Jaisalmer and Camel Riding at Sunset in the Thar Dessert

The team arrived in Jaisalmer (also known as the “golden city” for its yellow sand stone buildings) and joined members of the Rotary Club of Jaisalmer for lunch on the rooftop restaurant of the Hotel Lal Garh Fort and Palace.

Having finished lunch, we ventured 45km into the Thar dessert to enjoy was to be yet another experience of a lifetime.  We arrived at the dessert camp as the sun was setting in the sky.  The sand dunes began to glow a dark yellow as we all mounted camels for our sunset trek.  A sudden lunge forwards then backwards and we were up!  The quiet, peaceful, tranquil surroundings and beautiful scenery gave the team a chance to sit back, relax, contemplate and reflect.  As the sun began to turn a bright orange we dismounted the camels on the top of a sand dune and sat quietly as the sun rapidly descended.  Once the sun went down we set off again on the camels to trek back to the camp for an evening of traditional Indian dancing around a warm log fire.  We checked-in to our luxury Swiss tent accommodation (with en-suite!) and sat around the fire with our friends from Jaiselamer Rotary Club.  The evening ended with the team dancing around the fire to a mix of Indian and western songs.

We woke at 7:30am and sat outside with a warm cup of tea and toast with jam as the sun began to rise.  A cold chill soon turned into blistering heat as the sun rose over the dunes and lit up the camp.  As we return to Jaiselamer, we reflect on our amazing experience out in the dessert.

Lunch on the rooftop restaurant

The team on camels just before sunset

Into the sunset!

Watching the sunset on top of a sand dune

The beautiful dessert sunset

Jumping in the dunes

Dessert camp!

Traditional performances

Sunrise at the camp