India, Nepal & Bhutan: Taj Mahal to Tiger's Nest – Self-Launched

Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport and make your own way to your guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh — both well-connected budget hubs. Take the Delhi Metro Airport Express (£2) directly from the airport. Spend the evening exploring Connaught Place or the lanes around your hotel and grabbing your first street food dinner.

🚌Delhi Metro Airport Express from IGI Airport to New Delhi station (~£2)

🛏Hotel Namaskar or similar guesthouse in Paharganj (~£15–20/night)

• →Arrive and check in to guesthouse
• →Delhi Metro Airport Express to city centre (£2)
• →Evening stroll around Connaught Place
• →Street food dinner in Paharganj

Spend a full day exploring Delhi's contrasts. Start at Jama Masjid and walk the chaotic lanes of Chandni Chowk, then hire a cycle rickshaw to explore Old Delhi. In the afternoon, head to Humayun's Tomb (£5 entry) and Qutub Minar (£5 entry). Book tickets online via the Archaeological Survey of India website to skip queues. Dinner at Karim's near Jama Masjid — a legendary Old Delhi institution.

🚌Delhi Metro and cycle rickshaws (£3–5 total)

🛏Hotel Namaskar or similar guesthouse in Paharganj (~£15–20/night)

• →Jama Masjid visit (free)
• →Chandni Chowk walk and cycle rickshaw ride
• →Humayun's Tomb (£5)
• →Qutub Minar (£5)
• →Dinner at Karim's, Old Delhi

Take the Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express train from Hazrat Nizamuddin station to Agra (~£8–12, book in advance on IRCTC). Check in to a guesthouse near Taj Ganj with Taj Mahal views from the rooftop. In the afternoon, visit Agra Fort (£7 entry) — a stunning Mughal red-sandstone fortress that also offers distant views of the Taj Mahal. Watch the sunset from Mehtab Bagh across the river.

🚌Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express train Delhi → Agra (~£8–12); auto-rickshaws locally (£1–2)

🛏Saniya Palace Hotel or similar rooftop guesthouse in Taj Ganj (~£14–18/night)

• →Train: Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin) to Agra (~£8–12)
• →Check in to Taj Ganj guesthouse
• →Agra Fort visit (£7)
• →Sunset views from Mehtab Bagh (free)

Wake before dawn and walk or take an e-rickshaw to the Taj Mahal's East Gate for opening (recommended: pre-book tickets online at £13 for foreigners). The early light is magical and crowds are minimal before 8am. Spend 2–3 hours exploring the complex. After breakfast back at your guesthouse, hire a private taxi or shared cab to Karauli (~4 hrs, £15–20 shared). Stay at a heritage guesthouse near Kalisil Lake for an atmospheric rural night.

🚌E-rickshaw to Taj Mahal (£1); private/shared taxi Agra → Karauli (~£15–20)

🛏Bhanwar Vilas Palace or budget heritage guesthouse near Kalisil Lake (~£20–25/night)

• →Taj Mahal sunrise visit (£13 entry, pre-book online)
• →Photography and exploration of Taj complex
• →Taxi/shared cab to Karauli (~4 hrs, £15–20)

Explore the rural landscapes around Kalisil Lake at your own pace — walk through the countryside, spot birdlife, and visit the colourful Karauli town market and Kaila Devi Temple. The town sees very few foreign tourists, making for an authentic Rajasthani experience. Enjoy a home-style regional dinner at your guesthouse.

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

🛏Bhanwar Vilas Palace or budget heritage guesthouse near Kalisil Lake (~£20–25/night)

• →Morning walk around Kalisil Lake
• →Karauli town bazaar and Kaila Devi Temple visit (free)
• →Birdwatching in countryside
• →Regional dinner at guesthouse

Take a shared taxi or local bus from Karauli to Jaipur (~3.5 hrs, £5–8). Check in to a well-reviewed guesthouse in the Pink City's old town. Spend the afternoon wandering the bazaars of Johari and Bapu markets — a riot of textiles, jewellery, and spices. Visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) from the outside at golden hour for the iconic pink-stone façade shot.

🚌Shared taxi or RSRTC bus Karauli → Jaipur (~£5–8)

🛏Pearl Palace Heritage or similar guesthouse in Jaipur old town (~£18–25/night)

• →Shared taxi/bus Karauli → Jaipur (~3.5 hrs, £5–8)
• →Check in to old town guesthouse
• →Johari and Bapu bazaar exploration
• →Hawa Mahal exterior at golden hour (free)

Start early with a lassi at a local chai stall, then head to Amber Fort (£8 entry) — arrive before 9am to beat the crowds. Spend 2 hours exploring its grand courtyards, mirrored halls, and Mughal-Hindu fusion architecture. In the afternoon, visit the City Palace (£8) and Jantar Mantar observatory (£3). Optional self-guided cycle tour: rent a bicycle from your guesthouse (~£3/day) and explore the Pink City streets independently — far cheaper than the guided option.

🚌Auto-rickshaw or tuk-tuk to Amber Fort (£2–3 each way)

🛏Pearl Palace Heritage or similar guesthouse in Jaipur old town (~£18–25/night)

• →Amber Fort visit (£8, arrive early)
• →City Palace visit (£8)
• →Jantar Mantar observatory (£3)
• →Optional: self-guided bicycle hire to explore Pink City (~£3/day)

Take an overnight or daytime train from Jaipur to Varanasi (~14–17 hrs, £12–18 in sleeper/AC chair). Book well in advance on IRCTC. Use the journey time to watch the Indian countryside roll by — one of the great slow-travel experiences in Asia. Arrive in Varanasi and check in to a guesthouse on the ghats.

🚌IRCTC train Jaipur → Varanasi (~£12–18); auto-rickshaw from station to ghats (£2)

🛏Alka Hotel or similar ghat-facing guesthouse in Varanasi (~£15–22/night)

• →Train: Jaipur → Varanasi (~14–17 hrs, £12–18)
• →Ghat-side check-in and evening Ganga Aarti ceremony (free to watch)

Rise at dawn for a boat ride on the Ganges (hire a local boatman directly from the ghats for £5–8, ignore touts and negotiate yourself). Watch the morning rituals and sunrise over the river — one of the most extraordinary sights in India. Spend the day wandering the labyrinthine lanes of the old city, visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and sampling Varanasi street food — malaiyo, kachori sabzi, and lassi. Return for the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

🚌Walking and boat (ghats are walkable)

🛏Alka Hotel or similar ghat-facing guesthouse in Varanasi (~£15–22/night)

• →Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges (£5–8, negotiate directly)
• →Kashi Vishwanath Temple visit
• →Old city lane walk
• →Street food: kachori, malaiyo, lassi
• →Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free)

Fly from Varanasi (VNS) to Kathmandu (KTM) — a short ~1-hour hop with IndiGo, Air India, or Buddha Air (~£60–90 if booked in advance). Alternatively, budget-savvy travellers can take a bus to the Sunauli border crossing and connect to Kathmandu by tourist bus (~£15–20 total, ~12 hrs). On arrival in Kathmandu, obtain a Nepal visa on arrival (US$50/~£40 for 30 days). Check in to Thamel neighbourhood — Nepal's backpacker heartland — and explore the buzzing streets.

🚌Flight VNS → KTM (~£60–90); taxi from airport (~£5)

🛏Hotel Ganesh Himal or similar well-reviewed Thamel guesthouse (~£15–20/night)

• →Flight Varanasi → Kathmandu (~£60–90)
• →Nepal visa on arrival (~£40)
• →Check in to Thamel guesthouse
• →Evening wander in Thamel

Kathmandu is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure chest. Start at Boudhanath Stupa (£3 entry) — walk the kora (circumambulation) with pilgrims spinning prayer wheels. Head to Pashupatinath Temple complex (£7 for foreigners) on the sacred Bagmati River. In the afternoon, explore Durbar Square (£2) and the medieval alleyways of the old city. Book via GetYourGuide for a half-day guided walking tour of Kathmandu's heritage squares (~£18) if you'd prefer context.

🚌Taxi or walking between sites (£2–4)

🛏Hotel Ganesh Himal or similar well-reviewed Thamel guesthouse (~£15–20/night)

• →Boudhanath Stupa kora walk (£3)
• →Pashupatinath Temple complex (£7)
• →Kathmandu Durbar Square (£2)
• →Optional: GetYourGuide heritage walking tour (~£18)

Morning hike up to Swayambhunath (the 'Monkey Temple') for panoramic Kathmandu Valley views — the 365 steps are worth every one (£2 entry). Cross the river to Patan, one of the valley's three medieval cities, and spend the afternoon at Patan Durbar Square and the superb Patan Museum (£3 entry) — arguably the finest museum in Nepal. Dinner at one of Patan's rooftop restaurants with Durbar Square views.

🚌Taxi Kathmandu → Patan and back (~£4–6)

🛏Hotel Ganesh Himal or similar well-reviewed Thamel guesthouse (~£15–20/night)

• →Swayambhunath Stupa hike and visit (£2)
• →Taxi to Patan
• →Patan Durbar Square (free)
• →Patan Museum (£3)
• →Rooftop dinner in Patan

Take a tourist bus from Kathmandu's Kantipath bus park to Chitwan/Sauraha (~5–6 hrs, £7–10) — book the day before at a Thamel travel agency or online. Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Asia's best places to spot one-horned rhinos and Royal Bengal tigers. Check in to a jungle lodge or guesthouse in Sauraha village. Evening canoe ride on the Rapti River (~£5, book locally).

🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu → Sauraha (~£7–10)

🛏Hotel Wild Life Camp or similar Sauraha budget lodge (~£15–20/night)

• →Tourist bus Kathmandu → Chitwan/Sauraha (~5–6 hrs, £7–10)
• →Check in to Sauraha guesthouse
• →Evening canoe ride on Rapti River (~£5)

A full day of jungle activities. Book a Chitwan National Park jungle walk directly with a licensed local guide through your guesthouse (~£20/person for a full-day guided walk inside the park including entry fee of ~£20). Morning walk offers the best wildlife sightings — rhinos, deer, and if lucky, tigers. Optional elephant observation at the Elephant Breeding Centre (free). Afternoon jeep safari (~£25, book locally) for deeper park access. Evening cultural Tharu stick dance performance in Sauraha (free or £2).

🚌Walking and jeep within park

🛏Hotel Wild Life Camp or similar Sauraha budget lodge (~£15–20/night)

• →Chitwan National Park entry and guided jungle walk (~£20 guide + £20 entry)
• →Elephant Breeding Centre visit (free)
• →Optional: jeep safari (~£25)
• →Tharu cultural dance performance (~£2)

Return by tourist bus or taxi to Kathmandu (~5–6 hrs), then catch your onward flight to Paro, Bhutan. Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines operate this route (~£150–200 one way). Note: All independent travellers to Bhutan must pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of US$100/~£80 per person per night — this is a government-mandated fee that cannot be avoided regardless of how you travel, and covers services across Bhutan. You must book your Bhutan visit through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator; however, budget operators are significantly cheaper than premium group tours. Arrive in Paro Valley — one of the world's most dramatic airport approaches.

🚌Tourist bus Chitwan → Kathmandu (~£8); flight KTM → Paro (~£150–200)

🛏Tenzinling Resort or similar mid-range guesthouse in Paro (~£30–40/night; note SDF covers some services)

• →Tourist bus/taxi Chitwan → Kathmandu (~5–6 hrs)
• →Flight Kathmandu → Paro (~£150–200)
• →Bhutan SDF payment (£80/night — mandatory for all visitors)
• →Arrive in Paro Valley and check in

Drive from Paro to Thimphu (~1.5 hrs, arranged through your Bhutanese operator as required). Visit Buddha Dordenma — a colossal 51-metre golden Buddha statue overlooking the Thimphu valley, offering sweeping views across the capital. Explore Thimphu's weekend market (best Fri–Sun) and the National Textile Museum. Bhutan's quirky capital has no traffic lights — its streets are directed by white-gloved policemen in purpose-built booths.

🚌Road transfer Paro → Thimphu via licensed operator (~£15–20 shared)

🛏Norbu Phel Hotel or similar mid-range guesthouse in Thimphu (~£30–40/night + SDF)

• →Drive Paro → Thimphu (1.5 hrs, via local operator)
• →Buddha Dordenma visit (free)
• →Thimphu weekend market
• →National Textile Museum (~£2)
• →Evening walk around Thimphu town

Drive from Thimphu over the Dochula Pass (3,100m) — on a clear day, 108 chortens sit in the mist with Himalayan peaks towering behind (£3 chorten donation suggested). Continue to Punakha valley. Visit Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's most beautiful fortress-monastery, sitting at the confluence of two rivers (entry included in SDF). Hike 30–40 minutes through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the 'Temple of the Divine Madman' — a deeply spiritual and fascinatingly unconventional Bhutanese shrine. Return to Punakha or Wangdue for the night.

🚌Road transfer via licensed operator (~£20–25)

🛏Meri Puensum Resort or similar mid-range guesthouse in Punakha (~£30–40/night + SDF)

• →Drive Thimphu → Dochula Pass → Punakha (2.5 hrs)
• →Dochula Pass viewpoint and 108 chortens
• →Punakha Dzong visit (included in SDF)
• →Hike to Chimi Lhakhang (~1 hr round trip, free)

Return to Thimphu. Visit the Memorial Chorten — a sacred stupa built in memory of Bhutan's third king, where elderly devotees turn prayer wheels and murmur mantras throughout the day in a deeply moving daily rhythm (free entry). Also visit Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the Bhutanese government and the throne room of the king (free entry). Afternoon free to explore the surprisingly compact and walkable capital.

🚌Road transfer via licensed operator (~£15–20)

🛏Norbu Phel Hotel or similar mid-range guesthouse in Thimphu (~£30–40/night + SDF)

• →Drive Punakha → Thimphu (2.5 hrs)
• →Memorial Chorten visit (free)
• →Tashichho Dzong visit (free)
• →Explore Thimphu's cafes and craft shops

Return to Paro valley (1.5 hrs). Visit Rinpung Dzong — a towering whitewashed fortress above Paro town, connected by a traditional covered bridge (free with SDF). Walk the wooden bridge and explore the dzong's atmospheric courtyards. Afternoon free to explore Paro town's market street — pick up hand-woven textiles, traditional Bhutanese thangka paintings, and locally made incense. Rest up ahead of tomorrow's big hike.

🚌Road transfer via licensed operator (~£15–20)

🛏Tenzinling Resort or similar mid-range guesthouse in Paro (~£30–40/night + SDF)

• →Drive Thimphu → Paro (1.5 hrs)
• →Rinpung Dzong visit (free with SDF)
• →Traditional covered bridge walk
• →Paro market and souvenir shopping

Use today to acclimatise and prepare your legs for tomorrow's Tiger's Nest climb. Hike up to Zuri Dzong above Paro (1.5–2 hrs each way, excellent views) or walk the valley floor to Kyichu Lhakhang — one of Bhutan's oldest and most sacred temples, dating to the 7th century (entry included in SDF). Eat a hearty dinner at a local Bhutanese restaurant — try ema datshi (chilli and cheese stew) and red rice.

🚌Walking

🛏Tenzinling Resort or similar mid-range guesthouse in Paro (~£30–40/night + SDF)

• →Hike to Zuri Dzong above Paro (~3–4 hrs round trip)
• →Kyichu Lhakhang temple visit (included in SDF)
• →Bhutanese dinner: ema datshi and red rice
• →Early night ahead of Tiger's Nest day

The climax of the entire journey. Set off at dawn for Paro Taktsang — Tiger's Nest Monastery, clinging impossibly to a cliff face at 3,120 metres. The hike takes ~2–3 hours each way through pine forest, with a dramatic halfway viewpoint café stop. The entry fee is ~£8–10 (not covered by SDF). Remove shoes to enter the sacred monastery complex — four temples built around the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated in the 8th century. The views back across the Paro valley are unforgettable. This is what you came for.

🚌Taxi to trailhead (~£5); walking on trail

🛏Tenzinling Resort or similar mid-range guesthouse in Paro (~£30–40/night + SDF)

• →Early start hike to Tiger's Nest/Paro Taktsang (~2–3 hrs up)
• →Halfway viewpoint and café stop (optional mule: ~£15 each way)
• →Tiger's Nest Monastery visit (£8–10 entry)
• →Descent and celebratory lunch in Paro

Final morning in the Paro valley — grab a last cup of butter tea and browse any remaining market stalls before your transfer to Paro International Airport. Druk Air/Bhutan Airlines flights connect to Kathmandu, Delhi, Bangkok, and other hubs. Carry prayer flags, local honey, and hand-woven textiles as souvenirs — all available at Paro market. Safe travels!

🚌Taxi or operator transfer to Paro Airport (~£10)

• →Final Paro valley morning walk
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping
• →Transfer to Paro Airport
• →Depart Bhutan