Rajasthan: Laneways & Local Villages — Self-Launched
15 days · Rajasthan, India
G Adventures charges £580
No-markup version: ~£475 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 15-day Delhi–Mandawa–Jodhpur–Udaipur–Pushkar–Tordi Garh–Jaipur–Agra loop, done solo with local buses, trains and shared taxis, guesthouses and havelis, and self-bookable activities. Same route, same desert villages and forts, at roughly half the operator price — and no 18–39 age cap. Costs are approximate per person, excluding international flights, insurance and the Indian e-Visa.
Day-by-day
Arrive Delhi — Karol Bagh & first chai
Delhi
Land at Delhi airport and take the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi station (~£1.50) or a prepaid taxi (~£4). Check into a guesthouse in Karol Bagh — the same neighbourhood the tour uses — and spend the afternoon wandering Karol Bagh's bazaar lanes, sampling chole bhature and jalebi. Book tomorrow's bus to Mandawa this evening (RedBus app) and pick up a local SIM/Airtel eSIM.
🚌Airport Express Metro from IGI Airport (~£1.50)
🛏Guesthouse in Karol Bagh, Delhi
- →Karol Bagh market wander
- →Street food tasting (chole bhature, jalebi)
- →Book onward bus tickets on RedBus
Delhi to Mandawa — Shekhawati havelis
Mandawa
Take a morning bus or shared taxi from Delhi's Kashmiri Gate ISBT to Jhunjhunu/Nawalgarh, then a short local jeep to Mandawa (~£6–9 total, 5–6 hrs). Check into a small haveli guesthouse, then do a self-guided walk of the Shekhawati frescoed merchant mansions — many are free or ask a small tip. Sunset from the Mandawa fort rooftop.
🚌Local bus Delhi–Nawalgarh/Jhunjhunu plus shared jeep to Mandawa (~£7)
🛏Haveli guesthouse, Mandawa
- →Self-guided Shekhawati haveli walk
- →Mandawa Fort rooftop sunset
Mandawa to Jodhpur — into the Blue City
Jodhpur
Long travel day: bus or shared taxi from Mandawa to Sikar/Jaipur, then an overnight or late-afternoon train to Jodhpur (book on IRCTC; sleeper ~£3, 3AC ~£8). Arrive and settle into a guesthouse in the old blue-washed lanes below the fort. Evening stroll through Sadar Bazaar for mirchi vada and lassi.
🚌Bus to Jaipur/Sikar (~£4) + train to Jodhpur (~£4–8)
🛏Guesthouse in old city, Jodhpur
- →Sadar Bazaar evening market
- →Clock Tower lassi stop
Jodhpur — Mehrangarh Fort & blue lanes
Jodhpur
Walk up the ramp to Mehrangarh Fort (entry ~£5, audio guide extra) and spend the morning in its palaces and ramparts. Afternoon: wander the indigo-blue houses of the old town and visit Jaswant Thada. Optional zip-line over the fort walls (~£12) or a half-day jeep trip to Bishnoi villages (~£15).
🚌Walking / auto-rickshaw (~£2)
🛏Guesthouse in old city, Jodhpur
- →Mehrangarh Fort entry (~£5)
- →Blue city old-town walk
- →Jaswant Thada
- →Optional zip-line (~£12)
Jodhpur to Udaipur via Ranakpur
Udaipur
Take a morning bus to Udaipur (5–6 hrs, ~£5) or, for the scenic route, a shared taxi via Ranakpur to see the incredible Jain temple carvings (entry ~£2–3, ~£12 shared). Arrive Udaipur, check into a rooftop guesthouse near Lake Pichola, and do your own orientation wander around Jagdish Temple and the ghats.
🚌Bus or shared taxi via Ranakpur (~£5–12)
🛏Rooftop guesthouse near Lake Pichola, Udaipur
- →Ranakpur Jain Temples (optional, ~£3)
- →Self-guided old city orientation walk
Udaipur — City Palace, lake & cooking class
Udaipur
Morning at the City Palace and Crystal Gallery (~£6), then a boat ride on Lake Pichola to Jag Mandir (~£6). In the afternoon join a small-group Rajasthani cooking class booked via GetYourGuide or direct (~£12–15) — dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi. Evening at Bagore-ki-Haveli for the Dharohar folk dance show (~£3).
🚌Walking / auto-rickshaw (~£2)
🛏Rooftop guesthouse near Lake Pichola, Udaipur
- →City Palace Museum (~£6)
- →Pichola Lake boat ride (~£6)
- →Rajasthani cooking class (~£14)
- →Bagore-ki-Haveli folk show (~£3)
Udaipur free day — sunrise cycle & Sajjangarh
Udaipur
Rent a bicycle or join a self-booked sunrise cycle tour of the old city and ghats (~£8). Midday: hike or tuk-tuk up to Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace for views over the Aravallis. Afternoon laze by the lake and eat at a rooftop café; book tomorrow's bus to Pushkar.
🚌Bicycle hire / auto-rickshaw (~£3)
🛏Rooftop guesthouse near Lake Pichola, Udaipur
- →Sunrise cycle tour (~£8)
- →Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
- →Lake Pichola sunset
Udaipur to Pushkar — Brahma Temple
Pushkar
Bus from Udaipur to Ajmer (5 hrs, ~£5), then a local bus or shared jeep to Pushkar (~£1). Pushkar is dry and vegetarian — check into a guesthouse near the lake. Walk to the rare Brahma Temple and do a self-guided loop of the ghats and bazaars, ending with sunset over Savitri hill.
🚌Bus Udaipur–Ajmer (~£5) + local bus to Pushkar (~£1)
🛏Guesthouse near Pushkar Lake
- →Brahma Temple
- →Pushkar ghat and bazaar walk
Pushkar — Savitri Temple sunrise hike
Pushkar
Climb the 650+ steps to Savitri Temple before dawn for sunrise over the lake and dunes (~free; optional ropeway ~£2). Afternoon: camel ride out to the dunes or a desert dinner with folk music in the sand (~£12–14 booked locally). Note the tour's Pushkar days often land on the famous camel fair in November — check the calendar if that's your thing.
🚌Walking / auto-rickshaw (~£2)
🛏Guesthouse near Pushkar Lake
- →Savitri Temple sunrise hike
- →Optional camel ride or desert dinner (~£13)
Pushkar to Tordi Garh — village life
Tordi Garh
Bus to Ajmer, then a local bus or shared jeep toward Tordi village (~1.5 hrs, ~£3 total). Stay in a small heritage haveli in the village. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided village walk — potters, weavers, and stepwells — and take an optional camel-cart ride into the fields at sunset (~£6). Dinner at the haveli, home-cooked Rajasthani.
🚌Bus Ajmer–Tordi via shared jeep (~£3)
🛏Heritage haveli, Tordi Garh
- →Self-guided Tordi village walk
- →Optional camel cart sunset ride (~£6)
- →Haveli home-cooked dinner
Tordi Garh to Jaipur — Pink City arrival
Jaipur
Morning walk or optional short hike to the old hilltop fort above Tordi (~£2), then shared jeep to Jaipur via Dausa (~2.5 hrs, ~£4). Check into a haveli-style guesthouse in the old city. Evening orientation walk: Hawa Mahal from the outside, Johari Bazaar, and a movie at the art-deco Raj Mandir cinema (~£2–4).
🚌Shared jeep to Jaipur (~£4)
🛏Haveli guesthouse, old city Jaipur
- →Optional Tordi old fort hike (~£2)
- →Self-guided Pink City orientation walk
- →Raj Mandir cinema (~£3)
Jaipur — Amber Fort & the observatory
Jaipur
Take local bus #5 or a tuk-tuk to Amber Fort (~£1–2); entry ~£6 (or a combined composite ticket ~£7 covering Amber, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and more). Sunset from Nahargarh Fort for views over the Pink City. Optional sunrise hot-air balloon over Jaipur (~£150+ — book in advance). Dinner in the old city.
🚌Local bus / auto-rickshaw (~£3)
🛏Haveli guesthouse, old city Jaipur
- →Amber Fort (~£6)
- →Composite monument ticket option (~£7)
- →Nahargarh Fort sunset
- →Jantar Mantar & City Palace (optional)
Jaipur to Agra — the Taj at sunset
Agra
Morning train Jaipur–Agra Cantt (3AC ~£7, ~4.5 hrs) or a direct bus (~£5). Check into a guesthouse in Taj Ganj, then take the short walk to the east gate for a sunset view of the Taj Mahal (~£12 entry, or ~£14 combined with Agra Fort). Evening rooftop dinner with the Taj framed in the distance.
🚌Train Jaipur–Agra (~£7)
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj, Agra
- →Taj Mahal sunset entry (~£12)
Agra Fort & back to Delhi
Delhi
Early morning return to the Taj at sunrise if you want both light shows, then explore Agra Fort (~£5, or use the combined ticket) and Itimad-ud-Daulah's 'Baby Taj'. Afternoon train Agra–Delhi (2 hrs, ~£3–6) back to Karol Bagh. Final-night street food crawl in Delhi.
🚌Train Agra–Delhi (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse in Karol Bagh, Delhi
- →Agra Fort (~£5)
- →Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj)
- →Karol Bagh food crawl
Delhi — departure
Delhi
Depending on your flight, add a self-booked half-day Old Delhi food tour (~£15) or a Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar morning (~£6). Take the Airport Express Metro to IGI for your flight home.
🚌Airport Express Metro (~£1.50)
🛏—
- →Optional Old Delhi food tour (~£15)
- →Optional Humayun's Tomb (~£6)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£475 | £580 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £105 per person (18%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£475
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 Rajasthan: Laneways & Local Villages — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £475 per person for 15 days in Rajasthan, 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 £580 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £475 — a saving of roughly £105 (18%) per person.
How long is the Rajasthan, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Rajasthan, 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, adventure, budget trip through Rajasthan, 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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