Sunrise to Sunset Varanasi Tour Including Ganges Boat Ride | 12 hours to 14 hours

11 Reviews | Varanasi
From $116.00 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 15 travelers in total.
Adult (0-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
2
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1 Traveler
2 Adults x $232.00
$464.00
Approx Total
$464.00
Includes: Pick-up and drop-off + Air-conditioned Vehicle + Live Tour Guide + Sunrise and Sunset Boat ride + Bottled water
Pickup included

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Professional private local guide for sightseeing
  • Bottled water
  • Morning and evening Boat Ride (Hand Rowed Boat) on Ganges river
  • Transport by private air-condition vehicle
  • Hotel/airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Entrance fees
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Anything not mentioned in Inclusions

Overview

Explore Varanasi on a private full-day tour that includes a sunrise and sunset boat ride (Hand Rowed Boat) on the Ganges River. Visit landmarks in and around Varanasi including Banaras Hindu University (BHU)'s Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, and Dhamekh Stupa in Sarnath — an important Buddhist site. Finally, watch the evening aarti ceremony from the sunset boat cruise.

Itinerary

  • Ganges River

    After early morning pickup at 5:30 am from your hotel or other desired location in Varanasi leave for a boat ride (Hand Rowed Boat) on the Ganges to see the bathing Ghats (river bank) & cremation site. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. The life on the Ghats bound in an endless string of rituals, ever-changing aspects of the river & the wide landscape across have fascinated visitors from all over the world.

    1 hour

  • Kashi Vishwanath Temple

    One of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Vishveswara – Shiva as lord of the universe is the presiding deity of the city. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples. Later drive back to your hotel for breakfast.

    1 hour

  • Banaras Hindu University

    Post breakfast visit Banaras Hindu University. Established in 1916, BHU is the largest university campus in Asia. Tour the campus and see the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum and the new Vishwanath Temple (Birla Temple), which is an exact replica of the original Vishwanath Temple.

    1 hour

  • Bharat Mata Temple

    Dedicated to the goddess who represents all the goddesses in the India culture. In other words, it can said that Bharat Mata personifies India as a mother goddess. Instead of traditional statues of gods and goddesses, this temple has a huge map of undivided India carved in marble. Later learn about the silk weaving traditions of Varanasi, then take a break for lunch (own expense).

    30 minutes

  • Sarnath

    One of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centers. After attaining the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, it was here that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, sanctified as Maha Dharm Chakra Pravartan. The great Dhamekh Stupa and several other structures stand testimony to the importance the place enjoyed at that time. You'll also visit the Archaeological Museum, which features treasures that date to the 3rd-century BC (closed Fridays).

    1 hour

  • Ganges River

    Evening take another boat ride (Hand Rowed Boat) on the Ganges to view the cremation grounds, You can witness cremations as your boat floats gently past, revealing a ritual that is memorable in its rawness, simplicity, and completeness. Then return to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony. The Aarti Ceremony is a devotional Hindu ritual performed at dusk on the banks of the Ganges, using fire as an offering to, the affectionately referenced, Maa Ganga, goddess of the holiest river in India. Perhaps nowhere in India, or the world, is it possible to witness so clearly, colourfully, and intensely many thousands of years of unbroken dedication to spiritual exploration. Your tour ends with a return to your hotel or other desired location in Varanasi.

    2 hours

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Dress code - Temples is a sacred house of God and a place of daily worship. To preserving its sanctity and spiritual ambiance one must follow the below dress code within temple complex:
  • Upper Wear: Must cover the shoulders, chest, navel, and upper arms Lower Wear: Must be at least below knee-length Remove footwear outside the temple. Socks are fine, you can keep wearing them.
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if this is required (meals are at your own expense)
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved please wear comfortable shoes
  • The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
  • Please note: The Archaeological Museum in Sarnath is closed on Fridays
  • During rainy season (July to September), Boat ride is subject to availability due to Ganges river overflow.
  • Travelers should be vaccinated and carry the covid vaccination certificate

Free Cancellation

June 13100% refund
June 14No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Reviews

4.3

11 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    8
  • 4 stars
    0
  • 3 stars
    2
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 8 reviews with 5 stars

Amazing Varanasi

Published on Dec, 2024

Brilliant day - don’t hesitate to book this tour! Big thanks to our driver for a comfortable ride to the amazing sights we encountered and to Dilip, our guide, who ensured we had the perfect day and an understanding of everything we encountered ( no idea how he retains all that knowledge). Varanasi is a special place and this tour is highly recommended.

Great way to start your visit - sunrise to sunset tour!

Published on Dec, 2024

A great way to start our stay in Varanasi with this Sunrise to Sunset tour. Our guide for the day was Dilip Singh and we must say he is fantastic. He gave us a great introduction to the city and his knowledge and enthusiasm on its history is incredible. He also shares great stories! It is a full day tour with many highlights throughout the day from the sunrise boat ride to ending with an evening Aarti ceremony. An incredible experience. Thank you Dilip. And for the restaurant recommendation, we enjoyed it and the view!

Fantastic Tour !

Published on Jan, 2020

This trip to Varanasi was amazing.My tour guide and his driver were very friendly, Organized and Punctual. I enjoyed the whole trip , it was very interesting to see the sunset and the cremation traditions . I highly recommend this company to anyone who is visiting Varanasi !!

Great Tour, Very Knowledgeable Guide

Published on Nov, 2019

The trip started off on a super high note with the morning chants of Om Namah Shivaya and a beautiful sunrise at the Ganges, with the sun rising, hundreds of sea gulls flying all around and meditating in the middle of Ganges was surreal and divine. Followed by a great tour around Saranth and the city of Banaras. The best part of the entire tour was the guide - Mr. Saurabh Shukla who was so knowledgeable on the city and its rich history. He would chant the mantras and the dohas with equal authority and would narrate the stories of each of the temples & monuments we visited with utmost clarity. The driver too - Mr. Guddu was very humble and kind. We altered the tour slightly to include some of the places that we wanted to visit and they were kind enough to accommodate these changes. All in all, it was a very well conducted tour and hassle free.

Great tour, informative and emotional

Published on May, 2019

I visited Varanasi with my boyfriend and we had a full day tour with Mr. Amed in Varanasi who was extremely knowledgeable and overall a very smart guy who understood what we wanted and accommodated our needs (for example, not visiting any stores as we were tried of that after a week in India). I highly recommend this tour, it was a highlight of our trip!

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