India & Nepal Combo: Delhi, Rajasthan's Golden Triangle and Nepal's Himalayan Heartland — Self-Launched

Land at Indira Gandhi International Airport and take the Airport Express metro (approx £1.80) or a prepaid taxi (approx £6-8) to Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Check into a budget guesthouse, pick up an Indian eSIM/Airtel SIM (approx £5), and ease in with a walk around Connaught Place. Optional: join a free/cheap Old Delhi street-food walk (approx £10-15 via GetYourGuide) if you arrive early. Confirm your onward train tickets on IRCTC today.

🚌Airport Express metro or prepaid taxi from DEL

🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj (private room, approx £14/night)

• →Connaught Place wander
• →SIM card setup
• →Optional Old Delhi street-food walk

Do the operator's guided city day independently. Start at the Red Fort (entry approx £6; closed Mondays), walk through Chandni Chowk's spice lanes to Jama Masjid (free entry, camera fee), then take the metro to Humayun's Tomb (approx £6) and Qutab Minar (approx £6). Optional: swap the guide for a small-group GetYourGuide Delhi day tour (approx £25-35) which covers the same monuments with air-conditioned transport. Finish at Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir, free).

🚌Delhi Metro day pass approx £2.50; autos £3-4 total

🛏Budget guesthouse in Paharganj (approx £14)

• →Red Fort
• →Jama Masjid & Chandni Chowk
• →Humayun's Tomb
• →Qutab Minar
• →Laxmi Narayan Temple

Take an early morning train to Jaipur (e.g. Ajmer Shatabdi or double-decker, approx 5 hrs, sleeper/chair class approx £4-8; book on IRCTC). Afternoon self-guided loop of the Pink City: City Palace (approx £8), Jantar Mantar (approx £4) and a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (free from the street; £2 to enter), plus the Albert Hall Museum (approx £3). Sleep in a Jaipur hostel or guesthouse near Bani Park or the old city.

🚌Delhi–Jaipur train approx £6; local autos approx £4

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Jaipur old city (private room approx £13)

• →City Palace
• →Jantar Mantar
• →Hawa Mahal
• →Albert Hall Museum

Take local bus #5 or an auto (approx £3) to Amber Fort — enter the fort complex early (entry approx £7) and walk up rather than the elephant rides. On the way back stop at Jal Mahal for the classic lake photo (free), then head to Galta Ji (Monkey Temple) by auto (approx £3 return) — free, but go early and keep hold of your belongings. Optional afternoon: Nahargarh Fort sunset or a Klook block-printing/cooking workshop (approx £15).

🚌Local bus + autos approx £7

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Jaipur (approx £13)

• →Amber Fort
• →Jal Mahal viewpoint
• →Galta Ji Monkey Temple
• →Optional Nahargarh sunset

Take an early bus or train to Bharatpur/Fatehpur Sikri (Rajasthan State Road Transport bus approx £4-5, 4-5 hrs), stop to explore the Mughal ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri (entry approx £7) — a shared taxi or bus from the bus stand covers the last 5km. Continue to Agra by bus or local train (approx £4). Overnight in Agra's Taj Ganj area so you're steps from the Taj Mahal at sunrise.

🚌Jaipur–Fatehpur Sikri bus approx £5; onward to Agra approx £4

🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj, Agra (approx £13)

• →Fatehpur Sikri
• →Evening Taj Ganj wander

Buy your Taj Mahal ticket online in advance (approx £12, closed Fridays) and be at the east gate for sunrise — the quietest and best time. Walk to Agra Fort (approx £7) and cross the river to Itmad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj, approx £4). Late afternoon take a 2-3 hour train back to Delhi (approx £4). Overnight near New Delhi station ready for your flight to Kathmandu.

🚌Agra–Delhi train approx £4; autos approx £3

🛏Budget hotel near New Delhi railway station (approx £14)

• →Taj Mahal sunrise
• →Agra Fort
• →Itmad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)

Fly Indira Gandhi International to Tribhuvan International (IndiGo/Air India/Nepal Airlines, approx £95-130 one way booked 4-8 weeks ahead — the operator quoted ~US$140 extra, so expect this to be a separate cost). Get a Nepali visa on arrival (approx £25 for 15 days / £40 for 30 days) and a local SIM (approx £3). Base yourself in Thamel. Evening briefing-equivalent: check your Chitwan safari booking and bus tickets for Day 9.

🚌Delhi–Kathmandu flight approx £110; airport taxi approx £3

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Thamel, Kathmandu (private room approx £12)

• →Thamel orientation
• →Chitwan safari booking confirmation

Self-guided UNESCO loop: hire a taxi/auto for half a day (approx £15 total) or take local buses. Visit Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple, approx £2), Pashupatinath (approx £10), Boudhanath Stupa (approx £4) and Patan Durbar Square (approx £10). Alternatively a GetYourGuide/Klook Kathmandu Valley full-day tour with guide is approx £30-40. Lunch on momos in Patan (approx £3).

🚌Hired taxi/auto approx £15

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Thamel (approx £12)

• →Swayambhunath Stupa
• →Pashupatinath Temple
• →Boudhanath Stupa
• →Patan Durbar Square

Take the tourist deluxe bus from Kathmandu to Sauraha (approx 5-6 hrs, approx £12-15; book via your guesthouse) or a shorter flight to Bharatpur plus transfer if time is tight. Check into a Chitwan lodge near the park, then join the included-style activities independently: walk to the Tharu village, visit the park visitor centre, and watch sunset over the Rapti River. Optional evening Tharu stick-dance show (approx £3-5).

🚌Kathmandu–Sauraha tourist bus approx £13

🛏Jungle lodge in Sauraha, Chitwan (approx £15, often with breakfast)

• →Tharu village walk
• →Park visitor centre
• →Rapti River sunset
• →Tharu cultural show (optional)

Book a full-day jeep safari (approx £28-35 per person sharing, 5 hrs including park permit) or a cheaper half-day option. Add a dugout canoe trip on the Rapti River (approx £6, often bundled) and walk to the elephant breeding centre (free/£1 donation). Elephant-back riding is deliberately omitted for welfare reasons. Optional guided jungle walk with a licensed naturalist in the afternoon (approx £8). Rhinos, deer, crocodiles and if lucky a tiger.

🚌Jeep included in safari package

🛏Jungle lodge in Sauraha (approx £15)

• →Full-day jeep safari
• →Rapti River canoe
• →Elephant breeding centre
• →Optional jungle walk

Tourist bus from Sauraha to Pokhara (approx 5-6 hrs, approx £10-12), or fly Bharatpur–Pokhara (approx £65) to save a day. Arrive, settle into a Lakeside guesthouse and stroll the lakefront at sunset. Optional: rent a bike/scooter for tomorrow (approx £8/day) and wander Lakeside's cafés and momo spots.

🚌Sauraha–Pokhara tourist bus approx £11

🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara (approx £13)

• →Lakeside walk
• →Sunset over Phewa Lake

Self-guided sightseeing day: taxi or scooter (approx £8) north to Bindhyabasini Temple (free), back south to Davis Fall (approx £2), Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave (approx £1.50) and the Seti River Gorges (free). Optional extras the operator leaves out: sunrise at Sarangkot (taxi approx £12 return, entrance £1) or paragliding over Phewa Lake (approx £55-70 booked via GetYourGuide/local operators).

🚌Scooter/taxi approx £8

🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara (approx £13)

• →Bindhyabasini Temple
• →Davis Fall
• →Gupteshwor Cave
• →Seti River Gorge
• →Optional paragliding or Sarangkot sunrise

Fly Pokhara–Kathmandu (approx £60-75, 25 mins — reviewers of the original tour recommended this over the 6-8 hr bus) or take the tourist bus (approx £14). Return to Thamel, pick up souvenirs and book a Nepali cultural dinner show or set thali in a traditional Kathmandu restaurant (approx £15) as your own farewell dinner.

🚌Pokhara–Kathmandu flight approx £68 (or bus £14)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Thamel (approx £12)

• →Thamel souvenir shopping
• →Nepali cultural dinner (self-booked)

Breakfast, then a taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (approx £3) for your onward or international flight. If you need to finish in Delhi like the original tour, a Kathmandu–Delhi flight is approx £95-120 — check your homeward routing now and book the cheaper direction early.

🚌Taxi to KTM approx £3

🛏None (departure day)

• →Departure