Self-Launched Delhi to Rajasthan: Palaces, Forts & Tigers (12 Days)

Land at Indira Gandhi International (DEL). Take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50, ~20 min) or a prepaid taxi/Ola cab (~£4–6). Base yourself in Paharganj or Karol Bagh for cheap guesthouses, or Hauz Khas for something quieter. Spend the afternoon acclimatising: pick up a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£3–5 with data), withdraw rupees, and grab your first thali dinner at a busy local restaurant (~£3). Book tomorrow's sights online where possible and buy train tickets on IRCTC (book Agra leg early).

🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50 or prepaid taxi ~£4–6

🛏Guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh, ~£14–18/night

• →Airport Express metro to city
• →SIM card and cash setup
• →Evening stroll around Connaught Place

Do a self-planned full-day circuit rather than a private guide. Start at Jama Masjid (~£0.50 entry) then walk to Chandni Chowk and take a cycle rickshaw through the spice market (~£2–3, agree the price first). Continue to Raj Ghat (free), India Gate and a drive-past of Rashtrapati Bhavan, then Humayun's Tomb (~£5). Finish with Qutub Minar (~£5) or, if it's a good light day, the Lotus Temple (free, closed Mondays). Use the Delhi Metro day pass (~£1) plus the odd auto-rickshaw (~£1–2 per hop). Lunch at a locals' spot such as Karim's or a Paharganj thali joint (~£4).

🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£1 plus autos ~£3 total

🛏Guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh, ~£14–18/night

• →Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk spice market rickshaw ride
• →Raj Ghat, India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan viewpoints
• →Humayun's Tomb
• →Qutub Minar or Lotus Temple

Take a morning Gatimaan Express or a Chair Car AC train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (~£8–12, 1h50). Drop bags at a Taj Ganj guesthouse, then visit Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb, ~£4) and Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb ('Baby Taj', ~£3). Spend the afternoon in Agra Fort (~£6) — the Moti Masjid, Jahangir Palace and views across to the Taj. In the evening, cross to Mehtab Bagh (~£3) for sunset views of the Taj from the riverbank, then eat Mughlai food in Taj Ganj (~£4–5). Note: the Taj is closed Fridays, so arrange your days accordingly.

🚌AC Chair Car train Hazrat Nizamuddin–Agra Cantt ~£8–12

🛏Taj Ganj guesthouse with rooftop Taj view, ~£16–20/night

• →Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb)
• →Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
• →Agra Fort self-guided with audio guide
• →Mehtab Bagh sunset over the Taj

Be at the Taj Mahal East Gate before opening (~6am) for the sunrise ticket (~£12, buy online; closed Fridays). Allow 2–3 hours, then breakfast. Mid-morning, take a local bus or shared taxi from Agra's Idgah bus stand towards Fatehpur Sikri (~£3–4, ~1hr). Explore the abandoned Mughal capital (~£6) — Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas — and the Tomb of Salim Chisti. From Sikri, catch a bus to Bharatpur or Sapotra and then a shared jeep/taxi onward to Ramathra (~£8–10 total, 2.5–3hrs). Ramathra is rural — arrange the last leg with your guesthouse in advance.

🚌Bus Agra–Fatehpur Sikri ~£3–4; shared jeep/bus to Ramathra ~£8–10

🛏Ramathra village guesthouse or fort-style heritage stay, ~£18–25/night

• →Taj Mahal at sunrise
• →Fatehpur Sikri and Tomb of Salim Chisti
• →Village arrival in Ramathra

A slow day in rural Rajasthan. Walk the village independently or with a local guide arranged through your guesthouse (~£8). Take a boat ride on the nearby lake at dawn or dusk (~£4–6), climb to the small fort at Utgir and, if you have a driver or hired scooter for the day, visit the cave temples at Ghanteshvar and Kurka (~£8–10 for a local jeep). Birdwatching around the lake is excellent. Eat at your guesthouse — home-cooked Rajasthani food, ~£6–8 for all meals.

🚌Local jeep hire or scooter ~£8–10

🛏Ramathra village guesthouse or heritage stay, ~£18–25/night

• →Lake boat ride
• →Village walk
• →Utgir fort
• →Ghanteshvar and Kurka cave temples

Take a shared jeep/bus to Sawai Madhopur (~£8–12, 2.5–3hrs) and check into a budget lodge in the town or near the park gate. Book your safari in advance online via the Rajasthan Forest Department portal (core-zone gypsy safaris ~£20–25 per person including jeep share and guide; booking opens 90 days out and sells fast). This afternoon's safari is your first shot at a Bengal tiger. Dinner at a local dhaba (~£4).

🚌Shared jeep/bus Ramathra–Sawai Madhopur ~£8–12

🛏Budget lodge near Ranthambore park gate, ~£18–22/night

• →Afternoon wildlife safari with naturalist (shared gypsy)
• →Ranthambore Fort viewpoint if time allows

Two safaris today — a dawn gypsy run and a second in the late afternoon (~£20–25 each, book both as soon as permits open). In between, walk up to Ranthambore Fort (free) for views and the Ganesh temple, and rest through the hot middle of the day. Bring binoculars and a light jacket for the open jeep. If you'd rather alternate, a shared canter (larger open bus) safari is a cheaper option (~£15). Keep expectations realistic: tiger sightings are never guaranteed.

🚌Park gypsy transfers included in safari booking; town autos ~£2

🛏Budget lodge near Ranthambore park gate, ~£18–22/night

• →Dawn jungle safari
• →Ranthambore Fort walk
• →Afternoon jungle safari

A travel day. Train or bus from Sawai Madhopur towards Jaipur (~£2–4 by general/chair car, ~2.5hrs), then a local bus or shared taxi from Jaipur's Sindhi Camp to Samode village (~£1.50, 45 min). Samode is small and quiet — check into a village guesthouse or a room at Samode Bagh's budget annexe if available. Afternoon at leisure: wander the village lanes and watch the stepwells and havelis from outside.

🚌Train Sawai Madhopur–Jaipur ~£2–4; bus Jaipur–Samode ~£1.50

🛏Samode village guesthouse, ~£15–20/night

• →Village wander
• →Sunset from a rooftop

Visit Samode Fort's ramparts and the Durbar Tent and Sultan Mahal with a local guide from the village (~£5–8). Walk to Samode Bagh, the walled Mughal-style garden (~£3). In the afternoon, take a camel-back village life tour arranged through your guesthouse (~£8–10 for an hour or so) or hike the surrounding Aravalli foothills. Evening: home-style Rajasthani dinner, ~£5.

🚌Walking; local jeep for Bagh if needed ~£3

🛏Samode village guesthouse, ~£15–20/night

• →Samode Fort ramparts, Durbar Tent and Sultan Mahal
• →Samode Bagh gardens
• →Camel-back village tour

Bus or shared taxi to Jaipur early (~£1.50), then a self-guided day using autos and the city bus. Start at Amber Fort (~£6; skip the elephant ride — jeeps are cheaper and kinder, ~£2) and walk the ramparts. Then City Palace (~£8), Jantar Mantar (~£2) and views of Jal Mahal and Hawa Mahal (both free from outside). Birla Temple is free. If you have energy, add Nahargarh or Jaigarh Fort (~£3–4 each) for sunset views. Return to Samode in the evening. A one-day Jaipur tourist pass or a GetYourGuide Amber Fort guide (~£10) is worth it if you want context.

🚌Bus to Jaipur ~£1.50 each way; autos ~£5 total

🛏Samode village guesthouse, ~£15–20/night

• →Amber Fort
• →City Palace and Jantar Mantar
• →Jal Mahal and Hawa Mahal viewpoints
• →Birla Temple

Travel back to Delhi by bus/train via Jaipur (~£5–8 total). If the timings suit, break the journey at Rewari to see the small heritage Rail Museum (free–£1) — check opening hours before committing, as it closes some days. Alternatively use the day to take a faster train straight to Delhi and spend the afternoon exploring Lodhi Gardens or Hauz Khas. Evening: dinner in Hauz Khas Village or Majnu ka Tilla (~£6).

🚌Samode–Jaipur bus ~£1.50; Jaipur–Delhi train ~£4–7

🛏Guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh, ~£14–18/night

• →Rewari Rail Museum (optional)
• →Lodhi Gardens or Hauz Khas
• →Delhi street food evening

Breakfast, last-minute souvenir shopping (Dilli Haat for crafts, fixed prices), then take the Airport Express metro or a prepaid taxi to DEL. If your flight is late, a half-day tour of the National Museum (~£4) or a food walk in Old Delhi fills the time nicely.

🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50 or taxi ~£4–6

🛏None (departure day)

• →Dilli Haat shopping
• →Optional National Museum
• →Departure