Golden Triangle Self-Launched: Delhi, Jaipur & Agra by Train and Bus
5 days · India
MTA Destination Management Company charges £885
No-markup version: ~£180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-friendly version of the classic 5-day Golden Triangle — Old Delhi's bazaars, Jaipur's forts and stepwells, Fatehpur Sikri and sunrise at the Taj Mahal — done with Indian Railways trains, local buses and autos instead of a private car and 5-star hotels. Same headline sights, hostel/guesthouse beds and street food, for roughly a third of the group-tour price. All costs are approximate per person.
Day-by-day
Old Delhi on foot, cycle-rickshaw and metro
Delhi
Arrive at IGI Airport and take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~£2) or a prepaid taxi to a Paharganj/Main Bazaar hostel (~£4-6). Drop bags, then walk or metro to Jama Masjid — entry is around £0.50, plus shoe/camera fees. Wander Chandni Chowk's spice lanes on foot and take a cycle-rickshaw loop (~£2, agree the price first). Visit Raj Ghat (free), then metro to Central Secretariat for the India Gate / Parliament House / President's House drive-past — better done on foot along Kartavya Path. Evening: cheap thali or kebabs in Old Delhi (~£3). Skip the paid Akshardham light show unless you want it (~£25 via the official site).
🚌Airport Express metro ~£2; Delhi Metro day fares ~£2-3
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Paharganj/Main Bazaar, £8-15
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk cycle-rickshaw ride
- →Raj Ghat
- →India Gate & Kartavya Path walk
Delhi to Jaipur — Monkey Temple and Birla Temple
Jaipur
Morning train to Jaipur: take the 12015 Ajmer Shatabdi from New Delhi around 06:05, arriving Jaipur ~10:45 (~£6-9 in chair car; book on IRCTC weeks ahead). Check into a guesthouse in the old city near Hawa Mahal (£10-16). Afternoon: local bus or auto (~£1) to Galta Ji (Monkey Temple) — free entry, watch your belongings around the monkeys — then Birla Temple at sunset (free, shoes off). Evening thali and lassi in the old city (~£4). Optional add-ons done independently: a Jaipur cooking class on Klook/Airbnb Experiences (~£15-20) instead of the £28 dinner-with-family upsell.
🚌Train New Delhi→Jaipur ~£7; local auto/bus ~£2
🛏Old City guesthouse near Hawa Mahal, £10-16
- →Ajmer Shatabdi train to Jaipur
- →Galta Ji Monkey Temple
- →Birla Temple at sunset
Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar
Jaipur
Get to Amber Fort early — local bus #5 or shared auto from Hawa Mahal (~£0.50), or a Bolt/Ola cab (~£3). Entry ~£5.50 (composite ticket covering Amber, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and more is ~£9 and worth it). Walk back down via the stepwells or take the winding road. Back in the old city: photo stop at Hawa Mahal from the cafe opposite, then City Palace museum (~£6) and Jantar Mantar (~£2.50). Late afternoon in Johari/ Bapu Bazaar for block prints and bangles. Optional: Nahargarh Fort at sunset for the city view (~£1 entry).
🚌Local bus/shared auto to Amber ~£1.50; walking + autos in the old city ~£2
🛏Old City guesthouse, £10-16
- →Amber Fort
- →Hawa Mahal
- →City Palace & museum
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Johari & Bapu Bazaar browsing
Jaipur → Abhaneri stepwell → Fatehpur Sikri → Agra
Agra
Take an early bus or train to Dausa/Bandikui (~£1-2), then a short local bus or shared jeep to Abhaneri to see Chand Baori, one of India's deepest stepwells (free/₹50 entry). Continue by bus to Sikri and explore Fatehpur Sikri's Mughal ghost city (~£5.50 entry, or ~£10 with the palace complex). Local buses from Sikri to Agra's Idgah bus stand take about an hour (~£1). Alternatively, book the whole leg as a shared day transfer on Klook/GetYourGuide for ~£25-35 if you'd rather not juggle buses. Check into a Taj Ganj hostel/guesthouse (£9-15). Optional evening: Mohabbat the Taj show (~£35 via Klook) or a rooftop dinner with the Taj view (~£5).
🚌Local buses/jeeps Jaipur→Abhaneri→Sikri→Agra ~£4-5
🛏Taj Ganj hostel or guesthouse, £9-15
- →Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri
- →Fatehpur Sikri
- →Rooftop Taj views in Taj Ganj
Sunrise Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, back to Delhi
Agra / Delhi
Pre-book your Taj Mahal ticket online (~£12, plus ~£2 for the mausoleum platform; sunrise entry is the quietest, though Dec-Jan fog can hide it). Enter at the East Gate at opening. Come back for breakfast, then walk or auto to Agra Fort (~£6.50). Late afternoon, take the 12002 Bhopal Shatabdi from Agra Cantt around 17:45 back to New Delhi (~£7-9, 2 hours), or a Volvo bus from Idgah (~£5, 4 hours). Airport metro or prepaid taxi to IGI for onward flights. Optional extras instead of the operator's priced add-ons: a Taj-view rooftop yoga class (~£8-12 on Klook) or an Ayurvedic massage in Taj Ganj (~£15-20).
🚌Train Agra Cantt→New Delhi ~£8; airport transfer ~£2-5
🛏Not included — onward travel or book one more night £10-15
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Agra Fort
- →Return train to Delhi
Self-launched vs. MTA Destination Management Company
| This itinerary (self-launched) | MTA Destination Management Company | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£180 | £885 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £705 per person (80%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more MTA Destination Management Company-style trips? Check them out here.~£180
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 Self-Launched: Delhi, Jaipur & Agra by Train and Bus cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £180 per person for 5 days in 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 MTA Destination Management Company?+
Yes — MTA Destination Management Company charges around £885 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £180 — a saving of roughly £705 (80%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through 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, budget, city-breaks trip through 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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