India & Nepal Explorer — Self-Launched
17 days · India & Nepal
G Adventures charges £2,400
No-markup version: ~£830 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 17-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Delhi-to-Kathmandu route, covering the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), a rural Rajasthani village homestay, then flying to Kathmandu for Boudhanath, Bhaktapur, Patan, a monastery stay at Pharping, the Trishuli River and a Chitwan safari finish. You book the same monuments, guides and experiences yourself through GetYourGuide/Klook or directly with local operators, use trains, local buses and shared jeeps instead of a private van, and stay in hostels, guesthouses and family-run homestays. All costs are approximate per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi
Delhi, India
Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express metro (approx ₹60 / £0.60) or a pre-paid taxi (approx ₹600 / £6) to your hostel in Paharganj or the Karol Bagh area. Grab an e-SIM at the airport, change a little cash and take an evening stroll to Connaught Place for your first thali. Book your Agra train ticket online tonight (IRCTC or a booking agent) for Day 3.
🚌Airport Express metro or pre-paid taxi from DEL
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Paharganj (£10-15/night, dorm or private budget room)
- →Airport transfer
- →Connaught Place wander
- →Book Agra train ticket
Old Delhi backstreets & street-food walk
Delhi, India
Do the Delhi walk G Adventures runs with its street-kids project partner independently via a responsible-tourism walking tour (book through GetYourGuide or a local social enterprise such as Salaam Baalak Trust's own city walk, approx £12-18). Cover Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk's spice and paratha lanes, and the Gurudwara Sis Ganj (free, cover your head). Ride a cycle-rickshaw through the old lanes. Evening: relax, then an early night before an early train.
🚌Cycle-rickshaw and walking; metro between districts (£2)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Paharganj
- →Responsible-tourism Old Delhi walking tour
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk market
- →Gurudwara Sis Ganj
Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Baby Taj
Agra, India
Take the Gatimaan Express or a Shatabdi fast train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (approx 1h50, ₹750-1,200 / £8-12). Check in near Taj Ganj, then hit the Taj Mahal (₹1,100 foreigner ticket / £11), Agra Fort (₹650 / £6.50) and Itimad-ud-Daulah ('Baby Taj', ₹330). Skip the guide or hire a licensed one at the gate for ₹500-800 — many travellers just use an audio guide. Try a sunset view from Mehtab Bagh (₹300).
🚌Train Delhi–Agra (~£10); auto-rickshaws in Agra (£3)
🛏Budget guesthouse, Taj Ganj (£12-18/night)
- →Taj Mahal
- →Agra Fort
- →Baby Taj (Itimad-ud-Daulah)
- →Mehtab Bagh sunset viewpoint
Fatehpur Sikri & Abhaneri stepwell en route to Jaipur
Jaipur, India
Pre-book a shared or seat-in-car transfer Agra–Jaipur stopping at Fatehpur Sikri (₹610 entry / £6) and the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri (free/₹25) — bookable on Klook or GetYourGuide for approx £25-35 per person, or negotiate with a local taxi driver the day before. Arrive Jaipur in the evening and settle into a guesthouse in the old city.
🚌Shared seat-in-car transfer Agra–Jaipur (~£30 incl. stops)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Jaipur old city (£12-18/night)
- →Fatehpur Sikri
- →Chand Baori stepwell, Abhaneri
Jaipur — Amber Fort & the Pink City
Jaipur, India
Take a local bus or auto to Amber Fort early (₹550 entry / £5.50; ₹1,000 including camera). Come down and see Hawa Mahal from the street (free), then Jaipur City Palace and Jantar Mantar (combined approx £10). Browse Johari and Bapu Bazaars in the afternoon. Optional evening Bollywood film at Raj Mandir cinema (₹200-400 / £2-4) — cheap, air-conditioned and great fun solo.
🚌Local bus to Amber (₹30), auto-rickshaws (£3)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Jaipur old city
- →Amber Fort
- →Hawa Mahal
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Bazaar shopping
- →Optional Raj Mandir film
Rural village homestay near Sawarda
Sawarda, Rajasthan
Swap the tour's heritage hotel for a family-run village homestay — bookable direct through homestay networks or GetYourGuide's rural Rajasthan experiences (approx £20-30 including dinner and breakfast). Spend the afternoon walking the village, chatting with elders about modernisation, and witnessing a family prayer session. Ask your host in advance; this is the genuine version of the tour's highlight.
🚌Shared taxi or local bus Jaipur–Sawarda area (~£6)
🛏Family-run village homestay (£20-30 incl. meals)
- →Village walk
- →Family prayer session
- →Home-cooked Rajasthani dinner
Back to Delhi
Delhi, India
Return to Jaipur by bus, then take an afternoon train or low-cost flight back to Delhi (train ₹800-1,400 / £8-14). Evening free for laundry and re-packing in Paharganj. Book your Kathmandu flight tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Bus Sawarda–Jaipur, train Jaipur–Delhi (~£12 total)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Paharganj
- →Travel day
- →Laundry and re-pack
Fly to Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fly Delhi–Kathmandu on IndiGo, Vistara or Nepal Airlines (approx £70-110 one-way, book 2-4 weeks ahead). Note: opt for the left-hand window seat for Himalayan views. Get your Nepal visa on arrival (approx £25 for 30 days), pick up a Nepali SIM at the airport, then head to Thamel for a rooftop dinner.
🚌Flight DEL–KTM (~£90)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Thamel (£8-14/night)
- →Visa on arrival
- →SIM card
- →Thamel evening
Boudhanath, Bhaktapur & Sisterhood of Survivors lunch
Kathmandu, Nepal
Self-guide a loop of the valley's big three sights using local buses or cheap taxis: Boudhanath Stupa (₹400 / £2.50) in the morning, lunch at the Sisterhood of Survivors café (a G Adventures-supported social enterprise you can visit independently — normal menu prices, approx £5), then Bhaktapur Durbar Square (₹1,800 / £11). Sunset kora walk around Boudhanath with the pilgrims.
🚌Local bus and shared taxi around the valley (~£5)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Thamel
- →Boudhanath Stupa
- →Lunch at Sisterhood of Survivors
- →Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- →Sunset kora walk
Patan Durbar Square & monastery night at Pharping
Pharping, Nepal
Optional early Everest scenic flight from Kathmandu (approx £150-190 through a local agency — expensive but unforgettable). Otherwise: Patan Durbar Square and its museum (₹1,000 / £6), then a shared taxi or local bus south to Pharping (approx £3). Stay overnight at Neydo Monastery or a similar monastery guesthouse (approx £15-25 with meals) — book direct by email a few weeks ahead. Join evening meditation and dinner with the monks if permitted.
🚌Shared taxi/bus Kathmandu–Pharping (~£3)
🛏Buddhist monastery guesthouse, Pharping (£15-25 incl. meals)
- →Patan Durbar Square
- →Dakshinkali and Padmasambhava cave visit
- →Monastery meditation
- →Optional Everest scenic flight
Trishuli River rafting & nature lodge
Kurintar, Nepal
Head to Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway by local bus or shared jeep (approx £4). Book a riverside lodge and a half-day Trishuli rafting trip independently through a Pokhara or Kathmandu rafting operator (approx £25-35 including gear, guide and transport). Opt for a village walk in the afternoon. This replaces the tour's organised nature lodge with the same stretch of river.
🚌Local bus/shared jeep (~£4)
🛏Riverside guesthouse/nature lodge, Kurintar (£10-18/night)
- →Trishuli River whitewater rafting
- →Village walk
Into Chitwan National Park
Chitwan, Nepal
Continue by local bus to Sauraha, the gateway town for Chitwan (approx 2-3 hrs, £3-5). Check into a budget jungle lodge and arrange your safari package directly with them — most lodges include a jeep safari, canoe trip, jungle walk and Tharu cultural show for around £50-80 for two nights full board. Evening Tharu dance performance.
🚌Local bus Kurintar–Sauraha (~£4)
🛏Budget jungle lodge, Sauraha (£15-25/night including meals in a package)
- →Tharu cultural programme
- →Sunset over the Rapti River
Chitwan safari day
Chitwan, Nepal
Full day of wildlife: early-morning dugout canoe trip and jungle walk, then an afternoon jeep safari deep into the park (Rhino, deer, monkeys, sloth bear and — if very lucky — tiger). Park fees are typically bundled into a lodge package (approx £18 park entry separately). Finish with dinner at a riverside restaurant in Sauraha.
🚌Lodge-provided jeep and canoe
🛏Budget jungle lodge, Sauraha
- →Dugout canoe trip
- →Jungle walk
- →Jeep safari
- →Birdwatching
Chitwan to Pokhara
Pokhara, Nepal
Take a direct tourist bus Sauraha–Pokhara (approx 5-6 hrs, £8-12) or a shared jeep to Mugling and onward. Check into a lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara, rent a bicycle or scooter for the afternoon and cycle the Phewa Lake shoreline.
🚌Tourist bus Chitwan–Pokhara (~£10)
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara (£8-15/night)
- →Bus journey
- →Phewa Lake sunset
- →Cycle the lakeshore
Sarangkot sunrise & World Peace Pagoda hike
Pokhara, Nepal
Self-organise the G Adventures Pokhara day: share a taxi up to Sarangkot for sunrise over the Annapurnas (approx £8 split), walk back down, then boat across Phewa Lake (₹400-800 / £2.50-5) and hike up to the World Peace Pagoda. Afternoon free for cafés or, if you're brave, paragliding (approx £70-85 booked on GetYourGuide).
🚌Shared taxi to Sarangkot, rowing boat (£10 total)
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara
- →Sarangkot sunrise
- →Phewa Lake boating
- →World Peace Pagoda hike
- →Optional paragliding
Back to Kathmandu — Swayambhunath & Pashupatinath
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fly Pokhara–Kathmandu (approx £55-75, 25 mins) or take a tourist bus (£10-15, 7-8 hrs) if you're stretching the budget. In Kathmandu, climb the 365 steps to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple, ₹200 / £1.20) and visit Pashupatinath's ghats at dusk (₹1,000 / £6) for the evening aarti ceremony.
🚌Domestic flight Pokhara–Kathmandu (~£65)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Thamel
- →Swayambhunath Temple
- →Pashupatinath ghats and evening aarti
Depart Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Nepal
Final morning for souvenir shopping in Thamel or a last momo breakfast, then a taxi to Tribhuvan International for your onward flight.
🚌Taxi to KTM airport (~£3)
🛏—
- →Thamel shopping
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£830 | £2,400 |
| Duration | 17 days | 17 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,570 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£830
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does India & Nepal Explorer — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £830 per person for 17 days in India & Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £830 — a saving of roughly £1,570 (65%) per person.
How long is the India & Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 17 days, covering 17 day-by-day stops through India & Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, foodie trip through India & Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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