Golden Triangle & Tiger Parks: Self-Launched India Adventure
12 days · India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh & Kanha)
Real viaggi india charges £1,750
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic Golden Triangle plus central India's tiger country. Book your own trains and buses, stay in guesthouses and budget hotels, use local guides or audio guides at monuments, and arrange safaris directly or through budget lodges in Bandhavgarh and Kanha. You'll see the same sights — Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Khajuraho's temples — and ride the same jungle jeeps into tiger territory, for a fraction of the package price. All costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Delhi
New Delhi
Land at Delhi airport and take the Airport Express metro (£1.80) or a prepaid taxi (£4-6) to your guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Pick up a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, £4-5) with your passport, sort out the e-visa online in advance (£15 approx), and ease into the evening with a thali and a stroll around Connaught Place.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.80
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj (£12-15/night)
- →Airport Express metro to city
- →Buy local SIM
- →Evening walk around Connaught Place
Old & New Delhi city tour under your own steam
New Delhi
Take the metro to Chandni Chowk and explore Old Delhi on foot: Jama Masjid (free entry, £2 camera fee), a cycle-rickshaw loop through Chandni Chowk's spice lanes (£2), and the Raj Ghat memorial (free). Grab kebabs at Karim's for lunch (£3). In the afternoon, metro to Qutub Minar (£3 entry, see the Iron Pillar) and take the free audio-guide app. Drive-by views of Red Fort and the government buildings are easy from the metro/Yellow Line.
🚌Delhi metro day pass ~£2
🛏Same Paharganj guesthouse
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk cycle-rickshaw
- →Raj Ghat
- →Qutub Minar & Iron Pillar
- →Red Fort exterior
Train to Jaipur
Jaipur
Book the Pink City Express or Ajmer Shatabdi on IRCTC (book 2-3 weeks ahead; sleeper/3AC from £8-12, chair car £10). Arrive in Jaipur, check into a haveli guesthouse in the old city, and spend the afternoon at leisure — wander Johari Bazaar, watch the Hawa Mahal light up from a rooftop café (£2), and pre-book tomorrow's Amber Fort entry and a guide if you want one.
🚌Ajmer Shatabdi train ~£10
🛏Old-city haveli guesthouse (£14/night)
- →Scenic train journey to Jaipur
- →Johari Bazaar shopping
- →Hawa Mahal from a rooftop café
Amber Fort and Jaipur's pink city highlights
Jaipur
Take a local bus (£0.30) or autorickshaw (£2) to Amber Fort (£5 entry). Skip the elephant rides — walk up or take a jeep — and hire an official guide at the gate (£6, split between a couple of travellers) or rent an audio guide. Return to the city to visit the City Palace (£8), Jantar Mantar solar observatory (£2.50) and the Hawa Mahal (£1). Local thali dinner in the old city (£3).
🚌Local bus + autorickshaw ~£3
🛏Same Jaipur haveli
- →Amber Fort
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal
Jaipur to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri
Agra
Take an early train or state bus to Bharatpur/Fatehpur Sikri — the cheapest route is a bus from Jaipur's Sindhi Camp to Fatehpur Sikri (£2, ~4.5h), then a local bus or shared jeep to Agra (£1). En route stop at the UNESCO site of Fatehpur Sikri (£4 entry, guided tour optional £5). In Agra, check into a guesthouse with a Taj-view rooftop and buy your Taj Mahal ticket online in advance (₹1,300 foreigner, ~£13).
🚌Bus Jaipur–Fatehpur Sikri–Agra ~£3
🛏Agra guesthouse near Taj Ganj (£13/night)
- →Fatehpur Sikri
- →Agra guesthouse rooftop evening
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
Agra
Be at the East Gate before opening to catch sunrise and fewer crowds. Allow 2-3 hours for the Taj Mahal (£13 entry), then walk or tuk-tuk to Agra Fort (£5). Optional: cross the river to Mehtab Bagh (£3) for the classic sunset view across the Yamuna. Evening train or overnight option to Jhansi — book the early morning train for tomorrow.
🚌Walking/tuk-tuk within Agra ~£2
🛏Same Agra guesthouse
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Agra Fort
- →Mehtab Bagh viewpoint
Train to Jhansi, Orchha and on to Khajuraho
Khajuraho
Take the morning Gatimaan/Shatabdi or overnight train to Jhansi (£3-6 by sleeper, 3AC ~£8). From Jhansi, a shared auto or bus reaches Orchha in 20 minutes (£0.50). Explore the Orchha palaces and Jehangir Mahal on the river (£3 combined entry). Continue by bus to Khajuraho (£3, ~4h) or take the evening train; overnight in a guesthouse in Khajuraho village.
🚌Train + bus + shared auto ~£7
🛏Khajuraho guesthouse (£12/night)
- →Train to Jhansi
- →Orchha palaces
- →Jehangir Mahal
Khajuraho temples
Khajuraho
Spend a full day walking the UNESCO Western Group (£5, includes Kandariya Mahadeo, Chitragupta, Vishwanath, Chaunsat Yogini) and the free/cheap Eastern Group and Jain temples (Adinath). Hire an official guide at the gate (£8, split) or use the ASI audio app. In the evening, relax before an early transfer to Bandhavgarh — pre-book your lodge and jeep safaris today if you haven't already (park permits sell out).
🚌Cycle-hire ~£1.50
🛏Same Khajuraho guesthouse
- →Khajuraho Western Group temples
- →Eastern Group temples
- →Kandariya Mahadeo
- →Chaunsat Yogini
Into Bandhavgarh, first safaris
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bus or shared jeep Khajuraho to Umaria/Satna, then a short auto to Tala village at the park gate (£6-8 total, ~5h). Check into a budget jungle lodge. Safaris: shared jeep (6 people) cost roughly £25-35 per person per safari including permit and guide — book direct through your lodge or the MP forest dept. Do an afternoon safari today; Tala zone is best for tigers.
🚌Bus + shared jeep ~£7
🛏Budget jungle lodge, Tala (£18/night incl. simple meals)
- →Morning safari (or afternoon on arrival day)
- →Evening jungle safari
- →Tala zone wildlife spotting
Bandhavgarh morning safari, transfer to Kanha
Kanha National Park
Take a dawn safari in Bandhavgarh (second safari, £25-30) — 4-6am slots give the best tiger activity. Return for breakfast, then take a shared jeep or bus to Mandla/Kanha (around 5-6 hours, £8-10). Settle into a lodge in Mukki or Khatia gate and arrange your Kanha jeep safaris for the following day (permits for Kanha also sell out — book ahead).
🚌Shared jeep/bus Bandhavgarh–Kanha ~£9
🛏Kanha budget lodge (£18/night)
- →Dawn safari in Bandhavgarh
- →Transfer to Kanha
- →Wildlife spotting en route
Kanha National Park safaris
Kanha National Park
Two safaris today (morning and afternoon, roughly £25-30 each shared). Kanha's sal forests and meadows are great for tigers, barasingha and wild dogs. If you want a third, book through your lodge. Evening: campfire dinner at the lodge and swap tiger stories with other travellers.
🚌Jeep safaris included in activity cost
🛏Same Kanha lodge
- →Morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Barasingha spotting
Kanha to Delhi and home
Kanha / Delhi
Squeeze in a final dawn drive if time allows. Transfer to Jabalpur (bus/shared jeep ~3h, £4) and catch a flight to Delhi (IndiGo/SpiceJet from £35-50 if booked ahead) or an overnight train (£8 sleeper / £14 3AC). From Delhi, connect to your international flight. Tip: allow a full buffer day before your long-haul if you take the train.
🚌Shared jeep + domestic flight or train ~£40
🛏Not included (or overnight train)
- →Optional morning safari
- →Transfer to Jabalpur
- →Flight or train to Delhi
Self-launched vs. Real viaggi india
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Real viaggi india | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £1,750 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,050 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Real viaggi india-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Golden Triangle & Tiger Parks: Self-Launched India Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 12 days in India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh & Kanha). 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 Real viaggi india?+
Yes — Real viaggi india charges around £1,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £1,050 (60%) per person.
How long is the India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh & Kanha) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh & Kanha).
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, wildlife, adventure trip through India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh & Kanha), 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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