Self-Launched Golden Triangle Express: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur in 2 Days
2 days · Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra & Jaipur), India
ITS holidays charges £155
No-markup version: ~£135 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of ITS Holidays' 2-day private Golden Triangle tour, done on trains and local transport instead of a private car. You'll hit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, climb through Agra Fort, then ride to Jaipur for Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal — overnighting in a backpacker-friendly haveli. Expect an intense but genuinely doable two days; you trade the door-to-door driver for early alarms and a bit of station chaos, and save roughly two-thirds of the tour price. Costs are approximate and based on budget/backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Delhi → Agra: Taj Mahal & Agra Fort, then on to Jaipur
Delhi / Agra / Jaipur
Start brutally early. Take a pre-booked Uber/Ola (or the 6am Gatimaan Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin, ~£7) to Agra — the train is faster and more reliable than road traffic. Drop bags at a guesthouse in Taj Ganj and walk to the East Gate for opening (6am–sunrise in low season, book tickets online at asi.payumoney.com, ₹1,100/£10 for Taj + ₹50 for Agra Fort). Spend 2–2.5 hours at the Taj with a self-hired licensed guide (~£8–12 shared, arrange at the gate or via GetYourGuide), then walk 20 minutes to Agra Fort for another 1.5 hours. Grab a late lunch (biryani, £3), then take the 4:30–5pm train or a shared taxi/AC bus to Jaipur (~5–6 hrs, train ~£3–5, bus ~£4). Check in to a Zostel/haveli in the old city and eat at a rooftop near Hawa Mahal. Alternative: skip Jaipur tonight, sleep in Agra cheaply, and take the 6am train to Jaipur tomorrow — but you'll lose Amber Fort time.
🚌Gatimaan/Uber Delhi→Agra (~£7); Agra→Jaipur train or AC bus (~£3–5)
🛏Backpacker haveli or Zostel private/shared room, Jaipur old city (~£12–18)
- →Taj Mahal at opening (self-booked ticket + optional local guide)
- →Agra Fort self-guided or with local guide
- →Sunset train or AC bus Agra → Jaipur
Jaipur highlights & return to Delhi
Jaipur / New Delhi
Be at Amber Fort for 8am opening (₹200/£2 entry, plus ₹100 for the courtyard; the 'elephant ride' the tour includes is now heavily restricted — take a shared auto up instead, ~£1.50, or walk). Two hours in the fort, then take a local bus or Ola to the City Palace (₹200/£2, 1.5 hrs) and walk to Hawa Mahal (free from the street, ₹50 to enter) and Jal Mahal viewpoint on the way out of town (auto, ~£2). Grab a thali lunch (£3). Catch an afternoon train back to Delhi — the 4pm–5:30pm departures arrive around 9–10pm (~£4–6) or an AC sleeper bus (~£5). If you flew in and fly out same night, allow a 3-hour buffer. Drop at Delhi airport or your hotel. Book tickets in advance on IRCTC or 12Go Asia — peak-season trains do sell out.
🚌Local auto/bus within Jaipur (~£4 total); Jaipur→Delhi train (~£4–6)
🛏None included — onward travel or own Delhi hotel
- →Amber Fort (self-booked entry)
- →City Palace Jaipur
- →Hawa Mahal & Jal Mahal photo stops
- →Afternoon train Jaipur → Delhi
Self-launched vs. ITS holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | ITS holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£135 | £155 |
| Duration | 2 days | 2 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £20 per person (13%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more ITS holidays-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 Self-Launched Golden Triangle Express: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur in 2 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £135 per person for 2 days in Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra & Jaipur), 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 ITS holidays?+
Yes — ITS holidays charges around £155 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 £20 (13%) per person.
How long is the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra & Jaipur), India trip?+
This itinerary runs 2 days, covering 2 day-by-day stops through Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra & Jaipur), 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 Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra & Jaipur), 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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