Self-Launched Delhi to Kathmandu Adventure

Touch down in India's wonderfully chaotic capital. Check into your hostel in the Paharganj backpacker district or Karol Bagh — both well-connected and wallet-friendly. Spend the afternoon wandering Connaught Place, sipping chai and practising your haggling at Janpath Market. In the evening, grab street food — chicken tikka rolls or paneer chaat — from a local dhaba. Optional visits to Humayun's Tomb (INR 650, ~£6) or the Red Fort (INR 650, ~£6) if you arrive early.

🚌Delhi Metro from airport to city centre (~£1.50). Use the Metro or auto-rickshaw (negotiate fare) to get around the city.

🛏Zostel Delhi or Moustache Hostel Delhi — mixed dorm ~£8-10/night, private room ~£20-25/night

• →Explore Paharganj and Connaught Place on foot
• →Street food crawl — try chaat, kathi rolls and chai
• →Optional: Humayun's Tomb (~£6 entry via Archaeological Survey of India website)
• →Optional: Red Fort (~£6 entry)
• →Optional: Qutub Minar (~£6 entry)

Head to Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin or Jaipur Junction and take a train toward Maksi or the closest railhead to Tordi, then a local shared taxi or auto to Tordi village (~7 hours total travel). Tordi is a hidden gem — a tiny, rarely visited Rajasthani village with an 18th-century heritage property. Book directly with Tordi Garh (tordigarh.com) — a family-run heritage palace that offers affordable stays with home-cooked dinners included. Explore the ruined temple and fortress on the edge of the village at sunset.

🚌Train from Delhi to nearest railhead (~£5-8 via IRCTC), then shared taxi or auto-rickshaw to Tordi (~£3-5)

🛏Tordi Garh Heritage Property — book direct at tordigarh.com (~£20-30/night, dinner included)

• →Train journey through Rajasthani countryside (book on IRCTC.co.in, ~£5-8)
• →Check in to Tordi Garh heritage property (~£20-30/night including dinner)
• →Village walk through Tordi
• →Explore ruined hilltop fortress and temple
• →Home-cooked Rajasthani dinner with the host family

Optional sunrise hike above Tordi for panoramic countryside views — go with fellow guesthouse guests or ask your host to point you in the right direction. Then take a shared taxi or local bus to Jaipur (~2.5 hours, ~£2-4). The Pink City rewards wanderers — hit the bazaars of Johari and Bapu markets for gems, textiles and blue pottery. Grab a raj kachori chaat from a street stall and a famous lassi at Lassiwala on MI Road. In the evening, catch a Bollywood blockbuster at the ornate Raj Mandir Cinema (INR 400, ~£4) — an experience in itself.

🚌Shared taxi or local bus from Tordi to Jaipur (~£2-4, ~2.5 hours)

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur — dorm ~£8-10/night, private ~£18-22/night

• →Optional sunrise hike above Tordi village
• →Self-guided walking tour of Jaipur's bazaars and backstreets
• →Street food: raj kachori chaat, lassi at Lassiwala
• →Browse Johari Bazaar for gems and textiles
• →Optional: Bollywood film at Raj Mandir Cinema (~£4)

Start with Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) — the iconic five-storey honeycomb facade is free to admire from the street; entry is INR 200 (~£2) to go inside. Then head out to Amber Fort, a stunning hilltop complex 11km from the city centre — take a local bus (INR 30) or shared auto. Book a GetYourGuide walking tour of Amber Fort (~£8-12) or explore independently. The City Palace museum (INR 1,200, ~£11) is worth a couple of hours. In the afternoon, browse more markets or relax at a rooftop café. Optional: hot air balloon safari at sunrise (~USD 90-150 booked locally, cheaper than the tour operator rate).

🚌Local city bus or shared auto-rickshaw for sightseeing (~£1-3)

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur — dorm ~£8-10/night, private ~£18-22/night

• →Hawa Mahal photo stop and optional interior visit (~£2)
• →Amber Fort exploration — self-guided or via GetYourGuide tour (~£8-12)
• →City Palace museum (~£11)
• →Local bus or shared auto to Amber (INR 30, ~£0.30)
• →Optional: Bollywood dance class at a local studio (~£4-6)
• →Optional: Hot air balloon at sunrise (book locally ~£80-120)

Take the public express bus from Sindhi Camp Bus Stand in Jaipur to Agra (~5 hours, ~£3-5) — a classic backpacker route with scenic countryside views. Arrive in Agra and head straight to the Taj Mahal (allow 2-3 hours). Entry for foreigners is INR 1,100 (~£10) — buy tickets in advance online at asi.payumoney.com to avoid queues. Visit at sunset for the most magical light. The Taj is one of those rare places that genuinely exceeds expectations. Grab dinner nearby at Sheroes Hangout, a social enterprise supporting acid attack survivors.

🚌Public express bus from Sindhi Camp, Jaipur to Agra ISBT (~£3-5). Auto-rickshaw to Taj Mahal (~£1-2).

🛏Zostel Agra or Hotel Kamal — dorm ~£6-9/night, private ~£15-20/night

• →Public bus from Jaipur to Agra (~£3-5, ~5 hours)
• →Taj Mahal visit — book tickets online in advance (~£10 entry)
• →Explore the Taj Mahal gardens and mausoleum
• →Dinner at Sheroes Hangout (social enterprise, pay what you feel)

A free morning to explore at your own pace. Agra Fort (INR 650, ~£6) is a short tuk-tuk ride away — the red sandstone fortress offers stunning distant views of the Taj Mahal. Wander the fort's palatial gardens and grand halls. Grab a late lunch at one of the many rooftop restaurants on Taj East Gate Road with Taj views. In the evening, make your way to Agra Cantonment station for your overnight sleeper train to Varanasi (~13 hours). Book a 3A (AC 3-tier) berth on IRCTC.co.in (~£8-14) for a comfortable night's sleep.

🚌Overnight train Agra Cantonment to Varanasi (~£8-14, ~13 hours, book on irctc.co.in)

🛏Overnight sleeper train — book 3A AC berth on IRCTC.co.in (~£8-14)

• →Agra Fort visit (~£6 entry)
• →Rooftop lunch with Taj Mahal views
• →Final wander through Agra's markets
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Varanasi from Agra Cantonment station

Arrive at Varanasi Junction in the morning. Take an auto-rickshaw to your guesthouse near the ghats (~£1-2). Varanasi is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities — let yourself get wonderfully lost in its tangle of narrow alleyways (galis). Visit Dashashwamedh Ghat in the evening to witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti ceremony — a free, extraordinary ritual of fire, chanting and flower offerings that draws hundreds of pilgrims nightly. Rest up for your early start tomorrow.

🚌Auto-rickshaw from Varanasi Junction to ghats area (~£1-2)

🛏Stops Hostel Varanasi or Hotel Alka (ghat-view guesthouse) — dorm ~£6-9/night, private ~£14-20/night

• →Arrive and check in near the ghats
• →Self-guided walk along the ghats (Assi to Manikarnika)
• →Explore the narrow alleyways of the old city
• →Evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free)
• →Optional: yoga or meditation class at a local ashram (~£3-6)

Set your alarm for 5am — this is non-negotiable. Head to the ghats and negotiate a rowing boat with a local boatman for a sunrise Ganges cruise (~£4-7 for a private boat, or join a shared boat for less). Drift past the iconic ghats as pilgrims bathe, priests perform rituals and the sky turns amber. After breakfast, jump on a cycle rickshaw to the oldest part of the city and spend a few hours getting gloriously lost. Pop into chai shops, peek into crumbling temples and watch the rhythms of daily life unchanged for centuries.

🚌Cycle rickshaw and walking (~£1-2 total)

🛏Stops Hostel Varanasi or Hotel Alka — dorm ~£6-9/night, private ~£14-20/night

• →Sunrise rowing boat trip along the Ganges (~£4-7, negotiate directly with boatmen at the ghats)
• →Watch Hindu pilgrims bathing and performing rituals at the ghats
• →Cycle rickshaw to the old city (~£1)
• →Self-guided walk through the ancient alleyways and temples
• →Optional: Sarnath day trip (where Buddha gave his first sermon, ~£2 by shared auto)

A long but rewarding travel day. Take a shared taxi or local bus from Varanasi to Sunauli border crossing (~5-6 hours, ~£5-8). Cross the India-Nepal border on foot (get your Nepal visa on arrival at the border, ~£25-30 for most nationalities). On the Nepal side, take a local bus or shared jeep to Lumbini (~1 hour, ~£1-2). Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, hop on a cycle rickshaw (~£1-2) to explore the Maya Devi Temple — the precise spot where Buddha is believed to have been born — and the peaceful Lumbini Sacred Garden with its ancient Ashoka Pillar.

🚌Shared taxi/bus Varanasi to Sunauli border (~£5-8, ~5-6hrs). Local bus/jeep to Lumbini (~£1-2). Cycle rickshaw locally (~£1-2).

🛏Lumbini Buddha Garden Hotel or Hotel Lumbini Garden New Crystal — budget rooms ~£10-16/night

• →Bus/shared taxi from Varanasi to Sunauli border (~£5-8)
• →Nepal visa on arrival at Sunauli border (~£25-30)
• →Cross into Nepal and take local transport to Lumbini (~£1-2)
• →Cycle rickshaw tour of Lumbini Sacred Garden (~£1-2)
• →Maya Devi Temple and Ashoka Pillar (free entry to garden)
• →Explore the World Peace Pagodas and international monasteries

Take a local bus or tourist bus from Lumbini to Sauraha, the gateway village to Chitwan National Park (~5 hours, ~£5-8). Book your Chitwan accommodation in advance — budget jungle lodges in Sauraha are excellent value and often include breakfast. Spend the afternoon settling in and exploring Sauraha village on foot. In the evening, visit the free elephant bathing area on the river and watch the sunset over the park. Listen out for the jungle sounds as night falls.

🚌Tourist bus or local bus from Lumbini to Sauraha (~£5-8, ~5 hours)

🛏Jungle Wildlife Camp or Green Mansions Lodge, Sauraha — budget lodge ~£12-20/night

• →Bus from Lumbini to Sauraha/Chitwan (~£5-8, ~5 hours)
• →Check in to jungle lodge in Sauraha
• →Explore Sauraha village on foot
• →Free elephant bathing viewpoint on the Rapti River at sunset
• →Evening nature briefing at your lodge

Rise early for a jeep safari through Chitwan National Park — book directly through your lodge or at the park entrance. A 3-hour jeep safari with a local naturalist guide costs roughly £15-25/person and includes park entry. Spot one-horned rhinos, deer, monkeys, mugger crocodiles, and if you're very lucky, a Bengal tiger. In the afternoon, there are plenty of optional activities to choose from: canoe ride on the Rapti River (~£4-6), bird watching walk (~£4-6), cultural Tharu dance performance (free or ~£2), or bike rental to explore the jungle fringes (~£2-3/day). In the evening, join other travellers at a lodge rooftop for a beer and swap wildlife stories.

🚌Jeep included in safari. Bicycle rental or walking locally.

🛏Jungle Wildlife Camp or Green Mansions Lodge, Sauraha — budget lodge ~£12-20/night

• →Morning jeep safari with local naturalist guide (~£15-25 including park entry, book at lodge or park gate)
• →Wildlife spotting: rhinos, deer, monkeys, crocodiles, birds
• →Optional: canoe ride on Rapti River (~£4-6)
• →Optional: bird watching guided walk (~£4-6)
• →Optional: Tharu cultural village tour and dance performance (~£2-3)
• →Optional: bicycle rental to explore jungle edges (~£2-3/day)

Take a tourist bus or local bus from Sauraha/Narayanghat to Kathmandu (~7 hours, ~£6-10) — book the day before at any of the many agencies in Sauraha. Arrive in Thamel, Kathmandu's backpacker hub, and check into your hostel. Spend the afternoon wandering Thamel's chaotic streets, browsing trekking gear shops and colourful thangka paintings. Visit Boudhanath Stupa (NPR 400 entry, ~£2.50) — one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world — and do a kora (clockwise circumambulation) with pilgrims as butter lamps flicker. In the evening, try buff momos (buffalo dumplings) and a glass of Everest beer at a local restaurant. The streets around Thamel are lively at night.

🚌Tourist bus Sauraha to Kathmandu (~£6-10, book at Sauraha agencies). Walk or rickshaw in Thamel.

🛏Alobar1000 Hostel or Zostel Kathmandu — dorm ~£6-10/night, private ~£18-25/night

• →Tourist bus from Sauraha to Kathmandu (~£6-10, ~7 hours)
• →Check in to Thamel hostel and explore the neighbourhood
• →Boudhanath Stupa visit (~£2.50 entry) — walk the kora with pilgrims
• →Optional: Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — NPR 200 (~£1.25)
• →Optional: Durbar Square — NPR 1000 (~£6)
• →Dinner: buff momos and local Nepali dal bhat in Thamel

Your adventure ends this morning, but Kathmandu rewards those who linger. If you have time before departure, grab a final breakfast of Nepali tea and sel roti (fried rice bread) at a local café. Consider extending your trip with a hike to Nagarkot for Himalayan views, a day trip to Bhaktapur Durbar Square (one of the finest preserved medieval cities in Asia), or book an Everest scenic flight (~USD 180-200 booked locally, cheaper than the USD 240 operator rate). Kathmandu is the perfect base for planning onward Himalayan trekking adventures.

🚌Taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£4-6)

🛏N/A — trip ends this morning

• →Final Thamel breakfast: Nepali tea and sel roti
• →Optional: Pashupatinath Temple (largest Hindu temple in Nepal, free to view exterior)
• →Optional: Bhaktapur day trip (~£3 shared taxi + £8 entry)
• →Optional: Everest scenic flight (~£145-160 booked locally at Kathmandu airport)
• →Optional: Rickshaw Night Explorer or Spiritual Nepal tour via Urban Adventures (book at UrbanAdventures.com)