Jaisalmer

Rising out of the desert some 600km west of Jaipur, and just a handful of km from the border with Pakistan, Jaisalmer is something of a mirage. A relatively small city of less than 100,000 occupants, this dusty desert outpost is dominated by a beautiful honeycomb fort which remains inhabited to this day. Spending a day exploring the tight nooks and crannies of the fort is enjoyable enough, but even more so is using Jaisalmer as a base to indulge your inner Lawrence of Arabia. Surrounded on all sides by shimmering sand dunes, this is an ideal base for a memorable overnight camel safari, or even a stay out in the wilderness at a luxurious desert camp.