The Wanderlust Guesthouse is a small accommodation outside of the Fort and in walking distance to all the things to do in Jaisalmer within the old city. We stay there every time we visit Jaisalmer. And at risk of sounding repetitive, it is our favourite place to stay in India!
Here is our complete review of The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan with everything you need to know for a great stay in the Golden City.
- About The Wanderlust Guesthouse
- Choosing accommodation in Jaisalmer thoughtfully
- Why stay there?
- Arrival and Check-In
- Rooms
- Costs
- Food
- Staff
- Location
- Would we recommend The Wanderlust Guesthouse?
- Getting to Jaisalmer
About The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer
The Wanderlust Guesthouse is a small, privately owned accommodation in the incredible Golden City of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. One of the main attractions of Wanderlust and the city of Jaisalmer is the small and friendly size of both.
Wanderlust has just six rooms accommodating single travellers, couples and families comfortably. The size and personable service as well as the EPIC location overlooking Jaisalmer fort, makes it our favourite place to stay in India.
It’s an incredible feeling to be able to relax amidst the bustle and colours of Rajasthan and to have a moment to just take in everything India. There are balcony seats and views from the rooftop restaurant and common area that make it hard to leave…
And, on top of that, Wanderlust organises what we can confidently recommend as the best camel safari experience in Jaisalmer.
Something to consider when choosing accommodation in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
One thing to consider when choosing accommodation in Jaisalmer, is that as tempting as it is to stay within the walls of Jaisalmer fort, the fort is in serious threat of damage by ground erosion.
With the increased demand for water to cater to hotels and accommodation inside the fort as tourism has grown, the original infrastructure and drainage systems are overwhelmed and causing erosion to the forts foundations. For this reason it is recommended to opt for accommodation in the city and enjoy an outing for the things to see in Jaisalmer fort.
The Wanderlust Guesthouse is ideally positioned in short walking distance to the markets, Haveli’s, Gadisar Lake, the fort and all the neat things to do in Jaisalmer. And it has epic views from the rooftop to admire sunset right over the fort.
Why stay there? What are the highlights and facilities?
We really rate The Wanderlust Guesthouse and with more than six trips to Jaisalmer in the last few years it has become our firm favourite accommodation in India.
Padam, the owner, is a wonderful host. The guest house itself is clean and conformable, with delicious food, and an easy 15-minute walk to the fort.
Some of the highlights and facilities include:
- 24-hour check in
- Pick up and drop off service
- Restaurant on-site
- Camel Safari in the Thar Desert
- Family rooms
- Free WIFI
- Laundry service
- Common area
- Ticket booking
- Luggage storage
- Book exchange corner
Arrival, welcome and checking in to The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer
There is no doubt that travel in India and the bustle and crowds can be overwhelming at times. But arriving to the calmer but just as colourful city of Jaisalmer and the personable welcome from the staff at Wanderlust Guesthouse is a great feeling.
We have many times arrived at odd hours of night or morning due to the scheduled hours of trains to Jaisalmer. But each time we have been picked up from the train station by Nabu or Padam and welcomed warmly to Jaisalmer.
Checking in is straight forward. As with all accommodation in India you need to provide your passport and visa number. Payment is available by cash or card.
- Check rooms, rates and availability at the Wanderlust Guesthouse here.
The rooms – Review of The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer
There are a range of rooms to suit solo travellers, doubles and a family room layout.
Each of the rooms has an en suite bathroom with a hot shower and western style toilet.
- Standard King Room
2x pax
1x Double Bed
- King Suite with Balcony Window
4x pax
1x Extra Large Double Bed and 1x Single Bed
Extra child bed available on request
Costs. How much does it cost to stay at The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer?
This must be the best value for money accommodation we’ve found in India! There are many hotels in India that are listed online and on booking sites with great photography but that under deliver in real life.
The Wanderlust Guesthouse really delivers above advertised expectations with clean, basic, comfortable rooms and a stunning outlook over the Golden City.
- Standard King Room
2000 INR / $24 USD per night
- King Suite with Balcony Window
3500 INR / $42 USD per night
The food – Review of The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer
If you are nervous about trying new food in Jaisalmer or street food in India in general, this is the perfect place to do it.
The small, rooftop restaurant at Wanderlust Guesthouse has a great menu with homecooked Indian dishes, region-specific dishes from Rajasthan and the Thar Desert, and the best lassis in town.
Or if you are feeling the need for something familiar there are options for simple but tasty pasta and toasted sandwiches.
- Read about local cuisine and where to find the best food to try in Jaisalmer.
The staff – Review of The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer
Padam and the rest of his staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Where sometimes traveling in South Asia it can get to the point of feeling impersonal checking in again to another place to stay. Reading all the reviews of staff and hospitality at the Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer confirms exactly our feelings.
Padam and his team are kind and personal in making sure you have everything you need for a great stay. But without being obtrusive or overbearing – which is important when you’re there for the adventure as much as you are to enjoy the more relaxed pace of Jaisalmer.
And did I mention the epic views of the fort from the rooftop terrace?
- Check rooms, rates and availability at the Wanderlust Guesthouse here.
Is it easy to find it? How is the location in Jaisalmer?
The location is another great feature of the Wanderlust Guesthouse. It is located in the Artist’s Colony and just below Sunset Point in Jaisalmer. From the guesthouse it is just a short walk to Jaisalmer Fort (15 minutes) or to Gadisar Lake (20 minutes) and only 500 metres from the Patwon Ki Haveli and other things to do in Jaisalmer.
We love that the location is just up the road from the main villages market, Maharana Pratap Maidan Market.
It is a bustling and lively marketplace with everything from brightly coloured and perfectly stacked fruits and vegetables to jewellery and bangles in the iconic style of the Jaisalmeri women. And if you are going on a camel safari this is a good place to get a scarf and start your preparations to get desert ready.
And across the road is a small kiosk type convenience store selling snacks and drinks.
- Tip: From Jaisalmer Fort or Gadisar Lake back to Wanderlust Guesthouse it costs 100 – 150 INR ($1 – $1.50 USD) to get an auto rickshaw one way.
What do we enjoy most about staying at The Wanderlust Guesthouse in Jaisalmer?
This is our favourite place to stay in all of India.
Padam and his team do an amazing job of hospitality with beautifully clean rooms, delicious food and the best camel safari in Jaisalmer. And the view from the terrace restaurant of the setting sun over Jaisalmer Fort is the kind that memories are made of.
- Check rooms, rates and availability at the Wanderlust Guesthouse here.
Any challenges or things we didn’t like about the stay?
The rating on Booking.com for Wanderlust Guesthouse is over 9.3/10 with smashing reviews! That is the highest rating we’ve seen in India and with truly genuine and well-deserved feedback.
We genuinely can’t think of anything to record that’s negative about our stay. Apart from perhaps that we always wish it was longer!
Other things to do nearby in Jaisalmer and the Thar Desert
There are lots of cool things to do in Jaisalmer itself. But a visit to Jaisalmer isn’t complete without an excursion to the Thar Desert for a camel safari in Jaisalmer.
You can forget images of glamping and tents on the sand dunes. The best part about a camel safari in Jaisalmer is that it really is a local and non-touristic type of experience.
There are touristy ones too. But those are the ones popular with domestic tourism in the Sam Sand Dunes and that isn’t that the same thing at all!
Instead, with the Wanderlust Guesthouse Camel Safari you get the opportunity to take a jeep ride out into the desert and start a short camel ride in the sunset. There is the option to camp for the night just beyond the small villages of the Thar Desert and sleep underneath the stars. A magical experience.
Note that pretty much every hotel and business in town will offer you a camel safari. It is one of the most popular things to do in Jaisalmer. But you definitely want to make sure you book a good one and also one that is ethical – to the camels, and to its workers.
We booked our camel safari directly through owner Padam at the Wanderlust Guesthouse.
- Read our experience of a camel safari in Jaisalmer.
What is the best way of getting to Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer Railway Station (JSM) is the end of the railway line. But the city is well connected with daily trains to and from Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi and beyond.
There are three main trains to Jaisalmer:
- RANIKHET EXP (15014)
- SHALIMAR EXP (14646)
- LEELAN EXP (12468)
Traveling from Jaipur to Jaisalmer by train takes between 12 – 15 hours. From Delhi the journey is 18 – 20 hours.
The train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer should take around 6 – 7 hours.
- Read about taking the train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer or from Delhi to Jaisalmer and how to book train tickets for India here.
Buses are another option to get to Jaisalmer if the arrival hours of the trains don’t appeal.
Jodhpur is the closest major city connecting Jaisalmer. There are hourly buses from Jaisalmer to Jodhpurdeparting during the day. The journey is around 6 hours by bus. And there are two daily buses (06:00H and 14:00H) that depart from Jaisalmer to Bikaner.
- Read about getting the bus to or from Jaisalmer here.
Flights to Jaisalmer operate in the tourist season (winter) from October to March. But for the rest of the year there are no commercial flights to Jaisalmer.
The verdict? Would we recommend Wanderlust Guesthouse as somewhere to stay in Jaisalmer?
Absolutely. We look forward to returning to Jaisalmer each time we visit India. And the Wanderlust Guesthouse is top of our recommended accommodation. We love that it is so clean and comfortable, small, personal and relaxing. And somehow it manages to be all that with million dollar views for a great price and brilliant location.
It is an awesome place to stay in Jaisalmer and no doubt will become a favourite of yours in India too.
Thanks Wanderlust team!
- We booked our accommodation at Wanderlust Guesthouse through Booking.com. As always, our thoughts, opinions, love, and appreciation for the guesthouse and services are our own.
Read more about the Golden City of Jaisalmer and travel in Rajasthan, India
- Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- What to see in Jaisalmer Fort
- Local desert cuisine and the food to try in Jaisalmer
- Getting the bus from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur or Bikaner
- Overnight train Delhi to Jaisalmer
- Taking the train Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Leaving Jaisalmer to Jaipur (and Jodhpur too) by overnight train
- Choosing the best camel safari in Jaisalmer
About travel planning for India and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before riding those trains in India!
