Varanasi: 3-Day Guided Tour with Ganga Aarti & Boat Ride｜India

Day 1: Arrival, City Tour, and Ganga Aarti

Begin your journey in Varanasi with a pickup from the airport or railway station. Check in to your hotel and then head out for a city tour. Visit the Bharat Mata Temple, Sankat Mochan (Hanuman Temple), Manas Mandir, and Banaras Hindu University. Walk through the narrow lanes of Varanasi, visit the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple), and explore ancient mosques.

In the evening, witness the Ganga Aarti, a grand event held at Dashaswamedh Ghat. Watch as young clergymen, dressed in silky saffron and white robes, perform rituals by offering flowers and oil lamps to the river Ganga. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay.


Day 2: Boat Tour, Silk Weaving, and Sarnath

Start your day with a boat ride on the Ganges. Experience the mystical and spiritual atmosphere as you see people offering water to the Sun God and devotees taking a holy dip in the river. Visit all the famous Ghats of Varanasi via boat.

At Manikarnika Ghat, disembark for a guided visit. Learn about this unique place where cremations take place. Walk for an hour through this site, witnessing the use of ayurvedic oils and the ancient architecture of Varanasi.

Return to the hotel for breakfast. Then, visit a local silk-weaving area where you’ll see the process of weaving a saree, with more than 10,000 machines running there.

In the afternoon, visit Sarnath, a place 13 km away from Varanasi. This is where Buddha preached his first sermon to his five disciples, marking the beginning of Buddhism. Explore the stupas and monuments created by Emperor Ashoka to spread Buddhism. Visit the Sarnath Museum, home to the beautifully polished Lion Capital of Ashoka. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay.


Day 3: Departure

Enjoy leisure time in Varanasi for self-exploration. Then, be dropped off at the airport for your departure.