Self-Launched Golden Triangle & Pushkar, India

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Skip the expensive private transfer and take the Delhi Airport Metro Express directly from the airport to New Delhi Railway Station or Connaught Place — it runs every 10–15 minutes, takes around 20 minutes and costs just £1. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the Paharganj or Karol Bagh area, both popular budget traveller hubs close to the main railway station. Spend the evening exploring a local dhaba (roadside restaurant) and orienting yourself.

🚌Delhi Airport Metro Express: Terminal 3 → New Delhi station (~£1)

🛏zostel Delhi, Moustache Hostel New Delhi, or similar budget hostel/guesthouse in Paharganj (~£10–16/night in a dorm or budget private room)

• →Take the Delhi Airport Metro Express to the city centre (~£1)
• →Check in to budget hostel or guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
• →Explore a local dhaba for your first taste of Delhi street food

A full day taking in Old and New Delhi's iconic landmarks entirely on your own terms. Start early in Old Delhi: head to Jama Masjid (entry free, camera charge ~£1.50), then hop on a cycle rickshaw through the chaotic Chandni Chowk bazaar (~£1–2). Walk to the Red Fort for photos from outside (entry ~£5 if you wish to go in). Take the Metro to Raj Ghat (free), then continue by Metro or auto-rickshaw past India Gate and the President's House (Rashtrapati Bhavan). In the afternoon, visit Humayun's Tomb (~£5) and Qutub Minar (~£5) — both are self-guided and well-signed in English. Use the Delhi Metro throughout the day to keep transport costs low (~£1–2 total). Consider booking a Delhi street food walking tour via GetYourGuide (from ~£15) for the evening.

🚌Delhi Metro day pass (~£2); auto-rickshaws for shorter hops (~£1–3 per ride)

🛏Zostel Delhi or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →Visit Jama Masjid — free entry, small camera charge
• →Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar (~£1–2)
• →Photo stop at the Red Fort exterior (entry ~£5 if going inside)
• →Visit Raj Ghat — Gandhi memorial, free entry
• →Drive/Metro past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan
• →Visit Humayun's Tomb (~£5 entry)
• →Visit Qutub Minar (~£5 entry)
• →Optional: Delhi food tour via GetYourGuide (~£15)

Take the Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express train from Hazrat Nizamuddin or New Delhi station to Agra Cantonment — fast, comfortable, and the most popular option with travellers (~£6–10 in AC chair car, ~2 hours). Book tickets in advance on the IRCTC website or app. On arrival, take an auto-rickshaw or tuk-tuk to your guesthouse (most are near the Taj). Head straight to the Taj Mahal — entry is ~£13 for foreigners; arrive early to beat the crowds. The battery-powered eco vehicle from the car park gate to the main entrance costs around £0.50. In the afternoon, walk or take a tuk-tuk to Agra Fort (~£7 entry). Browse the local marble-inlay craft markets in the Sadar Bazaar area in the evening.

🚌Train Delhi → Agra (Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express, ~£6–10); auto-rickshaw from station (~£2)

🛏Zostel Agra, Hotel Sidhartha, or similar budget guesthouse near Taj Mahal (~£10–18/night)

• →Take the Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Agra (~£6–10, ~2hrs)
• →Visit the Taj Mahal — book entry ticket online or at the gate (~£13)
• →Eco battery van to the Taj gate (~£0.50)
• →Visit Agra Fort (~£7 entry)
• →Browse Sadar Bazaar for marble crafts and local shopping

The best value way to travel from Agra to Jaipur with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri is to take a shared taxi or hire a private cab for the day (~£15–25 split between travellers). Fatehpur Sikri — the magnificent 16th-century Mughal ghost city — is 40km from Agra and right on the route to Jaipur. Entry is ~£5. Spend 1.5–2 hours exploring before continuing the ~230km journey to Jaipur (around 4 hours from Fatehpur Sikri). Alternatively, take the RSRTC Volvo bus from Agra to Jaipur (~£5–7, ~5 hours) and visit Fatehpur Sikri as a pre-bus morning stop by local bus (~£1). Arrive in Jaipur by evening and check in near the old city.

🚌Shared taxi or private cab Agra → Fatehpur Sikri → Jaipur (~£15–25 per vehicle, shareable); or RSRTC bus (~£5–7)

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur, Zostel Jaipur, or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →Morning visit to Fatehpur Sikri — UNESCO World Heritage Mughal city (~£5 entry)
• →Explore the ghost city: Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal
• →Shared taxi or private cab onward to Jaipur (~£15–25 per cab)
• →Check in to Jaipur hostel near the Pink City walled area

Jaipur's highlights are all easily explored independently. Start early with the short trip to Amber Fort (~11km from the city; take a shared jeep from Jalmahal ~£1 each way or an auto-rickshaw ~£3). The elephant ride at Amber Fort costs ~£10–12 and can be booked directly at the fort — note that animal welfare organisations advise skipping this; a jeep ride up is a good alternative. Entry to Amber Fort is ~£5 for foreigners. Back in the city, the composite ticket (~£10) covers City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and several other attractions — excellent value. Walk the atmospheric bazaars of the old walled city in the evening. Consider booking a cooking class with a local family via Airbnb Experiences (~£20) for an evening to remember.

🚌Shared jeep to Amber Fort (~£1 each way); auto-rickshaws around the city (~£1–3 per trip)

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →Amber Fort — shared jeep up (~£1) or auto-rickshaw; entry ~£5
• →Optional elephant/jeep ride at Amber Fort (~£10–12 or skip for ethical reasons)
• →Composite ticket for City Palace, Jantar Mantar & Hawa Mahal (~£10)
• →Explore the old walled city bazaars — Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar
• →Optional: cooking class with a local Jaipur family via Airbnb Experiences (~£20)

Pushkar is around 145km from Jaipur (~2.5–3 hours) and makes a memorable day trip. Take the RSRTC express bus from Jaipur's Sindhi Camp Bus Stand to Ajmer (~£2.50, 2 hours), then a shared auto-rickshaw or local bus from Ajmer to Pushkar (~£0.50–1, 15 minutes). Pushkar is one of India's holiest towns — explore the sacred Brahma Temple (the only major Brahma temple in the world), stroll the ghats along Pushkar Lake (Gau Ghat is especially atmospheric), climb to Savitri Temple for panoramic views (or take the ropeway ~£2 each way), and browse the vibrant Pushkar Bazaar for handicrafts and tie-dye fabrics. A short camel ride on the outskirts can be arranged locally for ~£4–6. Return to Jaipur by evening bus.

🚌RSRTC bus Jaipur–Ajmer–Jaipur (~£5 total return); shared auto-rickshaw Ajmer–Pushkar (~£1 return)

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →RSRTC bus Jaipur → Ajmer (~£2.50, ~2 hours)
• →Shared auto-rickshaw Ajmer → Pushkar (~£0.50–1)
• →Visit Brahma Temple — India's most important Brahma shrine (free entry, small donation expected)
• →Walk the ghats: Gau Ghat and Pushkar Lake
• →Climb or take ropeway to Savitri Temple for panoramic views (~£2 ropeway)
• →Browse Pushkar Bazaar for handicrafts, fabrics and local snacks
• →Short camel ride on the desert outskirts (~£4–6)
• →Return bus Ajmer → Jaipur (~£2.50)

Head back to Delhi for your onward flight. The best option is the Ajmer Shatabdi or another express train from Jaipur Junction to New Delhi (~£7–12 in AC chair car, ~4.5 hours) — book in advance on IRCTC. The Volvo AC bus (RSRTC) is also a popular budget choice (~£5–8, ~5–6 hours). From New Delhi station or ISBT bus terminal, take the Metro directly to the airport (Delhi Airport Metro Express, ~£1). If your flight is late, consider storing luggage at the station and spending a few hours revisiting Connaught Place or catching a final meal. Allow plenty of time for Delhi traffic when heading to the airport.

🚌Train Jaipur → New Delhi (~£7–12 AC chair car) or RSRTC Volvo bus (~£5–8); Delhi Metro to airport (~£1)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Ajmer Shatabdi or express train Jaipur → New Delhi (~£7–12, ~4.5 hours)
• →OR Volvo AC bus Jaipur → Delhi (~£5–8, ~5–6 hours)
• →Delhi Airport Metro Express to IGI Airport (~£1)
• →Optional: last-minute shopping at Connaught Place or Janpath Market if time allows