Rajasthan with Ranthambore: Self-Launched
15 days · Rajasthan, India
Panda Experiences charges £1,560
No-markup version: ~£635 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of the classic 15-day Delhi–Rajasthan loop with Ranthambore tiger safaris. Rather than paying for a fully guided small-group tour with private driver, you piece the route together with Indian Railways trains, state-run and private buses, shared autos and the odd cheap taxi, staying in guesthouses and family-run havelis in the same towns. Highlights are identical: Old Delhi's bazaars, Neemrana Fort, Jaipur's Amber Fort, three tiger safaris in Ranthambore, the blue-hour stepwells of Bundi, Chittorgarh's vast fort, the rural castles of Bijaipur and Dungarpur, and Udaipur's lakes. Costs are rough backpacker/mid-range estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New Delhi
New Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International and take the Airport Express metro line (about £1.20) or a prepaid taxi (roughly £4-6) to Paharganj or Karol Bagh. Check into a budget guesthouse or 3* hotel, pick up a local SIM/eSIM with data, and take an easy evening wander around Connaught Place for your first chole bhature. Sort your first train tickets on the IRCTC app or at New Delhi station's tourist counter.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.20 or prepaid taxi ~£5
🛏Paharganj or Karol Bagh guesthouse / budget 3* hotel (approx. £14-20)
- →Airport transfer
- →SIM card setup
- →Connaught Place evening stroll
Old and New Delhi sights
New Delhi
Self-launch the classic Delhi day: metro to Qutub Minar early (entry ~£0.50 for foreigners, ~£6 with combined ticket options), then Humayun's Tomb and the Lotus Temple (free, closed Mondays). Afternoon, take the metro to Chawri Bazaar and explore Jama Masjid (free, small camera fee), then hire a cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk's spice market (negotiate ~£1.50-2.50). Walk past the Red Fort exterior and Raj Ghat. Optional: book a half-day Old Delhi food walk on GetYourGuide (~£15-20) if you want a guide for the bazaars.
🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£1.50 plus autos/rickshaws ~£3
🛏Same Delhi guesthouse
- →Qutub Minar
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Lotus Temple
- →Jama Masjid
- →Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride
- →Raj Ghat
Delhi to Neemrana Fort
Neemrana
Take an early train or bus towards Alwar/Behror — the Delhi–Alwar passenger or express trains stop at Neemrana/Kanina, roughly 2 hours (general class ~£1, or ordinary sleeper ~£2). From the station a shared auto drops you at Neemrana village (~£1-2). Instead of the expensive fort hotel, stay in a village guesthouse or nearby budget hotel and pay the day-visitor entry to explore Neemrana Fort (~£3-4), then walk the village lanes.
🚌Train Delhi–Neemrana ~£2 + shared auto ~£2
🛏Neemrana village guesthouse / budget hotel (approx. £12-16)
- →Neemrana Fort entry
- →Neemrana village walk
Neemrana to Jaipur
Jaipur
Bus or train onward to Jaipur (roughly 2.5-3 hours; ordinary bus ~£1.50, train ~£1.50-2.50). Settle into a guesthouse in the old walled city near Bani Park or Hawa Mahal. Spend the afternoon walking the Pink City — Hawa Mahal from the street, Johari and Bapu bazaars — and catch sunset from Nahargarh's road or a rooftop cafe. Book your Amber Fort ticket online for tomorrow to skip the queue.
🚌Bus or train Neemrana–Jaipur ~£2
🛏Jaipur old-city guesthouse / budget hotel (approx. £12-18)
- →Pink City walk
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Bazaar browsing
Jaipur forts and palaces
Jaipur
Take a local bus or shared auto to Amber Fort early (bus ~£0.30; entry ~£6.50 with composite ticket). Skip the elephant ride and walk up, or take a jeep (~£5 shared). On the way back stop at Jal Mahal for photos, then visit City Palace (~£8) and Jantar Mantar (~£2.50) with the same afternoon. Optional add-ons: Nahargarh and Jaigarh forts if you have energy. A guide isn't needed but an audio guide or GetYourGuide Amber Fort tour (~£15) is available if wanted.
🚌Local buses/autos ~£3
🛏Same Jaipur guesthouse
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal
- →City Palace
- →Jantar Mantar
- →Optional Jaigarh/Nahargarh
Jaipur to Ranthambore, afternoon safari
Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore)
Train from Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur (about 2-2.5 hours, ~£1.50-3), then a shared auto to your guesthouse near the park. Book your safari seats in advance online via the Rajasthan Forest Department portal (Gypsy/Canter safari ~£15-22 per person per safari for foreigners; mornings and afternoons). Do the afternoon safari with a forest-department naturalist, then dinner at your guesthouse.
🚌Train Jaipur–Sawai Madhopur ~£3 + shared auto ~£2
🛏Ranthambore budget guesthouse / jungle retreat-style lodge (approx. £16-22)
- →Afternoon Ranthambore safari (canter/gypsy)
Full safari day in Ranthambore
Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore)
Book both a morning and an afternoon safari slot (Zones 1-10 rotate; Zone 3 has the best lake odds for tigers). Between safaris, relax at the guesthouse and visit the small Ranthambore Fort area on foot if time allows. Book two safaris online in advance — they sell out weeks ahead in high season (October–April).
🚌Park transfers included in safari jeep; local autos ~£2
🛏Same Ranthambore guesthouse
- →Morning safari
- →Afternoon safari
- →Ranthambore Fort walk
Ranthambore to Bundi and Kota
Bundi
Train or bus from Sawai Madhopur towards Kota (1.5 hours, ~£1-2), then a local bus on to Bundi (45 mins, ~£0.60). Stay in Bundi's old town — it's far more atmospheric than Kota. Climb to Taragarh Fort (free), explore Bundi Palace and Chitrashala murals (~£1-2), then Raniji ki Baori stepwell, Nawal Sagar Lake and Sukh Mahal. If you want the Kota City Palace and museum too, hop a bus or auto to Kota (30 min) the same day.
🚌Train and bus Sawai Madhopur–Bundi ~£2.50
🛏Bundi old-town guesthouse / haveli (approx. £10-15)
- →Taragarh Fort
- →Bundi Palace
- →Chitrashala murals
- →Raniji ki Baori stepwell
- →Nawal Sagar Lake
- →Sukh Mahal
Bundi/Kota to Bijaipur
Bijaipur
Bus to Kota then onward towards Chittorgarh or Bijaipur (about 3-3.5 hours total, ~£2-3). The original tour's Castle Bijaipur is a lovely splurge (~£60-90); budget alternative is a village guesthouse or homestay nearby (~£15-20) with a day visit to the castle's restaurant. Visit the 10th-century Bijolia heritage temples by shared jeep (~£2) and, if time allows, the short trip to Pangarh Fort.
🚌Bus Kota–Bijaipur ~£3 + shared jeep ~£2
🛏Bijaipur village homestay / budget guesthouse (approx. £15-20)
- →Bijolia heritage temples
- →Optional Pangarh Fort
- →Village walk
Chittorgarh Fort day, sleep in Dhariyawad
Chittorgarh / Dhariyawad
Bus to Chittorgarh (about 2 hours, ~£1.50) and spend a half-day walking the enormous hilltop fort complex (entry ~£2.50 for foreigners): Rana Kumbha Palace, Victory Tower, Kumbha Shyam and Meerabai temples, Padmini Palace, the Tower of Fame and the fort museum. Hire a local auto to loop the 7km site (~£5) or walk it. Late afternoon, local bus on to Dhariyawad (~1.5 hours) for a simple guesthouse.
🚌Buses Bijaipur–Chittorgarh–Dhariyawad ~£4
🛏Dhariyawad budget guesthouse / small hotel (approx. £12-18)
- →Chittorgarh Fort
- →Padmini Palace
- →Victory Tower
- →Chittorgarh Museum
Dhariyawad to Dungarpur
Dungarpur
Short bus ride to Dungarpur (roughly 1 hour, ~£1). Check into a budget hotel and visit Udai Bilas Palace on the lake — the palace hotel allows visitors to see the public areas (entry/fee ~£3-5, closed to non-residents at times, so confirm on arrival). Climb the hill above town for sunset over Dungarpur's lakes. Optional: a boat ride on Gaibsagar Lake (~£2).
🚌Local bus ~£1 + autos ~£2
🛏Dungarpur budget hotel (approx. £14-18)
- →Udai Bilas Palace
- →Sunset hill viewpoint
- →Lake walk
Dungarpur to Udaipur
Udaipur
Bus from Dungarpur to Udaipur (about 3 hours, ~£2) or the slower metre-gauge train if you're nostalgic. Settle into a guesthouse in the old town near Lal Ghat. Afternoon visit to Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum (~£1.50) and an evening rooftop dinner overlooking Lake Pichola. Optional side trip to Eklingji and Nagda temples by local bus (~£2 round trip) if you arrive early.
🚌Bus Dungarpur–Udaipur ~£2
🛏Udaipur old-town guesthouse with lake view (approx. £14-20)
- →Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum
- →Optional Eklingji and Nagda temples
- →Lake Pichola sunset
Udaipur full day
Udaipur
Self-explore the City Palace complex (~£8), Jagdish Temple, Bagore Ki Haveli (small fee) and Sahelion ki Bari and Shilpgram on the town outskirts. Take the ropeway up to Karni Mata for views (~£1.50) and a boat ride on Lake Pichola at sunset (~£4-5). Evening: Bagore Ki Haveli's folk dance show (7pm, ~£2-3) is a great cheap alternative to a guided cultural evening. Optional vintage car museum (~£2).
🚌Autos and walking ~£4
🛏Same Udaipur guesthouse
- →City Palace
- →Jagdish Temple
- →Bagore Ki Haveli folk show
- →Karni Mata ropeway
- →Lake Pichola boat ride
- →Sahelion ki Bari
Udaipur to New Delhi
New Delhi
Travel back to Delhi — the overnight Mewar Express or Chetak Express sleeper is a classic (roughly 12-14 hours, 3AC ~£12-16). Book in advance via IRCTC. If you prefer speed, a budget flight (roughly £35-50 on IndiGo) gets you there in 1.5 hours. Arrive and check into a Paharganj or Aerocity-adjacent budget hotel ahead of your flight.
🚌Overnight sleeper train ~£14 or budget flight ~£40
🛏Delhi guesthouse / budget hotel (approx. £14-20)
- →Optional Delhi shopping at Dilli Haat
Departure from New Delhi
New Delhi
Last chai and parathas, then airport transfer by metro or prepaid taxi for your onward flight. If you have time, a morning stop at Lodhi Garden or a final visit to Nizamuddin Dargah is a lovely way to end the trip.
🚌Airport transfer ~£1.50-5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Departure transfer
Self-launched vs. Panda Experiences
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Panda Experiences | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£635 | £1,560 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £925 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Panda Experiences-style trips? Check them out here.~£635
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 with Ranthambore: Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £635 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 Panda Experiences?+
Yes — Panda Experiences charges around £1,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £635 — a saving of roughly £925 (59%) 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, wildlife 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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