India's Taj Mahal & Tigers – Self-Launched Adventure

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport and take the Delhi Metro's Airport Express Line straight to New Delhi station (~£1.50) — far cheaper and faster than a taxi. Check into your hostel or budget guesthouse in the Paharganj or Karol Bagh areas, both well-located for sightseeing. Spend the rest of the day acclimatising: wander Paharganj's chaotic main bazaar, grab a masala chai from a street vendor and soak in the energy of the city. In the evening, head to a local dhaba (street restaurant) for your first taste of northern Indian food — butter chicken, dal makhani and freshly baked naan rarely cost more than £3–5 per person.

🚌Delhi Metro Airport Express Line from IGI Airport to New Delhi station (~£1.50)

🛏Zostel Delhi or similar hostel/guesthouse in Paharganj (dorm ~£8–12/night, private room ~£18–25/night)

• →Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport and take the Delhi Metro Airport Express to central Delhi (~£1.50)
• →Check in and explore Paharganj or Karol Bagh neighbourhood
• →Wander local markets and try street food at a dhaba
• →Plan the next day's Old Delhi walking route

Kick off with an early walk through Old Delhi. Book a walking tour of Old Delhi via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences — many are led by local community guides including former street children, similar to the Exodus experience (~£10–15). Wind through the spice markets of Khari Baoli, the alleyways of Chandni Chowk and end at the magnificent Jama Masjid (entry free, camera fee ~£1). In the afternoon, take an auto-rickshaw or metro to New Delhi and visit Humayun's Tomb (entry ~£5 for foreigners), a stunning UNESCO-listed Mughal mausoleum. Drive or metro past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan. Finish with a sunset stroll in Lodhi Garden — free and beautiful.

🚌Delhi Metro and auto-rickshaws throughout the day (~£3–5 total)

🛏Zostel Delhi or similar hostel/guesthouse in Paharganj (dorm ~£8–12/night, private room ~£18–25/night)

• →Join a community walking tour of Old Delhi via GetYourGuide (~£10–15)
• →Visit Jama Masjid — the largest mosque in India (free entry, ~£1 camera fee)
• →Explore Chandni Chowk and the spice markets
• →Visit UNESCO-listed Humayun's Tomb (~£5 entry)
• →Walk past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan
• →Stroll Lodhi Garden at sunset (free)

After breakfast, make your way to Neemrana (~120 km from Delhi). The easiest independent option is to book a seat in a shared taxi or hire a private cab from Paharganj for around £15–20 for the whole car (split between travel companions). Alternatively, take a bus from Dhaula Kuan ISBT bus terminal to Behror and an auto-rickshaw to Neemrana (~£4 total, but slower). Neemrana Fort-Palace is a heritage hotel open to non-guests for day visits, but to stay the night independently you can book directly on their website — rates for a standard room are considerably lower than what group tour operators pay in bulk. Explore the fort's hanging gardens, multiple swimming pools and panoramic hilltop views. Treat yourself to dinner at the fort's restaurant and watch the lights twinkle across the Aravalli Hills.

🚌Shared taxi or private cab from Delhi to Neemrana (~£15–20 per car); alternatively ISBT bus + auto-rickshaw (~£4)

🛏Neemrana Fort-Palace (standard room booked direct ~£40–70/night) or budget guesthouse in Neemrana village (~£12–18/night)

• →Drive from Delhi to Neemrana via shared taxi or private cab (~2.5 hrs)
• →Check into Neemrana Fort-Palace (book directly for best rates ~£40–70/night)
• →Explore the fort's nine palace wings, hanging gardens and swimming pools
• →Optional: camel ride around the fort grounds (~£5)
• →Dinner at the fort's rooftop restaurant with Aravalli Hills views

After breakfast, head to Jaipur (~3.5 hrs from Neemrana). Take a shared cab or bus towards Jaipur via NH48 — the Rajasthan State Roadways bus from Shahpura or Behror to Jaipur costs around £2–3. Arrive and check into a guesthouse in the walled city or near MI Road. In the afternoon, explore the vibrant bazaars of the Pink City on foot — Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for textiles. For the cooking and home dinner experience, book an Airbnb Experience or GetYourGuide 'Jaipur home cooking with a local family' session (~£15–20 per person) — these are widely available and authentic.

🚌Bus from Neemrana/Behror to Jaipur (~£2–3) or shared cab (~£5–8 per person)

🛏Pearl Palace Heritage or Atithi Guest House (or similar mid-range heritage guesthouse ~£18–30/night)

• →Travel from Neemrana to Jaipur by bus or shared cab (~3.5 hrs, ~£3–5)
• →Check in and explore the walled Pink City bazaars on foot
• →Sample street food: pyaz kachori, lassi and mirchi bada (~£2–3)
• →Book a Jaipur home cooking and dinner experience via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£15–20)

A packed and rewarding day of sightseeing in Jaipur. Start early with Amer Fort (~8 km from the city centre) — take a shared auto-rickshaw or local bus (~£1). Entry to Amer Fort costs ~£8 for foreigners. From there, visit the City Palace (entry ~£8), the fascinating Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory (entry ~£5, UNESCO-listed) and drive/walk past the iconic Hawa Mahal for photos from the street (free exterior view; interior ~£1.50). End the afternoon in the bazaars of the walled city — haggle for block-print textiles, blue pottery and Rajasthani handicrafts. Grab dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city — many serve excellent thalis for £3–5.

🚌Shared auto-rickshaws and local buses within Jaipur (~£3–5 for the day)

🛏Pearl Palace Heritage or Atithi Guest House (or similar ~£18–30/night)

• →Visit Amer Fort — hilltop Rajput fortress (~£8 entry, shared auto/bus ~£1)
• →Explore City Palace — Mughal-Rajput architecture and museum (~£8 entry)
• →Jantar Mantar — ancient solar observatory (~£5 entry, UNESCO-listed)
• →Photograph Hawa Mahal from the street (free) or enter (~£1.50)
• →Browse Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar for crafts and textiles
• →Rooftop thali dinner in the old city (~£3–5)

An early departure from Jaipur towards Ranthambore National Park (~4.5 hrs). En route, stop at Chand Baori in Abhaneri village — one of the world's largest and most spectacular ancient stepwells, with 3,500 narrow steps descending 20 metres. Entry is free and it's genuinely jaw-dropping. The easiest transport option is to book a shared day-trip taxi from Jaipur to Ranthambore with a stop at Chand Baori (~£12–18 per person if shared between 3–4 travellers, arranged via your guesthouse). Alternatively, take the Jaipur–Sawai Madhopur train (~£3–5, ~2 hrs) and arrange a local auto to Abhaneri first. Arrive in Sawai Madhopur town (the gateway to Ranthambore) by early evening and check in near the park.

🚌Shared taxi Jaipur–Ranthambore with Abhaneri stop (~£12–18 per person); or train Jaipur–Sawai Madhopur (~£3–5) + local transport

🛏Hammir Wildlife Resort or Tiger Den Resort (or similar budget lodge near the park ~£20–35/night)

• →Early departure from Jaipur towards Ranthambore (~4.5 hrs)
• →Stop at Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri — free entry, extraordinary architecture
• →Arrive Sawai Madhopur / Ranthambore and check into guesthouse
• →Book your game drive safari slots in advance on the Ranthambore official booking portal (book.ranthamborenationalpark.com)

The highlight of the trip for many travellers. Ranthambore is one of India's best parks for tiger sightings, with nearly 90 tigers. Book two game drives independently through the official Ranthambore National Park booking portal (book.ranthamborenationalpark.com) — a shared open-top 20-seat Canter costs ~£7–10 per person per drive; a more private 6-seat Gypsy 4x4 costs ~£15–25 per person. Each drive is 3–4 hours (one morning, one afternoon). Each vehicle is accompanied by a government-assigned Forest Guard. The park covers 1,334 sq km — beyond tigers, watch for leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, mugger crocodiles, sambar deer and over 300 bird species. Book safari slots weeks in advance as they sell out fast, especially in peak season (Oct–Mar).

🚌Safari vehicles booked via official portal — included in activity cost above

🛏Hammir Wildlife Resort or Tiger Den Resort (or similar ~£20–35/night)

• →Morning game drive in Ranthambore National Park — shared Canter (~£7–10) or Gypsy 4x4 (~£15–25 per person)
• →Afternoon game drive — second attempt to spot tigers and other wildlife
• →Wildlife to look for: Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, mugger crocodile, sambar deer, langur
• →Visit Ranthambore Fort ruins within the park (included in safari zone access)

Take the early morning express train from Sawai Madhopur station to Bharatpur (~2 hrs 15 min, ~£4–8 in AC chair class), then a local bus or shared auto-rickshaw to Agra (~1.5 hrs, ~£2–4). Check into your guesthouse — many budget options have rooftop views of the Taj Mahal. In the afternoon, visit Agra Fort (entry ~£8), the magnificent red sandstone Mughal citadel built by Emperor Akbar. As evening approaches, make your way to the Shilpagram Crafts Village area for sunset views of the Taj Mahal — the view across the Yamuna River is extraordinary and free from outside. Hire a cycle rickshaw from your hotel for the classic city experience (~£1–2). Grab street snacks from vendors near Fatehabad Road.

🚌Train Sawai Madhopur–Bharatpur (~£4–8); bus/auto Bharatpur–Agra (~£2–4); cycle rickshaws locally (~£1–2)

🛏Hotel Kamal or Saniya Palace (or similar guesthouse with Taj views ~£15–25/night)

• →Morning express train from Sawai Madhopur to Bharatpur (~2 hrs 15 min, ~£4–8 AC class)
• →Bus or shared auto from Bharatpur to Agra (~1.5 hrs, ~£2–4)
• →Visit Agra Fort — red sandstone Mughal citadel (~£8 entry)
• →Cycle rickshaw ride through Agra's streets to Shilpagram (~£1–2)
• →Sunset views of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh or Shilpagram viewing area (Mehtab Bagh entry ~£3)
• →Street food and snacks near Taj Ganj (~£2–4)

Set your alarm early — arriving at the Taj Mahal for sunrise (gates open ~30 min before sunrise) means smaller crowds, cooler temperatures and the magical soft light that turns the marble pink and gold. Entry for foreign visitors is ~£13 (includes Agra Fort shoe covers and water bottle). Spend 1.5–2 hrs exploring the mausoleum, inner chambers and the sweeping formal gardens. After breakfast, make your way towards Delhi (~4–5 hrs). En route, stop at Wildlife SOS Agra Bear Rescue Facility and Elephant Conservation and Care Centre — you can book a guided visit directly via the Wildlife SOS website (wildlifesos.org, ~£5–10 donation entry). This genuinely impactful conservation project rescues bears and elephants from abuse. Arrive back in Delhi by early evening. Treat yourself to a farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant in Paharganj or a splurge at Karim's near Jama Masjid — one of Delhi's most legendary Mughal kitchens (~£5–8).

🚌AC bus or shared cab Agra–Delhi (~£5–10 per person via UPSRTC Volvo bus or booked cab)

🛏Zostel Delhi or similar guesthouse in Paharganj (~£10–25/night)

• →Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal — entry ~£13 for foreign visitors (book online in advance at asiindia.org)
• →Explore Taj Mahal's mausoleum, inner chambers and formal gardens (~1.5–2 hrs)
• →Drive from Agra to Delhi (~4–5 hrs) via AC bus or hired cab
• →Stop at Wildlife SOS Agra — bear rescue facility and elephant conservation centre (book via wildlifesos.org, ~£5–10 donation)
• →Farewell dinner in Delhi — Karim's near Jama Masjid or rooftop Paharganj restaurant (~£5–8)

After breakfast, your northern India adventure draws to a close. Check out and make your way to Indira Gandhi International Airport via the Delhi Metro Airport Express Line (~£1.50) — fast, reliable and far cheaper than a taxi. If your flight is later in the day, store luggage at the hotel and squeeze in a final wander around Connaught Place or a last chai at a street stall. Consider extending your stay to explore South Delhi's Qutb Minar, Lodi Colony street art or the markets of Hauz Khas Village.

🚌Delhi Metro Airport Express to IGI Airport (~£1.50)

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Final breakfast and check out
• →Optional: last-minute visit to Connaught Place or Qutb Minar if time allows
• →Delhi Metro Airport Express Line to IGI Airport (~£1.50)