Delhi to Kathmandu Adventure — Self-Launched

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Use the official Delhi Traffic Police prepaid taxi desk in arrivals to reach your accommodation (approx £3–4). Check in to a budget guesthouse or hostel in the Paharganj area or near Connaught Place. In the afternoon, get your bearings: take the Delhi Metro (Yellow Line) to Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place) and walk to iconic India Gate. Explore the streets, grab street food at Dilli Haat craft market, and soak up the energy of the city.

🚌Official prepaid taxi from airport ~£3–4. Delhi Metro for local travel ~£0.50–1 per journey.

🛏Zostel Delhi or Moustache Delhi Hostel (dorm ~£8–10/night, private ~£18–22/night)

• →Prepaid taxi from DEL airport to Paharganj/Connaught Place (£3–4)
• →Delhi Metro to Rajiv Chowk — Connaught Place (£0.50)
• →Walk to India Gate (free)
• →Explore Dilli Haat food & craft market (entry £1)
• →Optional: evening walk through Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi

Take an early morning bus or shared taxi from Delhi's Bikaner House or ISBT Kashmere Gate to Ajmer (approx 6–7 hours, £6–9), then a short local bus or auto-rickshaw to Pushkar (30 min, £0.50–1). Check in to a rooftop guesthouse near the lake. Enjoy an orientation walk: visit Pushkar Lake and its ghats, then the 14th-century Brahma Temple — the only major temple dedicated to Brahma in the world. Browse the bazaars for textiles, jewellery and Rajasthani handicrafts. At sunset, book an optional camel ride into the desert (£8–12 per person, bookable locally).

🚌RSRTC Volvo bus Delhi–Ajmer ~£6–9. Auto-rickshaw Ajmer–Pushkar ~£0.50–1.

🛏Hotel Seventh Heaven Pushkar or Zostel Pushkar (dorm ~£7–9, private ~£15–20/night)

• →Bus Delhi to Ajmer (RSRTC Volvo, ~£6–9)
• →Auto-rickshaw Ajmer to Pushkar (~£0.50–1)
• →Walk to Pushkar Lake and ghats (free)
• →Visit Brahma Temple (free, donation welcome)
• →Browse bazaars for Rajasthani souvenirs
• →Optional: camel desert sunset ride (~£8–12, book locally)

Rise before dawn and climb (or take the ropeway) to the hilltop Savitri Temple for a stunning sunrise over Pushkar — one of the most atmospheric starts to any day in Rajasthan. The ropeway costs around £2 each way; the hike is free. After breakfast, take a local bus to Jaipur (2.5 hours, ~£2–3). Check in to your hostel, then spend the afternoon exploring the Pink City on foot or by auto-rickshaw. Walk the old bazaars, admire the elaborate facade of Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) from outside and explore the City Palace area.

🚌Local bus Pushkar–Jaipur ~£2–3.

🛏Moustache Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur (dorm ~£8–10, private ~£18–22/night)

• →Pre-dawn hike or ropeway to Savitri Temple sunrise (ropeway ~£2 each way)
• →Local bus Pushkar–Jaipur (~£2–3, ~2.5 hours)
• →Walk Jaipur's old bazaars and see Hawa Mahal facade (free)
• →City Palace visit (entry ~£6)
• →Optional: Jantar Mantar observatory (entry ~£4), Raj Mandir cinema Bollywood film (~£2)

Full day in Jaipur. In the morning, book a self-guided or guided entry to the magnificent Amber Fort (bookable via GetYourGuide or directly at the gate). Explore the fort's intricate mirror work, Sheesh Mahal and sweeping hilltop views. In the afternoon you have complete freedom: visit the village of Sanganer for blue pottery and block printing, browse the gem and jewellery shops in the old city (Johari Bazaar), or simply relax in a rooftop café. Jaipur is one of India's best shopping cities — budget accordingly!

🚌Auto-rickshaws for local travel ~£0.50–2 per trip.

🛏Moustache Jaipur or Zostel Jaipur (dorm ~£8–10, private ~£18–22/night)

• →Auto-rickshaw to Amber Fort (~£1.50 each way)
• →Amber Fort entry (~£8 foreign nationals, self-guided or audio guide available)
• →Optional: Sanganer village for block printing workshops (~£5–8)
• →Browse Johari Bazaar for gems and jewellery
• →Optional: rooftop café sundowner in a heritage haveli

Catch an early morning train from Jaipur Junction to Agra Cantt or Agra Fort station (approx 3.5–5 hours, ~£5–8 on an express train — book ahead on IRCTC or via Cleartrip). Check in to an Agra guesthouse, then spend the afternoon exploring: hire a cycle rickshaw (£1–2) to visit the magnificent Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its striking white marble inlaid halls. Afterwards, visit I'timad-ud-Daulah, the 'Baby Taj' — a gem-inlaid mausoleum that pre-dates the Taj Mahal and is far less crowded. Watch sunset over the Yamuna River.

🚌Train Jaipur–Agra ~£5–8 (book ahead on IRCTC). Cycle rickshaws locally ~£1–2.

🛏Hotel Kamal Agra or Zostel Agra (guesthouse near Taj, dorm ~£7–9, private ~£15–20/night)

• →Train Jaipur to Agra (IRCTC booking, ~£5–8, book in advance)
• →Cycle rickshaw to Agra Fort and Baby Taj (~£1–2)
• →Agra Fort entry (~£6 foreign nationals)
• →I'timad-ud-Daulah 'Baby Taj' entry (~£3)
• →Sunset views over the Yamuna River (free)

Wake early for the best light and book your Taj Mahal entry ticket in advance online (highly recommended — long queues otherwise). Visit at sunrise for the most magical experience and the most photogenic conditions. A guided Taj Mahal tour can be booked via GetYourGuide for ~£15–20 including guide, or you can self-guide with an audio guide (~£5 at the gate). Allow 2–3 hours inside. Spend the afternoon relaxing, shopping for marble inlay souvenirs in Agra's bazaars, or revisiting sights. In the evening, head to Agra Cantt station and board the overnight sleeper train to Varanasi (12344/12381 Agra–Varanasi express, ~£10–15 in sleeper class — book well in advance on IRCTC).

🚌Overnight train Agra Cantt to Varanasi ~£10–20 depending on class. Book ahead on IRCTC.

🛏Overnight sleeper train (included in transport cost — 2AC ~£20, Sleeper class ~£10)

• →Taj Mahal sunrise visit — pre-book entry online (£13–15 foreign nationals entry fee)
• →Optional: GetYourGuide guided Taj Mahal tour (~£15–20 inc. guide)
• →Browse Agra bazaars for marble inlay souvenirs
• →Board overnight sleeper train Agra to Varanasi (~£10–15, book ahead)

Arrive into Varanasi Junction in the morning after your overnight train. Check in to a guesthouse near the ghats (Assi Ghat area is popular with backpackers). Spend the day exploring the labyrinthine alleyways on foot — home to hundreds of temples, shrines, silk weavers and chai stalls. Hire a local guide for a few hours (£10–15) to navigate the old city's hidden lanes. In the evening, join the stunning Ganga Aarti candle and fire ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat — it's free to watch from the steps, or book a small rowing boat on the Ganges for a closer view (~£4–6 per person, arrange directly at the ghats).

🚌Auto-rickshaw from Varanasi Junction to ghats ~£1–2. Walk everywhere in the old city.

🛏Stops at Zostel Varanasi or Moustache Varanasi — dorm ~£7–9, private ~£15–18/night

• →Walk the ghats from Assi Ghat to Manikarnika Ghat (free)
• →Optional: hire a local ghat guide for 2–3 hours (~£10–15)
• →Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple area
• →Evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free to watch)
• →Optional: Ganges rowing boat during Aarti ceremony (~£4–6, arrange at ghat)

Rise at dawn for an unmissable experience: hire a rowing boat at the ghats for a sunrise Ganges boat ride, drifting past the ancient stone ghats as pilgrims bathe and priests perform rituals in the golden morning light (~£4–6 per person; negotiate directly with boatmen). Afterwards, take a short auto-rickshaw ride to Sarnath (10 km, ~£2–3), the site of the Buddha's first sermon, where you can explore the Dhamek Stupa, the ruins of ancient monasteries and the excellent Sarnath Museum (entry ~£3). Return to Varanasi for a final evening of street food and people-watching along the river.

🚌Auto-rickshaw to Sarnath and back ~£4–6 total.

🛏Zostel Varanasi or Moustache Varanasi (dorm ~£7–9, private ~£15–18/night)

• →Sunrise Ganges rowing boat ride (~£4–6, negotiate at ghats)
• →Auto-rickshaw to Sarnath (~£2–3 each way)
• →Dhamek Stupa and monastery ruins, Sarnath (entry ~£3)
• →Sarnath Museum (entry ~£3)
• →Street food exploration — try kachori sabzi, lassi and chaat

This is a long travel day (~12 hours total) — start early. Take a morning train or bus from Varanasi to Gorakhpur (2–3 hours, ~£3–5). From Gorakhpur bus stand, take a shared jeep or bus to Sunauli/Bhairawa border crossing (~2 hours, £2–3). Cross the Nepal border on foot (obtain your Nepal visa on arrival — USD25/30/40 depending on duration; have passport photos and USD cash ready). On the Nepal side, take a local bus or shared taxi to Lumbini (~30 min, £1–2). Explore the Lumbini Sacred Garden, the Maya Devi Temple (marking the exact birthplace of the Buddha) and the peaceful complex of international monastery gardens. A serene and deeply moving place.

🚌Train/bus Varanasi–Gorakhpur ~£3–5. Shared jeep to border ~£2–3. Local bus to Lumbini ~£1–2.

🛏Lumbini Buddha Garden Guest House or similar (budget guesthouse ~£10–15/night)

• →Train or bus Varanasi to Gorakhpur (~£3–5)
• →Shared jeep Gorakhpur to Sunauli border (~£2–3)
• →Nepal visa on arrival at Sunauli/Bhairawa border (USD25 for 15 days — ~£20)
• →Bus/shared taxi to Lumbini (~£1–2)
• →Maya Devi Temple & Sacred Garden, Lumbini (entry ~£2)
• →Walk the international monastery zone (free)

Take a morning tourist bus or local bus from Lumbini/Bhairawa to Sauraha, the gateway village for Chitwan National Park (~4–5 hours, £5–8 — tourist buses bookable at your guesthouse or locally). Check in to a budget lodge in Sauraha. In the afternoon, take a free orientation walk along the buffer zone boundary with a local guide (often provided by guesthouses) and watch wildlife along the Rapti River. You may spot rhinos, crocodiles, deer and dozens of bird species from the riverbank. Book a jeep safari or canoe trip for the next day.

🚌Tourist bus Bhairawa/Lumbini to Sauraha ~£5–8.

🛏Jungle Paradise Guest House or Hotel Jungle Crown, Sauraha (budget guesthouse ~£12–16/night)

• →Morning bus Lumbini/Bhairawa to Sauraha, Chitwan (~£5–8)
• →Orientation walk along Rapti River buffer zone (free or ~£3 with local guide)
• →Elephant breeding centre visit (~£2–3)
• →Book optional activities: jeep safari (~£20–25), canoe + jungle walk (~£10–15)
• →Tharu cultural dance show in the evening (~£3–4)

Full day in Chitwan. Rise early for the best wildlife sightings — the morning mist over the grasslands is magical. Take a jeep safari into the national park (book directly in Sauraha, ~£20–25 per person including park entry) in search of the endangered one-horned rhino, Bengal tigers, sloth bears and wild elephants. Alternatively, take a guided canoe trip on the Rapti River followed by a jungle nature walk (~£10–15). In the afternoon, cycle around the village (~£2 bike hire) and watch the sunset over the Narayani River. Spend the night in a Tharu community homestay (bookable locally via community programmes, ~£15–20 including dinner and cultural programme).

🚌Bicycle hire locally ~£2/day. All activities within walking/cycling distance of Sauraha.

🛏Tharu community homestay (~£15–20/night including dinner)

• →Jeep safari in Chitwan National Park (~£20–25 inc. park entry, book locally)
• →OR canoe trip + jungle walk (~£10–15)
• →Cycle around Sauraha village (bike hire ~£2)
• →Sunset at Narayani River banks (free)
• →Tharu homestay with traditional dinner and cultural dances (~£15–20)

Take a morning tourist bus from Sauraha/Chitwan to Pokhara (approximately 5 hours, ~£7–10 — book through your guesthouse). Arrive into Pokhara and check in to a lakeside hostel by Phewa Lake. Spend the afternoon simply soaking up the stunning scenery: the glittering lake reflecting the snow-capped Annapurna and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) peaks. Wander the Lakeside strip (Pokhara's tourist hub), browse bookshops and trekking gear shops, hire a rowing boat for the lake (~£5–7 for 2 hours), and enjoy a sunset dinner at a lakeside restaurant.

🚌Tourist bus Chitwan–Pokhara ~£7–10.

🛏Zostel Pokhara or Base Camp Hostel Pokhara (dorm ~£7–9, private ~£16–22/night, lakeside location)

• →Tourist bus Chitwan to Pokhara (~£7–10, ~5 hours)
• →Rowing boat hire on Phewa Lake (~£5–7 for 2 hours)
• →Walk to World Peace Pagoda for panoramic Himalayan views (free, or short boat + hike ~£3–4)
• →Lakeside cafés and trekking gear browsing
• →Sunset views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre from lakeside (free)

Rise very early (4am taxi to Sarangkot viewpoint, ~£3–4 each way) to watch the sunrise illuminate the Annapurna range — an unforgettable golden spectacle. You can then trek back down to Pokhara through terraced fields and villages (~2 hours, free). In the morning, visit a women-led arabica coffee and beekeeping social enterprise in the hills around Pokhara (similar to the Barauli community visit on the original tour — ask at your hostel for the current recommended local project, entry/donation ~£3–5). The afternoon is yours: try paragliding (a Pokhara speciality, ~£60–80 bookable via Klook or locally), kayak on the lake, or explore the Old Bazaar area.

🚌Taxi to Sarangkot ~£3–4 each way. All else walkable.

🛏Zostel Pokhara or Base Camp Hostel (dorm ~£7–9, private ~£16–22/night)

• →Pre-dawn taxi to Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint (~£3–4 each way)
• →Trek back down from Sarangkot to Pokhara lakeside (~2 hours, free)
• →Visit to women-led coffee and beekeeping social enterprise (~£3–5 donation/entry)
• →Optional: paragliding over Phewa Lake (~£60–80, book via Klook or locally)
• →Optional: kayaking on Phewa Lake (~£8–10/hour)
• →Explore Pokhara Old Bazaar

Take a tourist bus or local bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu (~6–7 hours, £7–10) — the scenic road through the Himalayan foothills is spectacular. Alternatively, fly (30 minutes, ~£50–70 one-way — book ahead). Arrive into Kathmandu and check in to a hostel in the Thamel backpacker district. In the evening, explore Thamel's lively streets, pick up trekking gear and souvenirs, and enjoy a rooftop dinner. If time allows, walk to the nearby Boudhanath Stupa (entry ~£3) as it's stunning illuminated at dusk, with monks circumambulating and candles being lit.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara–Kathmandu ~£7–10. Local taxi within Kathmandu ~£1–3.

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or Alobar1000 Hostel, Thamel (dorm ~£7–9, private ~£18–22/night)

• →Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu (~£7–10, ~6–7 hours) OR flight (~£50–70)
• →Check in to Thamel guesthouse/hostel
• →Evening walk around Thamel district (free)
• →Visit Boudhanath Stupa at dusk (~£3 entry)
• →Rooftop dinner in Thamel

Final full morning in Kathmandu — make the most of it! Start at Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world, set on the banks of the Bagmati River — non-Hindus can view the ghats and cremation ceremony from the east bank (free, deeply humbling). Then visit the atmospheric Kathmandu Durbar Square (entry ~£8 for tourists, USD10 equivalent), exploring the ancient palaces, temples and courtyards. If you want the ultimate send-off, book a 1-hour mountain flight from Tribhuvan Airport for aerial views of Mt Everest and the Himalayas (~£140–170, bookable via Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines). Check out by noon; take a local taxi to the airport for your onward flight.

🚌Local taxi within Kathmandu ~£1–3. Airport taxi ~£4–6.

🛏Check out by noon (no accommodation needed)

• →Pashupatinath Temple and burning ghats on Bagmati River (free for east bank viewing)
• →Kathmandu Durbar Square (~£8, USD10)
• →Swayambhunath 'Monkey Temple' (nearby, ~£2 entry, great city views)
• →Optional: 1-hour Everest mountain flight (~£140–170, book direct with Buddha Air/Yeti Airlines)
• →Final Thamel shopping and farewell lunch
• →Taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) ~£4–6