5-Day Private Tour: Varanasi, Ayodhya & Prayag

Five days following the Ganges from one sacred city to the next

A private 5-day guided tour of Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayag with accommodation in 3-star hotels, an air-conditioned vehicle, and boat rides on the Ganges and Saryu rivers. The guide speaks your language and stays with you throughout, handling the route and the temple visits so you move between three of India's oldest pilgrimage cities without arranging transport or bookings yourself. Pickup from Varanasi airport is included; boat rides and some temple rituals carry small additional costs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival at Varanasi

• Pickup from Varanasi airport
• Transfer to hotel
• Evening Ganga Aarti
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 2 — Varanasi local sightseeing

• Early morning Ganga snan boat ride
• Visit Kashi Vishwanath temple
• Visit Annapurna temple
• Visit Vishal akshi temple
• Visit Bhu Bharat mata Mandir
• Visit Durga temple
• Visit Sankat mochan temple
• Afternoon Sarnath tour
• Visit Kal bhiraw temple
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 3 — Varanasi to Ayodhya

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Ayodhya
• Check in hotel
• Evening sightseeing
• Visit Hanuman temple
• Visit ancient Lord Shiva temple
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 4 — Ayodhya to Prayag

• Early morning Saryu snan
• Visit Ram Janki temple
• Visit Dashrath temple
• Breakfast at hotel
• Check out and drive to Prayag
• Evening sightseeing
• Overnight stay at hotel

Day 5 — Prayag to Varanasi departure

• Early morning Triveni Sangam snan and puja
• Visit Hanuman temple
• Visit Bhardwj ashram
• Breakfast at hotel
• Check out from hotel
• Drop to Varanasi airport

The Experience

The tour opens with pickup from Varanasi airport or station and a drive to your hotel, followed by the evening Ganga Aarti—the ritual fire ceremony on the river ghats at dusk. The next morning starts before dawn with a boat ride on the Ganges, then moves through the temples of old Kashi: Kashi Vishwanath, where the marble shrine sits in the oldest part of the city; Annapurna Temple, Vishal Akshi Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Durga Temple and Sankat Mochan. The afternoon takes you to Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon at the Dhamak Stupa, and the evening returns to Varanasi for Kal Bhiraw Temple before nightfall.

On day three you drive to Ayodhya, the ancient capital where Ram was born. The evening includes a visit to Hanuman Temple and the Shiva temple founded by King Dashrath. Day four moves you early to the Saryu River for a ritual bath, then to Ram Janki Temple and Dashrath Temple before the midday drive to Prayag. There you'll see the Triveni Sangam, where three rivers meet—the Ganges, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati—and bathe at the confluence. The final morning includes another ritual bath and visit to Hanuman Temple and Bhardwaj Ashram before the drive back to Varanasi for your evening flight.

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages and travels with the group throughout. The vehicle is air-conditioned; all hotels are 3-star properties in central locations. Boat rides on both rivers are included in the package. Some temple rituals—special pujas or the pind daan ceremony—carry costs of 500 to 1,100 rupees if you choose them, and the guide fee for Varanasi and Ayodhya is 500 rupees per person.

What’s included

• Pickup from Varanasi airport or station.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing.
• 3-star hotel accommodation for four nights (Silk City, Meadows or 36 Avenue in Varanasi.
• Rio Banaras or The Regency in Varanasi.
• Awadh Palace or Royal Heritage in Ayodhya.
• Cannet or Pride Inn in Prayag).
• guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages.
• boat rides on the Ganges in Varanasi and the Saryu in Ayodhya.
• entry to all temples and sites on the itinerary.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Grand India Tours & Travels

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving without your own transport—pickup is included and the guide navigates all three cities for you, so you move between Varanasi, Prayag, and Ayodhya without managing logistics yourself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What time does the tour start each morning?

The first morning begins before dawn for the Ganga boat ride and temple visits in Varanasi. Other days vary: the drive to Ayodhya starts after breakfast, and the final morning at Prayag also begins early for the Triveni Sangam ritual bath before the return journey.

Which temples will I actually enter and spend time in?

The Varanasi day includes Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, Vishal Akshi Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir, Durga Temple and Sankat Mochan Temple, plus Kal Bhiraw Temple in the evening. In Ayodhya you visit Hanuman Temple and the Shiva temple founded by King Dashrath. In Prayag the stops are Hanuman Temple and Bhardwaj Ashram, plus the ritual bath at Triveni Sangam where the rivers meet.

Are the boat rides included, or do I pay extra?

Boat rides on the Ganges in Varanasi and on the Saryu in Ayodhya are included in the tour price. Some temple rituals like special pujas or the pind daan ceremony are optional and cost extra if you choose them.

What happens if I arrive late or my flight is delayed?

Pickup from Varanasi airport or station is included, so the driver will track your arrival. The representative stays in touch throughout the trip, so delays can be managed without you arranging alternative transport.

Do I need to book temples or the boat rides in advance?

No. The guide handles all temple visits and the boat rides are arranged as part of the tour itinerary. You move through the sites without needing to book separately or wait in lines.

What's the difference between the Ganges boat ride and the river baths?

The boat rides are sightseeing journeys on the water in Varanasi and Ayodhya, included in the tour. The ritual baths—at the Ganges ghats in Varanasi, the Saryu in Ayodhya, and the Triveni Sangam in Prayag—are part of the temple visits and spiritual practice at each stop.