Experience Varanasi Tour: 1 day Private Guided Tour





Description
This tour is recommended for Guest having only one day for sightseeing in Varanasi. This tour gives you the best of Varanasi in a day. *Our accredited guide will meet you at your hotel inside Varanasi and accompany you to the old city * Start with the morning boat ride. Witness how people take a dip early in the morning to wash away their sins, perform the rituals and worship the rising Sun. * Go for a guided walk in the old city which helps you to acclimatize with the local culture and visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor. * Return back to your hotel for freshen up, breakfast and some rest.. * Drive to Sarnath (which is around 10 Km from Varanasi). Sarnath is a holy spot of Buddhism, as Buddha preached here his First Sermon here. Visit the main temple, excavated ruins and the Archaeological Museum (Museum remains closed on Friday). *Lunch break. * Visit the Banaras Hindu University and the Durga temple. * Finally attend the Ganga Aarti ceremony from the shore.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our accredited guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you to the old city explaining you what you will see during the day. You will walk down to the ghats (banks of the River Ganga). Your guide will explain you the morning activities happening along the way, pilgrims walking down to the river, vendors selling flowers, priests standing along the lane to the temple, etc.
Morning Boat ride: A boat ride at dawn along the Ganges is a quintessential Varanasi experience. The early-morning light is particularly inspiring, and all the colour and clamour of pilgrims bathing and performing puja unfolds before you. An hour-long trip south from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat and to Manikarnika Ghat and back is popular and be prepared to see a burning corpse at Harishchandra and Manikarnika Ghat. People talking bath, performing rituals, practicing yoga and meditation, worshiping the rising Sun, … it all happens.
After the boat ride, go for a walking tour in the old city walking through the alley ways that leads to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. One of the most important Siva temples with more than 850 kilograms of real gold on the top. Your tour guide will explain the significance and share stories about heritage of the temple. You can always ask your guide to take you at a popular street food joint where you can explore traditional local breakfast along with a cup of masala chai (tea). Return back to your hotel for freshen up, some rest and breakfast.
Return back to your hotel for freshen up, some rest and breakfast before you proceed for the other tours during the day. Time to recharge and may be upload & share some beautiful pictures from the sunrise boat ride experience with friends & family.
Drive to Sarnath after breakfast. Lord Buddha preached his first sermon here after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Walk around the beautiful garden and see the ruins of different monasteries and temples. Visit the main temple, excavated ruins & the archaeological museum (museum remains closed on Fridays).
The Dhamek Stupa is a massive and prominent Buddhist monument located at the Deer Park in Sarnath. It is a highly sacred site for Buddhists worldwide, as it marks the precise spot where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. The stupa is a solid cylindrical structure, approximately 43.6 meters (141 feet) in height and 28 meters (92 feet) in diameter at its base. The lower stone portion of the stupa is adorned with exquisitely carved floral designs, geometric patterns, and figures of humans and birds, which are characteristic of the Gupta architectural style.
The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is originally a 3rd century BCE polished sandstone pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka, its most famous feature is the Lion Capital, which now serves as the official emblem of India. The top portion of the pillar, known as the Lion Capital, is made up of four lions standing back-to-back, representing strength, courage, and unity. Drive to a good local restaurant for lunch after the visit to Sarnath
Walk through the weavers district of Varanasi and learn about the life of the weavers and the process of hand weaving of the famous silk brocades and Banarasi sari. Banaras’s handloom weaving traditions have found mention in Vedic and Buddhist literature.
Banaras Hindu University is an internationally reputed temple of learning known for its academic history and cultural significance. BHU is one of the top ranking universities in India and the largest residential universities in Asia. Drive through the lush green campus. You may visit the new Vishwanath temple inside the campus.
After the drive through the university, visit the famous Durga Temple. A beautiful temple painted in red. It was constructed in 18th century by a queen from Bengal. It is particularly significant for worship of Goddess Durga and is considered one of the most powerful and mystical temples in Kashi.
Finally walk down to Dashashwamedh ghat to watch the famous Ganga Aarti ceremony from the shore. The Aarti is performed by a group of young priests facing towards the river. The Aarti or offering of lamps is observed at prescribed hours of the day and night to invoke the Gods. The lamps are revolved before the idols in a clockwise manner along with the chanting of hymns. This recitation is accompanied by drums, blowing of conch-shell and tolling of temple bells. After the experience, you'll be dropped back at your hotel, concluding the day’s tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your guide will meet at the hotel reception at the beginning of the tour and drop you back to the hotel after the tour. However for the captioned hotels (1)Tree of Life (2) Ramada at Katesar, Ramnagar we will send the car & driver to the hotel. Your guide will meet you at a decided point in the city since both the hotels are outside the city.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(44)
Kunal is such a knowledgeable and friendly person and tour guide. His storytelling is compelling and informative and made our trip to Varanasi and the ghats so much more rich than we could have done on our own.
Thank you so much for writing a nice review Amanda. It's always a team work. Best Regards, Kunal
This was one of the best experiences I have ever had. So glad to have met Kunal on day 1 of my Banaras visit—he is extremely knowledgeable as well as kind, and his passion for his work and community shines through. I would have never explored the places Kunal took us to, and even if I somehow managed to, I would not have the required context to understand the significance and history of the sites I was seeing. I would recommend everyone to do at least one of Kunal’s experiences when you visit Banaras. As a solo female traveller, I felt extremely comfortable. He not only guided me through the tour but also through all my days in Banaras, and went out of his way to help me see the Ganga aarti just because I mentioned it once. Kunal, you truly are a gem. Thank you for the unmatched hospitality, and I can’t wait to visit again and explore the city more with you!!
Thank you so much for writing a nice review Sanah. I am humbled. It's always a team work. Best Regards, Kunal
I had an amazing tour with Kunal. It began with a motorbike ride through the bustling streets of Varanasi, taking us into the authentic weavers’ district. We stayed completely off the usual tourist paths—it was just me, immersed in the true spirit of Varanasi. Kunal is a warm, trustworthy person with extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of different cultures. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for writing a nice review. It's always a team work. Best Regards, Kunal
Kunal is an incredible tour guide.
Thanks Rishi. Humbled.
Kunal delivered an extraordinary experience that brought the soul of Varanasi to life. With his deep knowledge, heartfelt passion, and genuine hospitality, he revealed layers of the city’s culture that most visitors rarely touch. Every moment felt personal and thoughtfully curated, from hidden ghats and local rituals to conversations that connected history, spirituality, and daily life. He transformed my trip into a deeply immersive journey, perfectly tailored for anyone seeking the true essence and magic of Kashi.
Thank you so much for writing a nice review Utsav. I am humbled. Hope to see you again soon. Best Regards, Kunal
We did the Sarnath experience with Kunal and had a great time. He is an India Tourism–certified guide who runs tailored tours through Experience Varanasi, and the experience was extremely well organised and informative. His explanations of the history of Sarnath, the Buddha’s first sermon, the ruins, and the museum were clear and engaging without being overwhelming. What I appreciated most was how helpful he was even outside the tour itself — from sharing practical tips about the city to recommending good places to eat and helping us navigate Varanasi better overall. That added a lot of value to our trip. His local roots and deep knowledge of the city really show, and I would definitely recommend him to anyone visiting Varanasi or planning a trip to Sarnath.
Thank you so much for writing a nice review Srikar. Hope to see you again soon. Best Regards, Kunal
We had a wonderful experience with Kunal on our Sarnath trip. He is an India Tourism–certified guide and hosts tailored experiences through Experience Varanasi, and it really shows in the quality of the tour he offers. He explained the history of Sarnath, the Buddha’s first sermon, the ruins, the frescoes, and the museum in a way that was both informative and easy to follow. What really stood out was how helpful he was even beyond the experience itself. He shared excellent recommendations for food, places to visit, and practical tips for getting around Varanasi, and he was always happy to help when we had questions about our stay. Kunal has a deep connection to Varanasi, having grown up here, and that comes through in the way he speaks about the city — with both knowledge and genuine care. It made the experience feel authentic rather than scripted. We’re very glad we did this tour with him and would highly recommend Kunal to anyone visiting Varanasi or Sarnath who wants a meaningful, well-guided experience.
Thank you so much for writing a nice review Meghna. Hope to see you again soon. Best Regards, Kunal
Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. He gave in depth cultural, religious and historical background on places visited. Time management was on point as covered all places that is to be covered in good time. The driver was skilled in navigating the crazy traffic of Varanasi and he kept our luggages safe.
I’ve been to the Vatican, Lourdes and Canterbury. But Kunal gives you a deep understanding and appreciation of everything around you. 3,000 years of history and myth made into enjoyment and enlightenment. Time and money well spent.
Thank you so much for writing a nice review Elizabeth. I am humbled. Hope to see you again soon. Best Regards, Kunal
This was an excellent experience! Kunal is the best guide we've had in India. He conducts tours for government officials and works at events like G20. He explained the city's history in detail and spoke about the significance of these places for Hinduism, pointing out small details and architectural features we wouldn't have noticed. We witnessed the cremation process and visited yogi Lali Baba and his community — an incredible and unique experience. Experience Varanasi helped organize our city tour the next day, and I highly recommend them. With Kunal, we also visited Sarnath. He took us to all the important sites, showed us the local museum, and explained the history of Buddhism in detail, as well as the significance of Sarnath and its symbols for India and Buddhists. In Varanasi itself, we visited several temples and the golden temple. Kunal quickly guided us through checkpoints and queues. Although we were limited on time due to our flight cancellation and urgent departure by bus, Kunal quickly adapted the program and still showed us the most important and interesting places in Varanasi.
Thank you so much for writing a nice review. It's always a team work. Our Transporters, Drivers, Vendors for boat, Boatmen, The Hotel Team, our Tour Guides & our Back Office Team. They all need to be mentioned here. Reviews like your's are very inspiring for us to keep doing the good work. Thank you once again. Hope to see you again soon. Best Regards, Kunal



