India North to South: Goa & The Golden Triangle – Self-Launched

Touch down in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and make your way to your hostel in the Paharganj or Karol Bagh area — both backpacker hubs close to New Delhi railway station. The metro from the airport is cheap and easy (~£1.50). Tonight, follow the G Adventures tradition and wander through Karol Bagh market — grab street food, explore the chaos, and toast to the adventure ahead. Pick up a local SIM card for around £5 to stay connected throughout India.

🚌Delhi Metro Airport Express from IGI Airport to New Delhi station — ~£1.50

🛏Zostel Delhi or similar hostel dorm (Paharganj/Karol Bagh area) — ~£8-10/night

• →Explore Karol Bagh market on foot
• →Street food dinner — try chaat, parathas, and lassi
• →Pick up a local SIM card (Jio or Airtel, ~£5)

Take an early morning train from New Delhi to Agra Cantonment — the Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express are fast and comfortable (~£6-12, book in advance on Indian Railways or Cleartrip). On arrival, drop bags at your guesthouse and head straight to the Taj Mahal. Book a self-guided audio tour or hire a local guide at the gate (~£8-10). Arrive early to beat the crowds and catch the best light. In the afternoon, optionally visit the Agra Fort (entry ~£5) and Baby Taj (Itimad-ud-Daulah, entry ~£2).

🚌Gatimaan or Shatabdi Express, New Delhi to Agra Cantonment — ~£8-12, booked via IRCTC or Cleartrip

🛏Hotel Kamal or Zostel Agra — ~£8-12/night, views of Taj from some rooftops

• →Taj Mahal entry and guided tour (book on GetYourGuide or direct, ~£12-15 entry + guide)
• →Optional: Agra Fort visit (~£5 entry)
• →Optional: Baby Taj / Itimad-ud-Daulah (~£2 entry)
• →Tuk-tuk rides between sites (~£1-2 per ride)

This is a great day to hire a shared taxi or take a local bus from Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's abandoned Mughal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site (~£2 entry). The road journey takes 4-5 hours total. You can book a shared taxi from Agra to Jaipur stopping at Fatehpur Sikri for around £8-10 per person. Arrive in Jaipur by late afternoon and check into a hostel in the old city area.

🚌Shared taxi Agra–Fatehpur Sikri–Jaipur — ~£8-10 per person

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur — ~£8-12/night, great rooftop vibes

• →Stop at Fatehpur Sikri — UNESCO World Heritage Site (~£2 entry)
• →Explore Jaipur old city on arrival
• →Evening street food walk in the Pink City

Start early with a tuk-tuk or local bus up to the magnificent Amber Fort (~£5 entry). Book a guided tour of Amber Fort on GetYourGuide or hire a local guide at the entrance (~£6-8). The fort's blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture and its hilltop views over the lake are breathtaking. In the afternoon, explore the City Palace (~£8), Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds, ~£1), and the bustling Johari Bazaar for textiles and jewellery. Bargain hard!

🚌Tuk-tuk around Jaipur old city — ~£2-4

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur — ~£8-12/night

• →Amber Fort guided tour (~£5 entry + £6-8 guide or audio tour via GetYourGuide)
• →City Palace (~£8 entry)
• →Hawa Mahal photo stop (~£1 entry)
• →Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar shopping and street food

Rent a bicycle from your hostel (~£3/day) or book a cycle tour of the Pink City on GetYourGuide (~£15-20, includes a guide and a traditional lassi stop — same experience as the G Adventures optional activity). Visit Jantar Mantar (the ancient astronomical observatory, £2 entry) and the lesser-visited Galtaji monkey temple. In the evening, sample Rajasthani thali for dinner (~£3-5) and prepare for the overnight train to Udaipur or the next leg.

🚌Bicycle hire or cycle tour included in activity cost

🛏Moustache Hostel Jaipur — ~£8-12/night

• →Self-hire bicycle or book a Pink City cycle tour on GetYourGuide (~£15-20)
• →Start the day with a traditional lassi — as per the classic tour tradition
• →Jantar Mantar observatory (~£2 entry)
• →Galtaji Monkey Temple (free entry)
• →Rajasthani thali dinner (~£3-5)

Take the morning Mewar Express or a RSRTC bus from Jaipur to Udaipur (~7 hours, train ~£6-8). Arrive in the 'City of Lakes' by afternoon. Check into a lakeside guesthouse with views of Lake Pichola and the gleaming white City Palace. Spend the evening strolling Gangaur Ghat, sipping rooftop chai, and watching the sunset over the lake — one of India's most romantic settings.

🚌Mewar Express, Jaipur to Udaipur — ~£6-8, book via IRCTC

🛏Zostel Udaipur or Bunkyard Hostel — ~£8-12/night, most have lake views

• →Gangaur Ghat evening walk
• →Rooftop sunset viewing over Lake Pichola
• →Explore the old city lanes and local markets

Spend the day exploring Udaipur's highlights. Start with the City Palace (~£6 entry) — an extraordinary complex of palaces, courtyards, and museums with panoramic lake views. Take a boat trip on Lake Pichola to the Jag Mandir island palace (~£4-6 for the boat). In the afternoon, visit the Jagdish Temple (free) and browse Hathipole Bazaar for local crafts. End the evening at a rooftop restaurant watching the lit-up palace reflect on the lake.

🚌Walking and local auto-rickshaw (~£1-2)

🛏Zostel Udaipur — ~£8-12/night

• →City Palace Museum (~£6 entry)
• →Lake Pichola boat trip to Jag Mandir (~£4-6)
• →Jagdish Temple (free)
• →Hathipole Bazaar shopping
• →Rooftop dinner with lake views (~£5-8)

Take a flight from Udaipur (UDR) to Mumbai (BOM) — budget airlines like IndiGo or SpiceJet make this quick and affordable (~£25-45 if booked in advance). Alternatively, take an overnight train (~£10-15 in sleeper/3AC). Arrive in Mumbai and check into a hostel in Colaba or Fort — both central and buzzing. Your first evening: walk down to the Gateway of India, catch a chai at Leopold Cafe, and soak in the energy of India's maximum city.

🚌IndiGo/SpiceJet flight Udaipur to Mumbai — ~£30-45 (book 3-4 weeks ahead). Pre-paid taxi to hostel ~£5

🛏Backpacker Panda Colaba or Zostel Mumbai — ~£10-15/night

• →Gateway of India evening visit (free)
• →Chai at Leopold Cafe (backpacker institution)
• →Colaba Causeway evening stroll and street food

Mumbai is a city of contrasts and one full day won't do it justice — but you can cover a lot. Take the local commuter train (the cheapest and most authentic city experience, ~£0.30) between key areas. Visit the Elephanta Caves by ferry from Gateway of India (~£5 return + £4 entry). Walk around the UNESCO-listed Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings of South Mumbai. In the evening, take a self-booked Dharavi slum walking tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15-20) for genuine insight into Mumbai's most famous neighbourhood.

🚌Local commuter train and ferry throughout the day (~£6 total)

🛏Backpacker Panda Colaba — ~£10-15/night

• →Elephanta Caves ferry and visit (~£9 total)
• →Dharavi walking tour via GetYourGuide or local operator (~£15-20)
• →Local commuter train ride — the real Mumbai experience (~£0.30)
• →Evening walk along Marine Drive (Queen's Necklace)

Take the overnight Mandovi Express or Jan Shatabdi from Mumbai to Goa (Madgaon/Margao station) — a classic backpacker journey (~10-12 hours, ~£8-12 in sleeper). Alternatively, fly with IndiGo/GoAir (~£20-35). Arrive in Goa and take a local bus or pre-paid auto to North Goa beaches — Anjuna, Vagator, or Arambol are the best for backpacker atmosphere. Check in, dump your bags, and hit the beach.

🚌Mandovi Express, Mumbai to Madgaon — ~£10-12 (sleeper class). Local bus/auto to North Goa beaches ~£2-3

🛏Zostel Goa (Anjuna) or local guesthouse near the beach — ~£8-12/night

• →Beach afternoon — Anjuna, Vagator, or Arambol
• →Sunset at Vagator cliff
• →Beachside dinner and cold Kingfisher beer (~£4-6)

Spend a full, lazy day in North Goa's backpacker bubble. Hire a scooter (~£5/day) to explore at your own pace — the best way to get around. Visit the iconic Anjuna Flea Market (Wednesday mornings — check dates), swim at Baga or Calangute, explore the Portuguese-era churches of Old Goa (UNESCO, free entry), and follow the crowd to the legendary cliff bars at Vagator for sunset. Nights in Goa can go long — Curlies on Anjuna beach and the Nine Bar at Vagator are backpacker classics.

🚌Scooter hire ~£5/day

🛏Zostel Goa (Anjuna) — ~£8-12/night

• →Scooter hire for the day (~£5)
• →Anjuna Flea Market (if on a Wednesday)
• →Old Goa UNESCO churches — Basilica of Bom Jesus (free)
• →Sunset at Vagator cliffs
• →Night out at Anjuna or Vagator beach bars

Head south to discover a quieter, more laid-back Goa. Palolem Beach in South Goa is one of India's most beautiful — a palm-fringed crescent bay perfect for kayaking and swimming. Take a local bus from Margao (~£1.50) or ride your scooter down. Book a dolphin watching boat trip directly on the beach (~£6-8). In the evening, enjoy a fresh seafood dinner on the beach — whole grilled fish, prawn curry, and cold beer for under £8.

🚌Local bus Margao to Palolem (~£1.50) or scooter

🛏Beach hut or budget guesthouse in Palolem — ~£10-14/night

• →Palolem Beach swim and relaxation
• →Dolphin watching boat trip (~£6-8, book directly on the beach)
• →Kayak hire (~£3-4/hour)
• →Fresh seafood dinner on the beach (~£6-8)

Take a well-earned slow day in Goa. Sleep in, grab a fruit bowl breakfast at a beach shack, read a book in a hammock, and do as little as possible. If you feel active, try a yoga class (many walk-in studios in Anjuna and Arambol, ~£5-8) or book a cooking class to learn Goan fish curry recipes (~£15-20 via GetYourGuide). This is the halfway point of the trip — enjoy it!

🚌Scooter or walking

🛏Zostel Goa or Palolem beach hut — ~£8-12/night

• →Yoga class in Anjuna or Arambol (~£5-8 walk-in)
• →Optional: Goan cooking class (~£15-20 via GetYourGuide)
• →Beach hammock time and fresh coconut
• →Sunset cocktails on the beach

Take an overnight sleeper bus from Goa (Panaji or Margao) to Hampi — a backpacker classic route (~9-10 hours, ~£8-12, book via Redbus or at your hostel). You'll arrive early morning in Hospet, then take a local bus or auto to Hampi (~£1-2). Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, scattered across a boulder-strewn landscape. Check in to a guesthouse on the atmospheric Virupapur Gaddi (across the river from the main bazaar) for the full hippy-backpacker Hampi experience.

🚌Overnight sleeper bus Goa to Hospet — ~£10-12 (book via Redbus). Local bus/auto Hospet to Hampi ~£1-2

🛏Guesthouse on Virupapur Gaddi (across the Tungabhadra River) — ~£6-10/night. Take the coracle (round boat) to cross.

• →Arrive in Hampi and explore the main Virupaksha Temple area
• →Sunset climb up Hemakuta Hill (free)
• →Fresh juice and chill at a riverside cafe

Spend a full day exploring Hampi's extraordinary UNESCO ruins. Hire a bicycle (~£2/day) or moped (~£4/day) to cover the vast site. Key highlights: the Vittala Temple with its famous Stone Chariot and musical pillars (~£6 entry), the Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, and the Queen's Bath. Scramble up the boulders for panoramic views — sunset from Matanga Hill is spectacular and one of the highlights of the entire trip. Look out for wild monkeys everywhere.

🚌Bicycle or moped hire ~£2-4

🛏Virupapur Gaddi guesthouse — ~£6-10/night

• →Vittala Temple and Stone Chariot (~£6 entry)
• →Lotus Mahal and Elephant Stables (same ticket)
• →Bicycle or moped hire to explore the ruins (~£2-4)
• →Sunset from Matanga Hill (free climb, ~45 min each way)
• →Bouldering and scrambling in the landscape

Take a bus or share a taxi from Hampi/Hospet to Mysore (~5-6 hours, ~£5-8). Arrive in Mysore, a city famous for its grand palace, silk, sandalwood, and yoga. Check in and explore the Devaraja Market in the evening — a riot of colour with flowers, spices, and local produce. Mysore is one of India's most pleasant cities and a great contrast to the chaos of the north.

🚌Bus or shared taxi Hampi/Hospet to Mysore — ~£6-8

🛏Zostel Mysore or Hotel Mayura — ~£8-12/night

• →Devaraja Market evening visit
• →Explore Mysore's colonial-era streets
• →Masala dosa dinner at a local restaurant (~£1-2)

Visit the dazzling Mysore Palace — one of India's most visited monuments (~£2 entry). The palace is most spectacular on Sunday evenings when it's lit up with 100,000 bulbs — time your visit accordingly. Climb (or take an auto) to Chamundi Hill for panoramic city views and the Chamundeshwari Temple. Optionally, book a Mysore Palace night illumination tour via GetYourGuide for added context (~£10-15). In the evening, try a Mysore pak sweet — the city's famous confection.

🚌Auto-rickshaw around the city (~£2-4)

🛏Zostel Mysore — ~£8-12/night

• →Mysore Palace entry (~£2)
• →Sunday evening illumination (if applicable) — palace lit with 100,000 bulbs
• →Chamundi Hill and temple visit (~£1 auto ride up)
• →Mysore pak sweet tasting at Sri Krishna Sweets
• →Optional: Yoga class — Mysore is a world yoga capital (~£5-8)

Take a bus from Mysore to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) through the gorgeous Nilgiri Hills (~3.5 hours, ~£3-5). Ooty is a cool-climate hill station at 2,240m — a welcome escape from the heat. Check in and take the famous UNESCO Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train for a scenic ride through tea plantations and tunnels (~£2-4 for a short section). Explore the Ooty Botanical Gardens (£1 entry) and buy fresh Nilgiri tea directly from local estates.

🚌Bus Mysore to Ooty — ~£4-5

🛏Zostel Ooty or YWCA Ooty — ~£8-12/night

• →Nilgiri Mountain Railway UNESCO toy train ride (~£2-4)
• →Ooty Botanical Gardens (~£1 entry)
• →Tea estate visit and tasting (free or £1-2)
• →Doddabetta Peak viewpoint (~£1 entry)

Take a bus from Ooty to Coimbatore, then catch a train or bus to Kochi (~total 6-8 hours, ~£8-12). Alternatively, fly from Coimbatore to Kochi (£20-35 with IndiGo). Arrive in Fort Kochi — one of India's most charming neighbourhoods, a blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial architecture, set around a picturesque harbour. Watch the iconic Chinese fishing nets at sunset. The G Adventures tour includes an orientation walk here — replicate this yourself with a free self-guided walk (download a map from Google Maps).

🚌Bus Ooty to Coimbatore + train to Kochi — ~£8-12 total. Or fly Coimbatore to Kochi ~£25-35

🛏Zostel Fort Kochi or Old Harbour Hostel — ~£10-14/night

• →Chinese fishing nets at sunset (free)
• →Self-guided orientation walk through Fort Kochi (free — use Google Maps)
• →St Francis Church (oldest European church in India, free)
• →Explore Jew Town and Mattancherry Spice Market

Spend a full day in Fort Kochi's fascinating mix of cultures. Visit the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town (£1 entry), the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (£0.50), and browse the antique and spice shops. In the afternoon, visit the Kerala Folklore Museum (~£3 entry) to understand the region's traditions. Book lunch at the Theruvarom Women's Empowerment Project (as included in the G Adventures tour) — a Keralan authentic lunch supporting a women's cooperative (~£6-8, book ahead via their local contact or ask your hostel). In the evening, watch a Kathakali dance performance — bookable directly at Kerala Kathakali Centre (~£10).

🚌Walking and auto-rickshaw within Fort Kochi (~£2-3)

🛏Zostel Fort Kochi — ~£10-14/night

• →Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town (~£1 entry)
• →Dutch Palace, Mattancherry (~£0.50 entry)
• →Lunch at Theruvarom Women's Empowerment Project (~£6-8)
• →Kerala Folklore Museum (~£3 entry)
• →Kathakali dance performance at Kerala Kathakali Centre (~£10)

Take a local bus from Kochi to Alleppey (Alappuzha, ~1.5 hours, ~£1.50) and experience Kerala's legendary backwaters. Rather than the expensive private houseboat hire (~£80-120/night), take the public ferry from Alleppey to Kollam (~8 hours, ~£2.50) — the same backwater scenery at 1/30th of the price. This iconic journey through palm-lined canals, paddy fields, and village life is one of India's great travel experiences. Alternatively, hire a canoe/kayak locally (~£5-8/half day) for a more intimate backwater experience.

🚌Bus Kochi to Alleppey ~£1.50. Public ferry (if doing Kollam route) ~£2.50

🛏Zostel Alleppey or local guesthouse — ~£8-12/night

• →Public ferry, Alleppey to Kollam — ~£2.50, 8-hour backwater journey
• →OR canoe/kayak hire in Alleppey (~£5-8/half day)
• →Visit Alleppey Beach (free)
• →Toddy (palm wine) tasting at a local toddy shop

Take a bus from Alleppey back to Kochi, then onwards to Munnar (~4 hours, £4-6) — or head directly if you didn't take the Kollam ferry. Munnar is Kerala's premier hill station, surrounded by rolling tea plantations, misty peaks, and waterfalls. Check in to a tea estate guesthouse or hostel. Spend the afternoon hiking through the tea gardens (free) and visiting the Tea Museum (~£2 entry). The sunset from the viewpoints above Munnar town is magnificent.

🚌Bus Alleppey/Kochi to Munnar — ~£4-6

🛏Zostel Munnar or local guesthouse near tea estates — ~£8-12/night

• →Tea plantation walk (free — many accessible from town)
• →Tea Museum (~£2 entry)
• →Echo Point and Mattupetty Dam viewpoints (~£1-2)
• →Fresh Munnar tea tasting and purchase

Spend another day in Munnar's extraordinary natural landscape. Hire a local guide for a half-day hike to Anamudi Peak (South India's highest peak, in Eravikulam National Park, ~£5 entry). The park is home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat. Alternatively, take a self-guided hike through the tea estates to Lakkam Waterfalls (free). In the afternoon, book a spice garden tour (~£5-8) and stock up on cardamom, pepper, and vanilla directly from the source.

🚌Local jeep or auto to trailheads (~£2-4)

🛏Zostel Munnar — ~£8-12/night

• →Eravikulam National Park and Nilgiri Tahr spotting (~£5 entry)
• →Tea estate hiking (self-guided, free)
• →Lakkam Waterfalls hike (free)
• →Spice garden tour (~£5-8)

Take a bus from Munnar to Thekkady (Periyar, ~3 hours, ~£3-4) — home to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's finest tiger and elephant reserves. Check in and book an afternoon boat safari on Periyar Lake (~£4-6) — the G Adventures equivalent activity. You're likely to spot elephants, wild boar, deer, and incredible birdlife. The bamboo rafting activity (~£20-25, book at the Forest Department office) is one of Kerala's great experiences.

🚌Bus Munnar to Thekkady — ~£3-4

🛏Jungle Palace Hostel or Greens Thekkady Hostel — ~£8-12/night

• →Periyar Lake boat safari (~£4-6, book at Forest Department or via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Bamboo rafting on the lake (~£20-25, Forest Dept only)
• →Spice plantation walk in Thekkady (~£3-5)
• →Traditional Kalaripayattu martial arts performance (~£5)

Take a bus from Thekkady south to Kanyakumari — the southernmost tip of India where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean meet (~5 hours, ~£5-7). This is one of India's most spiritually significant points. Watch the sunrise and sunset from the same spot (on a clear day you can see the sun rise and set over the sea). Visit the Vivekananda Rock Memorial (~£2 by ferry) and the imposing Thiruvalluvar Statue. A deeply memorable stop.

🚌Bus Thekkady to Kanyakumari — ~£6-8

🛏Budget guesthouse near the waterfront — ~£8-12/night

• →Sunrise at the confluence of three seas (free)
• →Vivekananda Rock Memorial ferry and visit (~£2)
• →Thiruvalluvar Statue (included in ferry ticket)
• →Kumari Amman Temple (free entry)
• →Sunset viewing from the ghats

Take a local train or bus north along the coast from Kanyakumari to Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram, ~1.5 hours), then a local bus to Kovalam Beach (~£0.50). Kovalam is a classic Kerala beach town with three crescent bays — Lighthouse Beach is the backpacker hub. Spend a glorious afternoon swimming (heed the lifeguard flags — there are strong currents), enjoy fresh seafood, and watch the famous lighthouse beam light up the coast at dusk. A perfect end-of-trip slow down.

🚌Train/bus Kanyakumari to Trivandrum ~£2-3. Local bus Trivandrum to Kovalam ~£0.50

🛏Beach guesthouse or budget hotel in Kovalam Lighthouse Beach area — ~£10-15/night

• →Lighthouse Beach swim and relaxation
• →Kerala lighthouse climb (~£1 entry, open in afternoons)
• →Seafood lunch/dinner at a beach restaurant (~£5-8)
• →Ayurvedic massage on the beach (~£10-15 for 1 hour)

Take a bus or train back to Kochi (~3.5-4 hours, ~£4-6) — the trip's final destination. If your flight doesn't leave until the next day, check in to a last night's accommodation in Fort Kochi and revisit your favourite spots. Tonight, catch a proper Kerala Kathakali dance performance if you haven't already (~£10 at Kerala Kathakali Centre — same activity as the G Adventures optional). Celebrate completing 28 days across incredible India with a farewell feast of Kerala sadya (banana leaf meal).

🚌Bus or train Kovalam/Trivandrum to Kochi — ~£5-7

🛏Zostel Fort Kochi — ~£10-14/night

• →Return journey to Kochi
• →Kathakali dance performance (~£10, book at Kerala Kathakali Centre)
• →Farewell Kerala sadya meal on a banana leaf (~£3-5)
• →Final stroll along Fort Kochi harbour and Chinese fishing nets at night

Your epic 28-day Indian adventure concludes in Kochi. Kochi International Airport (COK) is well-connected to international destinations. Take a prepaid taxi (~£8-10) or the airport metro from Ernakulam (~£1.50). Allow plenty of time — Indian airports can be busy. As you board your flight, reflect on 28 extraordinary days: the Taj Mahal at dawn, Jaipur's Pink City, the beaches of Goa, ancient Hampi, Kerala's backwaters, misty Munnar, and the very tip of India at Kanyakumari. What a trip.

🚌Prepaid taxi to Kochi airport ~£8-10. Or metro from Ernakulam ~£1.50

• →Depart Kochi International Airport (COK)
• →Last chai at the airport