Golden Triangle with Varanasi — Self-Launched
9 days · India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi)
Amazing India Tours charges £718
No-markup version: ~£540 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic Golden Triangle (Delhi–Jaipur–Agra) extended to Varanasi, done independently using trains, budget guesthouses and self-bookable guides. You'll cover Old Delhi's bazaars, Jaipur's forts and palaces, the Taj Mahal at sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, and Varanasi's ghats, Ganga Aarti and sunrise boat ride — without the ₹₹₹ markup of an all-inclusive guided package. Transport is by Indian Railways and cheap domestic flights; accommodation is mid-range guesthouses/havellis instead of 3–4 star hotels; and you book local guides or walking tours per city as needed. Costs are approximate per person, based on backpacker/budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New Delhi
New Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Take a prepaid taxi or the Delhi Airport Express Metro to your accommodation in Paharganj (backpacker hub near New Delhi Railway Station) or Karol Bagh. Paharganj guesthouses are cheap, central and great for solo travellers. Spend the rest of the day acclimatising, get a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£4 for a data pack), and eat a first curry at a rooftop cafe. Book onward trains tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Metro/taxi from airport (~£1.50–£4)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj (e.g. Smyle Inn-style, ~£12/night)
- →Arrive DEL airport
- →Airport Express Metro into the city (~£1.50)
- →SIM card & data pack
- →Evening stroll in Paharganj
Old & New Delhi Sightseeing
New Delhi
Self-guided day around Delhi. Start early at Raj Ghat (free), then Jama Masjid (free/£2 camera fee). Wander Chandni Chowk bazaar by cycle rickshaw (~£2) and eat street food — parathas at Paranthe Wali Gali. In the afternoon visit Humayun's Tomb (£6) and India Gate, then photo-stop at Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace). For a deeper experience, join a GetYourGuide/Klook Old Delhi food or walking tour (~£15) rather than a private guide.
🚌Metro + auto-rickshaw (~£3–5)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj (~£12/night)
- →Raj Ghat
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk bazaar rickshaw ride
- →India Gate
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Optional Old Delhi food walking tour (~£15)
Delhi to Jaipur
Jaipur
Take an early train from Delhi to Jaipur — the Double Decker/Ajmer Shatabdi or Intercity Express (~5 hrs). Book on IRCTC (or via 12Go Asia) — sleeper/chair car from ~£6. On arrival check into a guesthouse in the old city near Hawa Mahal/Pink City. Spend the evening exploring the Pink City streets, bazaars and rooftop restaurants.
🚌Indian Railways train (~£6–£10)
🛏Heritage guesthouse near Hawa Mahal (~£15/night)
- →Train Delhi → Jaipur
- →Check in near Pink City
- →Evening bazaar wander
Amber Fort & Jaipur Highlights
Jaipur
Hire an auto-rickshaw for the day (~£8–10) or use Ola cabs. Start at Amber Fort (£6) via a local jeep or walking up — note elephant rides are controversial and can be replaced with a jeep. Continue to Jal Mahal (Water Palace photo stop), Hawa Mahal, and City Palace (£6). Visit a local art & craft workshop in the afternoon. Book a Jaipur guided walking tour on GetYourGuide (~£12) if you want context.
🚌Auto-rickshaw for the day (~£8)
🛏Heritage guesthouse near Hawa Mahal (~£15/night)
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal (Water Palace stop)
- →Hawa Mahal
- →City Palace
- →Local arts & crafts visit
Jaipur to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri
Agra
Travel Jaipur → Agra by train or a stopover at Fatehpur Sikri. Easiest independent option: train to Bharatpur/Fatehpur Sikri or a shared/private taxi (~£35 split). At Fatehpur Sikri explore the abandoned Mughal capital, Tomb of Salim Chisti and Akbar's residential complex (£6). Stop at Abhaneri Stepwell en route if you take a taxi. Continue to Agra and check in near the Taj.
🚌Train or shared taxi (~£25–35)
🛏Budget guesthouse near Taj Mahal (~£15/night)
- →Fatehpur Sikri (Tomb of Salim Chisti, Akbar's complex)
- →Abhaneri Stepwell stop
- →Lunch at a garden restaurant
Taj Mahal Sunrise & Agra Fort
Agra
Enter the Taj Mahal at sunrise (£13 for foreigners) — one of the most iconic sights on earth. Buy tickets online in advance. Then visit Agra Fort (£6). Optional afternoon: Mehtab Bagh for sunset Taj views (~£3). Book a GetYourGuide Taj Mahal skip-the-line guide (~£20) if you want the history. In the evening, take an overnight train or short flight to Varanasi.
🚌Agra → Varanasi train (~£8–15) or flight (~£45)
🛏Overnight train to Varanasi OR guesthouse (~£15)
- →Taj Mahal sunrise
- →Agra Fort
- →Mehtab Bagh sunset (optional)
- →Optional Taj guide
Varanasi — Sarnath & Ganga Aarti
Varanasi
Arrive in Varanasi and settle into a guesthouse in the ghat area of the old city. In the afternoon visit Sarnath (£2), where Buddha gave his first sermon. Return to the ghats for the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat — arrive early for a good spot; the ceremony is free. Eat local Banarasi food in the lanes.
🚌Auto-rickshaw to Sarnath (~£3)
🛏Ghat-side guesthouse in Varanasi (~£15/night)
- →Sarnath
- →Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
- →Ghat-side food crawl
Varanasi Sunrise Boat & Temples
Varanasi
Take a sunrise boat cruise on the Ganges to watch the ghats wake up — shared boats cost ~£5–8 per person (negotiate). Then visit the New Vishwanath Temple (BHU), Tulsi Manas Temple and Durga Temple. In the evening take a flight or overnight train back to Delhi.
🚌Varanasi → Delhi flight (~£45) or train (~£10)
🛏Overnight train to Delhi OR hotel (~£15)
- →Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges
- →New Vishwanath Temple
- →Tulsi Manas Temple
- →Durga Temple
Depart from Delhi
New Delhi
Arrive in Delhi (if on the overnight train) or from your hotel. Last-minute souvenir shopping in Dilli Haat or Janpath, then head to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your departure. Consider a late flight so you have the day free.
🚌Airport Express Metro/taxi (~£1.50–£4)
🛏—
- →Souvenir shopping (Dilli Haat/Janpath)
- →Departure transfer
Self-launched vs. Amazing India Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Amazing India Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£540 | £718 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £178 per person (25%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Amazing India Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£540
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 Golden Triangle with Varanasi — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £540 per person for 9 days in India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi). 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 Amazing India Tours?+
Yes — Amazing India Tours charges around £718 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £540 — a saving of roughly £178 (25%) per person.
How long is the India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi).
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, budget, backpacker trip through India (Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi), 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.
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