Feel Like Royalty at These Two Luxury Desert Camps

Why a Luxury Desert Camp?

Imagine a desert with golden sand dunes, the setting sun and a luxury tent with modern amenities for you to enjoy. If that’s how you picture a perfect luxurious vacation, then head to these luxury desert camps in Jaisalmer and Dubai for a unique glamping experience. The Serai Luxury Desert Camp in Jaisalmer and the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa in Dubai are brimming with luxury and opulence and give you an opportunity to experience a lavish lifestyle as enjoyed by the Maharajas and Sheikhs!

The Serai, Jaisalmer

Enjoy the desert the way the Maharajas did, in a luxury desert camp and spa. Sprawling over 100 acres of desert scrub, this private estate is luxury like you’ve never imagined. Inspired by the royal caravan sites of the Rajput Kings, and blended with modern amenities, these camps are the best  way to enjoy the magnificent Thar Desert.

The Serai boasts of 21 tents, out of which 14 are tented suites. Each tented suite covers an area of over a thousand square feet! There are also 6 luxury tented suites that come with a private walled garden and a plunge pool with a Jacuzzi. The Serai also has a Royal Tent- a private tent with a garden, outdoor pool, spa and a deck to dine and relax in.

Enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool, pamper yourself  at the spa, sip on a glass of the finest champagne, or just spend the night under the star studded sky, while the echoes from the songs of the Manganiar tribesmen fill the night.

Price:

Tented Suites: Rs. 32,500 per night Luxury Tented Suites: Rs. 45,000 per night The Royal Tent: Rs. 70,000 per night Extra Person Cost: Rs. 8,000 per night for a child between 8 to 12 years

Tent Features:

Sunken heated dip pool| Jacuzzi| Private Garden| Spa| Outdoor Tents| Champagne Bucket

Food:

The Dining Tent at the Serai serves exquisite cuisine from across India and the world. Be it a traditional Rajasthani meal, or dishes from around the world, the menu at the Serai changes daily. Carefully planned menus, along with the use of fresh ingredients ensure that you enjoy an unforgettable dining experience. You can choose to dine wherever you wish and a tailor made ambience will be recreated to suit your preference. There is also an in-house bar where you can enjoy drinks of your choice, ranging from fine international wines, spirits, and liquors to cocktails.

Getting There:

Air: Jaisalmer is served by a military airport and only supports chartered flights. Rail: Jaisalmer is well connected by the rail network and there are regular trains to Jaisalmer from cities like Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Mumbai. Road/Self Drive: Jaisalmer is well connected to major Indian cities by road. You can choose to hire a chauffeur driven car, or drive down yourself. Following is the approximate distance to Jaisalmer from various Indian cities: > Agra: 800 km > New Delhi: 800 km > Jaipur: 570 km >Jodhpur: 300 km > Udaipur: 575 km > Mumbai: 1140 km

Must Experience:

Camel Safari: The dunes of the Thar Desert stretch for as far as the eye can see. Take a camel safari to enjoy the golden dunes in all their glory. Do look out for desert wildlife such as the Great Indian Bustard and the Indian Gazelle. Jaisalmer Fort: Known as the Sonar Kella, the Jaisalmer fort is the star attraction of Jaisalmer. One of the world’s few inhabited forts, the Sonar Kella is not only home to some of the finest Rajput architecture, but is also a maze of winding lanes flanked by tiny shops, selling everything from clothes, to colourful trinkets and souvenirs. Can’t wait to experience this grandeur? Book your hotel and flight to Jaisalmer today.

Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, Dubai

Dubai’s most luxurious desert property, Al Maha, has everything you could have ever imagined, to make you feel  like a Sheikh.Enjoy a private tented suite with a view of the dunes, a deck and a private temperature-controlled swimming pool all to yourself. All suites have a king size bed, spacious bathrooms with walk in showers, and vanity areas.

Head to Al Maha’s spa and pamper yourself with a range of treatments, enjoy a drink at the poolside bar, or just enjoy an unending view of the dunes . With a choice of four premium and high end luxury suites, Al Maha is where you should go if you’re looking for a luxurious desert experience.

Price:

Bedouin Suite: AED 2900 per night Royal Suite: AED 5500 per night Emirates Suite: AED 7200 per night Presidential Suite: AED 12500 per night

Tent Features:

Private Temperature Controlled Swimming Pool| King Size Bed| Handcrafted Furnishings| Walk In Showers| His and Hers Vanity Area | Free Wi-Fi| Mini-bar| Coffee/Tea Maker| DVD Player

Food:

Blending the best flavors of the east and the west, Al Maha resort offers an unforgettable dining experience. Apart from delicious meals cooked using fresh ingredients, food prepared at the Al Maha takes into account all dietary requirements- right from Halal meats to Gluten Free food. There are five dining options at the Al Maha that you can choose from. Al Diwaan: Enjoy Organic Fine Dining at the sophisticated Al Diwaan. Choose between an alfresco seating overlooking the reserve, or the privacy of your own suite to enjoy delicacies from around the world for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The Terrace Bar: Located just above Al Diwaan, the Terrace Bar offers you not only fine spirits, liquors and cocktails, but also stunning views of the reserve. Dune Dining: How about a picnic on the dunes under the Arabian night sky? An unforgettable experience, the ambience is created using lush Persian carpets, crisp white table linen and flame torches and ensures you feel like royalty. Deck Dining: Enjoy a romantic meal, prepared to your tastes and requirements and served to you in the privacy of your suite. The best part; you don’t need to stick to the menu and can  order any meal of your choice! In Suite Dining: If you’re looking for a relaxed meal in the privacy of your own suite, then opt for in suite dining. Relish a freshly prepared meal that suits your tastes and dietary requirements in your own space and at your own time. You can also book special Valentine’s Day and Honeymoon packages at the Al Maha. The packages include a bottle of champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries, a fruit basket, a box of chocolates, 25% off on spa services, and gourmet lunch and dinner among others.

Getting There:

Air: There are regular flights to Dubai from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai. Road: Al Maha is located at a distance of 40 kilometers from downtown Dubai and is a 30 minutes’ drive away. Hire a cab, or drive down as free self-parking and valet parking is available at the Al Maha.

Must Experience:

Spa Services: The in-house spa at the Al Maha comes highly recommended. Enjoy a relaxing day at the spa and indulge in pampering treatments like massages, body scrubs, body wraps, manicures and pedicures, hydrotherapy and aromatherapy treatments among others. Wildlife Drive: A highlight of the Al Maha resort is the wildlife drive. Drives take place in the afternoon in the comfort of a 4X4 air-conditioned vehicle. You will be accompanied by guides who will help you spot desert wildlife such as Oryx and Gazelles. The drive lasts for about 45 minutes in which you can acquaint yourself with the desert landscape and learn about Arabian wildlife and conservation. Horse Riding: Another popular activity at the Al Maha remains horse riding across the dunes. Nothing beats the experience of watching the sun rise over the dunes on horseback. For your safety, field guides will accompany you at all times as you ride the dunes. Please note, horse riding depends completely on climatic conditions. Dune Drive: Complete with a 4X4 vehicle and a trained guide, the Dune Drive is the best way to experience extreme adventure. During the drive you will stop at a high vantage point from where you can enjoy views of the endless sand dunes and click photographs. Since Al Maha is a conservation reserve, the Dune Drive is only conducted outside the reserve on the larger dunes. Luxury is calling! So what are you waiting for? Book your hotel and flight to Dubai now.  

These glamping havens not only make for a good family holiday, but are also ideal for your mancation or even a bleasure outing!