The Taj Mahal & beyond: a solo female traveller’s guide to Agra’s hidden gems

Another modern world wonder that I had been dreaming of visiting for many years, and another time when I had no-one to travel with. So, I decided not to wait around and go solo. As always, I am keeping things real; travelling alone to India wasn't fully within my comfort zone, I had my fears, but my curiosity won, yet again. I am glad I did because I had a great experience, seeing the sun rise and slowly light up the Taj Mahal was a huge bucket list moment for me. So, I thought you might find it helpful if I share my own experience and how I did it.

You can expect a wave of tourists even in off season

I want to start by saying, while I think a day trip(s) in India or solo travel in general is doable, I would definitely not recommend it if you don't have a lot of experience in travelling the world solo. It is for sure an overwhelming and at times, chaotic experience. So, if you are only starting out as a solo female traveller, maybe save this one for later. That being said, let's see how I organised my trip to feel the most safe and comfortable; here comes my Taj Mahal solo female travel guide!

Unlike in other, more solo friendly destinations when I can just go with the flow, wonder around and see what happens, I knew that in India I had to stay organised and pre-plan my whole trip. Starting with the airport transfer. Given that India is a very budget-friendly country, you can take advantage of the hotel transfer options. This is what I did and it made my trip way more comfortable. When it comes to transfers you have to be very generous with timing, because the traffic is always crazy. Travelling a few kilometres by car can mean 30-40 minutes in the car easily at peak times. If you are only coming to New Delhi to visit the Taj Mahal, I would recommend booking something in the Aerocity, which is close to the airport, very touristy and generally considered a safer area to stay at.

Now that we got accommodation and transfer out of the way, let's look at the day trip itself to the Taj Mahal and Agra. I ended up booking with GetYourGuide (just a recommendation, not a paid collaboration) and opted for the 'From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise & Agra Day Tour with Transfers'. This was the perfect option for me, and I would highly recommend doing the sunrise one to anyone. It may take some effort (the 2am alarm clock is definitely a sacrifice) but it is worth the view. The transfer included a taxi pick up from my hotel at 2.30am. Even though it was an early pickup, I could continue sleeping in the car as the journey to Agra takes a few hours. We picked up my tour guide once we got closer to Agra, and proceeded to visit the Taj Mahal, as our first stop on this trip. Having a private tour as a solo female traveller made all the difference, he told me what to watch out for, what to be aware of, dos and don'ts in India and the Taj Mahal, which was very useful and reassuring. He happily took multiple photos for me, which is always a bonus when you travel alone. The pace was set to what I wanted to see and hear, so the whole day was tailored to what I was interested in. One thing that surprised me a little was how it's only the Taj Mahal that is widely known, yet the area is full of other architecture masterpieces that you also get to see once you enter the area. My tour guide explained the purpose, history and background of all these other attractions too, so I got the full picture. Speaking of, let me share the visuals with you of my sunrise trip to the Taj Mahal.

Going through Darwaza-e-Rauza for the main event

The gate in my opinion is just as pretty as the Taj Mahal itself, and as you can see, easy to take a tourist-free photo with

No make-up, my hair is a mess, but none of that matters when you get to see this view in real life

I have to admit, it was my tour guide who took this photo, pretty cool!

See what I mean by the morning sunlight lighting up the monument being a bucket list moment?

After my visit to the Taj Mahal, our next stop was breakfast. I believe the location slightly differs on the time of the day, but we headed to The DoubleTree by Hilton Agra Hotel for a buffet type of breakfast. It was everything I needed after a 2am wake up call, hours spent travelling in a car and fighting a cold.

Once I finished breakfast we headed back to visit the lesser known, but still incredible parts of Agra: the fort and surrounding areas. My guide told me about the rich history of the area and how it has changed over the years. Afterwards I had a few options to choose from, as part of the tour is to visit local businesses such as pottery, rug making and jewellery shops that are run by locals, using local produce/materials. I opted for jewellery, but this is a great opportunity for you to visit some souvenir shops too. Once I made sure I had something to take home with me as a reminder of this bucket list day, we started making our way back to Delhi to my hotel.

Agra Fort gets way less attention than the Taj Mahal, I didn't even know how beautiful it was until I started Googling the Taj Mahal day trips

There are way less tourists around here in the morning

You can still see the Taj Mahal from here

The details and colours are both incredible

As you can see, with transfers and a tour guide, a day trip to the Taj Mahal and its surrounding hidden gems is doable and in my experience, comfortable. I would definitely not recommend wondering off solo and explore alone in these areas, but with the right approach, common sense and organisation, it can be turned into a solo travel friendly experience. I am glad I gathered my courage and did this, I felt very accomplished and empowered by the end of my trip. Solo travelling isn't always comfortable, but it is always rewarding.

I hope this guide gave you the confidence to see the Taj Mahal not just as a monument of love, but as a reminder of the beauty of traveling on your own terms and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Even if visiting the Taj Mahal solo feels a little out of reach right now, I hope this post has shown you that traveling alone can be both empowering and rewarding. You don’t have to start with India — solo travel can begin anywhere, and every step helps you build confidence for the next adventure.

If you’re curious but still need a little guidance, I’ve created plenty of resources to support you — starting with my free Travel Wellness Routine Builder. It includes a printable checklist, self-care prompts, and easy rituals to help you feel grounded on the road. Perfect if you’re just dipping your toes into solo travel and want encouragement to take that first step. Click below to grab your copy and start building your own solo travel journey.

Grab your freebie