Best of Rajasthan: Self-Launched Delhi to Agra Loop
14 days · Rajasthan & Golden Triangle, India
Holidays At charges £1,160
No-markup version: ~£505 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on the classic 14-day Rajasthan circuit — Delhi, Mandawa, Bikaner, the Thar Desert at Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra. Instead of a guided group coach tour, you'll string the cities together with Indian Railways trains and Rajasthan State Road Transport buses, book havelis and hostels direct, and pick up local guides or audio guides only where they genuinely add value (Delhi's Old City, Mehrangarh, Amber Fort, the Taj). Same fortresses, same desert camp, same sunrise at the Taj Mahal — at roughly a fifth of the tour price. All costs are approximate budget-backpacker estimates in GBP per person.
Day-by-day
Land in Delhi, ease into Paharganj
New Delhi
Arrive at Terminal 3 (IGI Airport) and take the Airport Express metro straight to New Delhi station — about £1.50 and 20 minutes, versus £6-8 for a prepaid taxi. Base yourself in Paharganj or Karol Bagh, where private rooms run £12-18 a night. Take it easy: pick up a local SIM/eSIM at the airport, grab a thali for dinner, and sort your train tickets at the IRCTC counter or online (book the Delhi–Jaipur/Agra legs early — they sell out).
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50
🛏Paharganj guesthouse or budget hotel, private room (~£15)
- →Airport Express metro to city
- →IRCTC train ticket collection/booking
- →Evening walk around Paharganj market
Old Delhi by rickshaw, New Delhi by metro
New Delhi
Self-guided day using the Delhi Metro plus one cycle rickshaw ride. Start at Raj Ghat, then Humayun's Tomb (£6 entry for foreigners — worth it) and the Lotus Temple (free, closed Mondays). Hop the metro to Central Secretariat for the drive-past sweep of Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate, then finish at Jama Masjid (£2) and the Chandni Chowk spice lanes on a cycle rickshaw (£1.50, negotiate first). Qutub Minar is a metro ride south if you have energy left. A local guide for Chandni Chowk can be booked through GetYourGuide from ~£15, but it's genuinely optional.
🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£2.50
🛏Paharganj guesthouse (~£15)
- →Raj Ghat
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Lotus Temple
- →India Gate & Rashtrapati Bhavan exterior
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk cycle rickshaw ride
Delhi to Mandawa, painted havelis
Mandawa
Take an early train or bus toward Jhunjhunu/Nawalgarh and a short shared auto or taxi onward to Mandawa (total ~£8-12, 5-6 hours). Mandawa is small enough to see on foot: the fort and its frescoed merchant havelis (Gulab Rai Ladia, Harlalka Well) are a few pounds each or bundled on one ~£4 local ticket. Guesthouses here are charming and cheap — a restored haveli double is £15-20.
🚌Train/bus Delhi–Jhunjhunu plus shared auto ~£10
🛏Restored haveli guesthouse, Mandawa (~£18)
- →Mandawa Fort
- →Painted haveli walking loop
- →Sunset from the rooftop
Mandawa to Bikaner: forts and Jain temples
Bikaner
Bus or train to Bikaner (~£5-7, 4-5 hours). Cheap city buses and autos cover Junagarh Fort (£4 entry, allow 2 hours) and Lalgarh Palace (£2). Bhandasar Jain Temple is free and gorgeous in late-afternoon light. The Camel Breeding Farm (₹50 entry, plus a short camel ride ~£2.50) is at the edge of town — take a shared auto out and back. Dinner at a local thali house in the old city, £2-3.
🚌Bus Mandawa–Bikaner ~£6, city autos ~£2
🛏Old-city guesthouse, Bikaner (~£15)
- →Junagarh Fort
- →Lalgarh Palace
- →Bhandasar Jain Temple
- →National Research Centre on Camel, short camel ride
To the Thar Desert: camel ride and desert camp
Jaisalmer
Train or bus to Jaisalmer (~£5-8, 4-5 hours). Book a non-luxury desert camp or a dune tent direct rather than via the group tour — standard camps with dinner and a folk dance/music show run £18-25 per person including transfers, or you can simply free-camp-style it with a village homestay and add a camel ride. Sunset camel ride on the Sam or Khuri dunes is ~£8-12 per person. Wrap up with Rajasthani dance and dinner at the camp.
🚌Bus/train Bikaner–Jaisalmer ~£6, shared jeep to dunes ~£3
🛏Non-luxury desert camp, Jaisalmer (~£22 incl. dinner)
- →Camel ride at Sam/Khuri dunes
- →Desert camp with traditional Rajasthani dance and music
- →Dune sunset
Jaisalmer's golden fort
Jaisalmer
Return to the city and explore Jaisalmer Fort — one of the few living forts left, with people still living inside. Guidebook plus walking is enough; a licensed local guide is ~£10 if you want the stories. Patwon-ki-Haveli (£2) and Salim Singh-ki-Haveli (£1.50) are close together; Gadisar Lake is free at sunset. Thar Heritage Museum is £1. Dinner on a fort rooftop, £3-5.
🚌On foot, shared auto back from dunes ~£2
🛏Fort-side guesthouse, Jaisalmer (~£18)
- →Jaisalmer Fort
- →Patwon-ki-Haveli
- →Salim Singh-ki-Haveli
- →Thar Heritage Museum
- →Gadisar Lake at sunset
Jodhpur: the blue city from Mehrangarh
Jodhpur
Morning train or bus Jaisalmer–Jodhpur (~£4-6, 5-6 hours; the train is scenic). Mehrangarh Fort is the star: £7 entry with the excellent audio guide included — take it. Jaswant Thada (£1.50), Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park (£1) and Umaid Bhawan's museum wing (£2) fill the afternoon. Wander the blue lanes of Navchokiya and the Sardar Market around the Clock Tower for photos and lassi. Rooftop dinner with fort views, £4.
🚌Train Jaisalmer–Jodhpur ~£5, autos ~£2
🛏Haveli guesthouse, Jodhpur old city (~£16)
- →Mehrangarh Fort with audio guide
- →Jaswant Thada
- →Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
- →Umaid Bhawan Palace museum
- →Clock Tower market walk
Jodhpur to Udaipur via Ranakpur
Udaipur
Take a morning bus to Ranakpur (a couple of hours), see the extraordinary 1,444-pillar Jain temple (£1 entry, camera fee ~£1), then continue by bus or shared taxi to Udaipur (~£3-5). Total transport £10-13 for the day. Alternatively a direct Jodhpur–Udaipur train runs ~£4-6 if you skip Ranakpur. Evening: walk to Ambrai Ghat for the classic Lake Pichola view at sunset, and cheap rooftop dinner in the old town.
🚌Buses Jodhpur–Ranakpur–Udaipur ~£12
🛏Guesthouse near Lal Ghat, Udaipur (~£16)
- →Ranakpur Jain Temple
- →Ambrai Ghat sunset
- →Old town wander
Udaipur: palaces, boats and a dance show
Udaipur
City Palace complex ticket £4 (plus £2 for the Crystal Gallery if you like). Jagdish Temple is free and a 3-minute walk away. Afternoon boat ride on Lake Pichola (~£5-7 for the standard jetty boat) and the Udaipur ropeway up to Karni Mata for the city panorama (~£1.50). Bagore ki Haveli's Dharohar folk dance show at 7pm is £2-3 and genuinely excellent. Fateh Sagar Lake and Saheliyon-ki-Bari are a cheap auto-rickshaw hop away if you have time.
🚌Autos ~£3
🛏Guesthouse near Lal Ghat (~£16)
- →Udaipur City Palace
- →Jagdish Temple
- →Lake Pichola boat ride
- →Ropeway to Karni Mata
- →Dharohar dance show at Bagore ki Haveli
Udaipur to Jaipur via Chittorgarh Fort
Jaipur
Break the long journey with a stop at Chittorgarh Fort — take an early bus or shared taxi to Chittorgarh (~£3), then a local auto up to the fort (₹500 for the vehicle) and work through Rana Kumbha Palace, Vijay Stambh, Padmini Palace and Meerabai Temple on foot or by scooter hire (~£6). Fort entry £3. Then a late train from Chittorgarh to Jaipur, ~£5-7, arriving after midnight — pre-book a hostel bed.
🚌Bus Udaipur–Chittorgarh ~£3, train Chittorgarh–Jaipur ~£6, autos ~£3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Jaipur (~£15)
- →Chittorgarh Fort
- →Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory)
- →Padmini Palace
- →Meerabai Temple
Jaipur: Amber Fort and the pink city
Jaipur
Get to Amber Fort early (local bus #5 or an auto, ~£1-2) — entry £6, and the jeep up to the gate is £4 shared. Skip the elephant rides on welfare grounds. Back in the city, the composite ticket covering City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal's façade is around £8-10; Jal Mahal is a photo stop from the road. Birla Temple is free. Optional sunset at Nahargarh Fort (~£3 entry) is the best view in Jaipur.
🚌Local bus and autos ~£3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Jaipur (~£15)
- →Amber Fort (jeep up)
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Jal Mahal photo stop
- →Birla Temple
- →Optional Nahargarh Fort sunset
Jaipur to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri
Agra
Take the morning train or bus Jaipur–Fatehpur Sikri (~£3, 2.5 hours). The abandoned Mughal capital is £6 entry and easy to walk: Buland Darwaza, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and Diwan-e-Khas. Local buses run the remaining hour to Agra for under £1; a shared taxi is ~£3. Check into a Taj Ganj guesthouse and pre-buy your Taj Mahal ticket online the night before — the sunrise slot goes quickly.
🚌Train/bus to Fatehpur Sikri ~£3, local bus to Agra ~£1
🛏Taj Ganj guesthouse with rooftop view, Agra (~£14)
- →Fatehpur Sikri
- →Buland Darwaza
- →Tomb of Salim Chisti
- →Panch Mahal
Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra's other tombs
Agra
In the gate by 6am for the Taj Mahal (foreigner ticket £13 including shoe covers and the mausoleum platform). Mehtab Bagh (£3) across the river gives the postcard angle. Then Agra Fort (£6), and if time allows Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb (£3) and Sikandra (£3). Evening train back to Delhi, ~£4-6, or stay the night in Agra and take a morning train.
🚌Autos ~£4, train Agra–Delhi ~£5
🛏Taj Ganj guesthouse or return to Delhi (~£14)
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Mehtab Bagh
- →Agra Fort
- →Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
- →Optional Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb)
Delhi and departure
New Delhi
Last morning in Delhi — grab breakfast, do any last-minute shopping in Connaught Place or Janpath, and take the Airport Express metro to Terminal 3 (about £1.50). If you returned to Delhi the night before, factor in a couple of hours of buffer for the metro plus check-in.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50
🛏Departure day
- →Delhi shopping or cafés
- →Airport Express to departures
Self-launched vs. Holidays At
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Holidays At | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£505 | £1,160 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £655 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Holidays At-style trips? Check them out here.~£505
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 Best of Rajasthan: Self-Launched Delhi to Agra Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £505 per person for 14 days in Rajasthan & Golden Triangle, 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 Holidays At?+
Yes — Holidays At charges around £1,160 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £505 — a saving of roughly £655 (56%) per person.
How long is the Rajasthan & Golden Triangle, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Rajasthan & Golden Triangle, 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 Rajasthan & Golden Triangle, 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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