Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Udaipur & Jaipur: 8-Day Self-Launched Rajasthan Loop
8 days · India
Wonderful Holidays charges £799
No-markup version: ~£392 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Wonderful Holidays' 8-day Delhi–Agra–Ranthambore–Udaipur–Jaipur private tour. Instead of a private car and driver, you'll use India's excellent sleeper and day trains, budget flights where they save a full day, and cheap shared safari jeeps. Everything on the original itinerary is kept: Old & New Delhi sightseeing, sunrise at the Taj Mahal, two tiger safaris in Ranthambore, Udaipur's lake palaces, and Jaipur's forts and bazaars. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and assume you book safari/entry tickets yourself online.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi – Old & New Delhi sightseeing
Delhi
Land in Delhi and check into a guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. In the afternoon tackle the original tour's Delhi highlights on foot and by metro: Red Fort photo stop, Jama Masjid (free entry, small camera fee), then the metro to Central Secretariat for India Gate, a walk past Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament House, and Qutub Minar by auto-rickshaw or the Yellow Line to Qutub Minar station. A day metro card costs around £2 and auto rides £1-2 each. Book your onward train to Agra tonight at the IRCTC counter or on the IRCTC/12Go app.
🚌Airport Express Metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50); metro day card ~£2
🛏Budget guesthouse, Paharganj/Karol Bagh (£10-14)
- →Jama Masjid
- →Red Fort (photo stop)
- →India Gate & Rajpath walk
- →Qutub Minar
Train to Agra – Agra Fort & Taj Mahal at sunset
Agra
Take an early Gatimaan Express or Vande Bharat train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (roughly 1h50m-2h, £5-12 depending on class). Drop bags at a Taj Ganj guesthouse and visit Agra Fort (£6 entry, book on asi.payumoney.com or buy at the gate). Head to the Taj Mahal in the late afternoon — note the Taj is CLOSED on Fridays, the one fact worth planning around. Taj entry is about £12 for foreigners plus £2 for the main mausoleum. Skip the official-guide upsell; a self-guided audio tour on GetYourGuide costs ~£5 if you want commentary.
🚌Train Delhi–Agra ~£8; auto-rickshaws ~£3 total
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj (£10-15)
- →Agra Fort
- →Taj Mahal (sunset visit)
- →Taj Ganj rooftop dinner
Sunrise Taj, then train to Ranthambore
Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur)
Get to the Taj at opening (sunrise, best light and fewest crowds) with your pre-bought online ticket — tickets are date- and time-slotted so book on the ASI site a few days ahead. Back for breakfast, then take an afternoon train from Agra Fort/Agra Cantt toward Sawai Madhopur (change at Kota or Gangapur City, ~5-6 hours, £4-9). Arrive in Sawai Madhopur and check into a budget lodge near the park gate. Book both of tomorrow's safaris tonight — either online via the Rajasthan Forest Department portal (opens ~90 days out and sells fast) or through your guesthouse (they'll arrange shared jeep seats for ~£25-35 per person per safari).
🚌Train Agra–Sawai Madhopur ~£7
🛏Budget lodge, Sawai Madhopur (£12-18)
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Arrival in Ranthambore
- →Safari booking
Ranthambore – morning & afternoon tiger safaris
Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur)
The original tour's double-safari day: a 6-9am shared jeep (Gypsy, 6 seats) or Canter (20 seats, cheaper) safari in Zones 1-5, lunch and a nap, then a second safari from ~2:30pm. Safaris are booked per seat, so as a solo traveller you simply join a shared vehicle — Canter seats are the cheapest option. Bring binoculars, water and a hat. Expect 3-4 hours per safari with a government-approved naturalist. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed; Ranthambore's densities are good in winter and spring.
🚌Park jeep transfers included in safari permit
🛏Budget lodge, Sawai Madhopur (£12-18)
- →Morning safari (Zone 1-5)
- →Afternoon safari
- →Ranthambore Fort walk if time allows
Ranthambore to Udaipur via Jaipur
Udaipur
A long travel day. Take a morning train Sawai Madhopur–Jaipur (~2.5h, £3-6) and connect to an afternoon/evening train or a cheap IndiGo flight Jaipur–Udaipur (~1h, from £25 if booked ahead) — the flight saves you 5 hours and is often worth it. Arrive Udaipur and settle into a lakeside guesthouse in Lal Ghat. Evening rooftop dinner overlooking Lake Pichola.
🚌Train ~£5 plus flight ~£30 or train Jaipur–Udaipur ~£6
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Lal Ghat (£12-18)
- →Lake Pichola sunset from a rooftop
Udaipur – City Palace, Jagdish Temple & Lake Pichola boat
Udaipur
Walk the original itinerary: City Palace (£6, with optional Crystal Gallery add-on), Jagdish Temple (free), Saheliyon Ki Bari gardens (£2), and a shared boat ride on Lake Pichola (£4-6, buy at the jetty by the City Palace, no need to pre-book). Wander the old town's havelis and Bagore Ki Haveli in the evening if there's a folk dance show (£3). A good day to just walk — Udaipur's sights are all within 2km of each other.
🚌On foot; occasional auto ~£2
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Lal Ghat (£12-18)
- →City Palace
- →Jagdish Temple
- →Saheliyon Ki Bari
- →Lake Pichola boat ride
Udaipur to Jaipur – Amber Fort & Pink City
Jaipur
Morning train or bus Udaipur–Jaipur (~6-7h by train, £5-9; overnight option exists but a day train keeps the itinerary intact). Arrive early afternoon, check into a guesthouse in the old city near Hawa Mahal. Take a local bus or shared auto to Amber Fort (£6 entry, ~30 min from town) for the late-afternoon light, stopping at Jal Mahal for photos on the way back. Then Hawa Mahal (free from the street, £2 inside), City Palace (£8) and Jantar Mantar (£3) if time allows, finishing with a browse through Johari and Bapu bazaars.
🚌Train Udaipur–Jaipur ~£7; local bus/auto to Amber ~£3
🛏Guesthouse, old city Jaipur (£12-18)
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal photo stop
- →Hawa Mahal
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Bazaar browsing
Jaipur to Delhi & departure
Delhi
If you missed any Jaipur sights yesterday, use the morning for Jantar Mantar or a bazaar run. Then take the Vande Bharat or Double Decker train Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla/New Delhi (~4h, £6-12) or a cheap afternoon flight (~£28). Allow at least 3-4 hours between train arrival and an international flight. If your flight is late, drop bags at a Paharganj guesthouse or use the New Delhi station cloakroom (~£1) and grab a last thali before heading to IGI Airport on the Airport Express.
🚌Train or flight Jaipur–Delhi ~£8-28; Airport Express ~£1.50
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final Jaipur bazaar shopping
- →Return to Delhi
Self-launched vs. Wonderful Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Wonderful Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£392 | £799 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £407 per person (51%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Wonderful Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£392
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 Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Udaipur & Jaipur: 8-Day Self-Launched Rajasthan Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £392 per person for 8 days in 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 Wonderful Holidays?+
Yes — Wonderful Holidays charges around £799 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £392 — a saving of roughly £407 (51%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through 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, adventure, wildlife trip through 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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