Full Day Varanasi City Tour with Sarnath and Evening Aarti

Follow the Ganges from predawn prayers through five temples to a candlelit river ritual

This full-day Varanasi city tour covers the spiritual heart of the city with private transportation, an English-speaking guide, and entry to temples and the Sarnath Museum. You start with the morning Aarti at Assi Ghat before sunrise, move through Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Durga Mandir, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Shri Vishwanath Mandir, then travel to Sarnath to see where Buddha delivered his first sermon, and finish at Daswamedha Ghat for the evening Aarti ceremony. Hotel pickup is included. The tour runs about 10 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Varanasi and Sarnath full-day tour

• Early morning pickup and subah-e-banaras
• Morning Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat
• Return to hotel after Aarti
• Pickup from hotel for city temple visits
• Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple
• Visit Durga Mandir (Monkey Temple)
• Visit Tulsi Manas Mandir
• Visit Shri Vishwanath Mandir (Birla Temple)
• Drive to Sarnath pilgrimage site
• Tour Sarnath Archaeological Museum
• Return to Varanasi for evening Ganga Aarti
• Experience evening Aarti at Daswamedha Ghat
• Drop back to hotel

The experience

Your hotel pickup happens at 5 a.m. so you reach Assi Ghat before the sun rises. The morning Aarti ceremony (a ritual of prayers and offerings to the Ganges) unfolds while the city is still quiet, and your guide explains what each gesture means. You return to your hotel for a break, then get picked up again at 8:30 a.m. to begin the temple circuit.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also called the Golden Temple, sits on the western bank of the Ganges and is one of the twelve holiest Shiva temples in India. From there you move to Durga Mandir, built in the 18th century and known for its monkeys, then to Tulsi Manas Mandir, where the Hindu epic Ramcharitmanas was written in the 16th century by the poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas. The Shri Vishwanath Mandir, a newer temple also called the Birla Temple, rounds out the Varanasi stops. Your guide walks you through the narrow alleyways and explains the history and religious significance of each site.

After the temple visits, you drive 13 kilometers to Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermon after reaching enlightenment. The Sarnath Museum, the oldest site museum run by India's Archaeological Survey, holds Buddhist art and artifacts from the excavations. You spend time here before heading back to Varanasi for the evening. At Daswamedha Ghat, the Aarti ceremony begins as the sun sets: lamps and flowers fill the air, and the ritual honors the Ganges with a choreography that has been performed for centuries. Your guide narrates the mythology behind it, and once the ceremony ends, you are dropped back at your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• bottled water.
• entry to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath Museum and all other sites.
• sightseeing with an English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Infant (under 5): free

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 19 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by IndiaTor

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Varanasi without a car or arriving for the first time. The early pickup means you catch the morning prayers before the city wakes, and the fixed schedule holds all five temples and Sarnath inside a single day without you arranging the route or timing yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 5): free.

What time does the tour start and when does it end?

The tour begins with a 5 a.m. pickup for the morning Aarti at Assi Ghat, then you return to your hotel. A second pickup happens at 8:30 a.m. for the temple circuit and Sarnath visit. The full day runs about 10 hours, ending after the evening Aarti ceremony at Daswamedha Ghat.

What is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and why is it important?

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, known as the Golden Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the western bank of the Ganges. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest Shiva temples in Hinduism, and one of the most sacred sites in Varanasi.

Where did Buddha deliver his first sermon?

Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, located 13 kilometers from Varanasi. Sarnath is an important pilgrimage center for Buddhists, and the Sarnath Museum there houses Buddhist art and treasures from archaeological excavations.

What happens at the evening Aarti ceremony at Daswamedha Ghat?

The evening Aarti is a highly choreographed ritual performed at Daswamedha Ghat to celebrate the Ganges River. Burning lamps, flowers and scented sticks create the atmosphere while your guide explains the Hindu mythology and rituals behind the ceremony.

Is transportation included, and do I need my own car?

Private transportation is included throughout the tour, with hotel pickup at 5 a.m. for the morning Aarti and again at 8:30 a.m. for the temple circuit. You do not need your own car. The driver and guide handle all movement between sites.

What temples are included in the Varanasi portion of the tour?

The tour visits four major temples: Kashi Vishwanath Temple (the Golden Temple), Durga Mandir (the Monkey Temple), Tulsi Manas Mandir, and Shri Vishwanath Mandir (the Birla Temple). Entry fees to these temples are included.