Self-Launched Classic Rajasthan: Delhi to Agra in 12 Days

Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport and make your way to your guesthouse in the Paharganj or Karol Bagh area — both are budget-traveller hubs close to New Delhi Railway Station. Get oriented, grab some street food on Main Bazaar Road, and rest up. If you arrive early, the Akshardham Temple is a stunning free-entry complex (sound and light show ticketed separately at ~£3) — note it closes on Mondays.

🚌Delhi Airport Metro Express from Terminal 3 to New Delhi station — ~£1.50

🛏Moustache Delhi Hostel or Hotel Rak International, Paharganj — dorm from £8, private from £15

• →Arrive at IGI Airport — take the Delhi Airport Metro Express to New Delhi station (~£1.50, 20 mins)
• →Check in to guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£10–15/night)
• →Optional: visit Akshardham Temple if arriving early (free entry, light show ~£3)
• →Explore Main Bazaar Road for street food and orientation

A full day exploring Delhi's incredible layered history. Start early at Red Fort (£1.50 entry for Indians, ~£7 for foreigners), then head to Chandni Chowk market for breakfast — try a paratha at Paranthe Wali Gali. In the afternoon, visit Humayun's Tomb (~£5), Qutub Minar (~£5), and finish at India Gate (free). Use the Delhi Metro to get between sites — it's cheap, fast and air-conditioned. Book a local walking tour of Old Delhi via GetYourGuide for around £10 if you want some context.

🚌Delhi Metro all day — ~£1.50 total

🛏Moustache Delhi Hostel or Hotel Rak International, Paharganj

• →Red Fort guided audio tour (~£7 entry + £1 audio guide)
• →Chandni Chowk market walk and street breakfast (~£2)
• →Humayun's Tomb (~£5 entry)
• →Qutub Minar (~£5 entry)
• →India Gate and Rajpath walk (free)
• →Delhi Metro between all sites (~£1.50 total)

Take an early morning bus or shared cab from Delhi's Bikaner House (near India Gate) or ISBT Kashmere Gate to Mandawa (~5–6 hours, ~£6–10). Mandawa is a gem of the Shekhawati region, famous for its elaborate frescoed merchant havelis. Wander the dusty lanes at your own pace — most havelis are open to walk past and many offer access for a small tip. Pick up a town map from your guesthouse. In the evening, browse the local market for Rajasthani handicrafts.

🚌RSRTC bus or shared taxi from Delhi ISBT/Bikaner House to Mandawa — ~£6–10

🛏Hotel Mandawa Haveli or Desert Triangle Mandawa — heritage guesthouse, double from £12

• →Early bus/shared taxi from Delhi to Mandawa (~5–6 hrs, ~£6–10)
• →Self-guided walk through Mandawa's painted havelis (free/small tips)
• →Visit Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli and Murmuria Haveli
• →Browse Mandawa market for handicrafts
• →Sunset from the rooftop of your guesthouse

Catch a morning bus from Mandawa to Bikaner (~3.5 hours, ~£4). Once settled, visit the magnificent Junagarh Fort (~£4 entry, audio guide available) — one of Rajasthan's finest, never conquered. In the afternoon, walk to Lalgarh Palace (exterior and museum ~£2). Don't miss Bikaner's famous snacks — Bhujia Sev and Rasgulla — from the old market near the fort. Optionally, arrange a visit to the National Research Centre on Camels (government camel breeding farm) ~3km from town, auto-rickshaw ~£0.50.

🚌RSRTC bus from Mandawa to Bikaner — ~£4

🛏Vino Paying Guest House or Hotel Harasar Haveli, Bikaner — double from £10

• →Morning bus from Mandawa to Bikaner (~3.5 hrs, ~£4)
• →Junagarh Fort with audio guide (~£4 entry)
• →Lalgarh Palace museum (~£2 entry)
• →Visit National Research Centre on Camels (~£1 entry, auto ~£0.50)
• →Street food tour of old Bikaner market — Bhujia, Rasgulla (~£2)

Take the morning train or bus from Bikaner to Jaisalmer (~5–6 hours, train ~£5 in sleeper class). Arrive and check in to a guesthouse inside or near the fort. Spend the afternoon exploring the living fort — visit the Fort Palace Museum (~£3), the beautifully carved Jain Temples (free, modest dress required), and stroll down to Gadisar Lake at sunset (free, boat hire ~£1.50). The fort is atmospheric to wander at night, lined with tea stalls and rooftop restaurants.

🚌Bikaner–Jaisalmer train (Bikaner–Jodhpur–Jaisalmer Express or direct) — ~£5 sleeper

🛏Moustache Jaisalmer or Hotel Shahi Palace — rooftop fort views, double from £10

• →Morning train/bus from Bikaner to Jaisalmer (~5–6 hrs, ~£5 train)
• →Check in and explore Jaisalmer Fort
• →Fort Palace Museum (~£3 entry)
• →Jain Temples inside the fort (free)
• →Gadisar Lake sunset walk and optional boat ride (~£1.50)

The highlight of Rajasthan for many travellers. Book a camel safari to the Sam Sand Dunes (~45km from Jaisalmer) directly with your guesthouse or via GetYourGuide — a half-day camel ride + overnight desert camp with dinner and cultural folk performance costs around £20–30 per person when booked independently, far cheaper than tour-operator rates. Watch the sunset from the dunes, enjoy a campfire dinner with Rajasthani folk music and dance, and sleep under the stars in a traditional tent. Spend the morning back in Jaisalmer visiting Sunset Point and Patwa Haveli (~£1 entry).

🚌Shared jeep or auto from Jaisalmer to Sam Dunes (~£3–5 each way)

🛏Desert camp at Sam Sand Dunes — tent with dinner and breakfast included (~£20–25/person)

• →Morning visit to Patwa Haveli (~£1 entry)
• →Sunset Point viewpoint (free)
• →Afternoon camel ride to Sam Sand Dunes (~£5–8 for camel hire)
• →Overnight desert camp with dinner and cultural dance performance (~£20–25 all-in)

Return to Jaisalmer in the morning and catch a bus or train to Jodhpur (~5 hours, ~£4–6). Jodhpur's blue-painted old city is stunning — check in to a guesthouse in the old city for the best views of Mehrangarh Fort looming above. Head straight to Mehrangarh Fort (~£7 entry, excellent audio guide included) — one of India's most impressive forts with sweeping city views. End the day wandering the Clock Tower market and sampling Makhaniya Lassi from Shri Mishrilal Hotel.

🚌Bus or train from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur — ~£4–6

🛏Pal Haveli Guesthouse or Moustache Jodhpur — old city views, double from £12

• →Morning return from Sam Dunes to Jaisalmer, then bus/train to Jodhpur (~5 hrs, ~£4–6)
• →Check in and walk the blue city lanes
• →Mehrangarh Fort with audio guide (~£7 entry, included)
• →Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) and spice market
• →Makhaniya Lassi at Shri Mishrilal Hotel (~£0.80)

An epic day of temple-hopping. Take an early bus or hire a shared taxi towards Udaipur, stopping at Ranakpur (~2.5 hours from Jodhpur) to visit the extraordinary Ranakpur Jain Temple (~£3 entry, camera fee ~£1) — one of the largest Jain temples in the world with 1,444 intricately carved marble pillars. After exploring, continue by local bus to Mount Abu (~2 more hours, ~£3), Rajasthan's only hill station at 1,220m. Stroll around Nakki Lake in the evening (boat hire ~£1.50).

🚌Bus Jodhpur–Ranakpur (~£3), then Ranakpur–Mount Abu (~£3)

🛏Hotel Lake Palace or Shree Ganesh Hotel, Mount Abu — double from £12

• →Early bus from Jodhpur towards Ranakpur (~2.5 hrs, ~£3)
• →Ranakpur Jain Temple — 1,444 marble pillars (~£3 entry)
• →Onward bus to Mount Abu (~2 hrs, ~£3)
• →Evening walk around Nakki Lake and boat hire (~£1.50)
• →Sunset Point viewpoint, Mount Abu (free or ~£0.50 entry)

Take a morning bus from Mount Abu to Udaipur (~3.5 hours, ~£4). Udaipur is one of India's most romantic cities — check in to a guesthouse in the old city near the lake for atmosphere. Spend the afternoon visiting Jagdish Temple (free), the serene Sahelion ki Bari garden (~£1), and driving around Fatehsagar Lake by auto-rickshaw. As evening falls, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola (~£3–5) with views of the famous Lake Palace Hotel — a truly magical experience. Enjoy rooftop dinner with lake views.

🚌Bus from Mount Abu to Udaipur — ~£4

🛏Zostel Udaipur or Nukkad Guesthouse — old city lakeside views, double from £12

• →Morning bus from Mount Abu to Udaipur (~3.5 hrs, ~£4)
• →Jagdish Temple (free)
• →Sahelion ki Bari garden (~£1 entry)
• →Fatehsagar Lake drive by auto-rickshaw (~£1.50)
• →Evening boat ride on Lake Pichola (~£3–5)
• →Rooftop dinner in the old city (~£4–6)

Take the Mewar Express train or a Volvo AC bus from Udaipur to Jaipur (~6–7 hours, train ~£5–8 in 2S/sleeper class). It's a long travel day but the scenery through the Aravalli Hills is beautiful — bring snacks and a book. Arrive in Jaipur in the late afternoon, check in to your hostel in the old city area. Do a quick evening stroll around the illuminated Hawa Mahal (free from outside) and grab dinner at LMB Restaurant or one of the rooftop cafes on MI Road.

🚌Mewar Express (Udaipur–Jaipur) train — ~£5–8 in sleeper/2S class

🛏Moustache Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur — dorm from £8, double from £14

• →Morning Mewar Express train or Volvo bus from Udaipur to Jaipur (~6–7 hrs, ~£5–8)
• →Check in to hostel in Jaipur old city
• →Evening walk to Hawa Mahal (lit up at night, free from outside)
• →Dinner at LMB Restaurant or rooftop cafe on MI Road (~£4–6)

Jaipur's big sights in one packed day. Start early at Amber Fort (~4km from city, shared jeep ~£1.50) — note that elephant rides at Amber Fort are increasingly controversial and restricted; consider an Elephant Nature Walk experience via Elefantastic (~£20) as a more ethical alternative, or simply walk up to the fort (~£7 entry). Back in the city, visit the City Palace Museum (~£7), the fascinating Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory (~£5), and the photogenic Hawa Mahal facade (~£1.50). Browse the bazaars for Rajasthani textiles and blue pottery in the afternoon.

🚌Auto-rickshaw and shared jeep around Jaipur — ~£3–5 total

🛏Moustache Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur

• →Amber Fort by shared jeep (~£1.50 jeep + £7 entry)
• →Optional: ethical elephant interaction at Elefantastic (~£20)
• →City Palace Museum (~£7 entry)
• →Jantar Mantar observatory (~£5 entry)
• →Hawa Mahal facade (~£1.50 entry)
• →Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar shopping for textiles and blue pottery

An early start to make the most of this legendary final stretch. Hire a shared taxi or book a day-trip bus from Jaipur to Agra (~5 hours, ~£6–10), stopping en route at the extraordinary Abhaneri Chand Baori step well (free entry, ~2 hours detour via Dausa — arrange with your taxi driver). In Agra, check in and head to Agra Fort (~£5 entry) in the afternoon, then take an auto to Mehtab Bagh (~£1.50 entry) across the river for the most magical, crowd-free sunset view of the Taj Mahal. Book your Taj Mahal sunrise slot in advance online (~£13 for foreign nationals).

🚌Shared taxi or Volvo bus from Jaipur to Agra (~£6–10), auto-rickshaw locally

🛏Zostel Agra or Hotel Sidhartha — Taj-view rooftop options from £12

• →Early taxi/bus from Jaipur to Agra with Abhaneri detour (~5 hrs, ~£6–10)
• →Chand Baori step well at Abhaneri (free entry)
• →Agra Fort (~£5 entry)
• →Mehtab Bagh for sunset Taj Mahal view (~£1.50 entry)
• →Pre-book Taj Mahal sunrise ticket for Day 13 (~£13)

Rise before dawn for your pre-booked Taj Mahal sunrise visit — arriving at opening time (6am) means smaller crowds and the most extraordinary golden light on the marble. Spend 2–3 hours exploring the complex (~£13 entry, pre-book online at asi.payumoney.com). After breakfast, head back to Delhi by Gatimaan Express train (the fastest train in India, ~£8–12, 1h40m) or Shatabdi Express (~£8, 2hrs) from Agra Cantt station, arriving in time for your onward flight from IGI Airport. Book train tickets in advance on IRCTC or Cleartrip.

🚌Gatimaan Express (Agra Cantt–Hazrat Nizamuddin, 1h40m) or Shatabdi (~2hrs) — ~£8–12

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Pre-dawn walk to Taj Mahal East Gate for sunrise opening (6am)
• →Taj Mahal visit (~£13 entry, pre-booked)
• →Agra breakfast at Joney's Place or Sheroes Hangout Cafe
• →Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express train from Agra Cantt to Delhi — ~£8–12
• →Transfer to IGI Airport from Delhi (~£1.50 metro)