3-day Varanasi tour: Sunrise boat ride, Sarnath and evening aarti

Sunrise on the Ganges, cremation rituals at Manikarnika, temples across the city, and a sacred Buddhist site in three days

A 3-day guided tour of Varanasi and Sarnath with private accommodation, airport transfer, English-speaking guide and all monument entry. Day one brings you to the evening aarti ceremony at Dashwasamedh Ghat. Day two covers a sunrise boat ride from Dashashwamedh to Harischandra Ghat, the cremation ground at Manikarnika, city temples including Banaras Hindu University and Durga Temple, and the afternoon at Sarnath where Buddha gave his first sermon. Day three is leisure time before your airport transfer. Maximum six people per booking. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and evening aarti ceremony

• Arrive at Varanasi airport
• Meet company representative
• Transfer to hotel
• Attend evening aarti ceremony at Dashwasamedh Ghat
• Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Sunrise boat ride and city tour

• Pickup from hotel before sunrise
• Private boat ride on Ganges River
• Visit Manikarnika Ghat cremation ground
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• City tour: Banaras Hindu University, Mother India Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Durga Temple, Ashram
• Visit Sarnath pilgrimage site
• Return to hotel for overnight stay

Day 3: Leisure and departure transfer

• Morning at leisure or optional sightseeing tour
• Transfer to Varanasi airport
• Board departure flight

The experience

You arrive at Varanasi airport and a company representative meets you at the terminal exit with a name board, then drives you to your hotel. That evening, you're taken to a private balcony at Dashwasamedh Ghat with reserved chairs positioned for the best view of the aarti ceremony: the moment when priests light flames as the sun sets and hymns fill the air along the river. You return to the hotel around 8:30 PM for dinner and overnight stay.

Day two starts before sunrise. Thirty minutes before dawn, pickup from your hotel takes you to the Ganges, where you board a private boat for the ride from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Harischandra Ghat. As the sun rises, the water fills with orange and red light reflecting off the river. After deboarding at Manikarnika Ghat, you witness the cremation rituals: the traditional Hindu practice believed to help souls achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth. This is not a staged viewing. It is the living spiritual center of the city. You return to the hotel for breakfast, then spend the morning on a city tour visiting Banaras Hindu University (Asia's largest residential university), the Bharat Mata Temple with its three-dimensional map of India, Tulsi Manas Temple (the former home of the poet Tulsidas), Durga Temple (also called Monkey Temple), and an ashram where Hindu monks and pundits live. In the afternoon, you travel to Sarnath, the sacred site where Buddha delivered his first sermon. There you see the Dhamek Stupa, ruins, a large Buddha statue, the archaeological museum and the deer park. You return to the hotel for the night.

On day three, the morning is yours to rest or explore at your own pace. If your flight departs in the afternoon, a three-hour sightseeing tour is arranged at no extra cost. Later, you're transferred to Varanasi airport for your onward flight.

What’s included

• Airport transfer and all transfers between hotel, attractions and airport.
• hotel accommodation for three nights.
• private English-speaking guide for all monument visits.
• private boat during the sunrise ride on the Ganges.
• entry to all monuments including Sarnath, temples and the archaeological museum.
• private balcony seating with reserved chairs for the evening aarti ceremony.
• all road taxes, parking and fuel charges.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day, 22 start times, from US$ 126 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day22 departure times: 05:00, 05:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 and 15:30Other times ›

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

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 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Tour Varanasi

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private boat for sunrise and reserved seating at evening aarti. You'll move through each site with just five others maximum, not jostling for space with larger groups.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens during the sunrise boat ride on the Ganges?

The private boat departs before dawn from Dashashwamedh Ghat and travels to Harischandra Ghat as the sun rises, giving you views of the river lit in orange and red hues. The ride shows the heritage of Varanasi from the water as the city wakes.

What is Manikarnika Ghat and why do we visit it?

Manikarnika Ghat is the cremation ground on the Ganges where Hindus perform traditional cremation rituals believed to help souls achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth. It is a place where spiritual and practical aspects of life and death converge, offering insight into the profound customs of Varanasi.

What do we see in Sarnath?

Sarnath is the sacred pilgrimage site where Buddha delivered his first sermon. You visit the Dhamek Stupa, ancient ruins, a large Buddha statue, the archaeological museum and the deer park, all set in serene gardens.

Is accommodation included in this tour?

Yes, hotel accommodation is booked and included in the package for all three nights. Airport pickup and all transfers between the hotel, attractions and the airport are also included.

How many people can book this tour?

A maximum of six people can book per reservation. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and child rates apply only when a child shares the booking with two paying adults.

What is the evening aarti ceremony?

The aarti ceremony at Dashwasamedh Ghat takes place as the sun sets, with priests lighting flames and chanting hymns along the Ganges. You watch from a private balcony with reserved chairs, making it a close view of this ancient ritual.