If you're visiting Varanasi, having a good guide makes all the difference, and Karan is excellent. Our day was really well structured, starting with a boat ride on the Ganges and continuing with a walk through all the ghats and the old city. We managed to cover a lot in one day without feeling rushed. He knows the city inside out and took us to local places and activities that we honestly would never have found on our own. His knowledge of history and religion is impressive, he explained everything clearly and was happy to answer every question we had. But what really stood out is that beyond being knowledgeable and professional, he was genuinely warm and friendly. By the end of the day it felt less like a tour and more like exploring the city with a friend. Highly recommend!
Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour
+2 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Price from
- $80 / person
- Location
- Varanasi, India
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 16 reviews
- Languages
- HI, EN
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Sachan Tours
Description
Sarnath is a beautiful Buddhist site and considered very one of the most sacred among four different places associated with the life of Buddha. Today, this place is dotted with several Buddhist temples, a site-museum and archaeological remains. You get to know about the philosophy of Buddhism, stories of previous births of Buddha (the Jataka tales) and so many other things related to this place.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, and Sun
- Next available
- Sat, Oct 10
- Adult (ages 19–60)
- $80
- Senior (ages 61+)
- $60
- Youth (ages 16–18)
- $60
- Child (ages 3–15)
- $50
- Infant (ages 1–2)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 9.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will visit Mool Gandh Kuti Vihara temple, which was built by 'Mahabodhi Society' based in Sri Lanka. This temple has beautiful murals painted by a Japanese artist. This temple also houses the relics of Buddha, which are publicly exhibited for 3 days in November.
Sarnath Deer Park
We will visit this archaeological park which has remains of old Buddhist monasteries and many stupa.
We will visit the site museum which houses the national emblem of India, one of most beautiful image of Buddha and a few other very important & significant sculptures.
Ashoka Pillar
This place has the remains of the Ashokan pillar which also contains the inscription in Pali language & Brahmi script. This pillar had a lion capital with four lions standing back to back, which was adopted as the national emblem of India post-independence.
What's included
Included
Private transportation
All Fees and Taxes
Not included
Food & drinks are not included.
Pickup Locations & Times
At the reception of the hotel
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
16 reviews
How it compares in Varanasi
- Rated higher than 71% of 96 reviewed tours in Varanasi
- Starting price $80 is 24% above the typical $65 for tours of similar length in Varanasi
Excurgo comparison of 484 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour take?
Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour cost?
Prices start at $80 per person for this Varanasi experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
How much does Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour cost for children?
Children aged 3–15 pay from $50, adults from $80. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. At the reception of the hotel Pickup points include Stay Inn Kailasha, OYO Hotel Shyamal.
What languages is Serene and beautiful Sarnath Private Half Day Tour offered in?
The experience is available in HI, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(16)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I
The best guide in Varanasi
G
Karan is the best!!
We did 2 tours this week and we loved both of them. The Sarnath tour was great, we learned a lot buddhism and we would 100% recommend any tour with Karan. He goes above and beyond to make every tour special. He is a wealth of knowledge!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your beautiful review. It was a great time with you both. Hope to see you again and wish you a great holiday in India. Kinest regards Karan Sachan.
H
Absolutely Wonderful Experience – Highly Recommended!
We had an amazing time on the boat tour and the visit to Sarnath! Everything was perfectly organized. Our guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also shared fascinating stories and historical insights in a way that kept us engaged the whole time. Despite the intense heat, he remained energetic, friendly, and truly passionate about what he was doing – which made all the difference.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you so much dear Guest for your beautiful review. It was a great pleasure to have you. I hope to see you again and sooner. Have a great day.. Kindest regards Karan Sachan.
D
Very knowledgeable tour guide
It was a very nice walking tour with Karan in Sarnath. He is a very knowledgeable guide and passionate about his work. We loved his tour and will definitely recommend him to our friends and family members.
Operator response
Thank you so much dear Guest for your beautiful review. It was a great pleasure to have you. I hope to see you again and sooner. Have a great day.. Kindest regards Karan Sachan.
Q
2 Day tour at Varanasi and Saranth
Karan is really the bear you guide! He knows everything about India. We had 2 great days with him in Varanasi and Saranth :)
S
The Perfect Way To See Sarnath
Mr Karan is a professional art restorer and historian; I've rarely met such a knowledgeable guide. The driver, car service etc. were excellent; altogether a highly recommended tour.
Operator response
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your kind review. It was absolutely a pleasure for me to have you. Hope to see you again & sooner. Kindest regards Karan Sachan
S
Great experience
We had the pleasure of having Karan as a guide for a tour of Varanasi and a visit to Sarnath. He is a very knowledgeable guide, with a broad artistic and cultural background. He is also a very nice and pleasant person to converse with. He gave us a lot of information about the places we visited and was very helpful in explaining many curiosities about Indian culture in general. I highly recommend Karan to anyone who wants to live an authentic experience here in Varanasi!
I
Very interesting
Knowledgeable guide. Knows a lot about history and culture. You can take as much time as you want to visit the side. Very recommended
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your kind words. It was a very nice day with you. I hope you had a nice holiday in India. Hope to see you again and sooner. Best regards Karan Sachan.
O
Learned so much!
Our tour guide was so Knowledgeable, we learned the most on this tour than on any other tour we took during our stay in India. If you’re looking to learn more, sign up now!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your kind words. Those are enough to encourage me. I wish you a great time and hope to see you again. Kindest regards Karan Sachan.
2
Varanasi deep dive
Karan is incredibly smart and charismatic. What sets him apart from other tours is that he doesn’t just explain India and Varanasi but mostly importantly he was explaining things with a comparative approach against other cultures which shows his understanding and knowledge of not only India but also the rest of the world. I couldn’t recommend him enough!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your kind words. Those are enough to encourage me. I wish you a great time and hope to see you again. Kindest regards Karan Sachan.
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from$80
5.0(16) Free cancellation