India Golden Triangle: Self-Launched Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Skip the pricey tour transfer and use the official Delhi Traffic Police prepaid taxi counter in the arrivals hall — fares to central Delhi are around £3–5 and completely safe. Alternatively, the Delhi Airport Metro Express runs to New Delhi station for under £1. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh — both are well-located budget hubs. Spend the rest of the day recovering from the flight, grabbing street food, and soaking up your first chaotic, wonderful impressions of the city.

🚌Official prepaid taxi from airport ~£3–5, or Delhi Airport Metro Express ~£0.80

🛏Moustache Delhi Xpress Hostel (Paharganj) or similar — dorm from ~£6/night, private room from ~£14/night

• →Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
• →Take the official prepaid taxi (~£3–5) or Delhi Airport Metro Express (~£0.80) to central Delhi
• →Check into hostel/guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
• →Explore local street food stalls and markets at your own pace

Start your morning with a self-guided walk through Old Delhi's backstreets — the same neighbourhood explored on the tour's City Walk programme. Head to Jama Masjid, Delhi's largest mosque, which is free to enter (small camera fee applies). From there, wander to the Sikh temple of Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, open to all visitors and a deeply moving experience. Explore the chaotic lanes of Chandni Chowk on foot or by cycle rickshaw (~£1–2). In the afternoon, make your way to New Delhi Railway Station and board a train to Agra. The Gatimaan Express or Taj Express are the most convenient options, taking around 2 hours.

🚌Cycle rickshaw in Old Delhi ~£1–2. Train New Delhi → Agra Cantonment ~£5–8. Book via IRCTC (irctc.co.in) or Cleartrip.

🛏Zostel Agra or Hotel Sheela (near Taj Mahal East Gate) — dorm from ~£5/night, private from ~£12/night

• →Self-guided walk through Old Delhi backstreets
• →Visit Jama Masjid (free entry, small camera fee ~£0.50)
• →Visit Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib Sikh temple (free entry)
• →Explore Chandni Chowk by foot and cycle rickshaw (~£1–2)
• →Train from New Delhi to Agra Cantonment — Gatimaan Express or Taj Express (~£5–8 in chair car)

Set your alarm early — arriving at the Taj Mahal at sunrise is one of the most breathtaking experiences on earth, and the crowds are thinner at dawn. Entry for foreign nationals is around £10–12, bookable directly at the gate or in advance via the Archaeological Survey of India website. Spend the morning exploring the grounds at your own pace. After lunch, make your way to I'timad-ud-Daulah (the Baby Taj) — entry is around £3 — a stunning and often quieter alternative to its more famous neighbour. Round off the day at Agra Fort (entry ~£7), the magnificent red sandstone Mughal fortress with views across to the Taj. Hire an auto-rickshaw to hop between sites (~£1–2 per journey).

🚌Auto-rickshaw around Agra ~£1–2 per journey

🛏Zostel Agra or Hotel Sheela — as previous night

• →Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal — entry ~£10–12 (book at gate or via ASI website)
• →Self-guided exploration of Taj Mahal grounds
• →Visit I'timad-ud-Daulah / Baby Taj — entry ~£3
• →Visit Agra Fort — entry ~£7
• →Auto-rickshaw between sites ~£1–2 per trip

Check out of your Agra accommodation and arrange an early hire of a private car or shared taxi for the day — drivers in Agra commonly offer full-day sightseeing packages for around £15–20 per person for a group of 3–4. Your first stop is Fatehpur Sikri, the ghostly abandoned Mughal capital (~£5 entry for foreigners). Continue to the extraordinary Abhaneri Stepwell (Chand Baori) — one of the largest and deepest stepwells in India, entry is free. From here, continue to Dhula Village in Rajasthan for a night of rural glamping. Book your village stay and tented camp directly through local operators such as Apani Dhani or via GetYourGuide — expect to pay around £20–30 per person including dinner, bonfire, and breakfast.

🚌Hire a private car/driver from Agra for the full day ~£15–20/person (split between fellow travellers). Arrange onward pick-up to Jaipur for Day 5.

🛏Tented glamping camp in or near Dhula Village, Rajasthan — ~£20–30/person including dinner and breakfast

• →Visit Fatehpur Sikri abandoned Mughal capital — entry ~£5
• →Visit Abhaneri Stepwell (Chand Baori) — free entry
• →Travel to Dhula Village, Rajasthan
• →Cricket with locals and village exploration
• →Bonfire evening and rural glamping experience — book via local operators or GetYourGuide (~£20–30 incl. meals)

Say your goodbyes to the village and travel onwards to Jaipur, the Pink City. The most convenient option is a hired car/driver continuing from the previous day, or a shared taxi to the nearest main road and then a bus or train to Jaipur (around 3–4 hours). Check into your hostel and head straight out for a self-guided bike and rickshaw tour of the city — hire a bicycle from most guesthouses for ~£2–3/day or hop on a cycle rickshaw. Your first major landmark is Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) — entry is just ~£1.50 for foreigners. Explore the bazaars around Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar before meeting fellow travellers for dinner.

🚌Shared taxi or hired car from Dhula Village area to Jaipur ~£8–12/person. Local bicycle hire ~£2–3/day.

🛏Moustache Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur — dorm from ~£5/night, private from ~£14/night

• →Travel from Dhula Village to Jaipur by car/shared taxi or bus (~3–4 hrs)
• →Check into hostel in Jaipur
• →Self-guided bicycle hire (~£2–3/day) or cycle rickshaw tour of the Pink City
• →Visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) — entry ~£1.50
• →Explore Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar markets

Spend the full day exploring Jaipur's most spectacular sights. Start early at Amber Fort (~6km from the city centre) — take a shared auto-rickshaw or local bus from Chandpole for under £1. Entry to Amber Fort is around £8 for foreigners; opt for a self-guided audio guide (~£2) or book a local guide via GetYourGuide for a richer experience (~£8–12). Photograph the fort's perfect reflection in Maota Lake before heading back into town. In the afternoon, visit the City Palace in the Old City — entry from ~£8, which includes the museum with royal carriages and garments. Optional extras: book a cooking class with a local family via GetYourGuide (~£20–25), visit Jantar Mantar Observatory (~£4), or catch a Bollywood show at Raj Mandir Cinema (~£2).

🚌Shared auto-rickshaw or local bus to Amber Fort ~£0.50–1 each way

🛏Moustache Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur — as previous night

• →Visit Amber Fort — entry ~£8, audio guide ~£2 or GetYourGuide guided tour ~£8–12
• →Photography at Maota Lake reflection viewpoint
• →Visit Jaipur City Palace and museum — entry ~£8
• →Optional: Jantar Mantar Observatory — entry ~£4
• →Optional: Cooking class with local family via GetYourGuide ~£20–25
• →Optional: Bollywood experience at Raj Mandir Cinema ~£2

Your final morning in Jaipur is yours to fill. For an unforgettable sunrise experience, pre-book a hot air balloon ride over the city's forts and palaces — available via Sky Waltz or GetYourGuide for around £80–100, with dawn flights departing around 5:30am. Otherwise, spend the morning picking up last-minute souvenirs in the bazaars, sipping masala chai, or grabbing a thali at a local dhaba. In the afternoon, take the train back to Delhi — the Ajmer Shatabdi or Pink City Express runs Jaipur to Delhi in around 4.5–5 hours (~£7–10 in chair car). Book via IRCTC or Cleartrip in advance. Arrive in Delhi in the evening and spend your last night in Hauz Khas or Connaught Place.

🚌Train Jaipur → Delhi ~£7–10. Book in advance on IRCTC or Cleartrip.

🛏Moustache Delhi or Zostel Delhi (Hauz Khas or Paharganj) — dorm from ~£6/night, private from ~£14/night

• →Optional: Pre-book hot air balloon over Jaipur at sunrise via Sky Waltz or GetYourGuide ~£80–100
• →Morning souvenir shopping in Jaipur bazaars
• →Thali lunch at a local dhaba ~£2–3
• →Train Jaipur → Delhi — Ajmer Shatabdi or Pink City Express ~£7–10 (book via irctc.co.in)
• →Evening exploration of Hauz Khas or Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi

Your Golden Triangle adventure comes to an end. Pack your bags and make your way to Indira Gandhi International Airport. Use the official prepaid taxi service from your hotel (~£5–8 to the airport depending on location) or take the Delhi Metro Airport Express from New Delhi station (~£0.80). Leave extra time for Delhi traffic, especially during morning rush hour. Safe travels!

🚌Prepaid taxi to airport ~£5–8, or Delhi Airport Metro Express ~£0.80

• →Check out of accommodation
• →Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
• →Take prepaid taxi (~£5–8) or Delhi Airport Metro Express (~£0.80)