Rajasthan Treasures: Delhi to Mumbai Self-Launched
11 days · Rajasthan & India's Golden Triangle
Panda Experiences charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£572 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, book-it-yourself version of Panda Experiences' 11-day Delhi–Agra–Jaipur–Narlai–Udaipur–Mumbai route. You'll cover the same headline sights (Taj Mahal at sunrise, Amber Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Lake Pichola, Elephanta Caves) using trains, buses and shared taxis instead of a private car and driver, staying in hostels and family guesthouses, and booking guides and tickets individually through GetYourGuide, Klook or directly at the gate. Realistic budget: roughly £550–700 per person including everything on the ground.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New Delhi
New Delhi
Land at Indira Gandhi International, pick up an Indian eSIM/Airtel SIM at arrivals (₹299–499, ~£4), and take the Airport Express metro to New Delhi station (~₹60) or the prepaid taxi desk (~₹500–700) to your accommodation. Base yourself in Paharganj or the Main Bazaar area for cheap, walkable access to the Old Delhi sights. Spend the evening acclimatising, eating street food at Karim's or a thali spot, and working out tomorrow's plan.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£0.60; prepaid taxi ~£6–7
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Paharganj / Main Bazaar (dorm £6–10, private £15–22)
- →Airport Express metro into the city
- →Evening stroll in Paharganj and Main Bazaar
- →Dinner at Karim's or a local thali restaurant
Old and New Delhi highlights
New Delhi
Self-launch the same sight list the tour covers. Start early at Jama Masjid (free entry, ₹300 camera fee), then take a cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk spice market (~₹150–250, negotiate) and walk to Raj Ghat. Take the metro to Humayun's Tomb (₹600 foreigners), then a short auto to Qutub Minar (₹600). Finish at Lotus Temple (free, closed Mondays) and drive or metro past Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate. Book a GetYourGuide half-day Old Delhi walking tour (~£18) if you want a guide for a portion, otherwise use the ASI ticket combos.
🚌Delhi Metro day pass ~£2; autos ~£3 total
🛏Same hostel / budget guesthouse, Paharganj
- →Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk cycle rickshaw ride
- →Humayun's Tomb
- →Qutub Minar
- →Lotus Temple
- →India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan drive-past
- →Optional GetYourGuide Old Delhi food/walking tour ~£18
Delhi to Agra — Agra Fort and the riverbank
Agra
Take the Gatimaan Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10, arriving Agra Cantt ~09:50 (chair car ~₹750–1,000 / £8–10, book on IRCTC in advance). Drop bags at a guesthouse in Taj Ganj, then visit Agra Fort (₹650) — Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam, Jahangir Palace — and take an auto to Itmad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj, ₹310) and Sikandra/Akbar's Tomb (₹310) on the way back. Sunset from Mehtab Bagh across the river (₹300) is the cheap Taj-view alternative.
🚌Gatimaan Express Delhi–Agra ~£9; autos ~£4
🛏Guesthouse in Taj Ganj (private £12–20)
- →Gatimaan Express train
- →Agra Fort
- →Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb
- →Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb)
- →Sunset at Mehtab Bagh
Taj Mahal sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri, on to Jaipur
Jaipur
Buy your Taj Mahal ticket online in advance (₹1,300 foreigners, plus ₹200 mausoleum) and be at the East Gate for the 06:00 opening — this replaces the tour's guided sunrise visit. Back for breakfast, then take a bus or shared taxi to Fatehpur Sikri (~1.5 hrs; local bus ~₹100, or a shared cab ~₹1,500 split). Explore Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal and the Tomb of Salim Chisti (₹610), using the site's battery car (~₹30). Continue by bus to Jaipur from the Sikri/Bharatpur road (~₹150–250, 3.5–4 hrs) and check in near MI Road or the old city.
🚌Local bus Agra–Fatehpur Sikri ~£1; bus Fatehpur Sikri–Jaipur ~£2
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Jaipur old city / MI Road (dorm £5–8, private £12–18)
- →Taj Mahal at sunrise
- →Fatehpur Sikri complex and Salim Chisti tomb
- →Evening walk in Jaipur's old city
Jaipur — Amber Fort, palaces and bazaars
Jaipur
Catch local bus 5 or an auto to Amber Fort early (~₹40 bus, ₹300 auto). Entry ₹550 including the jeep/electric cart option; skip the elephant rides and walk up instead. On the way back stop at Jal Mahal for photos, then work through the city: City Palace (₹700), Jantar Mantar (₹200), Hawa Mahal (₹200, best from the café opposite) and Birla Temple (free). If you have energy, hike (free, 20 mins) to Nahargarh Fort for sunset over the Pink City. Evening in Johari and Bapu Bazaar for textiles and block prints.
🚌Local bus and autos ~£5
🛏Same hostel / guesthouse, Jaipur
- →Amber Fort
- →Jal Mahal photo stop
- →City Palace and Jantar Mantar
- →Hawa Mahal
- →Birla Temple
- →Nahargarh Fort sunset hike
- →Bazaar shopping
Jaipur to Narlai
Narlai
Take a train or bus from Jaipur toward Falna/Jawai Bandh (trains ~3.5 hrs, ₹200–400) and then an auto or shared jeep the final 20 km to Narlai (~₹400–600). Narlai is a small village in the Aravallis with the heritage Rawla Narlai property — budget alternatives are village guesthouses or homestays nearby (£15–25). Walk the village, see the 10th-century Adinath Temple and the Shiva temple, and take the short climb to the hilltop for sunset views.
🚌Train Jaipur–Falna ~£3; shared jeep to Narlai ~£5
🛏Village guesthouse or homestay in Narlai (private £15–25)
- →Village walk in Narlai
- →Adinath Temple
- →Lord Shiva Temple
- →Sunset from the hilltop
Narlai to Udaipur via Eklingji and Nagda
Udaipur
Share a jeep or bus back to Falna/Udaipur road, then take a bus or train to Udaipur (buses ~3 hrs, ₹200–300). En route, stop at Eklingji Temple (free, the Mewar royal family's shrine) and the 10th-century Nagda Temples (₹250) — easiest by hiring an auto for a half-day from Udaipur (~₹800–1,000 split, or use a GetYourGuide Udaipur day tour ~£30 if you'd rather not negotiate). Check into a guesthouse in the old city near Lal Ghat for lake views.
🚌Bus/jeep Narlai–Udaipur ~£3; auto half-day to temples ~£10 split
🛏Guesthouse in Udaipur old city, Lal Ghat (£15–25)
- →Eklingji Temple
- →Nagda Temples
- →Evening at Ambrai Ghat
Udaipur — City Palace, Lake Pichola and Shilpgram
Udaipur
Buy a combined ticket for City Palace (₹400 plus museum options), walk to Jagdish Temple (free), and visit Bagore Ki Haveli (₹150) — catch the evening Dharohar dance show there (~₹150). Take a shared boat on Lake Pichola (~₹500–700) or a cheaper sunset boat from Rameshwar Ghat. Afternoon: Fateh Sagar Lake, Saheliyon ki Bari (₹100), Shilpgram craft village (₹150) and the Vintage Car Museum (₹300). The Udaipur ropeway to Karni Mata (₹160 return) gives a rooftop panorama over the lakes.
🚌Autos all day ~£6
🛏Same guesthouse, Udaipur
- →City Palace
- →Jagdish Temple
- →Bagore Ki Haveli and Dharohar dance show
- →Lake Pichola boat ride
- →Fateh Sagar Lake
- →Saheliyon ki Bari and Shilpgram
- →Vintage Car Museum
- →Udaipur ropeway
Fly/bus Udaipur to Mumbai
Mumbai
There's no realistic overland option in the time frame — either book a budget IndiGo/SpiceJet Udaipur–Mumbai flight (~£30–55 if booked early, the tour's own transport assumption) or take the overnight Chetak Express train (~£8–14, 13 hrs, book a sleeper AC-3 berth on IRCTC). On arrival head to Juhu or Andheri West for cheap guesthouses near the beach, then take the suburban train (₹10–30) or Metro to Bandra and walk the Bandstand promenade in the evening.
🚌Budget flight ~£30–55, or overnight train ~£8–14; suburban rail ~£1
🛏Budget hotel or hostel, Juhu / Andheri West (dorm £8–12, private £18–28)
- →Juhu Beach and Bandstand promenade
- →Sunset at Juhu Chowpatty
Mumbai — Colaba, Elephanta Caves and Marine Drive
Mumbai
Take the harbour ferry from Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves (ferry ~₹250 return, cave entry ₹600, departures 09:00–14:00; skip on Mondays). Back on shore, walk past the Gateway and the Gandhi Memorial at Mani Bhavan (₹100). Do the Colaba/fort district on foot: Prince of Wales Museum (₹500), then the Jain Temple at Kamla Nehru Garden (free), Hanging Gardens on Malabar Hill, and finish with sunset on Marine Drive. Book a GetYourGuide Mumbai walking-tour slot (~£12) if you want guided context on the fort district.
🚌Ferry ~£2.50; suburban trains and taxis ~£4
🛏Same budget hotel / hostel, Juhu / Andheri West
- →Ferry and Elephanta Caves
- →Gateway of India
- →Mani Bhavan (Gandhi Memorial)
- →Prince of Wales Museum
- →Jain Temple and Kamla Nehru Garden
- →Hanging Gardens
- →Marine Drive sunset
Departure from Mumbai
Mumbai
Allow plenty of time for the ride from Juhu to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International — take the Metro Line 3 or an Ola/Uber (~₹400–600, 45–60 mins in traffic). If your flight is later, spend the morning at a Bandra café or pick up last-minute spices and textiles in Colaba Causeway before heading to the airport.
🚌Airport transfer via metro or Ola ~£4–6
- →Last-minute shopping
- →Transfer to Mumbai airport
Self-launched vs. Panda Experiences
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Panda Experiences | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£572 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £578 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Panda Experiences-style trips? Check them out here.~£572
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 Treasures: Delhi to Mumbai Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £572 per person for 11 days in Rajasthan & India's Golden Triangle. 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 £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £572 — a saving of roughly £578 (50%) per person.
How long is the Rajasthan & India's Golden Triangle trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Rajasthan & India's Golden Triangle.
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, slow-travel trip through Rajasthan & India's Golden Triangle, 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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