North India Self-Launched: Delhi, Rajasthan, Taj Mahal & the Ganges
10 days · North India
Trip India Hotels and Holidays charges £1,400
No-markup version: ~£440 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day version of the classic Delhi–Mandawa–Jaipur–Agra–Khajuraho–Varanasi loop, rebuilt for independent travellers using trains, buses and budget flights instead of a private car and driver. You'll ride a cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk, climb to Amer Fort, stand in front of the Taj at dawn, marvel at Khajuraho's temples and take a sunrise boat on the Ganges — all bookable yourself through IRCTC, budget carriers, and GetYourGuide/Klook for guides and skip-the-line tickets. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and assume dorms or simple private rooms in guesthouses, local food, and second-class/sleeper or 3AC trains.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New Delhi
New Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50) or a pre-booked app taxi (Uber/Ola, ~£5-7). Check into a guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Pick up an Indian eSIM/Airtel SIM at the airport, set up IRCTC for train booking, and take it easy with a walk and street food near Connaught Place.
🚌Airport Express Metro ~£1.50 or app taxi ~£5-7
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (dorm or simple private room)
- →Airport arrival and SIM/IRCTC setup
- →Evening stroll and street food around Connaught Place
Old and New Delhi by rickshaw and metro
New Delhi
Self-guided day using the Delhi Metro and a cycle rickshaw. Start at Jama Masjid (entry ~£1.50, camera fee extra), wander Kinari Bazaar and Chandni Chowk, and see the Red Fort from outside or go in (~£5 for foreigners). Take the metro to Raj Ghat (Gandhi memorial), then hop between India Gate, Parliament House and Birla Temple. Finish at Qutab Minar (~£5) at golden hour. Optional: book a half-day Old Delhi walking/food tour on GetYourGuide (~£20-30). Evening: dinner at a Village Restaurant-style cultural dinner show (~£12) or a cheap thali (~£3).
🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£1.50 plus rickshaw ~£1-2
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
- →Jama Masjid
- →Kinari Bazaar and Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride
- →Raj Ghat, India Gate and Birla Temple
- →Qutab Minar
Delhi to Mandawa's painted havelis
Mandawa
Take a morning train or bus toward Jhunjhunu/Nawalgarh, then a shared jeep or local bus to Mandawa (~£8-12 total). Check into a small heritage guesthouse in a haveli. Spend the afternoon wandering Mandawa's 150-200 year old painted havelis with a local guide arranged by your guesthouse (~£5-8) or self-guided with a map. Sunset from the Mandawa Fort rooftop.
🚌Train/bus Delhi to Jhunjhunu/Nawalgarh ~£6-9 plus shared jeep ~£2-3
🛏Heritage haveli guesthouse in Mandawa
- →Walk through painted havelis
- →Mandawa Fort viewpoint
- →Village life walk
Mandawa to Jaipur and Amer Fort
Jaipur
Bus or shared taxi from Mandawa to Jaipur (~£5-8, 4-5 hrs). Drop bags at a guesthouse in the old city. In the afternoon head to Amer Fort — take a local bus or auto (~£1-2) and either walk up or take the jeep/elephant route; entry ~£5.50. On the way back stop at Jal Mahal for photos. Evening in the Pink City bazaars and a rooftop dinner (~£4).
🚌Bus Mandawa to Jaipur ~£5-8 plus local auto ~£2
🛏Guesthouse in Jaipur old city
- →Amer Fort
- →Jal Mahal photo stop
- →Old city bazaar walk
Jaipur sights, then to Agra
Jaipur / Agra
Morning: City Palace Museum (~£8), Jantar Mantar (~£2.50) and Hawa Mahal from the street or cafe opposite (free). Optional block-print or cooking class (~£15). Take an afternoon/evening train to Agra (3AC ~£6-8, or a Volvo bus ~£7) and stay near the Taj east gate.
🚌Train Jaipur to Agra 3AC ~£7
🛏Budget hotel near Taj Mahal east gate, Agra
- →City Palace Museum
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal
Taj Mahal at sunrise and Agra Fort
Agra
Pre-book your Taj Mahal ticket online (~£12, plus ~£2 for the main mausoleum) for the first entry slot and arrive at the east gate for sunrise — far quieter and better light than midday. Book a local guide at the gate (~£8-10 split) or use an audio guide. After breakfast visit Agra Fort (~£5.50) and take an auto to Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj, ~£2.50). Sunset from Mehtab Bagh across the river (~£2.50).
🚌Autos around Agra ~£3-4 total
🛏Budget hotel near Taj Mahal east gate, Agra
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Agra Fort
- →Itimad-ud-Daulah
- →Mehtab Bagh sunset
Agra to Khajuraho
Khajuraho
Take a budget flight from Agra to Khajuraho (IndiGo/SpiceJet via Delhi or direct when scheduled, ~£40-60 booked in advance) — or a long overnight train via Jhansi/Mahoba if you want to save money (~£6-10). Afternoon free to settle in and catch the evening light-and-sound show at the Western temples (~£3).
🚌Budget flight Agra–Khajuraho ~£45 or overnight train ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Khajuraho village
- →Khajuraho light and sound show
Khajuraho temples, then to Varanasi
Khajuraho / Varanasi
Morning exploring the Western Group (~£5) and Eastern Group of temples on foot or by cycle — hire a guide (~£8) to decode the carvings. Afternoon flight Khajuraho to Varanasi (~£40-55). Arrive in the evening and walk down to the ghats for your first look at the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free).
🚌Budget flight Khajuraho–Varanasi ~£45
🛏Guesthouse near Assi or Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi
- →Khajuraho Western and Eastern temples
- →Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Sunrise on the Ganges and Sarnath
Varanasi
Pre-book a sunrise rowboat on the Ganges through your guesthouse or GetYourGuide (~£6-10 per person shared) — go at 5:30am for the bathing and cremation ghats in soft light. Walk the old city's temples and lanes, then take a shared auto to Sarnath (~£1.50) to see the Dhamek Stupa and museum (~£2.50). Optional: Kashi Vishwanath corridor. Evening: cheap thali and lassi.
🚌Shared auto to Sarnath ~£2
🛏Guesthouse near Assi or Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi
- →Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges
- →Old city temple walk
- →Sarnath
- →Kashi Vishwanath corridor
Varanasi to Delhi and departure
Varanasi / Delhi
Morning free for the ghats and silk-weaving lanes. Fly Varanasi to Delhi (~£40-55, 1h20) or take an overnight train the previous night (~£10 in 3AC). If time allows, browse Delhi Haat or Dilli Haat markets for last-minute souvenirs before your international flight. Allow 3+ hours before departure at T3.
🚌Flight Varanasi–Delhi ~£45 or 3AC train ~£10
🛏None (departure day) or one night near Delhi airport if flying out next morning
- →Morning ghat walk
- →Delhi market shopping
Self-launched vs. Trip India Hotels and Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Trip India Hotels and Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£440 | £1,400 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £960 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Trip India Hotels and Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£440
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does North India Self-Launched: Delhi, Rajasthan, Taj Mahal & the Ganges cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £440 per person for 10 days in North 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 Trip India Hotels and Holidays?+
Yes — Trip India Hotels and Holidays charges around £1,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £440 — a saving of roughly £960 (69%) per person.
How long is the North India trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through North 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, adventure, budget trip through North 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.