Varanasi: Morning Boat Ride and Evening Aarti with Ghat Walk

From $37.40

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About this activity

Free cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

Duration

6 Hours

Live tour guide

English

Overview

Explore the land of temples, one where spirituality flows in every nook and corner. Explore Varanasi in this tour where you get to explore the best of this mystical land with a sunrise boat ride, a heritage walk of the oldest part of the city in the morning, and the most colorful markets with Ganga aarti in the evening.

Highlights

Witness sunrise by the banks of Ganges in a boat ride where you will see hundreds of pilgrims taking a dip in the holy water along with performing many other rituals.
Navigate through the bylanes of the oldest part of Varanasi and witness how things have been since centuries in the old heritage walk.
Get lost through one of the most colorful markets you will ever see as your guide takes to explore the local bazaars in the evening.
Witness the evening Ganga aarti, one of the most magical experiences where thousands of people gather to pay their respects and seek blessings from mother Ganga.
Call it a day with some finger-licking food at a multi-cuisine restaurant.

Description

Explore the best of Varanasi in a day in the exclusive tour which gets you the best of what this mystical and magical land has to offer! Your tour will begin with your guide picking you up from your hotel at 5:00 or 6:00 Am depending upon the season. From here, you will be going to the Ganga ghat (stone structures made of stone by the banks of the Ganga for religious purposes) from where your boating begins. Witness the magical sunrise and the many colorful ghats coming to life as the day proceeds.

Your guide will acquaint you with the different stories attached to them, and you will see people indulging in different activities. After almost an hour-long ride, you will get down at the Manikarnika ghat (one famous for Hindu cremations) from where you will begin your Heritage walk.

Walk in the by-lanes of the oldest part of Varanasi and learn about the local lives and their culture up close and personal. Stop by to see the Golden Temple (one of the most important temples for Hindus). After your heritage walks, you will be dropped back at your hotel before you meet your guide again in the evening.

In the evening at around 5:00 PM, you will be again picked up from your hotel. Your evening will commence with a fun walk through the sprawling markets of the city. From textiles, and handicrafts to food everything will be available here in these colorful markets! Once you navigate your way through there proceed to the Assi ghat for the evening aarti. The most sought-after activity in Varanasi, the evening Ganga Aarti is attended by hundreds of devotees and it’s a ritual where priests offer fire as an offering to Mother Ganga and seek blessings for the whole of mankind.

Once you’re done with the aarti, call it a day with a delicious dinner at a multi-cuisine Indian restaurant for dinner post which you will be dropped back at your hotel.

Inclusions

A boat ride of approximately an hour over the Ganges.
Hotel pick-up and drop
English-speaking live guide
All transfers by tuk-tuk

Exclusions

Food and drinks (other than mentioned)
Gratuities (recommended)
Entry fee to Kashi Temple

Departure details

We pick up all travelers
Pick up and drop off provided from all hotels located in Varanasi.

Know before you go

Children must be accompanied by an adult
A boat ride is subject to favorable weather conditions
If the ride is canceled due to poor weather conditions, you will be provided with an option of an alternate date or a full refund.

Customer Review

Overall Rating

5.0 / 5

1 Reviews

We really enjoyed our day visiting Sarnath

December 13, 2023

We really enjoyed our day visiting Sarnath, Varanasi old town, the Ghats, the boat ride on the Ganges at sunset followed by the Aarti ceremony on the banks of the river. Our guide, Hemant was excellent. He provided us with lots of information, was courteous and he really looked after us guiding us through the traffic and small streets in the old town. Our driver was also very good returning to pick us up after each of our stops. I would highly recommend this trip as it is a full day of learning about Buddhism, Hinduism and the holy city of Varanasi.

reviewed by Sue Smith

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