India & Nepal: Golden Triangle and the Himalayas (Self-Launched)
16 days · India & Nepal
G Adventures charges £4,350
No-markup version: ~£1,000 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 16-day self-launched version of G Adventures' premium Golden Triangle and Himalayas trip: Delhi's old city and stepwells, a sunset-and-sunrise Taj Mahal double-header in Agra, a heritage fort stay above a Rajasthani lake, Jaipur's Pink City, then across the border to Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Annapurna foothills for village trekking, a momo-making class and a Chitwan jungle safari. All transport is bookable locally (trains, tourist buses, budget flights), trekking permits are free to arrange yourself, and accommodation is comfy guesthouses and budget hotels rather than premium heritage properties. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi & Old Delhi orientation
Delhi, India
Land at Indira Gandhi International, take an airport prepaid taxi or the Delhi Airport Metro Express (~£1.50) to your stay in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Afternoon orientation wander through the lanes near your hostel, then an evening stroll around Connaught Place. Book tomorrow's Old Delhi walking tour online tonight.
🚌Airport Metro Express + walk
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£14-20/night)
- →Airport Metro to city
- →Connaught Place orientation walk
Old Delhi, stepwells & Sikh temple
Delhi, India
Morning Old Delhi walking tour with a local guide (book via GetYourGuide ~£12-18) covering Chandni Chowk, spice market and Jama Masjid. Optionally add the Salaam Baalak Trust city walk (~£8, book direct) to learn about their work with street-connected children. Afternoon: Agrasen ki Baoli stepwell (free) and Gurdwara Bangla Sahib — cover your head, and eat free langar in the community kitchen if you like. Cycle rickshaw between stops ~£2.
🚌Metro + cycle rickshaw
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Delhi
- →Old Delhi guided walk
- →Salaam Baalak Trust walk (optional)
- →Agrasen ki Baoli stepwell
- →Bangla Sahib Gurdwara & langar
Train to Agra & Agra Fort at sunset
Agra, India
Take an early Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (~1h50, £8-12 in AC Chair Car; book on IRCTC). Check in near Taj Ganj, then visit Agra Fort (£6 foreigner ticket online) in the late afternoon for your first Taj Mahal views across the Yamuna at sunset. Dinner of Mughlai food in Taj Ganj.
🚌Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express train ~£10
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj with rooftop views (~£15-22)
- →Train to Agra
- →Agra Fort visit
- →Taj Mahal sunset view from fort ramparts
Sunrise Taj Mahal & on to a Rajasthani fort
Ramathra / Karauli, Rajasthan
Enter the Taj Mahal at opening (sunrise, ~£12 ticket booked on the ASI site — buy the night before and queue early; closed Fridays). Afterwards, take a bus or shared taxi to Bharatpur/Karauli (tourist bus ~3-4h, £6-10). Book a night or two at a heritage-farm guesthouse near Kalisil Lake — the fort's own rooms are premium, but neighbouring village guesthouses and Ramathra Fort's simpler rooms run £25-40. Sunset boat ride on the lake (arrange with your guesthouse, ~£8).
🚌Bus/shared taxi ~£8
🛏Heritage guesthouse near Ramathra Fort (~£30)
- →Sunrise Taj Mahal
- →Bus to eastern Rajasthan
- →Kalisil Lake sunset boat ride
Village walk & countryside day
Ramathra / Karauli, Rajasthan
Morning guided village walk through the farmland around the lake with a local guide from your guesthouse (~£8) — meet farming families and see rural Rajasthani life. Lunch at the guesthouse. Afternoon options: jeep trip to Kaila Devi National Park for a wildlife safari (~£25-35 including jeep and guide), a temple visit in Karauli, or simply read on the terrace under the birds. Ask about evening aarti at a local temple.
🚌Walking + shared jeep for optional safari
🛏Heritage guesthouse near Ramathra Fort
- →Village walk
- →Kaila Devi wildlife safari (optional)
- →Karauli temple visit (optional)
Bus to Jaipur & women-led rickshaw Pink City
Jaipur, India
Local bus or shared taxi from Karauli to Jaipur (~3h, £5-8). Check in near Hawa Mahal or Anaj Mandi. Book a women-driven e-rickshaw Pink City tour with Pink City Rickshaw Company direct (~£12-15) to see Hawa Mahal, bazaars and the old city streets from a local woman's perspective. Evening street food crawl: pyaaz kachori, lassi at Lassiwala, and a rooftop dinner near Nahargarh Road.
🚌Local bus ~£6 + e-rickshaw
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel, Jaipur (~£15-22)
- →Bus to Jaipur
- →Pink City Rickshaw women-led city tour
- →Street food crawl
Amber Fort, City Palace & Rajasthani home cooking
Jaipur, India
Optional early cycle tour of the waking Pink City (~£25 with GetYourGuide, includes lassi) — the hot air balloon option runs £200+ and often cancels on wind, so budget carefully. Mid-morning: Uber to Amber Fort (£5 foreigner ticket; the ticket bundle with City Palace and Jantar Mantar saves money). Afternoon: City Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory in the old city. Evening home-hosted Rajasthani cooking demo and dinner booked direct with a local family via Airbnb Experiences (~£20-28).
🚌Uber/auto-rickshaw ~£6
🛏Budget guesthouse, Jaipur
- →Jaipur cycle tour (optional)
- →Amber Fort
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Home-hosted cooking class & dinner
Fly to Kathmandu & Nepali slow-dining feast
Kathmandu, Nepal
Take a morning flight from Jaipur to Kathmandu via Delhi on IndiGo/SpiceJet (~£110-150 one-way booked 4-6 weeks ahead). Get your Nepal visa on arrival (£25 for 15 days, or e-visa online) and take a prepaid taxi to Thamel (~£5). Book a Nepali thali feast or a traditional Newari dinner in Patan — Krishnarpan at Dwarika's runs £45+ per head, but a great multi-course Newari set dinner elsewhere is £10-15.
🚌Flight ~£130 + airport taxi
🛏Guesthouse in Thamel (~£12-18)
- →Flight to Kathmandu
- →Thamel orientation
- →Nepali/Newari multi-course dinner
Fly to Pokhara & trek to Tomijong Lodge
Lumle / Tomijong, Nepal
Morning 25-minute flight Kathmandu–Pokhara (~£60-80; buses take 7-9h if you want to save ~£45). Get your ACAP permit and TIMS card at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara (~£15 total, bring passport photos). Take a shared jeep or local bus to Lumle (~1h, £2), then walk 1.5-2 hours through terraced fields and forest to a Gurung-run lodge at Tomijong (~£12-18/night with dinner and breakfast). Afternoon Gurung village stroll.
🚌Flight ~£70 + shared jeep ~£2
🛏Tea-house style lodge, Tomijong (~£15 half-board)
- →Flight to Pokhara
- →ACAP & TIMS permit
- →Trek Lumle to Tomijong
- →Gurung village walk
Annapurna foothills hike: Tolkha to Landruk
Landruk / Tomijong, Nepal
Hike from Tomijong up through terraced farmland and rhododendron forest to Tolkha village, then on to Landruk for lunch with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli in view. Return downhill to Tomijong for the night — roughly 5-6 hours walking. A local guide costs ~£20-25/day and is well worth it; porters ~£15/day if you want your bag carried.
🚌Walking
🛏Lodge, Tomijong
- →Full-day Annapurna foothills trek
- →Tolkha and Landruk village visits
Australian Camp sunrise & Pokhara Lakeside
Pokhara, Nepal
Early hike up to Australian Camp (2,050m) for panoramic Machhapuchhre and Annapurna views (~2.5h up), lunch at the top, then descend to Lumle and take a shared jeep back to Pokhara (~£3). Check into a Lakeside guesthouse, book a trekkers' massage (~£15-20), and do an evening orientation wander of Lakeside's cafés and the lakefront.
🚌Walking + shared jeep ~£3
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara (~£14-20)
- →Australian Camp sunrise hike
- →Return to Pokhara
- →Trekkers' massage
- →Lakeside orientation walk
Yoga, Tibetan momo class & cycling
Pokhara, Nepal
Morning yoga or a sound-bath session at a Lakeside studio (drop-in ~£6-10). Late morning: short taxi to Tashi Ling or Tashiling Tibetan settlement to do a momo-making class with a Tibetan family (~£15-20, arrange via your guesthouse or Airbnb Experiences). Afternoon: rent a mountain bike and ride the lakeshore to Pame (~£5/day), or do a mandala painting workshop (~£15). Sunset at Phewa Lake.
🚌Taxi + bicycle hire ~£7
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara
- →Yoga or sound bath
- →Tibetan momo-making class
- →Cycling to Pame or mandala workshop
- →Phewa Lake sunset
Bus to Chitwan & Tharu village evening
Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal
Tourist bus Pokhara to Sauraha (~5-6h, £7-10) or a shared jeep. Check into a community-run guesthouse or lodge on the edge of Chitwan National Park (~£15-25 with meals). Afternoon cycle through Tharu village lanes, then an evening Tharu cultural dance performance in Sauraha (~£3).
🚌Tourist bus ~£8
🛏Community-run lodge, Sauraha (~£20 half-board)
- →Bus to Chitwan
- →Tharu village cycle
- →Tharu cultural dance show
Rapti River canoe & Chitwan jeep safari
Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal
Dawn canoe trip down the Rapti River to spot gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles and river birds (~£8-10). Then a full-day jeep safari deep into Chitwan National Park with a licensed naturalist guide (~£35-45 including park fees) — rhino sightings are common, tigers rare. Pottery-making demo in a Tharu village in the late afternoon (~£3).
🚌Canoe + safari jeep (included in activity costs)
🛏Community-run lodge, Sauraha
- →Rapti River canoe safari
- →Full-day Chitwan jeep safari
- →Tharu pottery demonstration
Back to Kathmandu & Bhaktapur's squares
Kathmandu / Bhaktapur, Nepal
Morning bus Sauraha to Kathmandu (~6h, £8-12) or a short flight from Bharatpur (~£70). Head straight to Bhaktapur if time allows: the Durbar Square, Nyatapola Temple and pottery square entry ticket is £12 for foreigners and covers the whole old town. Stay overnight in Bhaktapur's old town guesthouses rather than Kathmandu for the atmosphere.
🚌Tourist bus ~£10 + local taxi
🛏Old-town guesthouse, Bhaktapur (~£15-22)
- →Bus to Kathmandu valley
- →Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- →Pottery Square
Bhaktapur morning & departure
Kathmandu, Nepal
Early morning walk through Bhaktapur's quiet lanes before the tour buses arrive, juju dhau (king curd) for breakfast, then a taxi or local bus to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£8-12) for your onward flight. If you have a late flight, add Swayambhunath or Patan Durbar Square on the way.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£10
🛏N/A
- →Bhaktapur morning walk
- →Optional Patan Durbar Square or Swayambhunath
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,000 | £4,350 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,350 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,000
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 India & Nepal: Golden Triangle and the Himalayas (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,000 per person for 16 days in India & Nepal. 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 £4,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,000 — a saving of roughly £3,350 (77%) per person.
How long is the India & Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through India & Nepal.
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, hiking trip through India & Nepal, 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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