels and running hot water. Each tent has a veranda where you can sit and relax, or watch your children play on the children’s playground nearby.

Adventure in the dunes and enjoy the night

From the camp you can ride out on your camel over the sands like the Maharajas and travellers of old, starting out with much chatter and excitement, until the swinging gait of the camels, the calls of the camel leader and the emptiness of the desert lulls you into a deep sense of commune with the sand and the sun. You can watch the setting sun throwing its golden light over the dunes, with the shadows of your camels stretching out further and further behind you until twilight takes over. Then as dusk turns to darkness make your way back to camp through the sand.

Or if you wish for a more adrenaline charged adventure, you can take a ride across the dunes by jeep and experience the thrill of bouncing, skidding and sliding through the soft, slippery sands.

Then if you wish you can return to Queen of Thar camp to be entertained by local artists performing traditional folk music, singing and dancing. Complete the day with a delicious dinner of traditional Rajasthani food in the lovely Jaisal dining room. Enjoy a fabulous meal with both Indian favourites and local dishes like gatta curry and ker sangria made with wild desert beans. Then back to your luxury safari tent for a good night’s sleep in a lovely, comfortable bed.

Or if you wish to really experience the stillness of the desert under the stars, you can camp out in the midst of the dunes overnight. Seeing the sand dunes by moonlight, when the night sky shines brightest glittering with stars, feeling the cool of the desert night breeze and watching the sunrise from the crest of a dune. There is no better way to soothe your soul than being out there under the wide-open sky. The silence of the night when the only sounds are sand in the dunes, the crackle of the campfire and stories and laughter with the local guides. 

The desert land offers a great opportunity to connect with yourself and your loved ones in a back to the basics, unadulterated environment. 

It is all about you

We think you will agree with us that Queen of Thar is one of the best desert camps in Jaisalmer. Luxury to us is not just about luxury tent accommodation, it’s about providing you with ancient Rajasthani hospitality and outstanding service. It’s about looking after your most immediate needs, providing you with a great night’s sleep, making sure you have a cold drink on a hot day, delicious food, and making sure you have an authentic desert experience that gives you memories that will warm your heart for many years afterward. It’s about giving you and your family the opportunity to have a fun adventure together and reconnect, to share experiences and learn about and value the culture and history of Rajasthan.

We would love to share with you the eternal beauty of the Thar Desert, traditional Rajasthani hospitality, the modern comfort of a desert luxury camp and outstanding service.

So if that’s how you picture a perfect luxurious vacation, if you are looking for one of the best desert camps in Jaisalmer then come to the Queen of Thar luxury desert camp in Jaisalmer and let us give you an opportunity to experience a desert adventure as enjoyed by the Maharajas and Maharanis.

For more information see here.