28 Oct 2026
Twin share
£925pp
Escorted tour
North India Revealed: Rajasthan, Agra & Varanasi – 22 Days
Jaisalmer, a desert camp, Udaipur, Jaipur, the Taj Mahal and Varanasi by train and bus, in a group of up to sixteen.
22 days
From £668
Tour overview
This 22-day adventure travels across Rajasthan and the Ganges plain the way locals do, by sleeper train, local bus and auto-rickshaw. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen. You stay twenty-one nights in simple hotels and guesthouses, three overnight sleeper trains and a night under the stars in the Thar Desert, with very few meals included so you can eat where you like.
After a walk through Old Delhi you take the night train to Bikaner, then on to the golden fort city of Jaisalmer. A jeep takes you into the Thar Desert for a night camping on the dunes, before the blue city of Jodhpur and its Mehrangarh Fort.
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You spend time in lakeside Udaipur, the holy town of Pushkar and Jaipur, the Pink City, then visit the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri and Fatehpur Sikri on the way to the Taj Mahal. A final night train takes you to Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges, before you return to Delhi.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits adventurous travellers on a budget who want an immersive journey through India.
Trip highlights
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Old Delhi (Day 2)
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Jaisalmer Fort (Days 4–5)
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A night in the Thar Desert (Day 6)
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Udaipur (Days 9–10)
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The Taj Mahal (Day 16)
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Varanasi and the Ganges (Days 18–19)
Your route
15 stops from Delhi to Delhi
- Delhi Days 1–2
- Bikaner Day 3
- Jaisalmer Days 4–5
- Thar Desert Day 6
- Jodhpur Day 7
- Udaipur Days 8–10
- Ajmer Day 11
- Pushkar Days 11–12
- Jaipur Days 13–14
- Abhaneri Day 15
- Fatehpur Sikri Day 16
- Agra Days 16–17
- Varanasi Days 18–20
- Sarnath Day 19
- Delhi Days 21–22
Why choose this tour
Three weeks across north India on a budget. Sleeper trains and a desert camp.
Best suited to
- Adventurous travellers
- Travellers on a budget
- Solo travellers
- Independent-minded travellers
Day-by-day itinerary
22 days from Delhi, India to Delhi, India
-
Day 1 · Delhi Delhi
A welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Old Delhi Old Delhi
A walking tour.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
-
Day 3 · Bikaner Bikaner
Palaces and forts.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 4 · Jaisalmer Jaisalmer
The golden city.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
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Day 5 · Jaisalmer Fort Jaisalmer
A free day.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
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Day 6 · Thar Desert Thar Desert
A night on the dunes.
- Hotel
- Desert camp
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 7 · Jodhpur Jodhpur
The blue city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 8 · Mehrangarh Fort, Bishnoi villages Jodhpur
A great fort.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 9 · Udaipur Udaipur
A lake city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 10 · Lake Pichola Udaipur
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 11 · Ajmer, Pushkar Pushkar
A holy town.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 12 · Pushkar Pushkar
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 13 · Jaipur Jaipur
The Pink City.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 14 · Amber Fort, Jaipur Jaipur
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 15 · Chand Baori, Abhaneri Abhaneri
A great stepwell.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 16 · Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal Agra
The Taj Mahal.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 17 · Agra Fort Agra
A free day.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
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Day 18 · Varanasi Varanasi
The holy city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 19 · Ganges ghats Varanasi
Dawn on the river.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 20 · Sarnath, Varanasi Varanasi
The night train.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
-
Day 21 · Delhi Delhi
Back to Delhi.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 22 · Delhi Delhi
The trip ends.
Where you stay
- Delhi (1 night) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Bikaner (1 night) Hotel
- Jaisalmer (2 nights) Guesthouse
- Thar Desert (1 night) Desert camp
- Jodhpur (2 nights) Hotel
- Udaipur (2 nights) Hotel
- Pushkar (2 nights) Hotel
- Jaipur (2 nights) Hotel
- Abhaneri (1 night) Hotel
- Agra (1 night) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Varanasi (2 nights) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Delhi (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 21 nights in hotels, guesthouses, trains and a desert camp
- Meals 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- Sleeper trains, local trains, buses and rickshaws
- Old Delhi walking tour
- Thar Desert camping by jeep
- Taj Mahal visit
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 19 breakfasts, 20 lunches and 19 dinners
- Most meals
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want comfortable hotels
- You want meals included
- You dislike sleeper trains
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 7 and 16 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 6 and 15
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for India
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £668 per person, twin share, tour only. 5 upcoming departures.
13 Nov 2026
Twin share
£806pp
25 Nov 2026
Twin share
£668pp
22 Dec 2026
Twin share
£845pp
29 Dec 2026
Twin share
£925pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Do I need a visa for India?
Yes, UK citizens need a visa for India, usually an e-visa applied for online.
What are the sleeper trains like?
Third-class air-conditioned berths with bedding, shared with other passengers.
What is the desert camp like?
Open-air cots with bedding, basic toilets and no shower, for one night.
Are meals included?
Very few, so you can choose where to eat; budget for most meals.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement is available, except on trains and at the camp.
How many people travel together?
No more than sixteen travellers, with a local leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary