About This Trip
Varanasi doesn’t need much introduction — it’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, and for many travellers researching a “Varanasi tour package,” the pull is exactly that: a place where daily life, ritual, and the Ganges itself have run together for thousands of years without much separation. This 5-day tour from Dehradun covers the city’s essential experiences alongside a day trip to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon.
Life on the ghats
Varanasi’s identity is built around its ghats — stone embankments lining the Ganges where pilgrims bathe, cremate their dead, and gather each evening for the Ganga Aarti. Dashashwamedh Ghat hosts the city’s most elaborate version of this ritual: fire, chanting, and music performed nightly as an offering to the river, and one of the most striking things you’ll see in India regardless of your own beliefs. Manikarnika Ghat, one of Hinduism’s holiest cremation sites, and Assi Ghat, known for its quieter morning aarti, round out the ghat experience. A sunrise boat ride — included early in this itinerary — is widely considered the best way to take in the scale of it all before the crowds arrive.
Temples and old-city life
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, sits at the spiritual center of the old city, its narrow surrounding lanes packed with smaller shrines, silk shops, and food stalls. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and Durga Temple (often called the Monkey Temple for its resident langurs) add further stops for pilgrims wanting a fuller temple circuit.
Beyond the city: Sarnath
A short drive from Varanasi, Sarnath marks the spot where the Buddha gave his first teaching after attaining enlightenment. The Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, the Ashoka Pillar and the on-site archaeological museum make this an easy, worthwhile half-day addition to a Varanasi trip, and a change of pace from the intensity of the ghats.
Difficulty and who it suits
This is an easy city tour, not a trek — there’s no strenuous walking beyond navigating ghat steps and the old city’s narrow lanes, both of which involve some uneven ground and crowds. It suits travellers of most ages and fitness levels, including families and older pilgrims.
Best time to visit
November through February brings Varanasi’s most comfortable weather, with daytime temperatures in a pleasant range and clear skies for the aartis and boat rides. Visiting around Dev Deepawali (November) is particularly striking, when thousands of lamps light up the ghats. Summer (April-June) turns considerably hotter and is best avoided unless you’re specifically after quieter streets and lower prices.
What’s included
The package covers 4 nights in a 3-star hotel, daily breakfast, air-conditioned transfers and sightseeing, a professional guide for Varanasi and Sarnath, and entry tickets to the listed monuments. Flights or trains to Varanasi, personal expenses, and anything outside the stated itinerary are not included, though we can help arrange onward travel on request.
