Self-Launched Heritage Tour of Rajasthan
14 days · Rajasthan, India
UncleSam Holidays charges £1,790
No-markup version: ~£1,080 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY, self-launched version of UncleSam Holidays' 14-day Rajasthan heritage circuit — Delhi, Agra, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Osian and Jodhpur — rebuilt for independent travellers using trains, buses and shared cabs, hostel/guesthouse stays and self-bookable guides. You'll see every headline sight (Taj Mahal at sunrise, Amber Fort, Mehrangarh, the Thar Desert camel camp) at roughly a quarter of the group-tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-range estimates in GBP and exclude international flights and insurance.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New Delhi
New Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express metro (₹60–110, ~£0.60–1.10) or an Uber/Ola (~₹500, £4.50) to a guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Settle in, get an Indian SIM/eSIM (Airtel or Jio tourist SIM ~₹500, £4.50), then ease into the old city with a wander around Connaught Place for dinner — try a thali or chaat at a local dhaba.
🚌Airport Express metro from IGI Airport to New Delhi station (~£1)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Paharganj/Karol Bagh (~£8)
- →Airport Express metro transfer
- →Buy tourist SIM card
- →Evening stroll around Connaught Place
Old & New Delhi highlights
New Delhi
Do the classic Delhi circuit yourself. Start early at Qutub Minar (₹35 entry, ~£0.30), then Metro to Humayun's Tomb (₹40) and Raj Ghat (free). After lunch at a Karim's or a Chandni Chowk eatery, join a self-bookable Old Delhi walking/food tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£12–18) which covers Jama Masjid and a cycle-rickshaw spin through the Chandni Chowk spice market. Drive-by sights: Red Fort, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan. Alternatively grab the Delhi Metro day pass (₹200) and DIY the sights with a paid entry-ticket bundle.
🚌Delhi Metro day pass (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Paharganj (~£8)
- →Qutub Minar
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Raj Ghat
- →Jama Masjid
- →Old Delhi food walking tour (GetYourGuide/Klook)
- →Cycle-rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk
- →India Gate & Rashtrapati Bhavan drive-past
Delhi to Agra — Mughal monuments
Agra
Take the Gatimaan Express or the 6am Taj Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (~1h50, ₹750–1,350, ~£7–12). Check into a guesthouse in Taj Ganj (rooftop with Taj views ~£12). Afternoon: Agra Fort (₹50, ~£0.50) — hire an audio guide or local licensed guide at the gate (~₹500, £4.50). Then cross to Itmad-ud-Daulah ('Baby Taj') via auto-rickshaw. Sunset from Mehtab Bagh if you want the classic Taj view across the Yamuna (₹30).
🚌Gatimaan Express train Delhi–Agra (~£9) plus auto-rickshaws (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj with Taj-view rooftop (~£12)
- →Gatimaan Express to Agra
- →Agra Fort
- →Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
- →Sunset at Mehtab Bagh
Sunrise Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri & Bharatpur
Bharatpur
Pre-book the Taj Mahal sunrise ticket online at the ASI portal (₹1,100, ~£10 — plus ₹200 for the mausoleum) and be at the East Gate by 6am. Two hours inside is enough. Come back for breakfast, then take a shared taxi or bus to Fatehpur Sikri (70 min, ~₹300–500, £3–4.50). Explore Buland Darazwa, the Tomb of Salim Chisti and Panch Mahal (entry ₹50; battery cart optional). Late afternoon continue to Bharatpur by shared auto (~₹200, £1.80).
🚌Shared taxi Agra–Fatehpur Sikri–Bharatpur (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse near Keoladeo National Park (~£12)
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise (self-booked ticket)
- →Fatehpur Sikri — Buland Darwaza, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal
- →Transfer to Bharatpur
Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, then on to Jaipur
Jaipur
Hire a cycle-rickshaw guide through Keoladeo Ghana National Park (entry ₹50, ~£0.50; rickshaw guide ₹300/hr, £2.70). Early morning is peak bird time — expect painted storks, spoonbills and ibis in season. Afterwards take a train or bus to Jaipur: Bharatpur to Jaipur is ~3.5h by train (₹150–400, £1.40–3.60) or 4h by bus. Check into a hostel in the old pink city (Zostel/Hostelavity dorm ~£7–9, private ~£18) and wander Hawa Mahal and Johari Bazaar at dusk.
🚌Train Bharatpur–Jaipur (~£3)
🛏Hostel dorm, Jaipur old city (~£8)
- →Keoladeo National Park birdwatching by cycle-rickshaw
- →Train to Jaipur
- →Hawa Mahal at sunset
- →Johari Bazaar shopping
Jaipur — Amber Fort, City Palace & Jantar Mantar
Jaipur
Pre-book a local guide or audio guide; or join a GetYourGuide small-group Jaipur full-day tour (~£25–35) which bundles entry fees. Amber Fort entry ₹100 (or ₹200 composite ticket covering City Palace & Jantar Mantar, ~£1.80). Take the local bus (₹30) or an Ola to Amber and do the jeep/electric-cart up. Back in town: City Palace, the astronomical instruments of Jantar Mantar (book the 10am English tour) and the Jaipur Observatory. Optional: sunset over Jaipur from Nahargarh Fort (₹50 entry, ₹250 for a shared jeep).
🚌Local bus/Ola around Jaipur (~£4)
🛏Hostel dorm, Jaipur old city (~£8)
- →Amber Fort
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Jal Mahal drive-past
- →Birla Temple
- →Optional Nahargarh Fort sunset
Jaipur to Mandawa — Shekhawati havelis
Mandawa
Bus or shared taxi Jaipur to Mandawa (~4h, ₹400–600, ~£4–5.50). Drop bags at a haveli guesthouse — many of the painted merchant mansions are now heritage hotels and double up as the sight itself. Explore on foot: the painted havelis and frescos of Mandawa's old town (small donations expected, ₹100–200). Optional: guided walk with a local heritage guide (~₹500, £4.50).
🚌Bus Jaipur–Mandawa (~£5)
🛏Heritage haveli guesthouse, Mandawa (~£15)
- →Transfer to Mandawa
- →Walk the painted havelis of Mandawa
- →Local heritage guide
Mandawa to Bikaner — Junagarh Fort
Bikaner
Bus/train Mandawa–Bikaner (~3.5–4h, ₹300–500, ~£3–4.50). Afternoon: Junagarh Fort (₹250 audio guide included, ~£2.20), Lalgarh Palace and Bhandasar Jain Temple (free). If timing allows, shared jeep to Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke (30km, ~30 min, ₹200 shared) — the famous 'rat temple'. Eat a Bikaneri bhujia and kachori snack.
🚌Bus Mandawa–Bikaner (~£4) + local shared jeep (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse/haveli guesthouse near old town (~£13)
- →Transfer to Bikaner
- →Junagarh Fort
- →Lalgarh Palace
- →Bhandasar Jain Temple
- →Optional Karni Mata Temple at Deshnoke
Bikaner to Jaisalmer — Desert camp & camel ride
Jaisalmer
Where the group tour bundles a standard camp, book direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook: Jaisalmer non-tourist dunes (Khuri or Sam) overnight camel-safari packages run from ~£25–40 including a camel ride, dinner and folk dance in the dunes. Travel: overnight bus Bikaner–Jaisalmer (~9h, ₹600–900, £5.50–8) or day bus. Or take the day and go straight to the camp and arrive for sunset on the camel.
🚌Bus Bikaner–Jaisalmer (~£7)
🛏Deluxe tent, desert camp near Jaisalmer (~£20)
- →Overnight bus/transfer to Jaisalmer
- →Camel ride on the dunes
- →Rajasthani folk dance performance at camp
- →Sunset in the Thar Desert
Jaisalmer Fort, havelis & Gadisar Lake
Jaisalmer
Return to the city and check into a guesthouse in the fort itself or nearby. Explore Jaisalmer Fort (free entry; the palace museum ₹250, ~£2.20 including audio guide — it's one of the few living forts in the world). Walk to Patwon-ki-Haveli (₹100) and Salim Singh-ki-Haveli, the Thar Heritage Museum (₹100) and Gadisar Lake at dusk for a boat ride (₹150). Optional: silk-route artisan shops and a rooftop dinner.
🚌Walking and short auto hops (~£3)
🛏Fort-side guesthouse (~£12)
- →Jaisalmer Fort and Palace Museum
- →Patwon-ki-Haveli
- →Salim Singh-ki-Haveli
- →Thar Heritage Museum
- →Sunset at Gadisar Lake
Jaisalmer to Osian — temples & sunset
Osian
Local bus or shared jeep Jaisalmer–Osian (~65km, 1h30, ₹100–150, ~£1–1.50). Osian is a small desert stop with a cluster of 8th–11th century Jain and Hindu temples. Wander them, browse the local market, then head to the dune sunset point on the edge of town. Overnight in a simple desert camp or guesthouse (book direct on Booking.com or Agoda, ~£15–20).
🚌Local bus Jaisalmer–Osian (~£1.50)
🛏Simple desert camp or guesthouse, Osian (~£18)
- →Transfer to Osian
- →Osian historic temples
- →Local market mooch
- →Sunset over the dunes
Osian to Jodhpur — Mehrangarh & the blue city
Jodhpur
Bus or shared jeep to Jodhpur (~65km, 1h30, ₹150, ~£1.40). Check into a guesthouse in the old blue city. Visit Mehrangarh Fort (₹250 with audio guide, ~£2.20) — one of India's best-preserved forts, allow 2.5 hours. Then walk to Jaswant Thada, the royal cenotaphs (₹50), and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park (₹100). Sunset at the Clock Tower and Sardar Market for street food, then optional sunset view of the blue houses from a rooftop café.
🚌Bus Osian–Jodhpur (~£1.50) + auto-rickshaws (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse in the blue city (~£12)
- →Transfer to Jodhpur
- →Mehrangarh Fort with audio guide
- →Jaswant Thada
- →Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
- →Clock Tower and Sardar Market
Jodhpur to New Delhi
New Delhi
Morning: Mandore Gardens and the cenotaphs of the Maharajas of Marwar (free), Balsamand Lake if there's time. Then take the overnight Mandor Express or Suryanagari Express to Delhi Jodhpur–Delhi (~13h overnight sleeper, ₹500–700, ~£4.50–6.50) — book on IRCTC in advance and choose 2AC if you want comfort. Alternatively, fly with IndiGo (~£30–45 one-way, booked direct), or take a day train and sleep in Delhi.
🚌Overnight sleeper train Jodhpur–Delhi (~£6)
🛏Sleeper train, 2AC or 3AC (~£6)
- →Mandore Gardens
- →Optional Balsamand Lake
- →Overnight sleeper train to Delhi
Depart New Delhi
New Delhi
Arrive early morning, freshen up at a day-use room or the airport lounge, and catch the Airport Express metro to IGI for your flight home. If you have a late flight: Karol Bagh's Ajmal Khan Road market or the Lodhi Art District street murals are easy final stops.
🚌Airport Express metro (~£1)
🛏Flight day — no overnight
- →Airport Express to IGI
- →Optional Lodhi Art District walk
Self-launched vs. UncleSam Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | UncleSam Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,080 | £1,790 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £710 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more UncleSam Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,080
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 Self-Launched Heritage Tour of Rajasthan cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,080 per person for 14 days in Rajasthan, 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 UncleSam Holidays?+
Yes — UncleSam Holidays charges around £1,790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,080 — a saving of roughly £710 (40%) per person.
How long is the Rajasthan, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Rajasthan, 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, hiking trip through Rajasthan, 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.