Self-Launched Golden Triangle India: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur on a Backpacker Budget

Start in Delhi. Instead of a private airport pickup, use the Airport Express metro line (~£1.50) or an Uber/Ola (~£4-6) to get into the city. Make your way to New Delhi railway station and catch a morning or early-afternoon train to Agra — the Gatimaan Express (fastest, ~1h40) or a cheaper Shatabdi/Marudhar Express service; book via IRCTC or a 12Go/cleartrip reseller, fares from ~£3-8 in sleeper/chair car. Check into a budget guesthouse in Taj Ganj, the neighbourhood right by the monument. In the late afternoon visit Mehtab Bagh (entry ~£4) across the Yamuna for the classic sunset view of the Taj, then wander the local food lanes. Buy your Taj Mahal ticket in advance online (ASI portal or GetYourGuide ~£12) to skip the queue.

🚌Airport Express metro + train from New Delhi to Agra (~£5-8 total), plus tuk-tuk to guesthouse (~£1)

🛏Taj Ganj budget guesthouse or hostel, e.g. around South Gate (private room ~£12-20)

• →Train New Delhi → Agra
• →Mehtab Bagh sunset view of the Taj Mahal
• →Taj Ganj food walk

Enter the Taj Mahal at first light — tickets are cheapest and crowds quietest early. Security gives you 3 hours inside (more with a separate ticket to the main mausoleum). Walk or take a short cycle rickshaw north to the red-sandstone Agra Fort (entry ~£6, plus optional audio guide via GetYourGuide). After lunch cross the river to Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb (the 'Baby Taj', ~£3) and, if time allows, nearby Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra. Rent a cycle rickshaw for the day or use Uber/Ola to keep costs down. In the evening catch a train or pre-booked shared taxi towards Jaipur for tomorrow, or rest if leaving on the morning service.

🚌Cycle rickshaw / auto-rickshaw around Agra and to the river monuments (~£3-5 for the day)

🛏Taj Ganj budget guesthouse or hostel (private room ~£12-20)

• →Taj Mahal at sunrise
• →Agra Fort
• →Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb (Baby Taj)
• →Optional Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

Do the guided tour's day-2 highlights independently. Take an early local bus or shared taxi from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri (~40km, ~£1-2 bus). Explore the abandoned Mughal capital and its vast Buland Darwaza gate (entry ~£6). Continue onward — the free-standing Mughal monuments are signposted from the highway. Break the journey at Abhaneri to see the dramatic Chand Baori stepwell (small entry ~£2 plus camera fee). From here catch the next bus or a shared jeep to Jaipur, or rejoin the Jaipur-bound highway and pick up a Rajasthan State Road Transport bus (~£2-3). Arrive in Jaipur and check into a budget guesthouse in the old Pink City near Hawa Mahal / Bapu Bazaar.

🚌Local buses Agra → Fatehpur Sikri → Abhaneri → Jaipur, or shared taxi segments (~£6-10 total)

🛏Jaipur budget guesthouse or hostel near Hawa Mahal / Bani Park (private room ~£15-25)

• →Fatehpur Sikri & Buland Darwaza
• →Chand Baori stepwell, Abhaneri
• →Evening walk in the Pink City bazaars

See all of Jaipur's highlights the self-launched way. Take a local bus or auto to Amber Fort, climb the hill on foot or by jeep, and explore the Sheesh Mahal (entry ~£6, combined ticket available). Heading back into town, pause at Jal Mahal (water palace) for photos from the roadside. In the old city visit the City Palace (~£7), the Jantar Mantar UNESCO astronomy site (~£2) and photograph Hawa Mahal from the street. Round off at the Albert Hall Museum (small entry). Explore on foot and by auto-rickshaw; hire a guide ad hoc at any monument (typically ~£5-10) or use an audio guide from GetYourGuide. Evening: culture stop optional at Chokhi Dhani or a Rajasthani folk performance.

🚌Local bus / auto-rickshaw to Amber Fort and around the old city (~£4-6 for the day)

🛏Jaipur budget guesthouse or hostel near Hawa Mahal / Bani Park (private room ~£15-25)

• →Amber Fort & Sheesh Mahal
• →Jal Mahal (viewpoint)
• →City Palace
• →Jantar Mantar UNESCO site
• →Hawa Mahal
• →Albert Hall Museum

Catch an early train from Jaipur to Delhi (intercity express, ~5h, ~£5-9) to spend the final day on the guided tour's Delhi programme. On arrival, head to Old Delhi: Jama Masjid (small entry/camera fee), then explore the chaotic Chandni Chowk lanes on foot and by cycle rickshaw (~£1-2), sampling parathas, jalebi and street chaat. Continue to Humayun's Tomb (~£6), Qutub Minar (~£6) and India Gate (free). If time remains, Lotus Temple (free) near Kalkaji Mandir metro. Use the Delhi Metro day pass (~£1.50) and Ubers to move between far-flung sites. From your final hotel, get to the airport via Airport Express metro (~£1.50) or taxi (~£5).

🚌Train Jaipur → Delhi (~£5-9), Delhi Metro day pass (~£1.50), airport transfer (~£1.50-5)

🛏Optional final night in a Delhi backpacker area such as Paharganj or Hauz Khas (private room ~£15-25) or depart same day

• →Jama Masjid
• →Cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk / Old Delhi
• →Humayun's Tomb
• →Qutub Minar
• →India Gate
• →Lotus Temple (if time)