Agra & Delhi: Mughal Empire (Self-Launched)
3 days · Agra & Delhi, India
Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd charges £622
No-markup version: ~£135 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 3-day version of Agora Voyages' guided Mughal Empire tour, covering Agra Fort, a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, Akbar's tomb at Sikandra, and a full day of Old and New Delhi sights — Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli spice market, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar and Lotus Temple. You book your own budget rooms, use the Gatimaan Express train between Agra and Delhi instead of a private car, and pick up local guides or audio guides on-site. Costs are approximate per person and assume a shared double room, mid-range backpacker/budget style.
Day-by-day
Arrive Agra — Culture Walk, Agra Fort & Taj Sunset
Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Make your own way to Agra from wherever you're coming from — the Gatimaan Express from Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station (departs ~08:10, arrives ~09:50, ~£8-12 in CC) is the fastest option, or take an overnight train to Agra Cantt. Check into a budget guesthouse in Taj Ganj so you're walking distance from the mausoleum. In the early afternoon join a small-group heritage walk through Old Agra — the Kinari Bazaar lane, a 200-year-old sweet shop (try petha) and the spice market — either self-guided or via a GetYourGuide walking tour (~£10-15). Around 15:30 head to Agra Fort (entry ₹650 / ~£6 for foreigners), spending 1.5-2 hours exploring the Mughal palace, Diwan-i-Am and Musamman Burj where Shah Jahan was imprisoned with a view of the Taj. Finish the day with a cycle-rickshaw ride (~£1-2) and sunset views of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna from Mehtab Bagh (entry ₹300 / ~£3) — the classic 'secret vantage point'.
🚌Gatimaan Express or overnight train from Delhi to Agra Cantt (~£8-12); auto-rickshaw between sights (~£1-3)
🛏Taj Ganj guesthouse or budget hotel (e.g. simple ensuite room near Taj South Gate)
- →Old Agra heritage walk (Kinari Bazaar & sweet shop)
- →Agra Fort entry & self-guided tour
- →Khari Baoli-style spice market stroll
- →Cycle-rickshaw ride
- →Sunset Taj Mahal views from Mehtab Bagh
Taj Mahal at Sunrise, Akbar's Tomb, then train to Delhi
Agra to Delhi
Get up before dawn and queue for the Taj Mahal at opening (foreigner ticket ₹1,300 / ~£12, plus ₹200 to enter the mausoleum platform) — sunrise is the least crowded and most photogenic time. Budget 2-3 hours. Return for breakfast at your guesthouse, then check out. Take a cheap auto or taxi to Sikandra to see the Tomb of Akbar the Great (entry ₹310 / ~£3), a grand sandstone-and-marble gateway complex about 10km from Agra. In the mid-afternoon head back to Agra Cantt and ride the Gatimaan Express (16:50-18:25, ~£8-12) or an AC chair-car train to Delhi. On arrival take the Yellow Line metro or an Ola/Uber to a budget hotel in Karol Bagh or Paharganj (~£12-20/night). Dinner at a local thali joint in Paharganj or Karol Bagh.
🚌Auto-rickshaw locally; Gatimaan Express Agra Cantt to Hazrat Nizamuddin (~£8-12); Delhi metro/Ola to hotel (~£1-2)
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Karol Bagh / Paharganj, Delhi
- →Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
- →Breakfast in Taj Ganj
- →Tomb of Akbar the Great at Sikandra
- →Evening train to Delhi
Full-Day Old & New Delhi city tour
Delhi
Start with Old Delhi: take the metro to Chandni Chowk and walk or cycle-rickshaw (~£1-2) through the lanes to the Red Fort (₹500 / ~£5, closed Mondays) and Jama Masjid (free, camera fee ~£3). Push on to the Khari Baoli spice market and Raj Ghat, Gandhi's cremation memorial. For lunch grab street food at Paranthe Wali Gali or Karim's. In the afternoon move to New Delhi — Humayun's Tomb (₹550 / ~£5), Qutab Minar (₹550 / ~£5) and the Lotus Temple (free; closed Mondays). You can cover these either by hiring a full-day AC car with driver (~£30-40 for the day, split if you're with others) or by the metro plus autos, which is far cheaper. Finish by driving past India Gate, the President's House and Parliament at dusk before heading to the airport or your onward train/hotel. If you want commentary, book a small-group GetYourGuide Old+New Delhi tour (~£15-25) rather than a private guide at £40+.
🚌Delhi metro day pass or single rides (~£1-3 total); cycle-rickshaw in Chandni Chowk (~£1-2); optional full-day hired AC car (~£30-40 split)
🛏Not included (day of departure) — budget hotel in Delhi if you add a night
- →Red Fort
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk cycle-rickshaw ride
- →Khari Baoli spice market
- →Raj Ghat
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Qutab Minar
- →Lotus Temple
- →Drive past India Gate, President's House & Parliament
Self-launched vs. Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£135 | £622 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £487 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£135
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Agra & Delhi: Mughal Empire (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £135 per person for 3 days in Agra & Delhi, India. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd?+
Yes — Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd charges around £622 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £135 — a saving of roughly £487 (78%) per person.
How long is the Agra & Delhi, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Agra & Delhi, India.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through Agra & Delhi, India, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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