India on a Shoestring tour
India on a Shoestring tour
India on a Shoestring tour
8 Days Starting in Delhi, India and ending in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Visiting: Delhi, Bundi, Jaipur, Agra
Tour operator:
Tour code:
89
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
Over 9s
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
This 9-day shoestring India tour is the perfect way to explore the northern regions culturally rich country. We'll explore the 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur before spending some time in the Rajasthan town of Bundi, famed for its forts, towering palaces and deep step wells. The India tour starts and ends in the capital city of Delhi, exploring both its old and new sides, which gives you the opportunity to take in the contrasting beauty of its divide. From Delhi, we board a sleeper train to Bundi where a local guide will show us around the town and explore the fort with us. After spending some time in Bundi, we make our way to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur - the heart of Rajasthan, famed for its bustling craft and produce markets, making it a great place to do some shopping. Tours to the nearby Amber Fort and to explore different aspects of Jaipur itself are available here. We'll then make our way to Agra, visiting the imposing Agra Fort before we take in the impressive Taj Mahal at sunset, watching how its ivory-white marbled walls change colour as the light dims. Travel between the cities is done on Indian Railways in comfortable second class air conditioned carriages, which give a great view of rural India as it passes you by. Accommodation is in a mix of budget hotels, friendly homestays and heritage properties. Private tour option If our scheduled departure dates don't work for you, or you would prefer not to travel with a group, then we can also run this affordable tour privately for you. Please contact us for more information and prices.
Highlights
Old and New Delhi, Forts and palaces in Bundi, Pink city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal and Red Fort in Agra, great views of rural India and its cities from your train carriageItinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Into Delhi, Transfer To Hotel
Location: Delhi
Accommodation: Homestay
Accommodation Name: Delhi Homestay or guesthouse
Meals Included: No Meals
Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of Delhi for the start of your trip (24-hour service). After check-in youāre free to settle in and start to explore the local area.
Day 2 : Delhi To Bundi By Train
Location: Delhi, Bundi
Accommodation Name: Bundi Haveli/Vilas
Meals Included: Breakfast
After morning at leisure we transfer to the railway station for our first taste of Indiaās famous railways and a journey of around around 6 hours to our next destination, the Rajasthan town of Bundi. Travelling on Indiaās railways is a fantastic way to see more of the country, and to meet some local people. We use the 2nd class AC chair carriage to ensure you travel in decent comfort.
We will disembark the train in the early evening in Kota and drive on to Bundi where we spend the night.
Day 3 : Exploring Bundi
Location: Bundi
Accommodation Name: Bundi Haveli/Vilas
Meals Included: Breakfast
Bundi is a fascinating town, visited relatively little by tourists, and a huge contrast to the hustle and bustle and chaos of Delhi. The town is packed with temples, step wells and old palaces, with the large Taraghar fort overlooking the town and its blue painted houses from the hillside.
You have some free time to explore here, and a local guide will also take you on a walking tour of the town, taking in some step wells, the Garh palace, and the fort.
Day 4 : Drive Or Train To Jaipur
Location: Jaipur
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jaipur heritage hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We leave Bundi this morning and drive through rural Rajasthan to Jaipur (approx. 4 hours). Subject to available trains, we may also drive a much shorter distance to Kota and then take the train to Jaipur.
Jaipur is a busy and fascinating city, famous for its various markets, jewellery and shopping, as well as some beautiful buildings and the impressive Amber Fort nearby. You have a selection of optional tours available here to discover the city, including some with specialist guides focussing on particular themes. These include:
Amber Fort by e-rickshaw (a guided tour visiting the hugely impressive Amber Fort just outside of Jaipur)
Amber Fort & City tour (this longer tour adds the iconic City Palace and the fascinating Jantar Mantar observatory to the Amber Fort tour) - Bollywood movie with transfers (a visit to the famous Raj Mandir cinema to join the locals enjoying a typical Bollywood movie)
Hot air balloon flight with transfers (a spectacular early morning or late afternoon flight over forts, palaces and farmland tucked in the hills of the Aravali Ranges around the Amber Fort)
Bazaars & Cuisines (a specialist 2 Ā½ hr guided walking tour through the craft bazaars sampling a wide range of Indian foods and snacks, sweet & savoury, visit a desert Haveli and take tea with an Indian family)
Temples & Havelis (another specialist 2 Ā½ hr guided walking tour through markets and back streets visiting a range of hidden temples, including an ancient Vishnu temple, private Tantra temple, and lively Shri Gopinath Ji Krishna Temple. Also enjoy tea and snacks with an Indian family in a beautifully restored Haveli)
Day 5 : Jaipur
Location: Jaipur
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jaipur heritage hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your day is free in Jaipur today to explore independently or take one of the various optional tours available.
Day 6 : Abanheri Step Well, Agra Fort And The Taj Mahal At Sunset
Location: Agra
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We leave Jaipur early today and drive across the country and out of Rajasthan, this time heading east to Agra. Along the way we'll stop to visit the huge step well at Abanheri. Weāll arrive in Agra in time for an afternoon included guided tour to the UNESCO world heritage site at Agra Fort. The guide will then take you for a full sightseeing tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal at sunset. Truly one of the wonders of the world this elaborate monument to love was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and took over twenty two years to complete. Visiting at sunset is a beautiful time as the colours and hues of the temple change as the light fades.
This evening thereās an option to visit a local Hindu family for a cooking demonstration and delicious vegetarian thali dinner.
Day 7 : Agra Options, Return To Delhi
Location: Agra, Delhi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day is free to explore Agra further today, with some optional tours available which include:
Oriental Agra by electric rickshaw (this half-day tour provides an authentic view of Agraās old bazaars, traditional eateries and places of worship, taking in many places not normally seen by tourists visiting the city)
Food walk tour (as it suggests, this short walking tour explores Agraās markets and food stalls, with tastings of a wide range of sweet and savoury snacks and explanations from the guide about the various foodstuffs sold in the markets)
Mughal Heritage Walk (this tour designed by a local NGO discovers the village life and homes of the people of Kacchpura village on the opposite bank of the Yamuna river to the Taj Mahal. Youāll finish by walking through the fields to the Mehtab Bagh Park, which provides great views of the back side of the Taj Mahal across the water)
Agra by bike (this early morning cycling tour takes you through back streets and past various temples and important buildings in Agra before the traffic gets too busy).
This evening weāll board our final train for the journey back to Delhi (around 3 hours).
Day 8 : Delhi, Free Time, Optional Tours. Airport Transfer
Location: Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your time is free today with various optional tours available before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home. You could also choose to extend your stay in India by going on safari looking for tigers at Ranthambore National Park, or heading south to the beaches at Goa or Kerala.If you would like assistance with a tour extension, please contact us to discuss your plans.
Optional tours available today to discover the different sides of Delhi include:
Half day New Delhi tour (exploring the more modern side to the city)
Spinmonkey cycling tour of Old Delhi (a fantastic way to explore the streets of Old Delhi, early in the morning before the traffic gets busy)
Kathputhli Colony tour (this half-day tour explores a district of Delhi populated by street performers and musicians)
Salam Balak Trust walk (a fascinating and rewarding tour in Old Delhi run by a local NGO and guided by youths who grew up as street children)
Old Delhi walking and street food tour (this half day tour gives a great introduction to Old Delhiās sites and introduces you to the tastes, smells and sounds of busy India)
What's Included
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Accommodation
2* -
Meals
6 breakfasts
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary in budget hotels, homestays and heritage properties
- Transport and transfers by AC car/minibus
- 2nd class AC sleeper and chair carriages used for train journeys
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Sightseeing tours as per the itinerary
- Services of local leaders and specialist guides
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Check out our Q&As
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Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
For all tours departing in 2020 and 2021, balance due dates are reduced to 28 days. For 2022 departures onwards they will revert back to our standard conditions (60 days).
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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How long can I keep my booking as a 'Credit on File'?
New bookings need to be made within 1 year of your original departure date, with travel started within 2 years of your original departure date.
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Yes, if you don't want to, or can't travel, you can transfer your booking and existing payments to other family members or friends. We are waiving our normal fees for doing this for all departures up to the end of 2022. This applies to bookings you may have moved to a Credit on File as well as those setup on a particular date. Note - not all payments may be transferrable.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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