Northern India with Goa — Self-Launched Edition
14 days · India
Panda Experiences charges £1,050
No-markup version: ~£547 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic Delhi–Agra–Jaipur–Jodhpur–Udaipur–Goa–Mumbai route, done independently using trains, budget flights and cheap guesthouses. You'll cover the same headline sights — Taj Mahal at sunrise, Amber Fort, Mehrangarh, Ranakpur, Lake Pichola, Old Goa's churches and Mumbai's Gateway of India — but self-book the guides and use local transport rather than a private driver-guide. Costs are backpacker/budget travel estimates per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Land in Delhi & ease in
New Delhi
Arrive at Indira Gandhi International, take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50) or a prepaid taxi (~£4-5) to a guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Spend the afternoon acclimatising: wander Connaught Place, grab a thali, and pick up a local SIM/eSIM. Book your Agra train ticket tonight (IRCTC app or at the counter) for day 3.
🚌Airport Express metro or prepaid taxi from IGI Airport
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£12/night)
- →Settle in Paharganj/Karol Bagh
- →Connaught Place wander
- →Buy local SIM/eSIM
- →Book Agra train ticket
Old & New Delhi on foot and by metro
New Delhi
Self-launched full day of Delhi's highlights using the Delhi Metro (day pass ~£2). Morning: Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb (ASI ticket ~£5 combined via the ASI e-ticket site). Midday: Lotus Temple (free) and India Gate. Afternoon: Jama Masjid, then a cycle-rickshaw loop through Chandni Chowk's spice lanes (~£2-3). Red Fort and Rashtrapati Bhavan drive-by from the outside. Consider a GetYourGuide Old Delhi food/street walk (~£15) if you want a guide for the lanes.
🚌Delhi Metro day pass (~£2) + cycle rickshaw (~£3)
🛏Same Delhi guesthouse
- →Qutub Minar
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Lotus Temple
- →India Gate & Raj Ghat
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk cycle-rickshaw ride
- →Optional Old Delhi food walk (GetYourGuide)
Train to Agra — Sikandra, Agra Fort & Itmad-ud-Daulah
Agra
Take an early Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi from Hazrat Nizamuddin/New Delhi to Agra Cantt (~1h50, ~£7-9 in AC chair car). Drop bags at a Taj Ganj guesthouse, then hire a local auto-rickshaw for the day (~£8). Visit Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra, Agra Fort (ASI ticket ~£5), and the riverside Itmad-ud-Daulah ('Baby Taj'). Pre-buy your Taj Mahal sunrise ticket online tonight (~£12, includes mausoleum).
🚌Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express Delhi–Agra (~£8); auto-rickshaw hire (~£8)
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj, Agra (~£13/night)
- →Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb)
- →Agra Fort
- →Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
- →Buy Taj Mahal sunrise e-ticket
Taj Mahal sunrise, then Fatehpur Sikri to Jaipur
Jaipur
Be at the Taj east gate for opening (~sunrise) — the quietest, best light. Cross to Mehtab Bagh for the classic river view (~£3). Mid-morning, take a bus or shared taxi to Fatehpur Sikri (~1h, ~£4) and see Buland Darwaza, the Panch Mahal and Salim Chisti's tomb (battery cart ~£1). From Sikri, catch a local bus or shared taxi onward to Jaipur (~3h, ~£5-6) or return to Agra and take an evening train. Check into a Jaipur guesthouse in the old city.
🚌Local bus Agra–Fatehpur Sikri–Jaipur (~£10 total) or train option
🛏Guesthouse in Jaipur old city (~£14/night)
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Mehtab Bagh viewpoint
- →Fatehpur Sikri (Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Tomb of Salim Chisti)
Jaipur: Amber Fort & the Pink City
Jaipur
Take local bus 5 or an auto (~£2) to Amber Fort first thing (ASI ticket ~£6) — skip the elephant ride and support the ban; walk up or take a jeep (~£5). Return via Jal Mahal photo stop. Afternoon: City Palace (~£8), Jantar Mantar (~£2) and the Hawa Mahal facade (free from the street). Optional sunset at Nahargarh Fort (~£3 entry) with a rooftop lassi around the old city bazaars.
🚌Local bus/auto to Amber (~£2 each way)
🛏Same Jaipur guesthouse
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Optional Nahargarh Fort sunset
Train to Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Take a morning intercity train from Jaipur to Jodhpur (~5-6h, ~£8-10) or a Volvo bus (~£7). Check into a haveli-style guesthouse in the old blue city. Spend the late afternoon drifting through the blue-washed lanes below Mehrangarh and join the buzz around the Clock Tower market for mirchi vada and lassi.
🚌Train Jaipur–Jodhpur (~£9)
🛏Haveli guesthouse in Jodhpur old city (~£14/night)
- →Blue city lanes
- →Clock Tower market food crawl
Mehrangarh Fort & Jodhpur highlights
Jodhpur
Self-guided morning at Mehrangarh Fort (entry ~£7 incl. audio guide). Walk down to Jaswant Thada (~£2) and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park (~£3, good guided nature walk add-on ~£3). Afternoon: Mandore Gardens and temples by auto, and a look at Umaid Bhawan Palace museum (~£3). Back for sunset on a rooftop overlooking the fort.
🚌Auto-rickshaw hops around the city (~£5)
🛏Same Jodhpur guesthouse
- →Mehrangarh Fort
- →Jaswant Thada
- →Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
- →Mandore Gardens & temples
- →Umaid Bhawan Palace museum
Ranakpur Jain Temples en route to Udaipur
Udaipur
Do this leg by shared taxi or tourist bus via Ranakpur (~5-6h total, ~£8-10) — the cheapest bookable option is a seat-in-shared-car through your guesthouse. Stop at the Ranakpur Jain Temple complex (entry ~£2, camera fee extra) for its 1,444 carved pillars. Continue to Udaipur and settle into a lakeside guesthouse near Lal Ghat or Ambrai.
🚌Shared taxi/bus Jodhpur–Ranakpur–Udaipur (~£9)
🛏Guesthouse near Lake Pichola, Udaipur (~£14/night)
- →Ranakpur Jain Temples
Udaipur: City Palace, ghats and Lake Pichola
Udaipur
Morning at the City Palace complex (~£7) and Jagdish Temple (free). Explore Bagore Ki Haveli (~£2, evening dance show ~£3 if you like). Afternoon: Saheliyon ki Bari (~£1) and Fateh Sagar Lake. Sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola (~£8-10, book at Rameshwar Ghat or via GetYourGuide) and a stroll along Ambrai Ghat. Optional Udaipur ropeway (~£2).
🚌Walking plus short autos (~£4)
🛏Same Udaipur guesthouse
- →City Palace
- →Jagdish Temple
- →Bagore Ki Haveli
- →Saheliyon ki Bari
- →Fateh Sagar Lake
- →Lake Pichola sunset boat ride
- →Ambrai Ghat
Fly Udaipur to Goa
Goa
Book an early-afternoon IndiGo/Akasa direct Udaipur–Goa (Mopa or Dabolim) flight in advance — budget roughly £45-60 one-way. Take a prepaid taxi or Goa Miles app taxi to Calangute/Candolim (~£10-12). Afternoon free on the sand; rent a scooter for the next days (~£6/day incl. basic cover) and check out the beach-shack sunset.
🚌Domestic flight Udaipur–Goa (~£52); airport taxi (~£11)
🛏Beach guesthouse/hostel in Calangute–Candolim (~£16/night)
- →Calangute beach sunset
- →Rent scooter
Old Goa's churches by local bus
Goa
Scooter or take a local bus to Old Goa and see the Basilica of Bom Jesus (St Francis Xavier's relics) and Se Cathedral — both free/donation. Add St Catherine's Church and the Viceroy's Arch. Afternoon back on the coast for Anjuna's Wednesday flea market if timing works, or a quiet beach afternoon. A Klook/GetYourGuide Old Goa walking tour (~£20) is an option if you want context.
🚌Scooter (~£6/day) or local bus (~£1)
🛏Same Goa guesthouse
- →Basilica of Bom Jesus
- →Se Cathedral
- →St Catherine's Church
- →Viceroy's Arch
- →Anjuna flea market (seasonal)
North Goa beaches & Dona Paula
Goa
Beach-hop north by scooter: Calangute to Baga, then Anjuna and Vagator's cliff views. Swing south to Dona Paula's jetty viewpoint and Miramar in the late afternoon. Eat at beach shacks (fresh fish thali ~£4-5) rather than resort restaurants.
🚌Scooter (~£6/day, fuel ~£2)
🛏Same Goa guesthouse
- →Calangute & Baga beaches
- →Anjuna & Vagator
- →Dona Paula viewpoint
- →Miramar beach
Fly to Mumbai — half-day city highlights
Mumbai
Early flight Goa–Mumbai (~£35-45, ~1h15). Check into a Colaba or Fort hostel/guesthouse. Afternoon: Gateway of India, then the ferry to Elephanta Caves (~£4 return, caves entry ~£5, closed Mondays — take the 12:30-ish boat if arriving early). Evening: Marine Drive's Queen's Necklace and Juhu Chowpatty street food, or a Klook Mumbai street-food walk (~£18).
🚌Domestic flight Goa–Mumbai (~£40); taxi to hotel (~£6); local train/auto (~£3)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Colaba or Fort, Mumbai (~£18/night)
- →Gateway of India
- →Elephanta Caves ferry & caves
- →Marine Drive
- →Juhu Chowpatty
- →Optional Mumbai street-food walk
Mumbai morning & departure
Mumbai
Morning at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum, ~£6) and Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum (free/donation) in the Fort district. Last brunch in Colaba, then the Mumbai Metro/airport line or a taxi to CSMIA (~£4-6) for your flight home. If your flight is late, add a Dharavi social-enterprise walk (~£12 via GetYourGuide).
🚌Metro/taxi to Mumbai airport (~£5)
🛏None (departure day)
- →CSMVS (Prince of Wales Museum)
- →Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum
- →Colaba Causeway browse
- →Optional Dharavi walk
Self-launched vs. Panda Experiences
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Panda Experiences | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£547 | £1,050 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £503 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Panda Experiences-style trips? Check them out here.~£547
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 Northern India with Goa — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £547 per person for 14 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 Panda Experiences?+
Yes — Panda Experiences charges around £1,050 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £547 — a saving of roughly £503 (48%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 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, beaches, foodie 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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