Golden Triangle & Varanasi: Self-Launched Backpacker Version
8 days · India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi)
Emperor Holidays charges £1,255
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent 8-day run through India's classic Golden Triangle — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur — finished with two days on the ghats of Varanasi. You'll swap five-star hotels for well-located guesthouses and hostels, replace the private car with trains and cheap local transport, and book the same monuments and boat rides yourself (or via GetYourGuide/Klook for guided day tours). Same sights, same route, roughly a quarter of the price. Costs are approximate and based on budget-to-midrange backpacker rates; monument tickets for foreigners are the single biggest variable.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi — settle into Paharganj or Karol Bagh
New Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~£2, 20 mins) — far cheaper than a taxi (~£7-9 pre-booked). Base yourself in Paharganj (walking distance to the station, backpacker central) or the calmer Karol Bagh. Use the afternoon to get an Indian eSIM or SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£3-5), draw cash from an ATM, and wander Connaught Place for dinner. Don't over-plan — jet lag plus Delhi traffic is a bad combo.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£2; metro/walking around the centre ~£1
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh, private room (~£14-18/night)
- →Airport Express metro to New Delhi station
- →SIM card and cash setup
- →Evening stroll around Connaught Place
Old and New Delhi self-launched sightseeing
Delhi
Do the full Delhi circuit independently. Start early at Jama Masjid (~£5 entry with camera), then take a cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk's spice lanes (~£3-4, agree the price first). Walk past the Red Fort exterior (skip the ticket queue or buy online for ~£6) and continue to Raj Ghat (free). Afternoon: Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (free, volunteer in the langar kitchen if you like), then a metro/auto to Qutub Minar (~£6, the city's best sunset spot) with a drive-past of India Gate and the government district. Optional: book an Old Delhi street-food walking tour on GetYourGuide (~£20-28) instead of DIY-ing the food.
🚌Metro day pass ~£2; autos/rickshaws ~£4
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£14-18/night)
- →Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk cycle rickshaw
- →Red Fort exterior and Raj Ghat
- →Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
- →Qutub Minar
- →India Gate and Parliament drive-past
Delhi to Agra — Agra Fort and Taj Mahal at sunset
Agra
Take an early Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (~£7-11, 1h50-2h10 — book on IRCTC or 12Go Asia a few days ahead). Drop bags at a guesthouse in Taj Ganj, the neighbourhood right below the monument. Afternoon at Agra Fort (~£7). Then the Taj Mahal at golden hour — buy the e-ticket online (~£13, includes the main mausoleum), and note the Taj is closed on Fridays. Sunset from Mehtab Bagh across the river (~£4) is a cheaper, quieter alternative if you want a second angle. Dinner of Mughlai food in Taj Ganj.
🚌Delhi–Agra train ~£9; autos in Agra ~£3
🛏Taj Ganj guesthouse with rooftop Taj view, private room (~£12-16/night)
- →Agra Fort
- →Taj Mahal at sunset (e-ticket)
- →Optional Mehtab Bagh viewpoint
Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur
Leave bags and catch a bus or shared taxi from Agra's Idgah bus stand to Fatehpur Sikri (~£1.50-3, 1h) — or hire a taxi for the full day for ~£28-35 if you'd rather keep your luggage with you. Explore the abandoned Mughal capital, Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti (~£6 entry; ignore the aggressive 'free guide' touts). Continue to Jaipur by bus from the Sikri junction (~£2-3, 3h) or carry on with the taxi. In Jaipur, base in the old city near Hawa Mahal (Bani Park is quieter). Evening at Chokhi Dhani is touristy; instead try a thali at a local spot in MI Road.
🚌Agra–Fatehpur Sikri bus ~£2; Fatehpur Sikri–Jaipur bus ~£3
🛏Old City or Bani Park guesthouse/hostel, private room (~£13-17/night)
- →Fatehpur Sikri complex
- →Buland Darwaza
- →Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti
- →Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri
Jaipur — Amber Fort, City Palace and the Pink City
Jaipur
Get to Amber Fort by local bus or auto (~£1-2, or a £6 rickshaw round trip) for opening at 8am — go early to beat the heat and crowds. Entry ~£6. Skip the elephant ride and opt for the fort's own walking route. On the way back stop at Jal Mahal for photos (free). Afternoon: City Palace (~£8) and Jantar Mantar (~£3), then Hawa Mahal from the street or the café opposite (entry if you want it, ~£2). Finish with sunset at Nahargarh Fort (~£2 plus ~£3 for the ride up) for the best view over the Pink City. Optional: a GetYourGuide Jaipur heritage walking tour (~£15-20).
🚌Local bus/rickshaws ~£6
🛏Old City or Bani Park guesthouse/hostel, private room (~£13-17/night)
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal photo stop
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Nahargarh Fort sunset
Jaipur to Varanasi — train or flight transfer
Varanasi
Two realistic options: (1) overnight or daytime train Jaipur–Varanasi via a change at Agra or Delhi (~£8-14, 16-20h — book a sleeper/3AC berth on IRCTC or 12Go well in advance), or (2) a budget flight from Jaipur to Varanasi via Delhi (~£45-70, 4-6h door-to-door) paired with the previous night's train. Most self-launchers take the flight for time reasons — decide early because train berths sell out. Once in Varanasi, stay in Assi Ghat or near Dashashwamedh Ghat; walk to the ghats for the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh (free, arrive 45 mins early for a step seat).
🚌Jaipur–Varanasi train ~£12 (or budget flight ~£55)
🛏Guesthouse near Assi Ghat or Dashashwamedh, private room (~£12-16/night)
- →Travel day
- →Evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Sunrise boat on the Ganges and Sarnath
Varanasi
Haggle a rowboat at Assi Ghat for sunrise (~£6-9 per boat, split between 2-4 people — agree the price before boarding) and drift past the burning ghats and bathing pilgrims. Walk the old city lanes afterwards to Kashi Vishwanath Temple (free; no phones or bags inside, use a locker). In the afternoon take a shared auto or local bus the 10km to Sarnath (~£1): Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa and the Archaeological Museum (~£3, closed Fridays) which holds the Lion Capital. Return for sunset at the ghats. Alternative: book a GetYourGuide sunrise boat + walking tour (~£18-25) if you'd rather not negotiate.
🚌Shared autos/bus to Sarnath ~£2; boat shared ~£4
🛏Guesthouse near Assi Ghat or Dashashwamedh, private room (~£12-16/night)
- →Sunrise rowboat on the Ganges
- →Old city walk and Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- →Sarnath: Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, museum, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
Depart Varanasi
Varanasi / Delhi
Breakfast, a final slow walk along the ghats, and a pre-booked auto to Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (~£4-5). Note the original tour ends back in Delhi, so if you need to fly home from Delhi, book the ~1h20 Varanasi–Delhi flight (~£45-60) or an overnight train (~£8-12, 12-14h) with a night buffer before your international departure. Confirm your e-Visa (usually £25-30 for most Western passports, apply at least 4 days ahead) and leave slack for monsoon-season delays if travelling June–September.
🚌Auto to airport ~£5; optional Varanasi–Delhi flight ~£50
🛏None (departure day)
- →Sunrise walk on the ghats
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Emperor Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Emperor Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £1,255 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £735 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Emperor Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
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 Golden Triangle & Varanasi: Self-Launched Backpacker Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 8 days in India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi). 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 Emperor Holidays?+
Yes — Emperor Holidays charges around £1,255 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £735 (59%) per person.
How long is the India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi).
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, budget, backpacker trip through India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi), 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.
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