12 Days in India
The Taj Mahal at sunrise, Jaipur's pink palaces and elephant encounters, Udaipur's lake city at sunset, and a Kerala backwater houseboat under the stars. Twelve nights across India's Golden Triangle and beyond — the trip that turns a family into travellers, with honest pacing that accounts for heat, crowds, and sensory overload.
Plan to save
Your weekly savings target
A$261 / week
to save before you go · A$7,037 total · 27 weeks until you leave
Estimates in AUD. No signup required to see your number.
Start saving for free →The whole story, autoplaying.
Your stop-by-stop itinerary
4 stops across 12 nights. Each one chosen so you experience a different side of India.
Stop
01
Delhi
3 nightsFly Sydney/Melbourne to Delhi (DEL) on Air India direct (13-14 hours) or via Singapore/KL. Arrive evening, rest Day 1. Return to Delhi for final night before the 14h flight home. Pre-book airport pickup through hotel (INR 800-1,200) — don't negotiate taxis at midnight.
Highlights
- Red Fort + Chandni Chowk — INR 600/adult, free under 15. Cycle rickshaw tour through the old market lanes (INR 500-800/family), street food sampling
- Humayun's Tomb — INR 600/adult, free under 15. Precursor to the Taj Mahal, quieter and equally photogenic. Pack a picnic for the Lodhi Garden next door
- Qutub Minar — INR 600/adult, free under 15. 73m sandstone tower, 1,000 years old. Best visited early morning
- India Gate + Rajpath drive — free. The ceremonial heart of New Delhi, ice cream vendors, evening stroll
- National Museum of India — INR 650/adult, INR 200/child. World-class Mughal and Indus Valley collections
- Delhi cooking class — INR 3,500-4,500/pp. Half-day market tour + hands-on North Indian cooking. Book via Airbnb Experiences or hotel concierge
Local tips
- Hire a private driver for Delhi days (INR 1,200-1,600 for 8 hours). Safer, more reliable, and cheaper than multiple taxis/autos. Your hotel concierge will arrange one.
- Delhi is the most intense city on this route. Schedule a pool/rest afternoon on Day 2 to let the family decompress. The culture shock is real and kids need processing time.
- Carry allergy cards in Hindi. Stick to cooked food and bottled water. Bring Imodium and electrolytes from Australia — stomach issues are common and manageable.
Suggested stay4-star family room in Karol Bagh, Khan Market or Connaught Place
Stop
02
Agra
2 nightsDelhi to Agra on Shatabdi Express train — 2 hours, AC chair car INR 800-1,200/pp. Family of 4: ~INR 3,500. Book at IRCTC.in 30 days ahead. Hotel pickup from Agra Cantt station (INR 300).
Highlights
- Taj Mahal sunrise — INR 1,100/adult, free under 15. Book online to skip queues. Arrive 30 min before sunrise gate opening. The single most iconic moment of the trip
- Agra Fort — INR 600/adult, free under 15. Mughal palace-fortress with Taj Mahal views from the balconies. 1.5 hours
- Mehtab Bagh — INR 400/pp. Garden across the river with the classic Taj Mahal reflection photo. Less crowded than the Taj itself
- Yamuna River sunset boat ride — INR 1,000-1,500/boat (fits 4). Quiet end to the day with Taj silhouette views
- Marble inlay workshop — free guided demo at Agra's artisan workshops. Kids watch craftspeople recreate Taj patterns in semi-precious stone
Local tips
- Two nights in Agra is the comfortable option — Day 1 for sunrise Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, Day 2 for Mehtab Bagh, marble inlay workshops, and the afternoon drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri.
- The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Plan your route around this — it's the single scheduling constraint on the entire trip.
- Agra touts are aggressive. Pre-arrange all transport through your hotel and decline any 'free guides' at the Taj gate.
Suggested stay4-star hotel near Taj East Gate (quieter than the main gate area)
Stop
03
Jaipur
4 nightsAgra to Jaipur by road (240 km, 4.5 hours by private car, INR 4,000-5,000). Stop at Fatehpur Sikri ghost city en route (INR 600/adult, free under 15). Alternative: Agra-Jaipur train (6 hours, less comfortable).
Highlights
- Amber Fort — INR 500/adult, free under 15. Composite ticket covers 7 Jaipur monuments for INR 1,000. Jeep ride up to the fort (INR 500/jeep, fits 4). Morning visit before 9:30am
- Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) — INR 200/adult. The iconic pink facade. Quick visit (30 min inside), better photographed from the café across the street
- City Palace — INR 500/adult. Active royal residence with museums, courtyards, and the famous Peacock Gate
- Jantar Mantar — INR 200/adult. UNESCO astronomical observatory with the world's largest stone sundial. Surprisingly engaging for kids
- Chokhi Dhani cultural village — INR 800-1,200/pp including dinner. Rajasthani folk dances, puppet shows, camel rides, and a full thali dinner under the stars. The best family evening in Jaipur
- Bapu Bazaar shopping — free to browse. Textiles, bangles, block-print fabrics. Bargain 40-50% off the asking price
Local tips
- Buy the composite monument ticket (INR 1,000) at your first site — it covers Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, and more. Saves INR 400+ vs individual tickets.
- Jaipur is the most family-friendly city on this route. The Pink City is compact, heritage hotels have pools, and the pace is gentler than Delhi.
- Book Chokhi Dhani for your last evening in Jaipur — it's the single best family dinner experience in Rajasthan.
Suggested stay4-star heritage hotel in the Pink City or C-Scheme
Stop
04
Udaipur
3 nightsJaipur to Udaipur by domestic flight on IndiGo or Air India — 1 hour, INR 2,500-3,500/pp. Family of 4: ~INR 12,000. Road option (6.5 hours) saves money but kills a day.
Highlights
- Lake Pichola sunset boat cruise — INR 400-600/pp shared, or INR 3,000-4,000 private boat for 4. The iconic Udaipur experience — Jag Mandir and Lake Palace gleaming at golden hour
- City Palace — INR 300-500/adult, free under 15. Part museum, part active royal residence. Balcony views over the lake. 2 hours
- Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace — INR 200/pp + INR 200 vehicle. Hilltop palace with 360° views over the Aravalli hills. Best at sunset on a clear day
- Jagdish Temple evening aarti ceremony — free (donation). The nightly prayer ritual with bells, incense, and chanting. Atmospheric and family-safe
- Vintage car museum — INR 500/adult, INR 200/child. Maharajas' classic car collection. Kids love the Rolls-Royces
- Old City walk + lakeside dinner — free to walk. Ambrai restaurant on the lake is the best family dinner spot in Udaipur
Local tips
- Udaipur is much safer and calmer than Delhi or Jaipur. Let the family wander the Old City streets — it's pedestrian-friendly and the biggest risk is buying too many miniature paintings.
- Book the sunset boat cruise in the morning (queues form by 3pm) or through your hotel concierge for a small markup.
- Skip midday sightseeing (11am-4pm). Use the hottest hours for the hotel pool, then venture out for the golden-hour magic that makes Udaipur famous.
Suggested stay4-star lakeside hotel in the Old City or Fateh Sagar area
Real cost estimates · calibrated 2026, not glossy estimates
What it costs
All-in for a family of 4.
Here’s what India costs across the four components SaveToRoam tracks. Flights are shoulder-season ex-Australia; travel insurance and personal extras vary.
| Component | Family of 4 |
|---|---|
Flights Return economy flights ex-AU (mid-shoulder estimate) ₹50,000 per person | ₹200,000 |
Accommodation 4 stops | ₹146,000 |
Activities & local transport Activities & local transport (estimated) ₹17,200 per person | ₹68,800 |
Daily food & local transit 12 nights × family of 4 | ₹67,200 |
Trip total Insurance & personal extras separate | ₹482,000 ~A$9,158 |
What it covers
The ~A$7,037 estimate is all-in for a family of 4 — accommodation across 4 stops, shoulder-season flights from Australia, activities and local transport, and daily food. Travel insurance and personal extras vary, so we keep them separate.
What you get
When you use this template, SaveToRoam creates your trip with all 4 stops, every cost component pre-loaded, and a personalised savings plan with a weekly target. You choose your dates — we handle the maths.
Fully customisable
This itinerary is a starting point. Once it's your trip, add stops, swap hotels, adjust nights — your savings target updates automatically.
Read up on India
Cost guides and saving how-tos for this destination — written from the same research that calibrates this itinerary.
Start this trip.
Load this itinerary with stops, costs, and local tips. Your weekly savings target updates as you customise.
Free to start — no card required.