Self-Launched Golden Triangle with Dubai & Kathmandu
13 days · Dubai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Kathmandu
Cosmos charges £3,500
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 13-day self-launched version of Cosmos's 42-50 person coach tour across the UAE, India's Golden Triangle and Nepal. Same headline sights — the Burj Khalifa, Old Dubai's souks, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, the Taj Mahal at sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, and Boudhanath and Patan in the Kathmandu Valley — but booked independently with hostels and guesthouses, local trains and buses, and GetYourGuide/Klook day tours instead of a private coach and tour director. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP; book flights and intra-Asia legs early for the best fares.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dubai — Deira & the Creek
Dubai, UAE
Land at DXB and take the metro (approx £2) to a hostel in Deira or Bur Dubai, close to the creek and the souks. Spend the late afternoon wandering the textile and spice alleys and crossing the creek on an abra water taxi for about 1 AED (20p). Pick up a Nol card for metro and bus travel. Eat cheap at a karak chai and shawarma stand.
🚌DXB metro to Deira approx £2; abra 20p
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Deira/Bur Dubai (£18-28 dorm or simple double)
- →Metro from airport to Deira
- →Abra creek crossing
- →Deira spice and textile souks
Old Dubai walking tour & Burj Khalifa
Dubai, UAE
Join a free/small-fee walking tour of the Bastakiya Quarter and Al Fahidi Historical District (highly rated guides, tip-based) covering the wind-tower houses, the spice souk and the gold souk. In the late afternoon book a Burj Khalifa 'At the Top' 124th-floor ticket online in advance (approx £35-42, cheaper off-peak slots) to catch sunset over the city. Metro between stops.
🚌Metro and walking, approx £3
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Deira/Bur Dubai
- →Bastakiya/Al Fahidi walking tour
- →Spice souk & gold souk
- →Burj Khalifa At The Top 124th floor
Dubai beaches & Dubai Mall
Dubai, UAE
A free day: metro to Jumeirah for a public beach swim, or head to Kite Beach for cheaper food and a view of the Burj Al Arab. In the evening explore Dubai Mall and the fountain show (free) without paying for attractions. Use the metro day pass to keep transport costs down.
🚌Metro day travel approx £4
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Deira/Bur Dubai
- →Jumeirah/Kite Beach
- →Dubai Mall & fountain show
Fly Dubai to Delhi
Delhi, India
Fly Dubai–Delhi (book 2-4 months ahead; budget carriers like IndiGo, Air India Express or Flydubai often have fares around £80-130 one-way). Take the Airport Express metro or an app-based taxi to a hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Get an Indian e-Visa in advance and sort a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, approx £4-6 for a month of data). Evening stroll in Connaught Place.
🚌Flight approx £100; Airport Express approx £2
🛏Hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (£8-14 dorm)
- →Flight Dubai–Delhi
- →Airport Express metro to city
- →Local SIM setup
- →Connaught Place evening walk
Delhi — Old Delhi & New Delhi highlights
Delhi, India
Do a self-launched circuit: morning walking tour of Lodhi Gardens (free), then India Gate and the exterior of Rashtrapati Bhavan along Rajpath. After lunch head to Old Delhi for a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk (negotiate 100-200 INR) and visit Jama Masjid (free entry, small camera fee). Consider a Klook/GetYourGuide Old Delhi street-food walk in the evening (approx £15-20) if you want a guide.
🚌Metro and rickshaw approx £4
🛏Hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
- →Lodhi Gardens
- →India Gate
- →Rashtrapati Bhavan exterior
- →Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride
- →Jama Masjid
Delhi — Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar & Bangla Sahib
Delhi, India
Use the metro to tick off the big Mughal sights independently: Humayun's Tomb (approx 600 INR), Qutub Minar (approx 600 INR) and the Sikh gurdwara Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (free, volunteer at the langar kitchen if you like). Lunch at a local thali restaurant for around £3. Pack tonight for an early train to Agra.
🚌Metro approx £3
🛏Hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Qutub Minar
- →Gurudwara Bangla Sahib & langar
Train to Agra — Taj Mahal at sunset or next sunrise
Agra, India
Take the Gatimaan Express or a Shatabdi from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (approx 1h50, £6-12 booked on IRCTC). Check into a guesthouse in Taj Ganj with a rooftop Taj view. Visit Agra Fort (approx 650 INR) in the afternoon, then either catch the Taj at sunset or save it for sunrise tomorrow. Pre-buy your Taj Mahal ticket online (approx 1,300 INR, cheaper before the ticket window opens).
🚌Train approx £8; auto-rickshaws approx £3
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj (£10-16)
- →Gatimaan Express train to Agra
- →Agra Fort
- →Sunset view of the Taj Mahal
Sunrise Taj Mahal, then drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri
Jaipur, India
Enter the Taj Mahal at opening (6am, East Gate is quietest) for the classic sunrise light — allow 2-3 hours. Then take a shared taxi or book a private car with driver for the Agra–Fatehpur Sikri–Jaipur run (approx £35-45 for the car, split between travellers on hostel noticeboards or via a Klook transfer). Stop at Fatehpur Sikri's sandstone palaces and courtyards (approx 610 INR) and its Jama Masjid. Arrive Jaipur in the evening.
🚌Private car Agra–Fatehpur Sikri–Jaipur approx £40 (or shared taxi/bus for £8-12)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Jaipur old city (£8-14)
- →Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
- →Fatehpur Sikri palaces & courtyard
- →Road transfer to Jaipur
Jaipur — Amber Fort, City Palace & Jantar Mantar
Jaipur, India
Take a local bus or auto to Amber Fort for opening (approx 500 INR combined ticket option); explore the Hall of Victory and Chamber of Mirrors. On the way back stop at Jal Mahal for photos. Afternoon in the Pink City: City Palace Museum (approx 700 INR) and Jantar Mantar (approx 200 INR). If you want the community-project element of the original tour, contact the Ladli Foundation directly to ask about volunteering or donating rather than a paid visit.
🚌Local bus/auto approx £4
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Jaipur old city
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal photo stop
- →City Palace Museum
- →Jantar Mantar
Fly Jaipur to Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fly Jaipur–Kathmandu (usually via Delhi on IndiGo/Air India, approx £110-160 one-way; book early). Get a Nepal visa on arrival (approx £25-30 for 15 days, cash in USD/GBP preferred). Take a prepaid taxi from Tribhuvan airport to Thamel (approx 800-1,000 NPR). Evening wander Thamel's lanes, book a trekking/valley tour desk if you want add-ons, and eat momos for under £3.
🚌Flight approx £130; airport taxi approx £6
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Thamel (£8-14)
- →Flight Jaipur–Kathmandu
- →Nepal visa on arrival
- →Thamel evening walk
Kathmandu Durbar Square & Hanuman Dhoka
Kathmandu, Nepal
Walk to Kathmandu Durbar Square (approx 1,000 NPR) and explore Hanuman Dhoka palace courtyards and the Kumari Ghar, home of the living goddess — time your visit for a late-afternoon Kumari appearance. Continue to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) for sunset views over the valley. Hire a local guide at the square entrance for £10-15 if you want the history explained.
🚌Walking and taxi approx £4
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Thamel
- →Kathmandu Durbar Square
- →Hanuman Dhoka palace
- →Kumari Ghar
- →Swayambhunath at sunset
Boudhanath & Patan Durbar Square
Patan, Nepal
Morning at Boudhanath, the vast Tibetan stupa — walk the kora with pilgrims, visit a monastery rooftop cafe (entrance approx 400 NPR). Then take a local bus or taxi to Patan (approx 30 min) and spend the afternoon in Patan Durbar Square and the Patan Museum (combined ticket approx 1,000 NPR). Return to Kathmandu in the evening.
🚌Local bus/taxi approx £5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Thamel
- →Boudhanath stupa and kora
- →Patan Durbar Square
- →Patan Museum
Kathmandu — departure
Kathmandu, Nepal
A final morning for souvenir shopping in Thamel or an early visit to Pashupatinath if your flight is late (approx 1,000 NPR, taxi £4). Prepaid taxi to the airport for your onward flight home.
🚌Airport taxi approx £6
🛏None (departure day)
- →Thamel shopping
- →Optional Pashupatinath visit
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £3,500 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,710 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Golden Triangle with Dubai & Kathmandu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 13 days in Dubai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Kathmandu. 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 Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £3,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £2,710 (77%) per person.
How long is the Dubai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Kathmandu trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Dubai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Kathmandu.
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 Dubai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Kathmandu, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.