Sam Sand Dunes

Sam Sand Dunes lie near the village of Sam, about 40 kilometres west of Jaisalmer in western Rajasthan, on the road toward the border with Pakistan. They are on the edge of the Desert National Park, which protects a large area of the Thar Desert.

The dunes are a stretch of open, rolling sand hills, some reaching tens of metres high, with little vegetation. They form the classic desert landscape that many visitors to Rajasthan come to see.

Most visitors arrive in the afternoon to ride camels or take a jeep safari across the dunes before watching the sunset. Many tents and camps along the road offer evening programmes of Rajasthani folk music and dance, dinner and overnight stays in tents, followed by sunrise over the sand. During the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, usually held in February, part of the events take place at Sam.

The area has become busy with camps and vendors close to the road. Those looking for quieter dunes often travel further, to places such as Khuri or into the open desert with a guide.

There is no charge to see the dunes, but camel rides, jeeps and camps are paid. The cooler months from October to March are the best time to visit.

How large is the Desert National Park? It covers about 3,162 square kilometres, of which 1,900 lie in Jaisalmer district and 1,262 in Barmer district, and sand dunes make up about 44 percent of its area. It was gazetted in 1980. Its birds include the great Indian bustard, and 168 plant species have been recorded there. Fossils from the Jurassic period, some about 180 million years old, have also been found inside its boundaries.