North to South India: Taj Mahal, Rajasthan & Goa — Self-Launched
21 days · India
G Adventures charges £1,725
No-markup version: ~£1,030 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 21-day self-launched north-to-south India route following the same arc as G Adventures' "North to South India: The Taj Mahal & Goa Good Times" (trip code AHDC) — Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, rural Tordi Sagar, Pushkar, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, then a cheap flight south to Goa and on to Kerala's backwaters and Kochi. Everything the tour includes can be booked yourself: Indian Railways tickets on IRCTC, government-authorised guides at the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort, village homestays in Tordi Sagar, a Keralan homestay in Alleppey with a morning canoe through the backwaters, and the Theruvarom women's cooperative lunch near Alleppey. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights. Note: G Adventures appears to run this as two linked tours (Delhi–Goa and Goa–Kochi) — the day-by-day below reconstructs the full 3-week route.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi — Karol Bagh night market
Delhi
Land at IGI Airport and take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50) or a prepaid taxi from the official counter (~£4). Check into a Paharganj or Karol Bagh hostel. In the evening wander Karol Bagh market — street food, chai stalls and rooftop bars — exactly where the G tour starts. Get an Indian SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£4) and set up your IRCTC train account today — it's the single biggest logistics task of the trip.
🚌Airport Express metro or prepaid taxi from airport
🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse, Paharganj/Karol Bagh (~£9)
- →Karol Bagh market wander
- →Chandni Chowk street food if you arrive early
Delhi to Agra — Taj Mahal at golden hour
Agra
Book a morning Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi chair car on IRCTC the week before (~£8, 1h50–2h). Store your bag at the hotel, then take a cycle rickshaw or auto to the Taj. Buy your ticket at the official ASI counter (₹1,300 foreigner entry) and hire a government-licensed guide at the gate (~£12 split two ways) or pre-book a GetYourGuide small-group Taj tour for similar money. Stay for sunset light. Optional add-ons in the afternoon: Agra Fort (₹650) and Baby Taj (Mehtab Bagh).
🚌Train Delhi–Agra ~£8; rickshaw/auto around town
🛏Budget guesthouse in Taj Ganj/South Gate (~£10)
- →Taj Mahal with local guide
- →Agra Fort (optional)
- →Baby Taj / Mehtab Bagh viewpoint (optional)
Agra to Jaipur — Pink City orientation
Jaipur
Take a local or AC bus from Agra's Idgah bus stand to Jaipur (~£5, 4–5h) — the same road journey the group tour makes. Check into a hostel near Hawa Mahal. Free: Hawa Mahal from the street, then ride a cycle rickshaw through Johari and Bapu Bazaar and do your own orientation walk. Evening option: a Bollywood film at the legendary single-screen Raj Mandir (₹200–400).
🚌Bus Agra–Jaipur ~£5; cycle rickshaw
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Jaipur old city (~£10)
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Bazaar walk
- →Raj Mandir cinema (optional)
Amber Fort and Jaipur free afternoon
Jaipur
Take local bus no. 5 or an auto to Amber Fort (~£1). Pay the ASI entry (₹550) and either hire an audio guide or a licensed local guide at the gate (~£8), or book a GetYourGuide Amber Fort guided-entry ticket. Wander the Mirror Palace and Sheesh Mahal courtyards. Optional: a Jaipur cycle tour with Lassi breakfast (~£12–20, bookable via GetYourGuide/Klook) — the exact optional the G tour sells. Afternoon free for City Palace (₹1,000) or Jantar Mantar (₹202).
🚌Local bus to Amber ~£1
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Jaipur (~£10)
- →Amber Fort guided visit
- →Jaipur cycle tour (optional)
- →Jantar Mantar (optional)
- →City Palace (optional)
Rural Tordi Sagar — village life and homestay-style lunch
Tordi Sagar
Take a local bus from Jaipur toward Tonk and get off near Tordi, or arrange a shared taxi (~£15 total, 2h). Tordi Sagar is the classic rural Rajasthan village stop — guesthouses there (e.g. the well-known village guesthouse) run the same potter/cobbler/market walk, traditional village lunch, cricket with locals, and camel-cart or jeep rides to the dunes at sunset for a few hundred rupees each. Book direct by phone/email a few days ahead — no middleman needed.
🚌Local bus or shared taxi Jaipur–Tordi ~£4
🛏Village guesthouse, Tordi Sagar (~£12)
- →Village walk with local potters and cobblers
- →Traditional village lunch
- →Cricket with locals
- →Camel cart / jeep safari to dunes (optional)
Tordi Sagar to Pushkar
Pushkar
Head back to Ajmer by bus (~£2), then a short local bus or shared auto over Snake Mountain to Pushkar (~£1). Check into a guesthouse near the lake. Orientation is easy on foot — walk the ghats, see the only Brahma Temple in the world, and catch sunset from a lakeside rooftop cafe. Note Pushkar is vegetarian and alcohol-free.
🚌Bus Tordi–Ajmer–Pushkar ~£3
🛏Guesthouse near Pushkar Lake (~£9)
- →Pushkar Lake ghats
- →Brahma Temple
- →Rooftop cafe sunset
Savitri Temple sunrise, yoga and desert dinner
Pushkar
Climb the 700-odd steps to Savitri Temple before dawn for sunrise over the Thar Desert — free, and the same included experience on the group tour. Descend for a cafe breakfast, then take a drop-in yoga class (~£5). In the evening book the classic cameleer desert dinner with live music and dancing (~£14) through any Pushkar guesthouse or a GetYourGuide listing — dress-up in traditional clothes is thrown in.
🚌On foot; optional tuk-tuk to temple base
🛏Guesthouse near Pushkar Lake (~£9)
- →Savitri Temple sunrise hike
- →Drop-in yoga class
- →Cameleer desert dinner with entertainment
Pushkar to Udaipur — Lake Pichola at sunset
Udaipur
Bus or train via Ajmer to Udaipur (~£6–10, 6h). Check into a guesthouse in the Lal Ghat/old city lanes. Do an orientation walk through the narrow lanes, then take a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola (₹500, book at the jetty) for the classic view of the Lake Palace — the tour's signature optional here.
🚌Bus/train Pushkar–Udaipur ~£8; boat
🛏Old-city guesthouse, Udaipur (~£10)
- →Old city orientation walk
- →Lake Pichola sunset boat ride
Udaipur — palaces, temples and rooftop meals
Udaipur
Free day: City Palace (₹450), Jagdish Temple (free), the Monsoon Palace for sunset (₹505), and a Rajasthani cultural show in the evening (₹250). Udaipur is famous for its miniature-painting workshops — buy direct from the artisans in the lanes below the palace. Eat on a rooftop looking out at the lake.
🚌On foot; auto for Monsoon Palace
🛏Old-city guesthouse, Udaipur (~£10)
- →City Palace
- →Jagdish Temple
- →Rajasthani cultural show
- →Monsoon Palace sunset (optional)
Udaipur — cooking class or Ranakpur day trip
Udaipur
Second free day. Either take a half-day Udaipur cooking school (~£15, the tour's optional) or a shared taxi/whip-round day trip to the Ranakpur Jain Temples (₹200–300 entry) — stunning marble carving an hour and a half away. Evening: sunrise-cycle-tour alternative or simply a slow lakeside dinner, because tomorrow is a long travel day.
🚌Local auto; shared taxi to Ranakpur if chosen
🛏Old-city guesthouse, Udaipur (~£10)
- →Udaipur cooking school (optional)
- →Ranakpur Jain Temples day trip (optional)
Overnight train Udaipur to Ahmedabad via Gandhi Ashram
Ahmedabad / overnight train
Morning bus to Ahmedabad (~£4–6, 4–5h) — the group's route. Visit the Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi's riverside home (free entry, small museum), which is the included visit on the G itinerary. Then board a sleeper or AC3 overnight train onward toward Mumbai (~£8–12, book on IRCTC). Chain and padlock your bag; bring toilet paper.
🚌Bus Udaipur–Ahmedabad ~£5; overnight train ~£10
🛏Overnight train, sleeper or AC3 (~£9)
- →Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
Mumbai — Colaba, Gateway of India, Marine Drive
Mumbai
Arrive into Mumbai and check into a Colaba or Fort-area hostel. Do your own walking loop: Gateway of India, Colaba Causeway street shopping, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus facade, then Marine Drive at sunset with the Queen's Necklace lights. Optional Mumbai city tour (₹1,100–1,300) bookable via GetYourGuide if you want the structure.
🚌Local train and metro
🛏Hostel dorm, Colaba/Fort (~£12)
- →Gateway of India
- →Colaba Causeway
- →Marine Drive sunset
- →Mumbai city tour (optional)
Fly Mumbai to Goa — North Goa beaches
Goa
Book a budget IndiGo/SpiceJet fare Mumbai–Goa (~£35–50, book 4–8 weeks ahead) — the equivalent of the tour's included internal flight. Take a shared taxi or local bus to Calangute/Baga or Anjuna and settle into a beach hostel. Afternoon on the sand; evening beach-shack dinner and the tour's 'Big Night Out' vibe in Baga or Vagator, done your own way.
🚌Budget flight ~£42; shared taxi ~£4
🛏Beach hostel dorm, North Goa (~£9)
- →Beach afternoon
- →Beach-shack night out
Goa — forts, markets and beach time
Goa
Rent a scooter (~£5/day) and do a self-drive loop: Chapora Fort for the river views, Anjuna flea market if it's Wednesday, Vagator cliffs, and a Goan fish curry lunch. Or cross to Old Goa for the Basilica of Bom Jesus (free) if you want UNESCO heritage over beaches.
🚌Scooter rental ~£5
🛏Beach hostel dorm, North Goa (~£9)
- →Chapora Fort
- →Anjuna flea market
- →Old Goa churches (optional)
Goa to Kollam — the long hop south
Kollam / Varkala
This is where the tour continues into Kerala. Cheapest is an overnight train Goa (Madgaon) to Kollam (~£10–15, book early) or a budget flight Goa–Trivandrum (~£45) then local bus to Varkala (~£1). Settle into a Varkala clifftop guesthouse for the beach days the G itinerary builds in here.
🚌Overnight train ~£13 (or flight ~£45 + bus)
🛏Clifftop guesthouse, Varkala (~£10)
- →Clifftop walk
- →Beach sunset
Varkala and Neendakara fishing harbour
Varkala / Kollam
Morning swim at Papanasam Beach and a visit to the Janardhana Swamy Temple. Take a local bus to Kollam and walk the Neendakara fishing harbour where the trawlers come in — the tour's included harbour visit, entirely free and easy to do independently. Optional ayurvedic massage (~£15–20) in Varkala in the afternoon.
🚌Local bus Varkala–Kollam ~£1
🛏Clifftop guesthouse, Varkala (~£10)
- →Papanasam Beach
- →Janardhana Swamy Temple
- →Neendakara fishing harbour
- →Ayurvedic massage (optional)
Alleppey backwaters homestay
Alleppey
Train or bus Varkala to Alleppey (~£2–4, 2h). Book a Keralan homestay direct through Booking.com or a local homestay network (~£14–18 with home-cooked meals) — the tour's Local Living moment. Afternoon: walk the canals and coir villages. Skip the pricey houseboats; instead book a two-hour shared canoe through the narrow backwaters (~£6) for tomorrow morning.
🚌Train/bus Varkala–Alleppey ~£3
🛏Keralan family homestay, Alleppey (~£16)
- →Canal-side village walk
Backwater canoe at dawn, women's cooperative lunch, Kochi
Alleppey to Kochi
Early-morning shared canoe cruise through the backwaters (~£6) as the canals wake up — the included ferry/cruise experience for a fraction. Then bus or train to Kochi (~£2). Lunch at the Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project near Alleppey/Ernakulam — the tour's G for Good moment — book direct via the project or ask your homestay host to arrange it (~£6–8 including entertainment). Afternoon orientation walk in Fort Kochi: Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, Jew Town.
🚌Bus/train to Kochi ~£2; ferry in Kochi ~£0.50
🛏Fort Kochi guesthouse (~£11)
- →Sunrise backwater canoe
- →Theruvarom women's cooperative lunch
- →Fort Kochi orientation walk
Fort Kochi — Kathakali and the art cafes
Kochi
Free day in Fort Kochi: Mattancherry Palace (₹5), the spice markets, Kashi Art Cafe and the Biennale venues if it's running. In the evening see a Kathakali performance with make-up demonstration (~£5, ₹500) — book at the theatre box office or ask your guesthouse; this is the tour's final optional. Finish with seafood on the waterfront.
🚌On foot and ferry
🛏Fort Kochi guesthouse (~£11)
- →Mattancherry Palace
- →Spice markets
- →Kathakali performance
Kochi buffer day — or a Cherai Beach escape
Kochi
Keep this as a flex day: Indian transport runs late, and the group tour builds in travel padding too. Either bus to Cherai Beach (~£1, 1h) for a last swim, or use the day for laundry, souvenir shopping in Jew Town and a slow Keralan sadya meal on a banana leaf.
🚌Local bus to Cherai ~£1
🛏Fort Kochi guesthouse (~£11)
- →Cherai Beach (optional)
- →Laundry and souvenir shopping
Depart Kochi
Kochi
Fly out of Cochin International (CIAL) or take the metro/bus to the airport (~£1.50). If you have a late flight, a final Fort Kochi breakfast and one more walk along the fishing nets before you go.
🚌Metro/bus to airport ~£1.50
🛏—
- →Final Fort Kochi walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,030 | £1,725 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £695 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,030
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does North to South India: Taj Mahal, Rajasthan & Goa — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,030 per person for 21 days in India. 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 £1,725 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,030 — a saving of roughly £695 (40%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through India.
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, budget, backpacker trip through India, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.