Self-Launched Golden Triangle: Delhi, Jaipur & Agra
5 days · India
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £650
No-markup version: ~£190 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Northern India's iconic Golden Triangle — Delhi, Jaipur and Agra — is one of the world's great backpacker circuits, and you absolutely don't need a guided tour to do it. Trains, buses and shared taxis connect all three cities cheaply and reliably, entry tickets to every monument are bookable on the spot or online, and budget guesthouses in historic havelis cost a fraction of what operators charge. This self-launched itinerary follows the same route as the Exodus add-on — sunrise at the Taj Mahal, rickshaws through Jaipur's bazaars, the Chand Baori stepwell, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra's Red Fort — at roughly a third of the price. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Delhi → Chand Baori Stepwell → Jaipur
Delhi to Jaipur (via Abhaneri)
Make your own way from Delhi to Jaipur — the easiest option is the Shatabdi Express or Intercity Express train from Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin or Jaipur Railway Station (journey ~4.5 hrs, from ~£5 in sleeper class or ~£10 in AC chair car). Alternatively, hop on a direct government RSRTC bus from Delhi's Bikaner House bus terminal (~£4, 5–6 hrs). To replicate the Chand Baori detour, take a shared taxi or local bus from Jaipur towards Agra and alight at Bandikui/Abhaneri (~1.5 hrs). The Chand Baori stepwell (entry ~₹25/~£0.25 for Indians, ~₹200/~£2 for foreigners) is a jaw-dropping 1,000-year-old structure with 3,500 steps plunging 20m into the earth — arrive early to beat the heat. Catch an onward bus or shared taxi to Jaipur for the evening. Check into a traditional haveli-style guesthouse in the Old City and explore the pink-painted lanes on foot.
🚌Delhi–Jaipur: Shatabdi/Intercity Express train from Hazrat Nizamuddin station (~£5–10). Abhaneri detour: shared taxi or local bus from Jaipur (~£3 return).
🛏Hotel Pearl Palace, Zostel Jaipur, or similar heritage guesthouse/hostel in Old City (~£10–18/night)
- →Take the Shatabdi Express or Intercity Express from Delhi to Jaipur (~£5–10, book via IRCTC or Cleartrip)
- →Stop at Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri — one of the world's largest stepwells (entry ~£2)
- →Arrive in Jaipur and check into a heritage haveli guesthouse in the Old City
- →Wander the illuminated bazaars of the Pink City in the evening
Sightseeing in Jaipur
Jaipur
Spend a full day exploring Jaipur's iconic sights, just as the Exodus itinerary does — but on your own schedule and at local prices. Start with an auto-rickshaw or cycle-rickshaw ride to the flower and vegetable markets and Govind Ji Temple inside the City Palace complex (rickshaw ~£1–2, City Palace entry ~£5). Walk or take a tuk-tuk to the lakeside Amer Fort (~8km from the city centre; local bus or shared auto-rickshaw ~£0.50, entry ~£7 for foreigners). Admire the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) from the street — free from the outside, or pay ~£2 to enter. Wrap up the afternoon browsing the bazaars of Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar for textiles, gems and souvenirs. Lunch at a local thali restaurant for under £2.
🚌Local auto-rickshaws and tuk-tuks throughout Jaipur (~£1–3 per ride). Negotiate fares before boarding.
🛏Same haveli guesthouse as Day 1 (~£10–18/night)
- →Cycle-rickshaw or auto-rickshaw through the flower markets and Govind Ji Temple (~£1–2)
- →Visit Amer Fort — take a local bus or shared auto (~£0.50 each way, entry ~£7)
- →Admire the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) — free exterior or ~£2 to enter
- →Browse Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar for gems, textiles and souvenirs
- →Lunch: vegetarian thali at a local restaurant (~£1.50–2)
Jaipur → Fatehpur Sikri → Agra
Jaipur to Agra (via Fatehpur Sikri)
Travel from Jaipur to Agra — the most convenient option is a direct bus from Sindhi Camp Bus Stand (~£4–6, ~5 hrs) or a train via Bharatpur. Ask your guesthouse about shared taxis which can be faster (~£6–8). An hour before Agra, stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the ghost Mughal capital built by Emperor Akbar in 1571 and abandoned just 14 years later. Entry is ~£5 for foreigners; government-approved local guides are available on-site for ~£8–12 and are well worth hiring. Note: some guides or priests at the shrine may request 'offerings' — there is absolutely no obligation to pay. In the evening, join a self-guided heritage walk around Agra's old city — stroll past Jama Masjid, peek into the bridal-wear workshops of Kinari Bazaar, and browse Rawatpara spice market before ending with a distant view of the Taj Mahal's silhouette.
🚌Jaipur–Agra: Direct RSRTC bus from Sindhi Camp (~£4–6) or shared taxi (~£6–8). Local auto-rickshaws in Agra (~£1–2 per ride).
🛏Hotel Kamal, N Homestay, or similar mid-range guesthouse near Taj Ganj (~£12–20/night)
- →Bus or shared taxi from Jaipur to Agra (~£4–8, 4–5 hrs)
- →Stop at Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's abandoned Mughal capital (entry ~£5, optional local guide ~£8–12)
- →Self-guided heritage walk around old Agra: Jama Masjid, Kinari Bazaar, Rawatpara spice market
- →Evening views of the Taj Mahal silhouette from Mehtab Bagh or the riverbank (free)
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal, Red Fort of Akbar, then Delhi
Agra to Delhi
Set your alarm for 5am. Walk or take a quick auto-rickshaw to the Taj Mahal's East Gate — arrive before opening to queue for tickets (~£12 for foreigners, includes entry to the main mausoleum; book online at asi.payumoney.com to skip some queues). The sunrise light on the white marble is genuinely one of the world's great sights. Return to your guesthouse for breakfast, then head to Agra Fort (Red Fort of Akbar) — about 2km from the Taj (~£5 entry). Explore the sandstone ramparts, the Pearl Mosque, and the palaces where Shah Jahan spent his final years imprisoned. After lunch, board an afternoon train or bus back to Delhi — the Gatimaan Express (world's fastest train to Delhi, ~2 hrs, ~£8 AC) or Taj Express are both excellent options from Agra Cantonment station. Check into your Delhi accommodation for the night.
🚌Auto-rickshaw to Taj Mahal (~£1). Agra Cantonment to Delhi: Gatimaan Express or Taj Express (~£8–12, ~2 hrs). Book via IRCTC or Cleartrip.
🛏Zostel Delhi, Madpackers Hostel, or similar centrally located hostel/guesthouse (~£10–18/night)
- →Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal — arrive before opening at the East Gate (entry ~£12, book online in advance)
- →Visit Agra Fort (Red Fort of Akbar) — Pearl Mosque, palaces and courtyards (entry ~£5)
- →Afternoon train to Delhi: Gatimaan Express or Taj Express from Agra Cantonment (~£8–12, ~2 hrs)
- →Check into Delhi guesthouse/hostel for the night
Delhi: Depart or Explore
Delhi
Your self-launched Golden Triangle adventure wraps up in Delhi. If you have a flight today, the Delhi Metro Airport Express Line runs directly from New Delhi station to Terminal 3 (~£2, ~20 mins) — fast, cheap and stress-free. If time allows before departure, squeeze in a visit to Old Delhi's Jama Masjid (free entry), a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, or the Qutub Minar (~£6 entry). Grab a final plate of chaat or a Delhi-style paratha before heading to the airport.
🚌Delhi Metro Airport Express Line from New Delhi station to IGI Airport Terminal 3 (~£2, ~20 mins).
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Take the Delhi Metro Airport Express to IGI Airport Terminal 3 (~£2, ~20 mins) — no need for an expensive taxi
- →Optional morning: Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride in Old Delhi (free–£2)
- →Optional: Qutub Minar if departing late afternoon (entry ~£6)
- →Final street food: chaat, parathas or lassi in Connaught Place or Old Delhi (~£1–2)
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£190 | £650 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £460 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£190
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 Self-Launched Golden Triangle: Delhi, Jaipur & Agra cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £190 per person for 5 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 Exodus Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £190 — a saving of roughly £460 (71%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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, backpacker, budget 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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