Best of North India with Mumbai — Self-Launched
10 days · North India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai)
GeTS Holidays charges £2,410
No-markup version: ~£383 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on GeTS Holidays' 10-day "Best of North India with Mumbai" private tour — same legendary route (Delhi's Mughal monuments, the Taj Mahal at Agra, Jaipur's Pink City forts, the ghats and Ganga Aarti of Varanasi, and Mumbai's Elephanta Caves), rebuilt for independent solo travellers using hostels and budget guesthouses, public trains and flights, and self-bookable day tours. Costs are approximate per person in GBP and assume mixed dorm/private budget rooms, local transport and a mix of street food and casual restaurants.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi — settle in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and make your own way into the city. The Airport Express metro line runs to New Delhi station in ~20 minutes for about £1.50 — far cheaper than a prepaid taxi (~£6-8). Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in Paharganj (walkable to New Delhi station and Connaught Place) or the slightly calmer Karol Bagh. Spend the afternoon acclimatising: stroll Connaught Place, grab your first masala chai and a thali, and pick up a local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£3-4 with data). Sort out your onward train tickets on IRCTC or via a booking agent today.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50, or prepaid taxi ~£6-8
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel dorm or private room, Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£8-14)
- →Airport Express metro into central Delhi
- →Connaught Place orientation walk
- →Buy local SIM card
- →Book onward train tickets (IRCTC)
Delhi full-day sightseeing — Old and New Delhi
Delhi
Join a self-booked small-group or private day tour (GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£20-30) or DIY it via metro and auto-rickshaws. Standard loop: Jama Masjid (free entry, ~£0.20 camera fee, modest dress required), a cycle-rickshaw ride through the chaos of Chandni Chowk (~£1-2), Raj Ghat (Gandhi memorial, free), then south to Humayun's Tomb (~£5), a drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan and Rajpath to India Gate, and finally the fluted Qutub Minar (~£5). Bring small cash — most monuments are cash-only and foreigners pay a higher ticket than locals (~£5-6 each).
🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£1.50 + auto-rickshaws/cycle-rickshaw ~£3-4
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel, Paharganj or Karol Bagh (~£8-14)
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride
- →Raj Ghat
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →India Gate & Rajpath drive-by
- →Qutub Minar
Delhi to Agra — Agra Fort and sunset Taj
Agra
Take an early Gatimaan Express train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantt (~1h40, ~£6-9 in AC chair class) — book ahead as it sells out. Drop bags at a budget hotel in Taj Ganj, walkable to the Taj's south gate. Afternoon: explore the red-sandstone Agra Fort (~£5). Then head to the Taj Mahal for late-afternoon light — the entry ticket (~£12 foreigners, cash) includes a small bottle of water and shoe covers. Avoid Fridays, when the Taj is closed. Evening: rooftop dinner facing the Taj in Taj Ganj.
🚌Gatimaan Express train Delhi-Agra ~£6-9
🛏Budget hotel in Taj Ganj, walkable to Taj south gate (~£10-18)
- →Agra Fort
- →Taj Mahal at sunset
- →Taj Ganj rooftop dinner
Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri
Agra / Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur
Hire an auto or shared taxi to Fatehpur Sikri (~1 hour, ~£8-12 one way if split) — the abandoned Mughal capital with the Buland Darwaza gate, Panch Mahal and Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chishti (free entry to the complex, ~£5 for the palace section). Continue onward to Jaipur. The cheapest route is a bus or train to Jaipur (~4-5 hours); alternatively take a shared taxi or join an Agra–Jaipur transfer with a Fatehpur Sikri stop via GetYourGuide (~£25-35). Check into a guesthouse in the old city near Hawa Mahal. Evening stroll through the bazaars.
🚌Shared taxi/auto to Fatehpur Sikri ~£10 split, onward bus or train to Jaipur ~£3-5
🛏Budget guesthouse in Jaipur old city / near Hawa Mahal (~£12-20)
- →Fatehpur Sikri — Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chishti
- →Jaipur bazaar evening walk
Jaipur — Amber Fort, City Palace and the Pink City
Jaipur
Get to Amber Fort early (opens 8am) by local bus or auto (~£1-2), beating the crowds and heat. Entry ~£5. You can walk up or take a jeep (~£2) — note the much-criticised elephant rides are increasingly discouraged; opt for the walk or jeep instead. Back in the city, visit the City Palace (~£7) and the astronomical Jantar Mantar (~£2), then view the honeycomb Hawa Mahal facade from the street or a rooftop café (free). Spend the late afternoon haggling in the bazaars for textiles, block prints and gems. Self-booked Amber Fort + city half-day tour available on GetYourGuide (~£15-25) if you want a guide.
🚌Local bus/auto to Amber ~£1-2, autos around the city ~£2-3
🛏Budget guesthouse in Jaipur old city (~£12-20)
- →Amber Fort
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal view
- →Jaipur bazaars
Jaipur to Varanasi
Varanasi
Fly Jaipur to Varanasi (IndiGo/Air India, ~1h40; book early for ~£40-60) — the same route the original tour uses. There's no practical direct train, so flying is the standard option; a train via Delhi would take 20+ hours. Land at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, take a prepaid taxi to a guesthouse in the ghat area near Dashashwamedh (~£4-6). Evening: wander the ghats and alleyways of the old city and find a rooftop for dinner. Check your luggage allowance — budget airlines limit checked bags to 15kg and charge for extras.
🚌Flight Jaipur-Varanasi ~£40-60, prepaid taxi from airport ~£4-6
🛏Budget guesthouse near the ghats, Varanasi (~£10-16)
- →Fly to Varanasi
- →Evening ghat walk
Varanasi — sunrise boat, Sarnath and Ganga Aarti
Varanasi
Book a shared sunrise rowboat on the Ganges (~£3-6 per person if you join others, ~£10 for a private boat) — the best light and the famous bathing ghats. Then head to Sarnath (~30-40 min by auto/taxi, ~£4-6), where Buddha gave his first sermon: visit the Dhamek Stupa, ruins and Sarnath Museum. Back in the city, see the New Vishwanath Temple (BHU campus) and Tulsi Manas Temple, and the Durga Temple. Evening: attend the spectacular Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free, arrive by 5:30pm for a good spot; a boat-side seat costs ~£3-5).
🚌Autos/taxi around Varanasi ~£5-8 for the day
🛏Budget guesthouse near the ghats, Varanasi (~£10-16)
- →Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges
- →Sarnath stupa & museum
- →New Vishwanath Temple
- →Tulsi Manas Temple
- →Durga Temple
- →Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Varanasi to Mumbai
Mumbai
Fly Varanasi to Mumbai (~2h15; book early for ~£45-65). From Chhatrapati Shivaji airport, take the Mumbai Metro/line 1 or a prepaid taxi/auto to a budget hotel or hostel in Colaba (near the Gateway of India and Marine Drive) or in the Churchgate/Colaba backpacker belt (~£12-22). Settle in, then walk the curved seafront of Marine Drive at sunset — the sweep of Art Deco buildings known as the Queen's Necklace lights up after dark.
🚌Flight Varanasi-Mumbai ~£45-65, taxi/metro from airport ~£3-5
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Colaba or Churchgate (~£12-22)
- →Fly to Mumbai
- →Marine Drive sunset walk
Mumbai — Elephanta Caves and colonial city
Mumbai
Walk or auto to the Gateway of India, then take the public ferry to Elephanta Island (~1 hour each way, ~£2-3 return; boats run roughly 9am-2pm, closed Mondays). A toy train and steps lead up to the rock-cut cave temples of Shiva (~£5 foreigners). Back in the city, visit the Prince of Wales Museum (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, ~£2-3) and the Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill (~£0.50). Optional: self-booked Elephanta + city heritage tour on GetYourGuide (~£15-25) if you want context on the caves and a guided walk through Colaba/Fort.
🚌Public ferry to Elephanta ~£2-3 return, local trains/autos ~£2-4
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Colaba or Churchgate (~£12-22)
- →Ferry to Elephanta Caves
- →Elephanta Caves
- →Gateway of India
- →Prince of Wales Museum
- →Hanging Gardens
- →Marine Drive
Mumbai departure
Mumbai
Enjoy a final lazy breakfast — try a Mumbai masala dosa or vada pav — then take a metro/taxi/prepaid cab to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for your onward flight. If your flight is late, drop your bag at the hotel and squeeze in a last wander of Colaba Causeway, the Crawford Market or the Bandra street-art lanes before heading out.
🚌Taxi/metro to airport ~£3-5
🛏—
- →Last Mumbai breakfast
- →Colaba Causeway or Crawford Market (time permitting)
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. GeTS Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | GeTS Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£383 | £2,410 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,027 per person (84%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more GeTS Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£383
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 Best of North India with Mumbai — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £383 per person for 10 days in North India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai). 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 GeTS Holidays?+
Yes — GeTS Holidays charges around £2,410 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £383 — a saving of roughly £2,027 (84%) per person.
How long is the North India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through North India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai).
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, backpacker, city-breaks trip through North India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai), 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.