India · Religious & Spiritual

2-Day Varanasi Sightseeing Tour with Sarnath and Ganges Boat Ride

2 Days Round trip from Sarnath Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma
02 See Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, and the remains of the Ashokan Pillar
03 Witness the evening Aarti ceremony on the River Ganga
04 Take a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges and explore Varanasi's old city
05 Visit Benaras Hindu University, Durga Temple, and Bharat Mata Temple
06 Shop for Varanasi's famous silk handicrafts

Explore two of Varanasi's most significant spiritual and historical areas on this 2-day tour. Visit Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and see major Buddhist remains including Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, Mulagandha Kuti, the Ashokan Pillar remains, and the Archeological Museum. In Varanasi, experience the evening Aarti ceremony, take a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, visit important temples, and walk through the old city with its Ayurveda stores, spice shops, flower markets, and famous silk handicrafts.

Visit Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and see major Buddhist remains including Dhamekh Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, Mulagandha Kuti, the Ashokan Pillar remains, and the Archeological Museum.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Varanasi, Sarnath

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Sarnath Exploration and Evening Aarti Ceremony

Meet your Varanasi tour guide and head to Sarnath, a famous place in Varanasi and an important destination for religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma (Sermon), after which the Buddhist Sangha (Association) originated. It is one of the most historical and holy Buddhist places in Varanasi.
Visit Dhamekh Stupa Sarnath and the Dharmarajika Stupa site.
Continue to the ruins of monasteries, including Mulagandha Kuti, and see the remains of the Ashokan Pillar.
Explore the Archeological Museum.
Witness the ritual of singing Aarti. The Varanasi evening prayer ceremony, also called the Aarti Ceremony, is a Hindu form of worship organized every day to publicly thank the River Ganga. One of a kind, it attracts thousands of people daily who come to witness it.

Day 02

Sunrise Ganges Boat Ride and Varanasi City Tour

Begin with a boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise and enjoy sightseeing in the city.
See the crematorium and visit Vishvanath Temple (Golden Temple).
Take a heritage walk through the old part of the city, see old houses and temples, and pass by small Ayurveda stores with essential oils, spices, incense sticks, and flower markets featuring marigolds, lotus, and gladiolas used in the daily offerings to the deities.
Visit Benaras Hindu University.
Continue to Durga Temple, also known as Monkey Temple.
Reach Bharat Mata Temple.
Meanwhile, there is an opportunity to see and shop for the city's most famous handicraft, silk.