Varanasi in Two Days

The river, the old city and the aarti on day one; Sarnath and the city’s food on day two.

Duration: 2 days
Starts: Two consecutive days
Group: Private: only you and the people you travel with
Language: English, Hindi or Japanese
Pickup: From your hotel

Highlights

Sunrise boat, old city lanes, ghats at sunset and the Ganga Aarti
Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught
A street food walk in the old city
Rest built in during the hottest hours

What you will do

Two days is the right time for a first visit. Day one follows the river from dawn to the evening aarti, with a break in the middle. Day two is calmer: Sarnath in the morning, then the city’s food in the late afternoon. Shiva adjusts the order to the weather, the festivals and your energy.

This day combines

Varanasi in One Day: Sunrise to AartiAbout 9 hours of guiding
Sarnath, Where the Buddha First Taught4 to 5 hours, by car
Food and Local Markets Tour2½ hours

How the time goes

Day 1, dawnSunrise boat ride and chai
Day 1, morningOld city lanes and markets
Day 1, eveningGhats at sunset, Manikarnika, Ganga Aarti
Day 2, morningSarnath: stupas, ruins, museum
Day 2, late afternoonStreet food walk

Meeting point

Shiva picks you up at your hotel or guesthouse in Varanasi. Staying near the ghats, where cars cannot go? He meets you at the nearest landmark.

Good to know

The Sarnath Museum is closed on Fridays: Shiva plans around it.
Ask Shiva if you need help with airport or station transfers.

Best for

First-timers with two full days.

Meals and tips

Meals are never included, unless the page says so. Shiva can suggest where to eat, and you pay at the stall or restaurant.

Tips are optional. If a tip is useful, Shiva tells you where, how, when and how much, and only then. Nothing else is extra: everything not listed above is included in the price.