India Golden Triangle with Tigers & Asiatic Lions — Self-Launched

Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~₹60/£0.60) or a prepaid taxi (~₹600/£6). Base yourself in Paharganj or the more chilled Majnu ka Tilla for your first night. Spend the afternoon wandering Connaught Place, sorting a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~₹300/£3) and grabbing your first thali. Don't over-plan — jet lag plus Delhi traffic is a lot.

🚌Airport Express metro, ~£0.60

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Paharganj (~£10–14)

• →Airport Express metro into central Delhi
• →Local SIM card setup
• →Evening walk around Connaught Place

Build your own sightseeing loop: start early at Jama Masjid (free, small camera fee), walk the lanes of Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli spice market, then take a cycle rickshaw through the chaos (~₹150/£1.50). Afternoon: Red Fort (₹600/£6 for foreigners) and, if you're still standing, Humayun's Tomb. Qutub Minar is 45 minutes south by metro — swap it in for Humayun's if you prefer. Consider a free walking tour or a GetYourGuide Old Delhi food walk (~£12–18) if you want the stories without a full private guide.

🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£1.50

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Paharganj (~£10–14)

• →Jama Masjid
• →Chandni Chowk & Khari Baoli spice market walk
• →Cycle rickshaw ride
• →Red Fort
• →Optional Old Delhi street-food walk (GetYourGuide)

Take an early Gatimaan Express or the cheaper Intercity from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (~1h50, ₹150–800/£1.50–8 depending on class). Drop bags at a guesthouse in Taj Ganj and walk to Agra Fort (₹650/£6.50). Late afternoon head to Mehtab Bagh or the Taj's east gate for sunset views — the actual Taj ticket is best bought online for a sunrise slot tomorrow (₹1,100/£11). Evening: rooftop dinner facing the dome.

🚌Gatimaan/Intercity Express train ~£4–8; auto-rickshaws ~£2

🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj (~£12–16)

• →Train to Agra
• →Agra Fort
• →Taj Mahal sunset view from Mehtab Bagh
• →Taj Ganj rooftop dinner

Get in the 6am Taj queue — sunrise is the magic hour and the crowds are thinner. After breakfast, take a train or bus towards Sawai Madhopur: the Jan Shatabdi or a bus to Bharatpur plus a connection works, roughly 4–5 hours total. Alternatively a shared taxi/sumo from Agra runs ~₹3,500/£35 per vehicle if you can split four ways. Book your Ranthambore safari slots in advance on the Rajasthan forest department portal (Zone options 1–10; ~₹1,500–1,800/£15–18 per jeep seat including permit) — they sell out, especially in season.

🚌Train/bus Agra–Sawai Madhopur ~£6–10

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Sawai Madhopur (~£12–18)

• →Taj Mahal at sunrise
• →Train/bus to Sawai Madhopur
• →Book Ranthambore safari permits online

Two game drives today if you can get the permits — a 6:30am jeep and a 2:30pm one, shared with up to five others through the forest department or your hotel. Ranthambore is one of the best places in India for tiger sightings, and the dry deciduous forest plus the lakes makes for great birding too. Evening: chill at a rooftop place in town, or add a short hike up to Ranthambore Fort for sunset views over the park.

🚌Safari jeep included in permit price; local autos ~£2

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Sawai Madhopur (~£12–18)

• →Morning shared jeep safari
• →Afternoon shared jeep safari
• →Ranthambore Fort sunset walk
• →Birdwatching

A straightforward 2–2.5 hour train (or bus) from Sawai Madhopur to Jaipur, roughly ₹100–500/£1–5. Check into a hostel in the old city or near Hathroi. Use the afternoon for the bazaars: Johari Bazaar for gemstones, Bapu Bazaar for textiles and mojari shoes. Join an evening cooking class or a street-food walk if you want structure (~£15 via GetYourGuide).

🚌Train Sawai Madhopur–Jaipur ~£1–5; autos ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm or budget haveli guesthouse (~£12–20)

• →Train to Jaipur
• →Johari & Bapu Bazaar shopping
• →Optional Rajasthani cooking class or food walk

Take local bus #5 or a shared auto to Amber Fort early (~₹40/£0.40 bus, or ₹250/£2.50 for an auto). Skip the elephant rides — ethically iffy and often crowded; walk up or take a jeep. Entry ₹550/£5.50. On the way back stop at Jal Mahal (free from the road) and drive past Hawa Mahal. Afternoon: City Palace (₹700/£7) and Albert Hall Museum (₹300/£3). A three-day composite Jaipur monument ticket (~₹1,000/£10) can work out cheaper if you're doing more sites.

🚌Local bus + shared auto ~£4

🛏Hostel dorm or budget haveli guesthouse (~£12–20)

• →Amber Fort
• →Jal Mahal viewpoint
• →Hawa Mahal photo stop
• →City Palace
• →Albert Hall Museum

Take a daytime train from Jaipur to Delhi (2.5–5 hours depending on service; the Double Decker or Ajmer Shatabdi are decent choices, ₹300–1,000/£3–10). Back in Delhi, use the afternoon to see anything you missed — India Gate, Lodhi Gardens, or a last-minute shopping run in Dilli Haat. Book your flight to Gujarat this evening: a direct Delhi–Rajkot or Delhi–Ahmedabad flight (~£45–75 booked a few weeks out) saves a 24-hour+ journey.

🚌Train Jaipur–Delhi ~£3–10

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Paharganj (~£10–14)

• →Train to Delhi
• →India Gate / Lodhi Gardens
• →Book onward flight to Gujarat

Fly Delhi to Rajkot (closest airport to Gir, ~1h50) or Ahmedabad, then take a bus or shared taxi onward — Rajkot to Sasan Gir is about 2.5 hours by bus (~₹150/£1.50) or a shared taxi. Base yourself in Sasan Gir village, which is full of small guesthouses and wildlife lodges. Overnight and prepare for an early start; confirm your safari slot for tomorrow (booked in advance via the Gujarat forest department's online portal or through your guesthouse, ~₹1,500–2,000/£15–20 per seat).

🚌Flight ~£45–75; bus Rajkot–Sasan Gir ~£1.50–3

🛏Guesthouse or lodge in Sasan Gir (~£15–22)

• →Flight to Rajkot/Ahmedabad
• →Bus or shared taxi to Sasan Gir
• →Confirm Gir safari permits

Gir is the only place on Earth with wild Asiatic lions, and two shared jeep safaris today (early morning ~6am and afternoon ~3pm) give you the best shot. Each safari is a set-permit slot, so book both in advance if possible. Between drives, visit the Devalia Safari Park interpretation zone — a fenced alternative with near-guaranteed sightings if the main park is unlucky — or just nap. Evening: load up on Gujarati thali and swap tiger/lion stories with other travellers.

🚌Shared safaris (included in permit); local transfers ~£3

🛏Guesthouse or lodge in Sasan Gir (~£15–22)

• →Morning jeep safari in Gir
• →Afternoon jeep safari
• →Devalia Safari Park interpretation zone
• →Gujarati thali dinner

Take a bus or shared taxi from Sasan Gir towards Veraval/Junagadh and then on to Ahmedabad (5–7 hours total by bus/train, or a private taxi split between travellers ~£30–40 per person). If your flight is late, swing by the Sabarmati Ashram or the old-city pols and a proper Gujarati thali before heading to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport.

🚌Bus/shared taxi Gir–Ahmedabad ~£8–40 depending on mode

🛏—

• →Bus/train to Ahmedabad
• →Optional Sabarmati Ashram or old-city walk
• →Depart from Ahmedabad airport