Varanasi Trip Overview
Explore Varanasi on a private full-day tour that includes a sunrise and sunset boat ride on the Ganges River. Visit landmarks in and around Varanasi including Banaras Hindu University (BHU)’s Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, and Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath — an important Buddhist site. Finally, watch the evening aarti ceremony from the sunset boat cruise.
Highlight
• Private 14-hour tour of Varanasi with Ganges River cruise
• Take two cruises on the Ganges River, one at sunrise and one at sunset that includes the Ganga Aarti ceremony.
• Visit two Hindu temples, and a musuem on the Banaras Hindu University campus
• See Dhamekh Stupa, an important Buddhist site in Sarnath
• Includes private guide and vehicle, Ganges boat ride and hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Info
Duration: 14 hours
Starts: Varanasi, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Varanasi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Explore Varanasi on a private full-day tour that includes a sunrise and sunset boat ride on the Ganges River. Visit landmarks in and around Varanasi including Banaras Hindu University (BHU)’s Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, and Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath — an important Buddhist site. Finally, watch the evening aarti ceremony from the sunset boat cruise.
Highlight
• Private 14-hour tour of Varanasi with Ganges River cruise
• Take two cruises on the Ganges River, one at sunrise and one at sunset that includes the Ganga Aarti ceremony.
• Visit two Hindu temples, and a musuem on the Banaras Hindu University campus
• See Dhamekh Stupa, an important Buddhist site in Sarnath
• Includes private guide and vehicle, Ganges boat ride and hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
5:30 AM – Pickup from Hotel/Airport/Train Station In Varanasi
After early morning pickup at 5:30am from your hotel, take a sunrise boat ride on the sacred Ganges River. Witness morning rituals performed at the riverside.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi 221001 India
Afterward, follow your guide on a short walking tour of the old city’s alleyways and catch sight of the Kashi Vishwanath, one of the holiest Hindu temples.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005 India
Stop for breakfast (own expense), then head to Banaras Hindu University at 10am. Established in 1916, BHU is the largest university campus in Asia.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi Hindu University Opposit from Institute of Managemet Studies, Varanasi 221005 India
Tour the campus and see the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum and the new Vishwanath Temple (Birla Temple), which is an exact replica of the original Vishwanath Temple.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bharat Mata Temple, Vidyapith Road, Varanasi 221001 India
Continue to Mother India Temple, built in 1918 and housing an unusual marble relief map of the Indian subcontinent.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Sarnath Via-Anlabereni, Varanasi 759026 India
At 12:30pm, learn about the silk weaving traditions of Varanasi, then take a break for lunch (own expense). Afterward, drive about eight miles (13 km) to Sarnath to take in Dhamekh Stupa, known as the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Archaeological Museum, Near Chaukhandi Stupa Near Sangharama Monastery, Varanasi 221007 India
You’ll also visit the Archaeological Museum, which features treasures that date to the 3rd-century BC (closed Fridays).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ganges River, Varanasi India
At 5pm, take another boat ride on the Ganges to view the cremation grounds, then return to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Varanasi Junction railway station, maa surge balika intermediate collage, Railwayganj Colony, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221002, India
Your tour ends with return to your hotel around 8pm.
Duration: 1 hour