Delhi to Kochi by Rail — Self-Launched Edition
21 days · India (Delhi to Kochi)
G Adventures charges £2,200
No-markup version: ~£1,010 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 21-day independent rail run from Delhi to Kochi covering the classic Golden Triangle, Rajasthan's fort cities, Mumbai, Goa, Hampi, Mysore and Kerala's backwaters. Using Indian Railways sleeper and chair car tickets, budget guesthouses and hostels, and self-bookable guided tours, you can replicate G Adventures' "Delhi to Kochi by Rail" trip for roughly a third of the price. Costs are approximate and based on current backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Delhi
Delhi
Land at Delhi (DEL) and make your own way in — take the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi station (~£2) or a prepaid taxi/OLA cab (~£5-8). Check into a guesthouse or hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Get a SIM card (Airtel/Jio, ~£3 for a month of data), sort your onward tickets on the IRCTC app, and take an easy evening wander around Connaught Place for dinner. Optional: Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar if you have a spare afternoon.
🚌Airport Express Metro ~£2, or OLA/prepaid taxi ~£5-8
🛏Paharganj or Karol Bagh guesthouse/hostel (~£8-14)
- →Airport Express Metro to New Delhi
- →SIM card and IRCTC app setup
- →Connaught Place evening stroll
- →Optional Humayun's Tomb
Delhi to Agra — Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
Agra
Book the morning Shatabdi Express (Delhi to Agra Cantt, ~2 hrs, ~£9 incl. on-board breakfast). Drop bags at your guesthouse near the Taj's south gate, then self-book the Taj Mahal guided tour (GetYourGuide ~£10-15, entry £12) plus Agra Fort. Time permitting, add the Baby Taj (Itimad-ud-Daulah) or Mehtab Bagh for the sunset view across the river. Note the Taj is closed Fridays.
🚌Shatabdi Express ~£9, auto-rickshaw around town ~£1-2 per hop
🛏Agra guesthouse/hostel near Taj south gate (~£10-16)
- →Shatabdi Express to Agra
- →Taj Mahal guided tour
- →Agra Fort guided tour
- →Optional Baby Taj / Mehtab Bagh sunset
Agra to Jaipur
Jaipur
Spend the morning exploring Agra's markets or Fatehpur Sikri if you're keen. Board the evening Shatabdi Express (or a comfortable Intercity chair car) to Jaipur (~4.5 hrs, ~£10). Arrive late evening and settle into a guesthouse in the Pink City near Hawa Mahal or in the old town.
🚌Shatabdi Express Agra-Jaipur ~£10
🛏Jaipur guesthouse/hostel near Hawa Mahal (~£10-18)
- →Free morning in Agra
- →Shatabdi Express to Jaipur
- →Old city evening arrival walk
Jaipur — Amber Fort & Old City
Jaipur
Do your own orientation walk through the Pink City: Hawa Mahal photo stop, Albert Hall museum and Johari/Bapu bazaar. Take a local bus or auto to Amber Fort (~£3 entry, self-book an audio guide or a GetYourGuide guided visit ~£12). Optional add-ons: City Palace (~£8), Jantar Mantar, and the Art Deco Raj Mandir cinema for a Bollywood film (~£2-4).
🚌Auto-rickshaw to Amber Fort ~£2-3, local bus ~£0.50
🛏Jaipur guesthouse/hostel near Hawa Mahal (~£10-18)
- →Hawa Mahal & Old City orientation walk
- →Amber Fort visit
- →Bazaar shopping
- →Optional City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Raj Mandir cinema
Jaipur to Udaipur
Udaipur
Board the morning train for Udaipur (e.g. Ananya Express or the Intercity, ~6-7 hrs, ~£8-12 in sleeper chair car). Scenic pass through Aravalli hills. Arrive evening and take an auto to a lakeside guesthouse. Free evening by Lake Pichola.
🚌Jaipur-Udaipur train ~£8-12
🛏Udaipur lakeside guesthouse (~£10-18)
- →Scenic train to Udaipur
- →Lakeside evening stroll at Lake Pichola
Udaipur — City Palace & Gangaur Ghat
Udaipur
Morning orientation walk to Jagdish Temple and the huge City Palace (~£6 entry). Book a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola (~£6). In the evening attend a Rajasthani cultural/dance show at Gangaur Ghat (Bagore Ki Haveli, ~£3). Optional: Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace for panoramic sunset views.
🚌Walking plus short auto rides ~£1-2
🛏Udaipur lakeside guesthouse (~£10-18)
- →Jagdish Temple & City Palace visit
- →Lake Pichola boat ride
- →Rajasthani cultural show at Gangaur Ghat
- →Optional Monsoon Palace sunset
Udaipur to Bundi
Bundi
Take a train to Bundi (via a change at Chittaurgarh or Kota, ~6 hrs, ~£6-10). This small, quiet fortress town is Rajasthan without the crowds. Check into a heritage guesthouse and explore the blue-washed old town and stepwells in the afternoon light.
🚌Train Udaipur-Bundi ~£6-10
🛏Bundi heritage guesthouse (~£8-14)
- →Train to Bundi
- →Old town stepwell wander
Bundi to Mumbai — Overnight Train
Bundi/Mumbai (overnight)
Explore Bundi's Taragarh Fort, palace and the famous Raniji ki Baori stepwell (~£5 combined entry). In the evening board the overnight Mumbai-bound train (e.g. via Kota — book a 2AC/3AC berth ~£12-20), with dinner aboard or at the station.
🚌Overnight train to Mumbai, 2AC/3AC ~£12-20
🛏Sleeper train berth (included in train fare)
- →Taragarh Fort & Bundi Palace
- →Raniji ki Baori stepwell
- →Overnight sleeper train to Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai — Colaba & Gateway of India
Mumbai
Arrive in Mumbai in the morning. Check into a budget hotel/hostel in Colaba or Fort. Do a free self-guided or tip-based walking tour of the Colaba area, see the Gateway of India, and take a ferry to Elephanta Island if time allows (~£4 return). Evening: Marine Drive sunset and street food at Mohammed Ali Road. Note: the Women With Wheels airport transfers the operator includes can be replicated with an app-based cab.
🚌Arrival from train station; local trains/autos within Mumbai ~£0.30-1
🛏Colaba/Fort budget hotel or hostel (~£15-25)
- →Colaba walking tour
- →Gateway of India
- →Optional Elephanta Island ferry
- →Marine Drive sunset
Mumbai to Goa
Goa
Book a low-cost flight (IndiGo/SpiceJet, ~£35-55, ~1 hr) or overnight Konkan Railway train (~£10-20 sleeper) to Goa. Settle into a beach guesthouse in North Goa (Anjuna/Vagator) or South Goa (Palolem) depending on your vibe. Free time for beach and local Portuguese-era architecture.
🚌Flight ~£35-55, or Konkan Railway sleeper ~£10-20
🛏Goa beach guesthouse (~£10-20)
- →Flight or Konkan Railway to Goa
- →Beach time
- →Optional Old Goa churches & Latin Quarter
Goa Beach Day
Goa
Full day to relax: rent a scooter (~£6-8/day), explore Anjuna flea market if it's a Wednesday, or head to Palolem in the south. Optional spice plantation tour (~£6) or a Mandovi River sunset cruise (~£4-6) bookable locally or via Klook.
🚌Scooter rental ~£6-8/day; local bus ~£0.30
🛏Goa beach guesthouse (~£10-20)
- →Scooter rental & beach exploration
- →Anjuna flea market (Wed)
- →Optional spice plantation or river cruise
Goa to Hampi
Hampi
Travel overnight or by day train to Hampi (via Hospet, ~8-10 hrs, ~£8-15 sleeper). Hampi is a spectacular UNESCO boulder-and-ruins landscape. Book a guesthouse on the Hampi Bazaar side or across the river in Virupapur Gaddi.
🚌Train to Hospet ~£8-15, then auto/bus to Hampi ~£1-2
🛏Hampi guesthouse (~£8-15)
- →Train to Hampi via Hospet
- →Arrival and riverside wander
Hampi Ruins Exploration
Hampi
Full day among the Vijayanagara ruins: Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple (with its stone chariot), the royal enclosure and Matanga Hill for sunset. Rent a bicycle (~£2) or take a coracle boat ride across the Tungabhadra (~£1). Book a local guide for a half day (~£10) if you want context.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£2/day, coracle ~£1
🛏Hampi guesthouse (~£8-15)
- →Virupaksha & Vittala Temples
- →Stone Chariot & royal enclosure
- →Matanga Hill sunset
- →Optional coracle ride
Hampi to Mysore
Mysore
Head back to Hospet and take a train toward Mysore (via Bangalore/Hubli, ~10-12 hrs; an overnight sleeper saves a night's accommodation ~£10-18). Alternatively fly Bangalore-Mysore cheaply. Arrive and settle into a guesthouse near the palace.
🚌Overnight sleeper to Mysore ~£10-18
🛏Mysore guesthouse (~£10-16)
- →Train toward Mysore
- →Evening arrival wander
Mysore — Palace & Devaraja Market
Mysore
Visit Mysore Palace (~£6, stunning inside though no photos). Explore Devaraja Market for spices, flowers and sandalwood, and the Chamundi Hill temple. Friday evening the palace is lit with thousands of bulbs. Optional yoga drop-in classes in Gokulam.
🚌Auto-rickshaws ~£1-2 per hop
🛏Mysore guesthouse (~£10-16)
- →Mysore Palace visit
- →Devaraja Market
- →Chamundi Hill
- →Optional yoga class
Mysore to Kochi
Kochi
Take a train or a cheap flight down to Kochi (Ernakulam; train ~10-14 hrs sleeper ~£8-15, or flight ~£30-45, ~1 hr). Arrive and check into a guesthouse in Fort Kochi. Evening walk to see the Chinese fishing nets at sunset.
🚌Train sleeper ~£8-15, or flight ~£30-45
🛏Fort Kochi guesthouse (~£10-18)
- →Train or flight to Kochi
- →Fort Kochi evening walk
- →Chinese fishing nets at sunset
Kochi — Fort Kochi & Backwaters
Kochi
Explore Fort Kochi: St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Cathedral, Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue. Book a half-day Kerala backwater tour via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£15-25) or a local ferry to Vypin/Ernakulam. Evening Kathakali performance (~£3-5).
🚌Local ferry ~£0.20, auto ~£1-2
🛏Fort Kochi guesthouse (~£10-18)
- →Fort Kochi heritage walk
- →Mattancherry Palace & Jew Town
- →Backwater tour
- →Kathakali performance
Kerala Backwaters — Alleppey Overnight
Alleppey / Alappuzha
Take a local bus or train to Alleppey (~1.5 hrs, ~£1-2). Book a shared houseboat backwater cruise or a budget homestay on the canals (~£20-40 for shared houseboat, cheaper homestay). Glide past paddy fields, coconut groves and villages — a Kerala signature experience.
🚌Local bus/train Alleppey ~£1-2
🛏Alleppey homestay or shared houseboat (~£20-40)
- →Bus/train to Alleppey
- →Shared backwater houseboat cruise
- →Canal-side village walk
Alleppey to Munnar or Kochi
Munnar or Kochi
Either continue to the tea hills of Munnar (bus ~4 hrs, ~£2) for cool-climate tea plantation walks, or return to Kochi for a final relaxed stay. Tea plantation tours and viewpoints are self-bookable locally (~£2-5 per site).
🚌Bus ~£2
🛏Munnar or Kochi guesthouse (~£10-18)
- →Bus to Munnar
- →Tea plantation visit
- →Viewpoint walks
Final Day in Kochi
Kochi
A final day for the things you missed: Kerala cooking class (~£15), ayurvedic massage (~£15-25), or the Kerala Folklore Museum. Stock up on spices and filter coffee to take home and do any last shopping in Jew Town.
🚌Auto-rickshaws ~£1-2
🛏Fort Kochi guesthouse (~£10-18)
- →Optional cooking class
- →Ayurvedic massage
- →Kerala Folklore Museum
- →Spice & coffee shopping
Depart Kochi
Kochi
Make your own way to Cochin International Airport (Nedumbassery) by taxi (~£8-12) or bus (~£0.50). End of your self-launched India rail journey.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£8-12, or bus ~£0.50
🛏None (departure day)
- →Transfer to Kochi airport
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,010 | £2,200 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,190 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,010
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 to Kochi by Rail — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,010 per person for 21 days in India (Delhi to Kochi). 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 £2,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,010 — a saving of roughly £1,190 (54%) per person.
How long is the India (Delhi to Kochi) trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through India (Delhi to Kochi).
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, backpacker, budget trip through India (Delhi to Kochi), 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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