budget India tour Archives - India Someday Travels

Always wanted to explore India? Not too keen on travelling alone? How about we take you for a trip?

We have put together a two week itinerary across North India, filled it up with a bunch of amazing activities and we will travel with you to ensure you have a smooth trip and fall in love with India.

This tour is organized by India Someday. Our reviews!

What makes this trip Awesome?

You will meet other like minded travellers
You’ll be in for a stress free trip, as we will ensure all travel arrangements are in place
Get more out of your time in India, we as locals know our country well (oh! and we are young and cool and fun!)
You’ll have more money for spending since it’s a very reasonably priced tour

Harsh (one of the India Someday founders) showing his friends around Jaipur!

Dates of the tour

We are currently running the same tour twice. The dates are as follows

Tour 1 – Saturday 22^nd Aug to Saturday 5^th Sept 2015 (14 nights/ 15 days) *
Tour 2 – Saturday 3^st Oct to Saturday 17^th Oct 2015 (14 nights/15 days)

*Tour 1 Price – 675 USD/ 600 Euros/ 450 GBP (including stay, breakfast, few dinners, travel between and within cities, and many activities) – scroll down for more details on price (Price of Tour 2 is 10% more as it is tourist season)

*Both the tours start in Mumbai and end in Delhi.

More about the tour

Route and places – We will visit eight places (cities and towns) across our tour. Bustling cities, colourful historical cities, a small spiritual town called Pushkar and obviously, theTaj Mahal.

Route :- Mumbai (3 nights) – Udaipur (3 nights) – Jodhpur (2 nights) – Pushkar (1 night) – Jaipur (2 nights) – Agra (1 night) – Delhi (2 nights)

Route on googlemaps

The Udaipur City Palace, just one of the many stunning monuments you will visit with us!

Travel Style – It is a backpacking tour, we will be staying at a mix of hostels and traditional guest houses. We’ll be using local transport and hired vehicles with a driver as our major modes of travel, along with one overnight bus journey and one short train journey. Eating at local restaurants, and dipping into the nightlife when a city offers (Mumbai and Delhi).

Travel Philosophy –One or more of us from India Someday will travel with you throughout your tour. While you can rely on us for any kind of support/questions we are there to ensure you make the most of your time in India, i.e. enjoy the food and understand what you are eating, engage in cool activities, understand Indian culture, explore parts of cities and towns you might not have on your own, but we do not intend on holding your hand all the way or making you stick to a strict daily sightseeing schedule. While we’re always available, you’re not bound to hang out with us!

There will always be time in each city when you can explore the place on your own.

Group Size – Max 10 participants, plus 1-2 tour leaders from India Someday

Eat like a local! We know the best places to go eat 🙂

Who is this tour for?

This trip is focused towards young travellers, (18-35 year olds) However, there are no age restrictions as long as you understand it is a backpacking tour and most of the travellers will be young.

You can sign up as a solo traveler, with friends or with your partner.

Price and inclusions

Tour 1 – Saturday 22^nd Aug to Saturday 5^th Sept 2015 (14 nights/ 15 days) – USD 675/ Euros 600 / GBP 450

Tour 2 – Saturday 3^st Oct to Saturday 17^th Oct 2015 (14 nights/15 days) – USD 750/ Euros 660/ GBP 500

What is included – quite a few things 😉

14 nights of accommodation with breakfast and 3 Dinners
All transportation between cities and local transport within cities when exploring as a group
Our assistance throughout!

And the following activities

Guided Slum Tour in Bombay (Mumbai)
Bollywood Dance workshop in Bombay (Mumbai)
A game of cricket in Mumbai (You know you’ll love it.)
A rural visit in Udaipur
An Indian cooking class in Jodhpur
A Bollywood film in Jaipur

What is not included in the price?

Flights to India
Arrival and Departure Airport transfers
Meals (apart from those included)
Monument fee
Guide Tipping and personal expenses

Want to know more about this tour? Download our PDF Tour Overview Brief and Trip Essential Information

Interested in the tour/ want to book the tour e-mail us at letstravel@stage2.indiasomeday.com or call us on +91 900 4000 812

Here we have drafted a backpacking tour in South India. On this trip, you’ll start your adventure in Mumbai, and after a couple of days, take a train along the coast to Goa. After, you will travel onwards to the stunning and beautiful city of ruins ‘Hampi’ and finally make your way south to Mysore, before ending your holiday in relaxing Kerala.

Read our detailed blog to understand the cost of travel in India! If travelling solo in India, read through our tips for solo female travel in India

Goa, India

South India Tour Route

Mumbai – Goa – Hampi – Mysore – Kochi – Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey (route on GoogleMaps)

Modes of transport for South India budget tour

You would be covering large distances during the first half of your tour which includes travelling from Mumbai to Goa, Goa to Hampi, Hampi to Mysore. The best and most economical option is travelling by overnight trains from place to place. Trains are fast, dependable and a great way to both experience India and interact with the locals.

From Mysore, you would be taking an overnight bus to Kochi, Kerala. Once in Kerala you can travel either by local buses (cheaper, but more time consuming) or hire a car and driver during your entire stay in Kerala.

Where will you stay?

Considering this is a budget tour you would be staying at inexpensive hotels and homestays during your trip that are both clean and comfortable. Some of the major backpacking highlights are the locations from your hotels. You could be right by the beach in Goa, have a view of boulders and rice fields in Hampi or even the beautiful tea plantations and backwater views in Kerala.

Cost of the South India Backpacking Tour

The cost of the tour would vary between USD 400 (EUR 310) to USD 550 (EUR 430) per person depending on the following:

What time of the year are you travelling
Your train travelling preference (i.e. A/C train, sleeper class, etc.)
If you like having a private room at all times
If you are travelling alone or as a couple/group

Explore More: Tips for UK tourists traveling to India

The cost includes:

Overnight stay throughout your trip
All train tickets
Taxi and driver between cities when train is not possible
India Someday planning and bookings fees
All taxes

Let us know how many travellers you would be and your preferences as it will help us plan your dream backpacking tour in South India.

Look at our other South India travel routes here.

Kerala Backwaters

Highlights of travelling in South India

On your backpacking tour in South India, you’ll experience stunning beaches, hills, ruins and fantastic food. It’s strikingly different than a tour of North India. Generally, people in South India are extremely relaxed and friendly.

1. The chaos and distinct vibe of Bombay (Mumbai)

We recommend starting your tour by spending a few days in Mumbai which is a bustling city with old colonial buildings, lovely sea fronts, bars, cafes and additionally interesting slum and cycling tours. In many ways Mumbai is an assault on your senses, yet it is incredibly rewarding as you will be thrown head first into the incredible and vast diversity of India.

Enjoying the sunset – Mumbai (Picture Credit: LBB)

2. Beaches of Goa and the ruins of Hampi

Your next two stops are extremely different from one another, which is a great thing for backpacking! Goa, your first stop will provide warm beaches, inexpensive food, a great party culture, rice fields, and beautiful Portuguese historical architecture. There’s plenty to do, from riding a scooter across the stunning beaches to a vibrant nightlife.

Hampi is a beautiful city, filled with stunning ruins, and you can explore the picturesque temples, enjoy the outstanding views, or get blessed in the elephant stable by walking or cycling around town. For adventure lovers, go cliff jumping, rent a moped and learn how to drive it in the spacious reservoir, or hire a Karnataka boat and go for a refreshing swim in the lake.

Baga Beach, Goa

3. Riding the Indian Trains

Trains in India are a fascinating experience as there’s a distinct buzz of energy at all stations and you get lovely chai while on board. Also, you get to see Indian families and often interact with them. Above all, you’ll see beautiful views of the countryside and little villages.

4. Mouth-watering South Indian food

For a foodie, India is an ultimate paradise, and the South Indian food is very different from North Indian food. Some examples include delicious dosas with different chutneys, Kerala parotas, and freshly boiled rice replacing the staple roti and mouth-watering spicy curries that are not for the faint-hearted!

(Picture Credit: Yenna Dosa)

5. Meet locals and fellow travellers

The hostels and hotels will allow you to meet a variety of interesting travellers along your backpacking tour. This is always a plus, as you’ll make new friends and even stay with local families and soak in their culture and traditions.

(Picture Credit: Euronews.com)

6. The striking diversity of Kerala

Kerala, your final stop, has everything from hiking with beautiful views of tea plantations, bathing elephants, trekking in forests, canoeing in the backwaters or sunbathing on the beach. Kerala is a fantastic place for a highly rewarding, relaxing end to your backpacking tour in South India.

Click here to read more about some amazing travel experiences in Kerala and for some inspiration on a backpacking tour of North India, click here.

Boating in Kerala

Contact us to help you plan your India trip

We customize trips, and this tour can be customized for you, too. Just let us know the number of days you have or the specific places that you’d like to see. In fact, we can help you plan trips anywhere in India, irrespective of your budget. For more ideas about travelling in South India, visit our blog! Alternatively, for more information about backpacking in South India, feel free to get in touch with us to plan your trip to India! Don’t forget, solo travellers get a 20% discount on our fees!

If you’d like slightly more detailed descriptions, here are some great blogs:

Impressions of Fort Kochi, Kerala – Fabia & Soraya

Kerala Any Day: First Stop North Kerala Wayanad

Tag: budget India tour

Backpacking tour in South India