7-Day Buddhist Tour from Varanasi: Sarnath to Lumbini

Follow the Buddha's path across northern India and Lumbini in seven days

A 7-day guided Buddhist pilgrimage tour starting in Varanasi covers the four most sacred sites in Buddhism: Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon, Bodhgaya where he attained enlightenment, Kushinagar where he died, and Lumbini his birthplace in Nepal. You travel by private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide, stay in 3-star hotels, and visit temples, stupas, monasteries and archaeological sites across the route, ending in Lucknow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Sarnath temple tour

• Arrive at Varanasi airport
• Transfer to hotel
• Half day tour of Sarnath temples
• Return to hotel for overnight stay

Day 2: Travel to Bodhgaya and sightseeing

• Drive to Bodhgaya
• Check into hotel
• Lunch at hotel
• Visit Great Buddha Statue and Niranjana River
• Tour Maha Bodhi Temple and Bodhi Tree
• Visit Chinese Temple and destitute school
• Return to hotel for overnight stay

Day 3: Rajgir, Nalanda and Patna visit

• Depart Bodhgaya for Rajgir
• Visit Gridhakuta Hill and Bimbisara jail
• Drive to Nalanda University ruins
• Continue drive to Patna
• Check into hotel for overnight stay

Day 4: Vaishali and Kushinagar tour

• Drive to Vaishali
• Visit Vaishali Buddhist sites
• Continue drive to Kushinagar
• Check into hotel
• Visit Mahaparinirvana Temple and Rambhar Stupa
• Overnight stay at Kushinagar hotel

Day 5: Lumbini birthplace visit

• Drive to Lumbini
• Check into hotel
• Visit Mayadevi Temple birthplace
• Overnight stay at Lumbini hotel

Day 6: Kapilavastu and Sravasti exploration

• Drive to Kapilavastu
• Visit Gautam Buddha's childhood home
• Proceed to Sravasti
• Visit Sahet Mahet and Angulimal caves
• Overnight stay in Sravasti

Day 7: Lucknow sightseeing and departure

• Drive to Lucknow
• Visit Imambara and Rumi Darwaza
• Transfer to Lucknow Airport
• Fly to New Delhi for onward journey

The experience

You arrive at Varanasi airport and transfer to your hotel, then spend the afternoon at Sarnath, 10 km away, where Buddha delivered his first sermon in the Deer Park. The Dhamekh Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa and the Lion Capital of Ashoka remain from that era. The next morning you drive six to seven hours to Bodhgaya, the place where Buddha reached enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. There you visit the Mahabodhi Temple, the Great Buddha Statue, Chinese Temple and Niranjana River over two days of sightseeing.

Day three takes you from Bodhgaya toward Patna, stopping at Rajgir where Buddha spent twelve years and the first Buddhist council convened at the Saptaparni caves, and at Nalanda, once the world's oldest university and an international center for Buddhist studies. On day four you travel to Kushinagar, the place where Buddha died, to see the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Rambhar Stupa where his body was cremated. Day five brings you to Lumbini in Nepal, Buddha's birthplace, where you visit the Mayadevi Temple. The sixth day takes you through Kapilavastu, Buddha's childhood home, to Sravasti where he preached most of his sermons and performed miracles at the Jetavana monastery. On the final morning you drive to Lucknow, visiting the Imambara and Rumi Darwaza before heading to the airport.

Your private guide speaks English throughout the seven days and travels with you in an air-conditioned vehicle. Accommodation is in 3-star hotels with double, twin or single rooms. Tuk-tuk rides are included for local sightseeing. Lunch and dinner are on your own, so you can eat where and when you choose.

What’s included

• Your English-speaking private guide for all seven days.
• six nights of accommodation in 3-star hotels with double, twin or single bedrooms.
• transport by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• and tuk-tuk rides for local sightseeing.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day35 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 23:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Varanasi Excursion

Is this one for you?Book this if you're flying into Varanasi and out of Lucknow: the itinerary connects both airports with all seven sites, so you travel as one group rather than coordinating separate transport between stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Mahabodhi Temple and why do Buddhists visit it?

The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya marks the spot where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, making it one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. You visit it on day two of the tour and spend time exploring the temple and the ancient tree itself.

How much driving is involved each day on this tour?

Driving varies by day. The longest drives are six to seven hours from Varanasi to Bodhgaya on day two and seven hours from Kushinagar to Lumbini on day five. Other days involve shorter drives of two to six hours between sites. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide.

Will I visit Lumbini, and where is it?

Yes, Lumbini is the final major stop on day five. It lies in Nepal, about 180 km and five hours' drive from Kushinagar, and is the birthplace of Buddha. You stay overnight there and visit the Mayadevi Temple, the site where Buddha was born.

What happens on the last day of the tour?

On day seven you leave Sravasti in the morning and drive to Lucknow, visiting the Imambara and Rumi Darwaza, two historical monuments in the city. In the evening you transfer to Lucknow Airport for your onward flight.