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Luxury camping in Golden Sands

Sujan The Serai

Sujan The Serai

Near 

Jaisalmer
, Rajasthan
, India

SUJÁN The Serai is an oasis, a place for rest and rejuvenation in the desert. This outrageously luxurious camp and spa, owned by brilliant hoteliers SUJÁN, is situated outside Jaisalmer, in 100 acres of private desert scrubland. Fittingly a member of Relais & Chateaux, it takes accommodation, service and cuisine in this area to an unequalled high. The huge, sun dappled tents are magnificently and opulently furnished with a calm, desert theme. The finest linen, ‘campaign’ style furniture, Jaisalmer stone floors and beds, soft colours, and locally sourced artefacts all blend to create a classic, understated elegance. The tents all have a large sitting area inside, complete with a writing desk and stationary, cushioned verandah outside, and immaculate, roomy bathrooms with double showers. The Luxury Tents also have a private plunge pool in a small, walled garden. The Royal Tent takes space, privacy and luxury to even higher levels, boasting its own pool, spa tent and dining tent, in a large, and adjoining walled garden at one end of the tented enclave.

No expense has been spared and the dining tent has well-spaced out rosewood furniture whilst the lounge and lobby tents are home to equally inviting seating – all looking out over the traditional stepwell, desert, pool and countryside. Wide, beautifully paved sandstone terraces play host to fun get togethers around a camp fire and romantic candlelit dinners, whilst immaculate pathways lead through the bush to the tents and impossibly lovely SUJÁN Spa. Be it a private breakfast in the bountiful vegetable garden or a memorable bush dinner in a secret venue under the stars, dining here is perfection in every way and each meal is something to look forward to. The smiling staff ensure one’s every need is catered to and the magnificent, raised pool provides glorious views of the camp and desert surrounds.

Our Rating: Luxury
Property Type: Tented Camp

Destination

The Serai is a reflection of the royal caravan sites of Rajputana, blending the dash and vivacity of this ‘Land of Kings’ with the colourful history of their travels and journeys across this earth. Set on a one-hundred-acre private estate of indigenous desert scrub away from the bustle of the city, The Serai is ideally located for venturing into the mystical environs of Jaisalmer and a discovery its fabled, 12th century “Golden Fortress”, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The immaculate white tents set upon platforms of Jaisalmer’s golden hued stone rise up from the heart of the Thar.

Accommodation

The Serai has:
• Fourteen Luxury tents, Six Luxury Tented Suites and a Royal Tented Suite.
• A swimming pool located on an inverted step well offering a 360 degree view of the camp.
• Our acclaimed Spa, curated by the world renowned Raison d’Etre has four perfectly appointed tents set in a private, walled space.
• Our in-house boutique “Desert Chic”, which sources unique handcrafted works and artefacts of local artisanship.

THE LUXURY TENTED SUITE
Each with their own private plunge pool in a open walled garden. Your blue ceramic tiled pool will be heated on request, and is gently lit by candlelight at night, perfect for a special romantic interlude.

THE ROYAL TENTED SUITE
The Royal tented suite set in a private encampment encloses has its own spa, a heated outdoor swimming pool and tents to dine and lounge in. A private butler will ensure you have everything you need during your stay. Privacy, peace and comfort define this spacious and luxurious section of the camp.

Dining

SUJÁN has a tradition of growing, sourcing and offering fresh – farmed products ethically sourced from local farmers. While we grow much of our own produce in our herb and vegetable gardens, local farmers take pride in partnering with us to supply only the best produce of the region. The cuisine combines a selection of local delicacies with some familiar classics and our bar boasts an enviable selection.

You may choose to dine at the dining tent or anywhere on site, and we are always on hand to create an experience tailored to suit you particular desire, or mood.

Experiences

Excursions from The Serai inspire exploration and discovery in what is essentially still a largely unexplored region. Soft dunes give way to the almost wool like shrubbery and bursts of acacia wooded patches which host foxes, the desert cat and the elusive Indian gazelle. For Birders and Twitchers alike, the area around camp has dozens of species – some of them migratory – to tick off. Yet, it is the traditions and particularly musical heritage of this land that has found fame abroad and drawn the attention of a world craving the authentic, the real and raw interaction with local culture that has deep – and ancient – roots in Jaisalmer and its villages. The Manganiars, whom you can read about more in our other literature are perhaps even older than the forts around their villages and their ancestral melodies continue to resonate across these sands. Guests can travel on excursions – on camel or if they prefer in our especially modified 4x4s – and visit villages or unravel the encounters of a days progress over sundowners. The Serai offers relaxation as few other places do.

Why we love this place

Here, one feels ultimately remote and serenely distant from the hustle and bustle of the city. A stay here is an experience in itself and allows culture seekers an eye-opening visit, with the camp’s historian, to the nearby ‘golden city’ of Jaisalmer with its majestic ‘living’ fort and incredible architecture; a rare glimpse into desert life, visiting local villages and tribes; and be sure to take a leisurely camel ride and peaceful sundowner in iconic dunes with camel herders wandering past.

Return to a pampering, restorative spa treatment or be welcomed at the pool with a fruity sorbet and an iced beer, before ending the evening with a memorable dinner under a star-clad sky. With its own vegetable garden and farm, The Serai is almost self-sufficient and prides itself on its exceptional cuisine.

For those looking to switch off and restore – nestled in the wilderness close to camp is the new yoga and meditation deck; the perfect spot to unwind and reconnect your soul. Classes are held daily and can be booked with the camp manager. The setting of the highly acclaimed SUJÁN Spa created by the globally renowned Raison d’Etre is breath taking, and it offers a diverse menu of Ayurvedic therapies using organic, hand blended products of an array of healing herbs that leave you feeling relaxed and heavenly.

About your host

Jaisal and Anjali have created luxury travel experiences as a catalyst for conservation. Sustainable tourism, operating in an environmentally conscious way at every level is crucial to their conservation efforts and success, alongside protecting the wilderness & wildlife in India and working with the local communities to ensure that they not only benefit from the SUJÁN properties existing but also thrive because of them.

Responsible/Sustainable Tourism

SUJÁN is deeply conscious of and committed to environmentally friendly practices, sustainable conservation tourism and building partnerships with our local communities.

For every guest who chooses to stay at a SUJÁN included in their per night rate is a ‘Conservation Contribution’ This directly goes towards helping fund the conservation activities and community development initiatives in the local area. The teams at SUJÁN have always encouraged their guests to experience reality, whether it is being eyeball to eyeball with wildlife or taking time out to observe the lives of the local communities.

Guests are encouraged to take the time to meet the conservation partners and see some of the SUJÁN projects themselves to gain a better understanding of the work the SUJÁN Family do to conserve species and spaces in the areas they are based in. Every guest who visits a SUJÁN is assured of leaving better informed about conservation, wildlife, man-animal relationships and the cultures and traditions of their surroundings.

This happens naturally through spending time with the rangers, guides and the teams at properties. This aim to share their world and inform their guests about issues that matter are at the very heart of SUJÁN’s conservation efforts and allows guests to truly understand how by staying with SUJÁN they are directly making a contribution.

Our Recommendation

Go for sundowners by camel in the dunes – a hugely special, pampering experience, and relish the exquisite spa.

Can’t find a suitable itinerary that features a destination, experience or accommodation you fancy? All our group tours and holiday ideas can be personalised, or we can create a tailor made itinerary for you.

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Our Accommodation Ratings

Opulent: Exceptional, unashamedly the best of sheer luxury. (£££££)

Luxury: Outstanding levels of 5* comfort, hospitality and facilities. (££££)

Premium: Excellent levels of comfort and hospitality and a wide range of facilities. (£££)

Mid-Range: Good levels of comfort and hospitality, with a reasonable range of facilities. (££)

Simple: Clean and simple, no frills. Often in areas of natural beauty or near wildlife reserves. (£)