Epic India to Nepal: Self-Launched Adventure

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport and make your way to your hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh — both are budget-friendly hubs close to New Delhi Railway Station. Spend the afternoon wandering Connaught Place, sipping chai at a roadside stall, or practising your haggling at Janpath Market. Optional visits include Humayun's Tomb (£6), Qutub Minar (£6) and the Red Fort (£6). Grab dinner at a local dhaba — butter chicken and naan won't set you back more than £2-3.

🚌Airport Metro Express from Terminal 3 to New Delhi Station — ~£1.50

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Paharganj (e.g. Hotel Rak International or similar) — ~£10-14/night

• →Explore Paharganj market on foot
• →Optional: Humayun's Tomb (self-visit, ~£6)
• →Optional: Qutub Minar (self-visit, ~£6)
• →Optional: Red Fort (self-visit, ~£6)
• →Street food dinner at a local dhaba

Take an early train from New Delhi towards Sawai Madhopur or the nearest railhead for Tordi. Tordi Garh is a rare heritage property offering homestay-style stays with the owner. Book directly via their website (tordigarh.com) — it's one of the most authentic rural Rajasthan experiences available without a tour operator. Dinner is included with your stay. Explore the ruined temple and fortress on arrival.

🚌Train from New Delhi to Sawai Madhopur (~4-5hrs), then local taxi/jeep to Tordi (~1hr) — total ~£8-12

🛏Tordi Garh Heritage Property — book direct at tordigarh.com, ~£30-40/night including dinner

• →Train journey through Rajasthani countryside
• →Village walk around Tordi
• →Explore ruined temple and fortress
• →Home-cooked dinner included with stay

Rise early for an optional sunrise hike above Tordi for panoramic views. Then take a local bus or shared taxi to Jaipur (~2.5hrs). Check into your hostel and join a free self-guided walking tour of the bazaars — look for textiles, blue pottery and gems. Book a leader-led style walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£8-12). Don't miss raj kachori chaat from a street stall and a legendary lassi from Lassiwala on MI Road. Evening option: Bollywood film at the magnificent Raj Mandir Cinema (~£3).

🚌Local bus or shared taxi Tordi to Jaipur (~2.5hrs) — ~£3-5

🛏Zostel Jaipur or similar hostel dorm — ~£8-12/night

• →Optional sunrise hike above Tordi (~£2 tip for local guide)
• →Self-guided bazaar walk through Johari and Bapu bazaars
• →Walking tour of Jaipur old city via GetYourGuide (~£8-12)
• →Street food: raj kachori chaat and lassi at Lassiwala
• →Optional: Bollywood film at Raj Mandir Cinema (~£3)

Start early with an optional hot air balloon ride over Jaipur (book via Sky Waltz or similar, ~£80-100 — weather-dependent, Sept-April only). Head to the iconic Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) for photos — entry is only ~£1.50. Then take a local auto-rickshaw (~£2) out to Amber Fort, a spectacular hilltop Mughal complex — entry ~£7. Spend the afternoon freely exploring Jaipur's backstreets. Grab a biryani or chicken tikka masala for dinner at a local restaurant.

🚌Auto-rickshaw to Amber Fort and back — ~£3-5

🛏Zostel Jaipur or similar hostel dorm — ~£8-12/night

• →Optional: hot air balloon safari over Jaipur (~£80-100, book via Sky Waltz)
• →Hawa Mahal photo stop and entrance (~£1.50)
• →Amber Fort self-guided visit (~£7)
• →Auto-rickshaw ride around the old city (~£2-3)
• →Optional: Bollywood dance class (~£4)

Take a public bus or train from Jaipur to Agra (~4-5hrs, from £4 by bus or £6-10 by train). Check into a guesthouse near the Taj Mahal — many have rooftop views. Head straight to the Taj Mahal (entry ~£12 for foreigners) and allow 2-3 hours to soak it all in. Arrive late afternoon for softer golden-hour light. Grab dinner near Sadar Bazaar — try local agra petha sweets.

🚌Bus or train Jaipur to Agra (~4-5hrs) — ~£4-10

🛏Hotel Kamal or similar guesthouse near Taj Mahal — ~£10-15/night

• →Taj Mahal self-guided visit (~£12 entry)
• →Rooftop views of Taj from nearby guesthouses (free)
• →Explore Sadar Bazaar for street food and souvenirs
• →Try agra petha (local sweet)

Spend the morning exploring Agra Fort (entry ~£6) — stroll the palatial gardens and get distant views of the Taj Mahal. Consider lunch at Sheroes Hangout, a social enterprise supporting acid attack survivors. Browse the Kinari Bazaar. Then head to Agra Cantonment Railway Station to board your overnight sleeper train to Varanasi. Book a 3AC sleeper berth in advance at irctc.co.in — comfortable, affordable and a genuine slice of Indian travel life.

🚌Agra Cantonment to Varanasi Cantt overnight train (~13hrs) — book at irctc.co.in, ~£8-14

🛏Overnight sleeper train (3AC berth) — ~£8-14

• →Agra Fort self-guided visit (~£6)
• →Lunch at Sheroes Hangout (social enterprise cafe)
• →Browse Kinari Bazaar
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Varanasi

Arrive in Varanasi in the morning and check into a guesthouse near the ghats. Rest and recover before exploring the ghats on foot — Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most atmospheric. In the evening, don't miss the spectacular Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free, just show up by 6:30pm). Consider a yoga or meditation class at one of many studios near the ghats (~£5-8). Dine at Aum Café or Brown Bread Bakery for excellent food.

🚌Auto-rickshaw or cycle rickshaw from station to ghats — ~£1-2

🛏Guesthouse near the ghats (e.g. Stops Hostel Varanasi or Moustache Hostel) — ~£8-12/night

• →Walk the ghats along the Ganges at your own pace
• →Ganga Aarti evening ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free)
• →Optional: yoga or meditation class (~£5-8)
• →Dinner at Aum Café or Brown Bread Bakery

Set your alarm for 5am and head to the ghats for a sunrise boat ride on the sacred Ganges — one of the most powerful travel experiences in Asia. Hire a wooden rowboat directly from the ghats (~£4-6 per person, negotiate the price beforehand) and watch Hindu pilgrims bathing as golden light floods the river. Afterwards, take an auto-rickshaw to the old city and get lost in the maze of narrow alleyways (gallis) — pass temples, chai wallahs and sacred cows. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

🚌Auto-rickshaw old city and back — ~£1-2

🛏Guesthouse near the ghats — ~£8-12/night

• →Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges (hire directly at ghats, ~£4-6)
• →Self-guided walk through the narrow gallis of the old city
• →Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple (free entry for non-Hindus to outer areas)
• →Try kachori sabzi breakfast at a local street stall (~£1)

Take a bus or shared taxi from Varanasi to the Sunauli/Belahiya border crossing (~6-8hrs, £5-8). Cross the border on foot — get your Indian exit stamp, walk across, and obtain your Nepal visa on arrival at the immigration office (around £25-30 for most nationalities, bring USD cash). Take a local bus or shared jeep from Belahiya to Lumbini (~1hr, ~£1-2). Explore the Maya Devi Temple and the serene Lumbini Heritage Park, birthplace of Gautama Buddha, on bicycle — rentals are available at the park entrance (~£2/day).

🚌Bus Varanasi to Sunauli (~£5-8), shared jeep to Lumbini (~£1-2)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Lumbini (e.g. Lumbini Buddha Garden Hotel) — ~£10-14/night

• →Bus from Varanasi to Sunauli border (~6-8hrs)
• →Nepal visa on arrival at border (bring USD cash, ~£25-30)
• →Maya Devi Temple visit (free entry)
• →Lumbini Heritage Park exploration by bicycle (~£2 rental)
• →Ashoka Pillars and World Peace Pagoda

Take a local bus or tourist bus from Lumbini to Sauraha (the gateway village to Chitwan National Park) — approximately 4-5 hours, £4-6. Check into a jungle lodge or guesthouse near the park boundary. Spend the afternoon at leisure — stroll the banks of the Rapti River and watch for rhinos and crocodiles from the riverbank (free). In the evening, many lodges offer a tharu cultural dance performance (~£4).

🚌Local or tourist bus Lumbini to Sauraha (~4-5hrs) — ~£4-6

🛏Lodge or guesthouse in Sauraha village (e.g. Jungle Wildlife Camp or similar) — ~£12-18/night

• →Bus journey Lumbini to Sauraha (~4-5hrs)
• →Riverside walk along the Rapti River (free)
• →Optional: Tharu cultural dance performance at lodge (~£4)
• →Wildlife spotting from the river bank

Book a jeep safari directly through your lodge or at the park entrance — this is straightforward to arrange on arrival in Sauraha. The morning safari (~3hrs) costs approximately £20-30 including park entry and guide, and offers excellent chances to spot one-horned rhinos, spotted deer, mugger crocodiles, and if very lucky, Bengal tigers. Afternoon optional activities: canoe ride on the Rapti River (~£6), jungle walk with guide (~£8), cycling through the buffer zone (~£2/hr bike rental), or bird watching.

🚌Jeep transport included in safari package

🛏Lodge or guesthouse in Sauraha — ~£12-18/night

• →Morning jeep safari with park entry and local guide (~£20-30)
• →Optional: canoe ride on the Rapti River (~£6)
• →Optional: guided jungle walk (~£8)
• →Optional: cycling through the park buffer zone (~£2/hr)
• →Optional: bird watching with guide (~£8)

Take a tourist bus or local bus from Sauraha to Kathmandu (~5-6hrs, £5-8). Alternatively, book a flight from Bharatpur Airport (~20mins from Sauraha, £40-60) if time is short. Check into a hostel in Thamel — Kathmandu's backpacker hub. Spend the afternoon exploring Thamel's lively streets, boutique shops and restaurants. Visit Boudhanath Stupa (entry ~£3) — one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. Treat yourself to a buffalo milk sel roti doughnut from a street vendor.

🚌Tourist bus Sauraha to Kathmandu (~5-6hrs) — ~£5-8

🛏Hostel in Thamel (e.g. Zostel Kathmandu or Alobar1000) — ~£8-14/night

• →Bus from Sauraha to Kathmandu (~5-6hrs)
• →Explore Thamel neighbourhood on foot
• →Boudhanath Stupa visit (~£3 entry)
• →Street food: sel roti and momos
• →Optional: massage or yoga session in Thamel (~£8-15)

Spend a full day exploring Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Start at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — entry ~£1.50 — for panoramic views over the city. Then head to Bhaktapur, the 'City of Devotees' (~45min by local bus, ~£0.50) — entry ~£12 but includes access to all the main temples and Durbar Square. Visit the Narayanhiti Palace Museum (~£2). Return to Thamel for dinner. Optional: Everest scenic flight (book in advance, ~£130-160) or a spiritual Nepal walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£35-45).

🚌Local bus/minibus to Bhaktapur and Swayambhunath — ~£1-2 total

🛏Hostel in Thamel — ~£8-14/night

• →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) visit (~£1.50 entry)
• →Bhaktapur Durbar Square day trip (~£12 entry)
• →Narayanhiti Palace Museum (~£2 entry)
• →Explore Thamel market streets
• →Optional: Everest scenic flight (~£130-160)
• →Optional: Spiritual Kathmandu walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£35-45)

Book a Trisuli River whitewater rafting day/overnight package through one of the many reputable operators in Thamel (e.g. Himalayan Encounters, Ultimate Descents — from £35-50 per person). A taxi or tourist minibus transfers you from Kathmandu (~2-3hrs) to the put-in point. Raft the famous Grade 3 rapids — Ladies Delight, Rock Garden and Snell's Nose — through spectacular gorges and green hillsides. Overnight riverside camp with dinner and breakfast included in most packages.

🚌Minibus from Kathmandu to Trisuli put-in point (usually included in rafting package) — ~£5-8 if not included

🛏Riverside tented camp (included in rafting package) — ~£0 extra

• →Whitewater rafting on the Trisuli River — Grade 3 rapids (~£35-50 incl. transport, lunch, dinner and camp)
• →Scenic drive over the Kathmandu Valley rim with views of Ganesh and Langtang ranges
• →Riverside camping under the stars

Enjoy a final morning on the river tackling the Monsoon and Upset rapids. After the take-out point at Kurintar, have a light lunch (usually included in the rafting package) before boarding a local bus or tourist minibus to Pokhara (~3-4hrs, £4-8). Check into a lakeside guesthouse on Phewa Lake and take a leisurely afternoon walk around the lake. Spend the evening at one of the many lakeside restaurants — try momos and a bowl of dal bhat. Lakeside Pokhara has a great café and bar scene.

🚌Tourist bus or local bus from Trisuli/Kurintar to Pokhara (~3-4hrs) — ~£4-8

🛏Guesthouse on Phewa Lake, Pokhara (e.g. Hotel Tulsi or similar) — ~£10-15/night

• →Final morning rafting on Trisuli River (Monsoon and Upset rapids)
• →Bus from Kurintar/Trisuli to Pokhara (~3-4hrs)
• →Walk around Phewa Lake
• →Dinner at a lakeside restaurant — momos and dal bhat (~£3-5)

Get your TIMS card and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) from the Tourism Management Board office in Pokhara (~£15-20 total). Take a taxi or local bus to Shyauli Bazaar (~45min, £3-5), the trailhead for the Ghandruk trek. Today's hike is mostly uphill through diverse terrain — dirt tracks, stone-paved paths, terraced farmland and rhododendron forest. The ascent to Ghandruk village takes approximately 3-4 hours. No guide is strictly necessary for this well-marked trail, but a porter/guide can be hired in Pokhara or at the trailhead (~£20-25/day). Ghandruk is a beautiful Gurung village with stunning Annapurna views.

🚌Taxi or local bus Pokhara to Shyauli Bazaar (~45min) — ~£3-5

🛏Teahouse guesthouse in Ghandruk — ~£5-10/night (usually cheaper if you eat meals at the teahouse)

• →Obtain TIMS card and ACAP permit in Pokhara (~£15-20)
• →Drive to Shyauli Bazaar trailhead
• →Trek to Ghandruk village (~3-4hrs, moderate-uphill)
• →Evening views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) peaks
• →Explore Ghandruk Gurung village

Continue the low-altitude Annapurna foothills trek, heading uphill through dense rhododendron and oak forests towards Tadapani (2,630m). The hike takes approximately 3-4 hours and offers increasingly dramatic views of the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre massifs. Tadapani is a small, peaceful ridge-top settlement with teahouses. Dine on dal bhat at your teahouse — unlimited refills are standard practice on the trail. Wrap up warm as temperatures drop noticeably at altitude.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Tadapani — ~£5-10/night

• →Trek from Ghandruk to Tadapani (~3-4hrs through rhododendron forest)
• →Mountain views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre
• →Dal bhat dinner at teahouse (unlimited refills)

Trek onward through forests to Ghorepani (2,860m), a popular trekking hub on the classic Poon Hill circuit — approximately 4-5 hours of walking. The trail descends through Modi Khola valley then climbs back up through more rhododendron forest. Ghorepani has many teahouses and is the base for the famous Poon Hill sunrise viewpoint. Set your alarm for early tomorrow. Spend the evening chatting with fellow trekkers from around the world — the teahouse dining room culture is a highlight of Nepal trekking.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Ghorepani — ~£5-10/night

• →Trek from Tadapani to Ghorepani (~4-5hrs)
• →Walk through rhododendron and bamboo forest
• →Teahouse social evening with other trekkers
• →Prepare for early Poon Hill sunrise start

Rise at 4:30am and hike 45 minutes up to Poon Hill (3,210m) — entry ~£2 — for what many consider the finest Himalayan panorama in Nepal: a sweeping 180-degree view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and dozens of other peaks bathed in golden sunrise light. Descend back to Ghorepani, then continue down to Tikhedhunga and Hile, where a local jeep or bus returns you to Pokhara (~2-3hrs, £4-6). Celebrate the end of the trek with a hot shower, a pizza and a cold Everest beer at a Lakeside restaurant.

🚌Local jeep or bus from Hile to Pokhara (~2-3hrs) — ~£4-6

🛏Guesthouse on Phewa Lake, Pokhara — ~£10-15/night

• →Pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) for sunrise panorama (~£2 entry)
• →Trek descent to Hile via Tikhedhunga
• →Jeep or bus back to Pokhara
• →Celebration meal and drinks at Lakeside Pokhara

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Pokhara — take a rowing boat on Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi Temple (~£3 boat hire) or paraglide over the lake and Annapurna range (book via Sunrise Paragliding or Blue Sky Paragliding, ~£60-80). Take an afternoon tourist bus back to Kathmandu (~7-8hrs, £6-10) or splurge on a 25-minute domestic flight (~£50-70 with Yeti Airlines or Buddha Air). Check back into Thamel for your final night.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu (~7-8hrs, ~£6-10) or domestic flight (~£50-70)

🛏Hostel in Thamel, Kathmandu — ~£8-14/night

• →Optional: rowing boat on Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi Temple (~£3)
• →Optional: paragliding over Pokhara and Annapurna range (~£60-80)
• →Tourist bus or flight back to Kathmandu
• →Final night dinner in Thamel

Your final morning in Kathmandu is yours to enjoy freely. Pick up last-minute souvenirs in Thamel — pashminas, thangka paintings, prayer flags and Himalayan tea make great gifts. Try a final breakfast of eggs and Nepali milk tea at a local café. Head to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure flight. Namaste — and well done on an epic independent adventure!

🚌Taxi from Thamel to Tribhuvan International Airport (~20-30min) — ~£4-6

🛏Check-out

• →Last-minute souvenir shopping in Thamel
• →Breakfast at a local Kathmandu café
• →Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport