Varanasi 3-Day Tour Package: Ganga Aarti, Kashi Vishwanath and Sarnath

Our Varanasi 3-day tour package is the best short trip to Kashi, the holiest city of India. In two nights you see the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, take a sunrise boat ride past the ghats, have darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath temple, walk the old lanes of Banaras and visit Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. It is a private tour with your own car, driver and licensed local guide.

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private spiritual and cultural tours across India for families, couples, seniors and groups.

Tour at a Glance

Here are the key facts of our Varanasi 3-day tour package.

Tour name: The Spiritual Varanasi
Duration: 3 days and 2 nights in Varanasi
Starts and ends: Varanasi airport or railway station
Tour type: private tour with car, driver and local guide
Highlights: the Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat ride, Kashi Vishwanath darshan, the old city and Sarnath
Best time: October to March

Why Choose This Tour

All of Kashi in a short time: our Varanasi 3-day tour package covers every main sight without a rush.
Ganga Aarti from a boat: we book a private boat so you see the lamps from the river.
Hindu and Buddhist heritage: the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga and Sarnath in one trip.
Good for families and seniors: short walks, rickshaws in the old city and help at the ghat steps.
Easy to add on: join it with Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Bodh Gaya, Khajuraho or the Taj Mahal.

Varanasi 3-Day Tour Package Itinerary

This is the day-by-day plan of the tour.

Day 1: Arrive in Varanasi, Old Kashi Walk and the Evening Ganga Aarti

We meet you at Varanasi airport or station and take you to your hotel. In the afternoon, your guide takes you on a heritage walk through the narrow lanes of old Kashi, past small shrines, silk weavers and sweet shops. At sunset, take a boat to Dashashwamedh Ghat and watch the Ganga Aarti from the river, as priests offer fire, incense and chants to the Ganga.

Shamrock travel tip: keep your bags close in the evening crowd, dress modestly near the ghats and ask before you take photos of people. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Overnight: Varanasi

Day 2: Sunrise Boat Ride, Kashi Vishwanath Darshan and Sarnath

Day 2 is the heart of the Varanasi 3-day tour package. Take a private boat ride on the Ganga at sunrise, past bathing pilgrims, morning prayers and the old palaces on the ghats. Then walk up to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, through the new Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor. After breakfast, drive about 10 km to Sarnath to see the Dhamek Stupa, the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and the Sarnath museum with the Lion Capital of Ashoka, the national emblem of India.

Shamrock travel tip: phones, bags and leather items are not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath, so leave them at the hotel or in the lockers. The Sarnath museum is closed one day a week, so we plan around it. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Varanasi

Day 3: Morning Temples and Departure

If your train or flight is later in the day, see the morning aarti at Assi Ghat, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, the Durga temple or the Banaras Hindu University, or shop for a Banarasi silk sari. Then we take you to Varanasi airport or station. Your Varanasi 3-day tour package ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Your Varanasi 3-day tour package includes:

Two nights in a hotel of your choice, with breakfast
A private air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
A licensed English-speaking guide for the old city, the ghats and Sarnath
The evening Ganga Aarti boat ride and the sunrise boat ride
Monument entry tickets as per the itinerary, taxes, tolls and parking

What Is Not Included

Flights and trains to and from Varanasi
Lunch and dinner
Temple offerings, special darshan tickets and camera fees
Personal expenses and travel insurance

Best Time for This Tour

October to March is the best time for our Varanasi 3-day tour package, with cool, clear mornings for the boat ride. Dev Deepawali in November and Maha Shivratri are special times to visit, but book early. April to June is very hot, and from July to September the Ganga rises and some boat rides stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 3 days enough for Varanasi?

Yes. Our Varanasi 3-day tour package, with two nights, is enough for the Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat ride, Kashi Vishwanath and Sarnath. Add a night for a slower pace.

Can I do this as a Varanasi 2 nights 3 days package from Delhi?

Yes. Take a morning flight or the Vande Bharat Express from Delhi, and we meet you on arrival.

Is the tour good for families and seniors?

Yes. We use rickshaws in the old city, keep walks short and choose hotels with easy access.

Can I add Prayagraj, Ayodhya or Bodh Gaya?

Yes. See our 5-day Varanasi Prayagraj Bodhgaya tour, or ask us to add Ayodhya and the Ram temple.

Which hotels do you use?

From comfortable hotels to luxury hotels on the ghats. You choose the level, and we send options.

How much does the Varanasi 3-day tour package cost?

The price depends on your hotel, the number of travellers and the season. Tell us your dates and we will send a clear quotation.

More Varanasi Tours

Want more than our Varanasi 3-day tour package? Choose a longer tour.

5-day Varanasi Prayagraj Bodhgaya tour: Kashi, the Triveni Sangam and the Mahabodhi Temple.
6-day Varanasi Bodhgaya Prayagraj tour: a slower Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage.
6-day Varanasi Khajuraho tour: the Ganga and the temples of Khajuraho.
7-day Varanasi Taj Mahal tour: Varanasi and the Taj Mahal.
12-day Varanasi Khajuraho Agra Delhi tour: the great North and Central India circuit.

Read our Varanasi travel guide, see all our Varanasi tour packages, our spiritual tours of India and our cultural tours of India. We are one of the best tour operators in India, and we also plan the best North India tours. Request your free quote

Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.

Recognised and trusted: Recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Member of PATA, TAAI, IATO and ADTOI.

Tell us your travel dates and we will send you a personal itinerary. Request your free quote