Self-Launched Delhi, Agra & Varanasi by Indian Railway
3 days · Delhi, Agra & Varanasi, India
Taj Voyages Tours charges £165
No-markup version: ~£85 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
India's Golden Triangle meets the spiritual heartland — all by train, all on your own terms. This self-launched version covers the same iconic stops as the Taj Voyages Tours itinerary: the Taj Mahal and Red Fort in Agra, then the sacred ghats, temples and Ganga Aarti of Varanasi. Instead of a private guided vehicle, you'll ride India's legendary railway network, bunk in characterful budget guesthouses, and navigate these incredible cities independently. All sights are walkable or reachable by tuk-tuk. Estimated cost is roughly £65–80 per person — a fraction of the £165 guided price.
Day-by-day
Delhi to Agra — Taj Mahal, Red Fort & Mehtab Bagh
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Take the early morning Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express from Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station to Agra Cantonment (~£4–6, ~2 hrs). Trains depart around 06:10–08:10 — book in advance on IRCTC.co.in or via the Railyatri app. Drop your bags at your guesthouse near Taj Ganj (the neighbourhood just south of the Taj Mahal) and head straight to the Taj Mahal — arrive early to beat the crowds. Book entry tickets online at asi.payumoney.com (~£10 for foreign nationals). After the Taj, walk or take a tuk-tuk (~£0.80) to Agra Red Fort for the afternoon (~£6 entry). As the sun lowers, make your way to Mehtab Bagh, the Mughal garden north of the Taj that frames a perfect sunset silhouette view across the Yamuna River (~£2 entry). Wind down with a stroll through Kinari Bazaar, Agra's lively local market — great for street food and snacks. Overnight in Agra.
🚌Gatimaan Express / Shatabdi Express, Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin → Agra Cantonment, ~£4–6. Local tuk-tuks in Agra ~£0.80–2 per ride.
🛏Budget guesthouse in Taj Ganj (e.g. Hotel Kamal or similar), ~£8–12/night
- →Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express from Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantonment (~£4–6, book on IRCTC.co.in)
- →Visit the Taj Mahal — book entry online at asi.payumoney.com (~£10)
- →Explore Agra Red Fort (~£6 entry, walkable or ~£0.80 tuk-tuk from Taj)
- →Watch sunset at Mehtab Bagh (~£2 entry, great Taj silhouette view)
- →Explore Kinari Bazaar local market and grab street food for dinner
Agra to Varanasi — Ghats, Temples & Ganga Aarti
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Take an early morning train from Agra Cantonment to Varanasi Junction — the Marudhar Express or Agra–Varanasi Express runs this route (~£7–10 in sleeper/3AC class, ~10–12 hrs). Book well in advance on IRCTC. Use the travel time to rest and soak in the passing Indian countryside. Arrive Varanasi by late afternoon. Check in to a guesthouse on or near the ghats in the Assi or Dashashwamedh area. Head straight to the ghats for a walk along the Ganges — Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika, and Assi Ghat are all essential. Visit the magnificent Kashi Vishwanath Temple (free entry for Hindus; non-Hindus can view from designated viewing areas nearby). Stop at Bharatmata Mandir (Mother India Temple) — a unique temple featuring a marble relief map of India (~free entry). Don't miss the famous Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat at dusk — arrive 30 minutes early for a good spot. Explore the nearby food market lanes for chaat, lassi, and local street food for dinner. Overnight in Varanasi.
🚌Train Agra Cantonment → Varanasi Junction (~£7–10, ~10–12 hrs). Auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw from station to ghats ~£1–2.
🛏Budget guesthouse on the ghats (e.g. Stops Hostel Varanasi or Ganges View Guesthouse), ~£8–14/night
- →Train from Agra Cantonment to Varanasi Junction (~£7–10, book on IRCTC.co.in)
- →Walk the ghats of the Ganges — Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika, Assi Ghat
- →Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple (free; non-Hindus use nearby viewing points)
- →Visit Mother India Temple / Bharatmata Mandir (~free entry)
- →Witness Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free, arrive early)
- →Explore Vishwanath Gali food lanes for chaat, lassi and street food
Varanasi Morning — Sunrise on the Ganges, then Back to Delhi
Varanasi → Delhi, India
Wake before dawn for a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges — the most memorable experience in Varanasi. Hire a shared or private wooden rowboat from Dashashwamedh Ghat (~£2–4) to drift past the ghats as the city wakes up. Have breakfast at your guesthouse (most include a simple breakfast) or grab kachori sabzi from a local street vendor. If time allows, wander through the narrow lanes of the old city. Take an afternoon or evening train from Varanasi Junction back to Delhi — the Kashi Vishwanath Express or Varanasi–Delhi Superfast gets you in around 22:00–23:00 (~£8–12 in 3AC sleeper). Book in advance. You'll arrive back in Delhi roughly in line with the original tour's drop-off window.
🚌Train Varanasi Junction → Delhi (~£8–12, ~11–13 hrs). Book Kashi Vishwanath Express or Varanasi–Delhi Superfast in advance on IRCTC.co.in.
🛏N/A — overnight train to Delhi
- →Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges from Dashashwamedh Ghat (~£2–4 shared boat)
- →Breakfast at guesthouse or local kachori sabzi street breakfast (~£1)
- →Wander the old city lanes and browse local silk and spice shops
- →Train from Varanasi Junction to Delhi (New Delhi / Hazrat Nizamuddin) (~£8–12, ~11–13 hrs, book on IRCTC.co.in)
Self-launched vs. Taj Voyages Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Taj Voyages Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£85 | £165 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £80 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Taj Voyages Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£85
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 Self-Launched Delhi, Agra & Varanasi by Indian Railway cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £85 per person for 3 days in Delhi, Agra & Varanasi, 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 Taj Voyages Tours?+
Yes — Taj Voyages Tours charges around £165 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £85 — a saving of roughly £80 (48%) per person.
How long is the Delhi, Agra & Varanasi, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Delhi, Agra & Varanasi, 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, backpacker, budget trip through Delhi, Agra & Varanasi, 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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