The Bikaner desert safari with camp stay will surely satisfy all your cravings of being one with the resplendent, golden sands in the western part of India. Bikaner is a culturally rich city, located in the state of Rajasthan right in the middle of the majestic Thar Desert. The city has numerous peculiar sites for you to explore like Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata Temple and the extravagant Laxmi Niwas Palace. Due to its location, it experiences arid climate, which makes the weather extremely hot and dry. Therefore, the ideal time to come here is in winters between the months of December and January. You can come here by road from any part of the country, or you can take trains from major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Jammu.

For a wonderful camping experience, you can seek accommodation at Umaid Desert & Safari Lodge, located on National Highway 11, about 19 kms from the city. The property is eco-friendly as the owners believe in living in perfect harmony with nature. Four types of accommodation units are offered to you here: Swiss Cottages, TIPI Tents, Alpine Tents and a separate camping area. The cottages are made of mud, sheet and other naturally occurring materials. TIPI Tents are traditionally designed canopies, and they accommodate between two and six people. The cottages and TIPI Tens come with the option of single or double beds.

Alpine tents are ideal during long safaris or for those, who are feeling a bit adventurous. The lodge also allows its guests to bring their own tents and pitch them in the on-site designated camping area. Your Bikaner desert safari with camp stay accommodation will be on twin sharing basis. Regardless of which type of accommodation you are staying in, you will be able to use toilets with hot and cold water, and showers, and a communal area. When you reach here, you will receive a warm and traditional Rajasthani welcome. You will be handed wet towels to wipe the sweat and the dirt off your hands and face. During the two days of your stay here, buffet breakfast and dinner will be served to you.

Savour delicious Rajasthani dishes here; something that draws loads of tourists to the state. Some of the specialities of Umaid Desert Farm and Lodge are Gutte Ki Sabzi, Laal Maas, Bajre Ki Roti and Dal Bati Churma. The lodge also serves lip-smacking barbeque chicken to provide you with a more familiar dining experience. Items like wheat, eggs, milk and millets are produced at the on-site organic farm of the property. In the evening, a bonfire will be organised in the lodge campus as after sundown, the desert weather becomes sufficiently cooler. While you sit around the crackling, reddish-orange flame, enjoy an exquisite Rajasthani folk music and dance performance by local artists. The vibrant folk dances, the colourful costumes worn by the performers and the incredible regional music are famous all over the world.

However, the highlight of this Bikaner desert safari with camp stay will be the camel back ride that you will enjoy during your stay here. The camel will have a handler, who will help you climb on its back. You may ask him or her about the animals, their habits and what all goes into caring for them. On the journey, you will absolutely love swaying back and forth along with the movements of the camels. The safari will probably be organised in the evening to shield you from the heat. If possible, take photos of the downing sun, reddening the golden, grainy desert sand.

You may also be able to see local women, heading out to distant wells and oases to fetch water. Watch how they balance earthen pots one above the other on their heads, and also pay special heed to their bright costumes and shining jewels. Notice the distinct turbans of Rajasthani men that are a symbol of their respective ethnic communities or clans. After this trip, you will definitely feel rejuvenated from within, and a new appreciation for the state culture will develop in you.