2-Day Private Varanasi Tour: Sunrise & Sunset Boat Rides

Two days of ritual and river: the Ganges at dawn and dusk, the temples in between.

A 2-day private tour of Varanasi with a live English-speaking guide covers the city's holiest temples, two boat rides on the Ganges at sunrise and sunset, and a day trip to Sarnath where Buddha gave his first sermon. Hotel pickup is included, and you can add overnight accommodation at a 4-star or 5-star property, or book transport and guide alone. The itinerary fits the spiritual heart of the city into 48 hours without rushing the ritual moments.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Varanasi Temples & Evening Arti Ceremony

• Pickup from airport or hotel
• Visit Mother India Temple
• Visit Tulsi Manas Temple
• Visit Sankat Mochan Temple
• Tour Banaras Hindu University campus
• Enjoy rickshaw ride through bazaars
• Witness evening Ganges Arti ceremony

Day 2: Sunrise Boat Ride, Temples & Drop-off

• Early morning hotel pickup
• Sunrise boat ride on Ganges
• Walk old city back alleys
• Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple
• Breakfast at hotel
• See traditional silk weaving art
• Visit Sarnath Buddhist pilgrimage site
• Drop-off at hotel or airport

The experience

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel, airport or railway station and moves through Varanasi's temple circuit on day one. You'll visit the Mother India Temple, where a massive marble map of undivided India replaces the usual carved idols; the Tulsi Manas Temple, its marble walls inscribed with scenes from the Ramayana; and Sankat Mochan, a 16th-century shrine to Hanuman on the banks of the Assi river. The Banaras Hindu University campus, Asia's largest, includes entry to the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum and a replica of the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Late afternoon brings a rickshaw ride through the bazaars to the Ganges, where you board a hand-rowed boat to watch the evening Aarti ceremony: hundreds of candles and flower offerings lit in thanksgiving to the river.

Day two starts at 5:30am with a boat ride at sunrise to see the bathing ghats and cremation sites along the riverfront. After returning to your hotel for breakfast, you'll visit a silk weaving workshop to watch artisans work the intricate patterns that make Banarasi saris famous. The afternoon is spent in Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment. The Dhamekh Stupa and the Archaeological Museum (closed Fridays) stand as witnesses to centuries of Buddhist pilgrimage. The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel, airport, railway station or another location in Varanasi.

You travel in an air-conditioned private vehicle with a professional local guide throughout. Bottled water is unlimited, and breakfast is included each morning. If you book with hotel accommodation, you'll stay on twin sharing at either a 4-star or 5-star property. The boat rides use hand-rowed boats, and the evening rickshaw ride is part of the experience, not a separate cost. Note that the Sarnath museum closes on Fridays, and during the monsoon season (July to September) the boat ride depends on the Ganges water level.

What’s included

• Professional private local guide fluent in English.
• air-conditioned private vehicle transport throughout.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at your chosen Varanasi location.
• sunrise boat ride on the Ganges on day two.
• evening boat ride and Aarti ceremony on day one.
• evening rickshaw ride to the Ganges ghat.
• entrance fees to temples and Sarnath sites.
• breakfast each morning.
• unlimited bottled water.
• walking tour through the old city.
• silk weaving workshop visit.
• overnight accommodation on twin sharing (if booked with hotel option).

Options for this experience

3 options

Price Excluding HotelGuide in English · 09:00Covers a private vehicle, a tour guide, entrance fees, a boat ride, a rickshaw ride and bottled water; pickup is included

Price Including 4-Star HotelsGuide in English · 09:00Covers a 4-star hotel, breakfast, a private vehicle, a tour guide, entrance fees, a boat ride, a rickshaw ride and bottled water; includes pickup

Price Including a 5-Star HotelGuide in English · 09:00Covers a 5-star hotel, breakfast, a private vehicle, a tour guide, entrance fees, a boat ride, a rickshaw ride and bottled water; includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to16h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pacific Classic Tours India

Is this one for you?Choose the tour without hotel if you're staying with friends or have your own accommodation in Varanasi. Add a 4-star or 5-star hotel if you want the lodging arranged and included in one booking. The 5:30am start on day two means an early wake-up, but it's the only way to catch the Ganges at sunrise when the ritual bathing is most active.

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Top questions

What is the Aarti ceremony I'll see on the Ganges in the evening?

The Aarti is a ritual of thanksgiving to Mother Ganges, performed with hundreds of candles and flower offerings lit along the river. It happens every evening and is considered one of the most spiritually intense ceremonies in India, drawing pilgrims and visitors to the water's edge.

Do I need to remove my shoes when I visit the temples?

Yes, footwear must be removed outside each temple. Socks are fine and you can keep wearing them. Dress code requires upper wear that covers shoulders, chest, navel and upper arms, and lower wear at least below knee-length, to preserve the sanctity of the temple spaces.

What happens during the sunrise boat ride on day two?

The sunrise boat ride departs at 5:30am from your hotel and takes you onto the Ganges to watch the bathing ghats and cremation sites as the sun rises over the riverfront. You'll see the daily rituals that have shaped life on the river for thousands of years, then return for breakfast at your hotel.

Is Sarnath far from Varanasi, and how much time do I spend there?

Sarnath is a day trip from Varanasi and is included on day two after the morning boat ride and breakfast. You'll visit the Dhamekh Stupa, the Archaeological Museum and other Buddhist pilgrimage sites before returning to Varanasi for drop-off at your chosen location.

Can I book this tour without hotel accommodation?

Yes. You can choose the tour without hotel, which includes the guide, private transport, boat rides, entrance fees and breakfast, but you'll arrange your own accommodation. Alternatively, you can add a 4-star or 5-star hotel for both nights on twin-sharing basis.

What should I know about the Kashi Vishwanath Temple visit?

Kashi Vishwanath is the holiest temple in Varanasi, dedicated to Shiva as lord of the universe. On day two, after the sunrise boat ride, you'll walk through the old city's narrow alleyways to reach it. The temple is a sacred place of daily worship, so the dress code and shoe removal rules apply strictly here.