One day Varanasi tour - Private & Guided
4.9
95 Ratings
Varanasi
Immerse yourself in the essence of Varanasi with our private and guided one-day tour. Experience a sunrise boat ride, explore Sarnath, stroll through old alleys, and witness the captivating Ganga Aarti ceremony.
Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Dasaswamedh Ghat - You shall be picked up from your Hotel at 0530 AM [This changes depending on sunrise time] and taken to river bank for sunrise boat ride. A sunrise boat ride in Varanasi is a truly magical experience. As the sun rises over the horizon, the city comes to life with the sound of chanting, prayers, and the splashing of water. You will see people bathing in the Ganges, performing pujas, and offering prayers.

After this get off the boat and step on Manikarnika Ghat.

  • Manikarnika Ghat - After this step down at Manikarnika Ghat. This ghat, or riverside stairway, is known for its deep spiritual and cultural importance. It’s where you’ll witness the traditional cremation rituals performed by Hindus, which are believed to help departed souls achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Visiting Manikarnika Ghat offers a glimpse into the profound customs and beliefs of Varanasi. While it may not be a typical tourist attraction, it’s a powerful and insightful experience into the rich spiritual traditions of this ancient city. It’s a place where the spiritual and practical aspects of life and death converge, making it a fascinating destination for those seeking a deeper understanding of Indian culture.

After this return back to hotel for breakfast.

  • Sarnath - Later in day around Noon, visit to Sarnath - is a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site. It’s where Lord Buddha first preached the Dharma after attaining enlightenment. You will explore ancient ruins of monasteries and stupas, visit the Sarnath Museum to view artifacts, witness the peaceful Deer Park where Buddha delivered his first sermon, and visit the Dhamek Stupa, a revered Buddhist monument. It’s a place of profound historical and spiritual importance.

You will see here Ruins of Sarnath, Budhha Temple, large Buddha statue, Archaeological museum and deer park etc.

  • Ganges River - After this drive to river bank of Ganges and enjoy A walk along the Ganges River in Varanasi which is a mesmerizing journey through the heart of India’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Strolling the ancient ghats, one witnesses rituals, cremations, and daily life intertwined with the sacred waters. The ever-flowing river serves as a mirror reflecting the soul of this ancient city, making it a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.

Later after this walk and settle down in a private balcony located just behind the place where priest perform evening aarti ceremony. We reserve seats in advance to ensure you get the best view of aarti and hear all the chanting and Mantra’s.

  • Ganga Aarti - Witness the grand aarti ceremony with best view from your seat.

The evening aarti ceremony in Varanasi is a captivating and spiritual ritual that takes place on the ghats of the sacred Ganges River. Usually conducted at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, it is a grand spectacle of fire, music, and chanting. Devotees and tourists gather to witness the priests offering prayers to the river, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of bells and conch shells. The aarti is a deeply moving experience, symbolizing the city’s devotion to the Ganges and its rich cultural heritage.

After this you shall be dropped back to hotel and our services will end here.

What's Included
  • All applicable taxes, parking fees, and allowances included
  • Complimentary mineral water and snacks provided in the car
  • Certified English-speaking local guide available throughout the day as per itinerary
  • Comfort of a private air-conditioned car with pick-up and drop-off at your hotel
  • Exclusive boat ride during sunrise
  • Private seating on a balcony for the evening aarti ceremony
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Any meal etc
  • Everything which is not mentioned in inclusions
Additional Information

Honed over three decades of delivering tours to guests from more than 110 different nations, this is the most in-depth city exploration led by our seasoned narrators.

• The Ultimate Varanasi Day Tour Experience
• Witness devotees seeking absolution at the Ganga Ghats
• Explore Sarnath, the site of Buddha’s inaugural sermon
• Traverse the city lanes on foot under the guidance of your local escort, savor local cuisine
• Experience the Ganga Aarti like never before with our pre-arranged best view seating.

We look forward to greeting you.

Location
Dasaswamedh Ghat
Dasaswamedh Ghat Road, Bangali Tola
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(95 Ratings)
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41dagmarh
Mar 28, 2024
Great experience in Varanasi ! - It was a really nice trip with Syed! He was very punctual and friendly and showed us so many beautiful things in Varanasi! We thank him very much for that. It was a wonderful day! The views was amazing! We took so many beatiful photos! Think you very much! The Boattrip was amazing, too! And the Sunset and the sundowner with the Ganga River.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Discover33847848203
Mar 18, 2024
Enjoyable Varanasi experience. - Really enjoyed the Ganga River sunrise tour. Also the walk to Golden Temple which I chose to visit (no cameras). Visit to Sarnath was also great - learned a lot. Perfect seating location for the evening Aarti ceremony, thanks to Magie.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolineanne_j
Mar 18, 2024
A perfect day - This was an excellent tour. The early morning boat on the water was wonderful. The evening ceremony beautiful and inspiring. The trip to Benares was very interesting and very beautiful. Our driver and our guide were very helpful all day. Our guide was very knowledgeable and interesting. It was a perfect day.
Review provided by Viator
Sunshine05606772327
Mar 17, 2024
Awesome Varanasi Ayodhya - Superb Experience.. Thank you to Vinod Yadav for guiding us very well and trip was successful.. Hope to see him again travel with him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarasy2024
Mar 14, 2024
Private 4 day immersive experience including Ganga Arthi, temple visits, boat ride and shopping. - Travel Bureau team did a good job with helping plan my trip. The team on the ground provided great service starting from arrival at the airport to our departure. Our guide was very knowledgeable, very helpful and was flexible to adapt the trip based on our needs. Overall an exceptional experience for us. Kudos to the team.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mcarrillo
Mar 14, 2024
Varanasi - It is quite an experience to visit Varanasi. I don't recommend it to anyone who doesn't like crowds and everything that entails. You have to be careful not to carry backpacks or bags or anything that needs to be taken care of.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steve_c
Mar 13, 2024
Great tour of Varanasi - Enjoyed the Ganga River tour, and the ghats. Also got to see the Golden temple. Sarnath was fascinating. I learned a lot.
Review provided by Viator
Thomasd6222
Mar 11, 2024
Perfect way to understand Varanasi - Our guide Bharat was great. Really informative and helpful. Our flight to Varanasi got delayed and Travel Bureau and Bharat were flexible about splitting the tour over two days. We learned loads and saw a great mix of sights to understand the area well. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to get to know this fascinating city. Our driver was also very professional and we had a very safe vehicle. Thanks so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
George_lliu
Mar 3, 2024
Cool trip - Very nice arrangement and good view. From morning to night, cool feeling. I did this trip on my own. Mr. Sujeet, as my local guidance, had good accompany with me. He was very kind and patient to introduce the Ganges history. Very impressive trip.Thanks again. See you Varanasi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rks2020ss
Mar 9, 2024
Average and a little bit EXPENSIVE! - Except the performances of our guide Mr. Kaushlesh Singh & the tour operator Mr. Rai, actually the one day private & guided tour was an AVERAGE. Unfortunately, the schedule had to be changed due to sudden appearance of overnight intense rain. I think the tour was operated in India by a THIRD party, Viator, India. Maybe I am wrong! Buti t was not as smooth as our previous tours in other countries. The One-day tour was not like the schedules as we informed by Tripsadvisor.com. I must appreciate the knowledgeable MR. K Singh and the cooperations of tour operator MR. Rai. THANKS.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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