9-Day Buddha Tour: Bodh Gaya to Varanasi with Lumbini

Walk the path from enlightenment to final teaching, site by site across two countries

A 9-day scheduled group tour tracing the Buddha's life across India and Nepal, visiting Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Shravasti and Sarnath. The itinerary includes hotel stays, all transport, meals, English-speaking guides, entrance fees, and Nepal visa fees plus border crossing assistance. Solo travelers get a private room. Groups of two or more share twin, double or triple rooms based on party size.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Gaya and Bodhgaya visit

• Arrive in Gaya
• Transfer to Bodhgaya
• Visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodhi Tree
• Dinner and overnight in Bodhgaya

Day 2: Bodhgaya sightseeing

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Dungeshwari Caves
• Visit Sujata Stupa
• Visit Great Buddha Statue
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Bodhgaya

Day 3: Rajgir and Nalanda tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Gridhakuta Hill (Vulture’s Peak)
• Visit Venuvan Bamboo Grove
• Visit Saptaparni Cave
• Explore Nalanda ruins
• Visit King Bimbisara ruins
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Rajgir

Day 4: Vaishali and Kushinagar visit

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Buddha Relic Stupa at Vaishali
• Visit Ananda Stupa and Ashoka Pillar
• Visit Kesariya Stupa
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Kushinagar

Day 5: Kushinagar sacred sites

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Mahaparinirvana Temple
• Visit Ramabhar Stupa
• Optional visit to Matha Kuar Shrine
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Lumbini

Day 6: Lumbini pilgrimage sites

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Maya Devi Temple and Ashoka Pillar
• Explore Kapilavastu archaeological remains
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Lumbini

Day 7: Shravasti monastery visit

• Breakfast at hotel
• Explore Jetavana Monastery
• Visit Angulimala and Anathapindika Stupas
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Shravasti

Day 8: Varanasi and Sarnath tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Chaukhandi Stupa
• Visit Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath
• Evening boat ride on Ganges
• Watch Ganga Aarti ceremony
• Lunch at hotel
• Dinner and overnight in Varanasi

Day 9: Varanasi departure day

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Mulagandha Kuti Vihara at Sarnath
• Lunch before departure

The experience

The tour opens at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the UNESCO site where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree. You spend time there for prayer and meditation before moving through the surrounding sites: the Dungeshwari Caves where he practiced austerities, the Sujata Stupa marking his turning point, and the 80-foot Great Buddha Statue. From there the route moves north through Rajgir and Nalanda, where you walk the ruins of one of ancient Asia's greatest learning centers and climb Gridhakuta Hill, the Buddha's teaching place overlooking the valleys.

The middle section crosses into the final journey sites: Vaishali's Buddha Relic Stupa and Ashoka Pillar, then Kushinagar, where the Mahaparinirvana Temple holds the reclining Buddha statue marking his passing. From Kushinagar you travel to Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace site centered on the Maya Devi Temple and the ancient Ashoka Pillar. The tour then moves to Shravasti's Jetavana Monastery, where the Buddha spent many rainy seasons teaching, before ending in Varanasi at Sarnath, where you visit the Dhamek Stupa (site of his first teaching) and the Chaukhandi Stupa, then watch the Ganga Aarti ceremony from a boat on the Ganges at dusk.

Transport is air-conditioned throughout, and you stay in 4-star category hotels each night. An English-speaking local guide accompanies the group, and all entrance fees are covered. The itinerary builds in time for personal reflection at each sacred site, so the pace is contemplative rather than rushed. Nepal visa fees and assistance with the India–Nepal border crossing are handled as part of the package, removing the logistics of crossing between countries.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to all eight sacred sites.
• air-conditioned transport throughout.
• overnight stays in 4-star category hotels with private rooms for solo travelers and shared rooms for groups.
• all meals.
• English-speaking local guide.
• Nepal visa fees and India–Nepal border crossing assistance.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private tour with standard hotelsGuide in English · Available from 5 Dec · 19 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00Pickup is included in the private tour

Group tour with standard hotelsGuide in English · Available from 5 Dec · 19 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00Pickup is included in the group tour

Group tour with 5-star hotelsGuide in English · Available from 5 Dec · 19 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:005-star hotel upgrade for 5 nights: upgrade to 5-star hotel accommodation for 5 nights, with standard accommodation for the remaining 3 nights. Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday19 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to2d before

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Buddha Trails Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the group tour option if you want to travel with other pilgrims and share costs. Choose the private tour if you prefer your own guide and schedule flexibility within the itinerary. The 9-day length covers the full arc of the Buddha's life from enlightenment to final teaching, so it suits travelers who want depth at each site rather than a quick survey of highlights.

Top questions

What's included in the 9-day tour price?

Hotel stays in 4-star category properties, all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees to each site, meals, an English-speaking guide, Nepal visa fees and border crossing assistance are all included. Solo travelers receive a private room. Groups of two or more are arranged in twin, double or triple rooms according to party size.

Do I need to arrange my own Indian visa before booking?

An Indian visa is not included and must be arranged separately before departure. Nepal visa fees are covered by the tour operator.

What happens at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya?

The Mahabodhi Temple marks the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. You explore the UNESCO-listed temple complex and spend time at the sacred Bodhi Tree with opportunity for prayer, meditation and quiet reflection.

How much time is spent at each site?

The itinerary allows time for prayer, meditation and personal reflection at the sacred sites, so the pace is contemplative. Specific durations at individual stops vary, but the 9-day structure means you move through eight major locations without rushing between them.

What is the Ganga Aarti ceremony in Varanasi?

The Ganga Aarti is a traditional evening ritual performed by priests on the ghats of the Ganges River. You watch from a boat as they perform rituals with fire, incense and chanting, with the ghats illuminated by lamps. It takes place on your final evening in Varanasi before departure.

Can I visit Kapilavastu and the Jetavana Monastery?

Yes. Kapilavastu's archaeological remains, associated with the ancient Shakya kingdom where Prince Siddhartha spent his early life, are visited during the Lumbini section. Jetavana Monastery in Shravasti, one of the Buddha's most important residences, is explored on day seven with walks through the peaceful archaeological grounds.