Varanasi Tour Packages: Kashi Yatra, Ganga Aarti and Sarnath

Our Varanasi tour packages take you to Varanasi, also called Kashi and Banaras, the holiest city of India and one of the oldest living cities in the world. See the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, take a sunrise boat ride past the ghats, have darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath temple and visit Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Every tour is private, with your own car, driver and local guide, and we change it to suit your dates and budget.

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.

Why Book Varanasi Tour Packages with Shamrock Journeys

• Private Varanasi guided tours: a licensed local guide for the ghats, temples and Sarnath, who knows the stories behind the rituals.
• Ganga Aarti boat booking: we book a private boat so you can watch the aarti from the river, away from the crowd.
• Kashi Vishwanath darshan made easy: we plan the best time and help with the Sugam Darshan ticket where it is available.
• Customised tour packages: hotels from comfortable to luxury, the number of days and the pace are your choice.
• Family and senior friendly: short walks, rickshaws in the old city and help at the ghat steps.

Our Most Popular Varanasi Tour Packages

These ready-made Varanasi tour packages are our best sellers. Each one can be changed to suit you.

• 3-day Spiritual Varanasi tour: the Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat ride, the old lanes of Kashi and Sarnath.
• 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 tour with a night at the Sangam.
• 6-day Varanasi Khajuraho tour: the Ganga and the UNESCO temples of Khajuraho.
• 7-day Varanasi Taj Mahal tour: Varanasi and the Taj Mahal, with Old Delhi and Fatehpur Sikri.
• 12-day Varanasi Khajuraho Agra Delhi tour: the great North and Central India circuit.

Kashi Darshan Package: What You See in Varanasi

All our Varanasi tour packages include the classic Kashi Darshan, the sights every pilgrim and traveller wants to see.

Ganga Aarti and Boat Ride

Every evening, priests at Dashashwamedh Ghat offer fire, incense and chants to the Ganga. Our Varanasi Ganga Aarti tour includes a boat ride at sunset, so you see the lamps from the water. The next morning, a sunrise boat ride takes you past bathing pilgrims, temples and the ghats as the city wakes up.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple Darshan

The Kashi Vishwanath temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and the heart of every Kashi Yatra package. The new Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor links the temple to the Ganga. Our Kashi Vishwanath darshan package also covers the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, the Durga temple, the Tulsi Manas temple and the Bharat Mata temple.

Shamrock travel tip: phones, bags and leather items are not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath, so leave them at the hotel or in the lockers. Dress modestly and carry a little cash for offerings. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Sarnath Buddhist Tour

Our Varanasi Sarnath tour package visits the Dhamek Stupa, the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, the Chaukhandi Stupa and the Sarnath museum with the Lion Capital of Ashoka, the national emblem of India. Sarnath is only about 10 km from Varanasi, so all our Varanasi tour packages include it.

Old Kashi Heritage Walk

Walk with your guide through the narrow lanes of the old city, past small shrines, silk weavers, sweet shops and the famous Banarasi paan, to see daily life in Banaras.

Varanasi Tour Combinations

Many guests join Varanasi tour packages with other holy and historic places.

Varanasi Prayagraj Bodh Gaya Tour Package

Bathe at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet, then visit the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya. This Hindu pilgrimage tour and Buddhist heritage tour of India is our 5-day or 6-day package. Read about Prayagraj and Bodh Gaya.

Kashi Ayodhya Prayagraj Tour Package

Add Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, with the new Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple and the ghats of the Saryu river. Ayodhya is about four to five hours by road from Varanasi or three hours from Prayagraj. We plan a Varanasi Ayodhya Prayagraj tour as one of our customised Varanasi tour packages, of five to six days.

Varanasi and Taj Mahal Tour

Fly to Delhi and see Old Delhi, then the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri in Agra. Or add Jaipur to make a Varanasi with Golden Triangle tour.

Varanasi and Khajuraho Tour

A short flight joins Varanasi with the temple art of Khajuraho and a tiger safari in Panna. See our Khajuraho tour packages.

Varanasi with Kerala Tour

Join the spiritual north with the backwaters, hills and beaches of Kerala. It is a good holiday package for couples and families.

What Our Varanasi Tour Packages Include

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

Flights, trains, lunch, dinner and personal expenses are not included unless we agree them with you.

Best Time for Varanasi Tour Packages

October to March is the best time, with cool, clear mornings for the boat rides. Dev Deepawali in November, when the ghats glow with lakhs of lamps, and Maha Shivratri are special times to visit, but book early. April to June is very hot, and in July to September the Ganga rises and some boat rides stop.

Shamrock travel tip: hotels near the ghats fill up for Dev Deepawali and the Magh Mela months ahead. Send us your dates early. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days are enough for Varanasi?

Two nights are enough for the Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat ride, the temples and Sarnath. Add one more night for a slower trip or a day trip.

Can I book only a Ganga Aarti boat ride?

All our Varanasi tour packages include it, and we can also book it as part of a short stay. Tell us your date.

Are Varanasi tour packages good for families and seniors?

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

Can I join Varanasi with Ayodhya and Prayagraj?

Yes. It is one of our most asked-for Kashi pilgrimage tours. We plan it as a private tour of five or six days.

How do I reach Varanasi?

Fly to Varanasi airport from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, or take a fast train from Delhi. Read our Varanasi travel guide for more.

How much do Varanasi tour packages cost?

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

Plan Your Kashi Yatra

See our spiritual tours of India, our cultural tours of India and all our India tour packages. We are one of the best tour operators in India, and we also plan the best North India tours. Ready to book one of our Varanasi tour packages? 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.

Popular tours: India Tour Packages | Golden Triangle Tour | Rajasthan Tours | Kerala Tours | Kashmir Tour Packages | Honeymoon Tours | Cultural Tours of India | Spiritual Tours of India

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