Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 95 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride worth booking?
Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride is a 12-hour experience in Varanasi, India, from $40 per person. It scores 85 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 95 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 85 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (95)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $40 per person
Explore Varanasi on a private full-day tour that includes a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River. Visit landmarks in and around Varanasi including Banaras Hindu University (BHU)'s Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, and Dhamekh
What you get
- Private transportation
- Morning Boat Ride
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Hotel Drop off
- Local Guide
About this experience
Explore Varanasi on a private full-day tour that includes a sunrise boat ride 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 .
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Morning Boat Ride
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Hotel Drop off
- Local Guide
- Hotel Pickup
Not included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Monument Fees
What you'll see and do
Assi Ghat
After early morning pickup at 5:30am from your hotel, take a sunrise boat ride on the sacred Ganges River. Witness morning rituals performed at the riverside.
Pass by without stopping
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Afterward, follow your guide on a short walking tour of the old city's alleyways and catch sight of the Kashi Vishwanath, one of the holiest Hindu temples.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Banaras Hindu University
Stop for breakfast (own expense), then head to Banaras Hindu University at 10am. 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.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Bharat Mata Temple
Mother India Temple, built in 1918 and housing an unusual marble relief map of the Indian subcontinent. At 12:30pm, learn about the silk weaving traditions of Varanasi, then take a break for lunch (own expense). Afterward, drive about eight miles (13 km) to Sarnath to take in Dhamekh Stupa, known as the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon. You'll also visit the Archaeological Museum, which features treasures that date to the 3rd-century BC (closed Fridays).
Pass by without stopping
Dasaswamedh Ghat
At 5pm, take another boat ride on the Ganges to view the cremation grounds, then return to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony. Your tour ends with return to your hotel around 8pm.
Pass by without stopping
Monkey Temple (Durga Temple)
Durga Mandir, also known as Durga Kund Mandir and Durga Temple, is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi. This temple has great religious importance in Hinduism and is dedicated to Durga. Durga Mandir was constructed in 18th century by Rani Bhabani of Natore
1 minutes here
Sankat Mochan Temple
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is a Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India and is dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman, in his form as "Sankat Mochan," meaning the "reliever from trouble
30 minutes here
Sarnath
Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.
180 minutes here · Admission not included
Dasaswamedh Ghat
At 5pm Ganges to view the cremation grounds, then return to Dashashwamedh Ghat to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony. Your tour ends with return to your hotel around 8pm.
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Tour With Car and Guide Only
In This Option Included Car and Guide Only Pickup included
Tour With Lunch and Entry Fee
In This Option Lunch and Entry Fee included Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Holiday Journey India
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 95 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
95 verified traveler reviews for Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Enjoyable
We enjoyed this tour of Varanasi, the guides were very informative, and attentive . It was a beautiful experience
via Tripadvisor
A full day in lovely Varanasi
Anmol was a great guide, he told us a lot and answered all of our questions, very nice. The ac car was very nice because it was very hot. He also brought us to a very nice café and lunch spot. We had a great day with Anmol and also with the very friendly driver Aman. Recommend this tour!
Response from the operator: Thanks for your review. Your review is very important for us. I hope we get recommendations. Thank you very much for choosing us.
via Tripadvisor
Guide review
I did a day tour with Shivam from Indian Journeys working as a tour guide and he did an amazing job showing me the highlights of Varanasi. His knowledge of the history and culture was impressive his ability to navigate the crowds was commendable. I highly recommend this tour and Shivam.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your review. Your review is very important for us. I hope we get recommendations. Thank you very much for choosing us.
via Tripadvisor
Shiv was an amazing...
Shiv was an amazing guide! He was early to my hotel, walked with me in the city center, knew the answer to all my questions and on top of that also told me many stories of Hindu gods and the history of the city. I recommend this tour for anyone trying to see not the main attractions of the city but also the temples and interesting places around the city center.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your review. Your review is very important for us. I hope we get recommendations. Thank you very much for choosing us.
via Viator
Excellent Varanasi experience
Fantastic tour from start to finish. Anmol very friendly and knowledgeable. We had a great day and would highly recommend. Sunrise boat tour and candle ceremony good start to day very peaceful and seeing ghats with beautiful morning light. The temples, university and everything in between. Ended day with the ganga aarti ceremony was a nice finish. Thank you Anmol and Amen for providing us an in depth day full of smiles and blessings.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your review. Your review is very important for us. I hope we get recommendations. Thank you very much for choosing us.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $40 to $220
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 33
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Holiday Journey India, who run 30 experiences we rank across 11 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 56.6.
See everything Holiday Journey India runsWhy this scores 85
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Varanasi.
How much does Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride cost?
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Prices start at $40 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Varanasi usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride take?
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Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Varanasi is not rushed.
Is Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 85 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 95 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Varanasi, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 12-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride?
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Around 33 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Varanasi can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Varanasi and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Full-Day Varanasi Tour with Boat Ride start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Varanasi within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Varanasi?
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On Outty we rank every Varanasi experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Hidden Secrets of Varanasi: Vibrant Tradition (Guided Tour), Varanasi full day guided tour | Ranked 1 Tour Operator on Viator, A Journey of A lifetime. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Varanasi?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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