Self-Launched India: Delhi, Agra, Rural Rajasthan & Jaipur
8 days · India (Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Jaipur)
G Adventures charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£279 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched version of G Adventures' TailorMade Golden Triangle sample route — Delhi's chaotic old city, sunrise at the Taj Mahal, Mughal ghosts at Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri's stepwell, a night in a rural Rajasthani village, and the Pink City of Jaipur. You'll swap the private vehicle and CEO for trains, buses and the odd auto-rickshaw, book the same sights yourself (most cost a few hundred rupees), and stay in well-reviewed budget guesthouses and homestays. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP, excluding international flights and the Indian e-Visa.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi — ease into the chaos
Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50) or a prepaid taxi (~£4-6). Base yourself in Paharganj or Karol Bagh, both packed with cheap guesthouses and walkable to the metro. Spend the afternoon gently: wander Connaught Place, sort out a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£4 for a month of data), and eat your first thali. Book tomorrow's Taj Mahal e-ticket online tonight (official ASI site, ~£11 for foreigners — skip the sunrise slot if you prefer a later start).
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50 or prepaid taxi ~£5
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£15/night double)
- →Airport Express metro into the city
- →Connaught Place wander
- →Local SIM card setup
- →Book Taj Mahal e-ticket online
Old Delhi on foot, then train to Agra
Delhi → Agra
Do the classic Old Delhi walk yourself: start at Jama Masjid (free entry, ~£1.50 camera fee, modest dress required), zigzag through Chandni Chowk's spice and silver lanes, and finish at the Raj Ghat or Red Fort (optional, ~£5). Grab street food — paranthe wali gali is the legendary stop. In the afternoon take a Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi train from Hazrat Nizamuddin/New Delhi to Agra Cantt (~1h50, £6-10 in AC chair car — book on IRCTC well in advance, or use a booking agent for a small fee). Check into a guesthouse in Taj Ganj with rooftop views of the mausoleum.
🚌Auto-rickshaws in Delhi ~£3 total; Delhi–Agra train £6-10
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj, Agra (~£14/night)
- →Jama Masjid & Chandni Chowk walk
- →Paranthe Wali Gali street food
- →Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express to Agra
Sunrise Taj Mahal, Baby Taj & Agra Fort
Agra
Be at the East Gate for opening (sunrise entry is the quietest and coolest). Your pre-booked ASI ticket (~£11) covers the mausoleum and grounds — allow 2-3 hours. Back to Taj Ganj for breakfast, then take an auto (~£2) to I'timad-ud-Daulah, the 'Baby Taj' (~£3 entry), and on to Agra Fort (~£6 entry) for the afternoon. Sunset views of the Taj from Mehtab Bagh cost ~£3 and are worth it. Optional: Kinari Bazaar for marble inlay and petha sweets.
🚌Auto-rickshaws around Agra ~£4 total
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj, Agra (~£14/night)
- →Sunrise at the Taj Mahal (pre-booked ASI ticket)
- →I'timad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)
- →Agra Fort
- →Sunset at Mehtab Bagh (optional)
Fatehpur Sikri, Abhaneri stepwell & a village night
Agra → Dhula Village
Hire a driver for the day (~£40-45 for the car, split between 2-4 people) or take a local bus to Fatehpur Sikri (~1h, ~£1) and on to Bandikui. Explore the deserted Mughal capital (~£6 entry) in the morning, then stop at Chand Baori in Abhaneri — the 3,500-step stepwell is free to view and genuinely jaw-dropping. Continue to Dhula village near Dausa and stay in a community homestay or rural camp (~£18 with dinner and breakfast). Evening: chai by a fire, home-cooked Rajasthani food and unbeatable stargazing.
🚌Private day-hire car ~£40-45 total, or local buses ~£3
🛏Village homestay or tented camp near Dhula/Dausa (~£18 incl. meals)
- →Fatehpur Sikri
- →Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri
- →Village walk and homestay dinner
Into the Pink City
Dhula Village → Jaipur
After a slow village breakfast, take a bus or shared jeep to Dausa and then a Rajasthan State Road Transport bus or train on to Jaipur (~2-3h, £2-4). Check into a guesthouse in the old city near Hawa Mahal or Bani Park. Spend the afternoon free: sip lassi at Lassiwala, browse Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar, and catch sunset from Nahargarh Fort's Padao restaurant terrace (~£2 entry plus drinks).
🚌Bus/shared jeep Dhula–Dausa–Jaipur ~£3
🛏Old-city guesthouse in Jaipur (~£16/night)
- →Lassiwala lassi
- →Johari & Bapu bazaars
- →Sunset at Nahargarh Fort
Amber Fort, City Palace & Hawa Mahal
Jaipur
Do the full Jaipur day independently. Take a local bus or auto to Amber Fort (~£1-2) and arrive for the 8am opening — entry ~£6, or ~£11 for the composite ticket covering Amber, Nahargarh, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and Albert Hall. Walk the ramparts, see the Sheesh Mahal, then descend to Jal Mahal for photos. Afternoon: Jaipur City Palace (~£8) and a photo stop at Hawa Mahal. Optional splurge: a sunrise hot-air balloon over Amber (~£160-190 booked via Klook/GetYourGuide — the one big optional extra on the original trip).
🚌Local bus and autos ~£4
🛏Old-city guesthouse in Jaipur (~£16/night)
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal
- →Jaipur City Palace
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Optional balloon ride (extra)
Jaipur to Delhi by train
Jaipur → Delhi
Morning free for Jantar Mantar (~£3) or a block-printing or cooking workshop (~£15-25 via GetYourGuide). Afternoon: take a Double Decker or Ajmer Shatabdi train from Jaipur to Delhi Sarai Rohilla/New Delhi (~4h30-5h, £6-9 in AC chair car). Back in the capital, head out for a final dinner — try Karim's near Jama Masjid or the buzzing Hauz Khas Village.
🚌Jaipur–Delhi train £6-9; Delhi metro ~£1
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£15/night)
- →Jantar Mantar or craft workshop
- →Scenic train back to Delhi
- →Farewell dinner at Karim's or Hauz Khas
Depart Delhi
Delhi
Last-minute souvenir shopping or a lazy breakfast, then take the Airport Express metro or a prepaid taxi to IGI for your flight home. If your flight is late, the National Museum (~£2) or Humayun's Tomb (~£6) make a great final stop.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50 or prepaid taxi ~£5
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Optional National Museum or Humayun's Tomb
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£279 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,621 per person (85%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£279
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 India: Delhi, Agra, Rural Rajasthan & Jaipur cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £279 per person for 8 days in India (Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Jaipur). 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £279 — a saving of roughly £1,621 (85%) per person.
How long is the India (Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Jaipur) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through India (Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Jaipur).
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, foodie, budget trip through India (Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Jaipur), 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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