West Coast India & Rajasthan by Rail (Self-Launched)
12 days · India
G Adventures charges £1,300
No-markup version: ~£420 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 12-day self-launched rail adventure from Delhi to Goa, covering the Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's fort cities (Jaipur, Udaipur, Bundi), Mumbai, and the beaches of Goa. All transport is bookable independently through IRCTC (Indian Railways), low-cost flights, and local buses/taxis; activities are self-bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook, or on arrival. Costs are approximate per person in GBP based on budget/mid-range backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Delhi
Delhi
Land in Delhi and make your own way to your accommodation in Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Pre-book an airport transfer via Klook (~£8-12) or take the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50) then an auto-rickshaw. Spend the evening acclimatising, grab street food (chole bhature, kebabs) and sort out your onward train tickets via the IRCTC app or a local travel agent.
🚌Airport Express Metro ~£1.50 or pre-booked taxi ~£10
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Paharganj, e.g. Zostel Delhi or Hotel Namaskar (~£10-15/night)
- →Airport transfer (Klook) or Airport Express Metro
- →Evening stroll in Paharganj or Connaught Place
- →Book onward train tickets via IRCTC
Delhi to Agra — Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
Agra
Catch the early Shatabdi Express (departs ~06:00) from New Delhi to Agra Cantt, ~2 hrs, breakfast included on board (~£8-10 in AC Chair Car). Book a self-guided or small-group Taj Mahal + Agra Fort tour via GetYourGuide (~£15-25 including skip-the-line entry). Taj Mahal entry £12 (foreigner ticket). Sunset or sunrise slot recommended. Optional Baby Taj (Itimad-ud-Daulah) if time allows.
🚌Shatabdi Express ~£9 (AC Chair Car)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Taj Ganj with rooftop Taj views (~£12-18/night)
- →Shatabdi Express Delhi-Agra
- →Taj Mahal sunrise/sunset visit
- →Agra Fort tour (GetYourGuide)
- →Optional Baby Taj
Agra to Jaipur
Jaipur
Daytime free to explore Agra's Kinari Bazaar or Mehtab Bagh. In the evening take the Shatabdi Express from Agra Cantt to Jaipur (~4.5 hrs, ~£8-12). Arrive late evening, check into a guesthouse in the old city (Hathroi or Bani Park area).
🚌Shatabdi Express ~£10
🛏Jaipur guesthouse/hostel, e.g. Zostel Jaipur or Hotel Pearl Palace (~£12-18/night)
- →Agra spice market walk
- →Evening Shatabdi Express Agra-Jaipur
- →Old city orientation
Jaipur — Amber Fort & Pink City
Jaipur
Self-guided orientation walk through the Pink City: Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar. Take a local bus or auto to Amber Fort (~£3 round trip) — entry £5.50. Book an Amber Fort guided tour online (~£10-15) or use the audio guide. Evening option: Bollywood film at Raj Mandir (~£2) or dinner in a rooftop café overlooking the old city.
🚌Auto/local bus ~£3-5
🛏Jaipur guesthouse/hostel (~£12-18/night)
- →Hawa Mahal & Pink City walk
- →Amber Fort visit + optional guided tour
- →Jantar Mantar & City Palace
- →Raj Mandir Bollywood film (optional)
Jaipur to Udaipur
Udaipur
Morning train to Udaipur (Mewar Express, ~6-7 hrs, ~£6-10 in sleeper or AC Chair). Scenic ride through the Aravalli hills. Arrive evening, check into a guesthouse near Lake Pichola. Evening walk around the ghats and dinner overlooking the lake.
🚌Train ~£8
🛏Udaipur lakeside guesthouse, e.g. Zostel Udaipur or Hotel Lake Pichola view (~£12-20/night)
- →Mewar Express Jaipur-Udaipur
- →Lake Pichola evening walk
Udaipur — City Palace & Jagdish Temple
Udaipur
Self-guided walk: Jagdish Temple, City Palace (entry ~£4), Saheliyon-ki-Bari. Optional boat ride on Lake Pichola (~£4). Evening Rajasthani cultural show on Gangaur Ghat (often free or ~£2). Book a cooking class or food walk on Klook if desired.
🚌Walking/auto ~£3
🛏Udaipur lakeside guesthouse (~£12-20/night)
- →Jagdish Temple & City Palace
- →Lake Pichola boat ride
- →Rajasthani cultural show at Gangaur Ghat
- →Optional street food walk (Klook)
Udaipur to Bundi
Bundi
Morning train to Bundi (~5 hrs, ~£5-8). Bundi is a quieter, less-touristed Rajasthani town famous for its stepwells and blue-washed houses. Afternoon explore Bundi Fort (Taragarh) and the Raniji ki Baori stepwell. Sunset from the fort ramparts.
🚌Train ~£6
🛏Bundi heritage guesthouse, e.g. Haveli Braj Bhushanjee (~£10-15/night)
- →Train Udaipur-Bundi
- →Taragarh Fort & Bundi Palace
- →Raniji ki Baori stepwell
Bundi to Mumbai (overnight train)
Bundi / Mumbai Rajdhani Express
Free morning in Bundi to visit Chitrashala frescoes or Sukh Mahal. In the evening board the Mumbai Rajdhani Express (or convenient connection from Kota) overnight to Mumbai, dinner served on board (~£15-22 in 3AC). Book berths well in advance via IRCTC.
🚌Mumbai Rajdhani Express ~£18
🛏Overnight sleeper train berth (3AC)
- →Chitrashala frescoes & Sukh Mahal
- →Overnight Rajdhani Express to Mumbai
Mumbai — Colaba & Gateway of India
Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai early morning. Self-guided walking tour of Colaba: Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel exterior, Colaba Causeway market. Optional ferry to Elephanta Caves (~£5 ferry + £5 entry). Evening street food crawl (vada pav, pav bhaji) or a Klook Mumbai street food tour (~£15).
🚌Local train/auto ~£3
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Colaba or Fort, e.g. Zostel Mumbai or Hotel Residency Fort (~£15-22/night)
- →Colaba walking tour & Gateway of India
- →Elephanta Caves ferry (optional)
- →Mumbai street food crawl or Klook food tour
Mumbai to Goa — Beach Time
Goa (North Goa)
Morning low-cost flight Mumbai to Goa (IndiGo/GoAir, ~1 hr, ~£25-40 if booked early). Alternatively overnight train (Konkan Railway, ~10-12 hrs, ~£10). Check into a beach guesthouse in Anjuna, Vagator or Palolem. Afternoon relax on the beach and explore the local market.
🚌Flight ~£30 (or train ~£10)
🛏Goa beach hut/guesthouse, e.g. Zostel Goa or Pappi Chulo guesthouse (~£10-18/night)
- →Flight Mumbai-Goa or Konkan Railway train
- →Beach relaxation
- →Anjuna flea market (Wednesdays)
Goa — Free Beach Day
Goa
Full free day in Goa. Options: rent a scooter (~£5-8/day) to explore Fort Aguada, Chapora Fort, and hidden beaches; join a dolphin-spotting or sunset cruise (~£8-12); visit Old Goa churches (Basilica of Bom Jesus, UNESCO); or take a Klook spice plantation tour (~£15). Evening seafood dinner on the beach.
🚌Scooter rental ~£6
🛏Goa beach guesthouse (~£10-18/night)
- →Scooter rental & beach-hopping
- →Chapora & Aguada Forts
- →Old Goa UNESCO churches
- →Optional sunset cruise or spice plantation tour
Depart Goa
Goa
Depart at any time from Goa International Airport (Dabolim) or Mopa. Book your onward flight or train independently. If you have time, squeeze in a final beach breakfast before heading to the airport.
🚌Taxi to Goa airport ~£8-12
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Departure transfer
- →Final beach morning (if time allows)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£420 | £1,300 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £880 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£420
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 West Coast India & Rajasthan by Rail (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £420 per person for 12 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 £1,300 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £420 — a saving of roughly £880 (68%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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?
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