Skip to content
Experience My India

Spiritual India — Varanasi and Rishikesh, 8 days

Private tour

Tour package

This eight-day itinerary pairs the country's two most-visited spiritual river towns: three nights in Varanasi for the Ganga Aarti, a sunrise boat ride and Sarnath, then four nights in Rishikesh for yoga classes, a rafting run and a gentler stretch of the same river further upstream.

Reviewed by Gurudutt Kaushal · Updated 1 Sept 2026

Government-approved operatorApproved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Duration8 days / 7 nights
  • RouteVaranasi → Rishikesh at leisure
  • IncludedTransfers, sightseeing and meals
  • Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm ISTA named specialist, the same person from first reply to departure.
  • No payment to start planningYou receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

Itinerary

  1. Arrive Varanasi

    Day 1

    • Met on arrival; settle into a ghat-side hotel.
    • Evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Varanasi

  2. Sunrise boat and the old city

    Day 2

    • Before-dawn sunrise boat ride on the Ganges.
    • Walk the ghats and old lanes with a guide to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Varanasi

  3. Sarnath

    Day 3

    • Short excursion to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
    • Afternoon flight/train towards Dehradun for Rishikesh.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Rishikesh

  4. Rishikesh — bridges and temples

    Day 4

    • Walk across Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula.
    • Evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Rishikesh

  5. Rishikesh — rafting

    Day 5

    • Morning rafting run on the Ganges (Grade II–III, seasonal).

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Rishikesh

  6. Rishikesh — yoga and ashram life

    Day 6

    • Morning yoga class at a local ashram or studio.
    • Afternoon free by the riverfront cafes.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Rishikesh

  7. Rishikesh at leisure

    Day 7

    • Free day: a hike to Neelkanth Mahadev, or simply resting by the river before departure.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Rishikesh

  8. Departure

    Day 8

    • Drive to Dehradun (Jolly Grant) airport for your onward flight, about 45 minutes.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Departure day

Lively scene of boats and people along the Ganges riverfront in Varanasi, IndiaDay 1 · Arrive Varanasi
Lively scene of boats and people along the Ganges riverfront in Varanasi, India

For reference only. The final plan is confirmed in your written quote.

Highlights

  • Travellers with a genuine interest in both sides of Indian spiritual life — ritual and pilgrimage in Varanasi, yoga and the river in Rishikesh — rather than a single day at either.
  • Best October to March for Varanasi's comfortable walking weather; Rishikesh's rafting season runs roughly September to June, pausing during the peak monsoon months.
  • Two days and two nights is the classic length for Varanasi: the Ganga Aarti on your first evening, the sunrise boat ride and a walk of the ghats and old lanes the next day.
  • Rishikesh works differently — two to three days covers the essentials (the bridges, an evening aarti, a temple, a rafting run), while five to seven days lets yoga become the actual point of the stop rather than an extra.

Full description

The Ganges at its oldest city, then at its youngest energy

Two days and two nights is the classic length for Varanasi: the Ganga Aarti on your first evening, the sunrise boat ride and a walk of the ghats and old lanes the next day. A third day adds Sarnath. Rishikesh works differently — two to three days covers the essentials (the bridges, an evening aarti, a temple, a rafting run), while five to seven days lets yoga become the actual point of the stop rather than an extra.

This itinerary gives three nights to Varanasi's fuller version and four nights to a genuine, unrushed few days in Rishikesh.

Where you stay

  • Varanasi

    2 nights · Days 1–2

  • Rishikesh

    5 nights · Days 3–7

  • Departure day

    1 night · Day 8

Includes

  • Private car and driver throughout
  • Sunrise boat ride in Varanasi
  • One rafting run and one yoga class in Rishikesh
  • Local guide in Varanasi
  • Hotel stays as confirmed at enquiry
  • Daily breakfast

Not included

  • Flights/train between Varanasi and Dehradun
  • Additional yoga classes or a formal teacher-training programme
  • Camera fees at monuments
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Travel insurance

Price

Experience My India quotes this trip in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.

Important information

Spiritual India — Varanasi and Rishikesh, 8 days

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

  • Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.

Who it suits

  • Travellers with a genuine interest in both sides of Indian spiritual life — ritual and pilgrimage in Varanasi, yoga and the river in Rishikesh — rather than a single day at either. Best October to March for Varanasi's comfortable walking weather; Rishikesh's rafting season runs roughly September to June, pausing during the peak monsoon months.

How booking works

  1. Send an enquiry

    Dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel. Two fields to start.

  2. We check availability

    Hotels, guides and permits for your dates, with honest alternatives if something is full.

  3. Price and hotels named

    Every hotel and inclusion is named before you pay anything.

  4. Written quote in INR

    One document, no hidden lines, valid for the dates it quotes.

  5. You approve

    Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.

  6. A named specialist runs it

    The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.

Your trip designer

Gurudutt Kaushal

Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur

Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.

About GuruduttMeet our founderHow we vet

Trust and protection

  • Ministry of Tourism approved

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Registered business

    GSTIN 09BZFPM8067A1Z9

  • 4.3 / 5 on Tripadvisor

    Independent guest reviews

  • No payment to start

    A written quote first; charged in INR only after you approve.

Why book with Experience My India

  • Government-approved operator

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • 500+ vetted local guides

    35+ destination specialists plan every trip by hand.

  • Human help, every day

    Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST · +91 73022 65809

  • No payment until you approve

    You receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

How we vet every guide, stay and routeIndia e-Visa: who needs one and how to applyHave a specialist design this trip

Frequently asked questions

Is three nights too much for Varanasi, or too little?

Three nights (two full days) is the fuller classic length, adding Sarnath to the essential Aarti-and-sunrise-boat two-day visit. It suits travellers who want to slow down rather than tick the sights off quickly.

Is rafting safe, and what grade is it?

Rishikesh's standard tourist stretch is generally Grade II–III, run with safety briefings and life jackets by licensed operators. It is seasonal and river-flow dependent; we confirm availability closer to your dates.

Do I need yoga experience to join a class in Rishikesh?

No — most studios and ashrams run classes suitable for beginners. If you want a serious practice or teacher training, tell us and we can point you towards a longer, dedicated programme instead of this itinerary.

How do you travel between Varanasi and Rishikesh?

Usually by a short flight to Dehradun (often via Delhi) followed by a 45-minute drive, since there is no direct road route that makes sense for a short trip.

Request a quote

Ready for ritual on the Ganges and then yoga beside it? Get a written quote.

Ask on WhatsApp
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
  • No payment to start planning

Customer reviews

No reviews for this experience yet — we publish guest reviews after each trip.

Read our reviews

Browse tour packages by destination

See all
Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

19 tour packages

Rajasthan

Rajasthan

18 tour packages

Across India

Across India

9 tour packages

Agra

Agra

9 tour packages

Jaipur

Jaipur

6 tour packages

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand

6 tour packages

Varanasi

Varanasi

5 tour packages

Delhi

Delhi

4 tour packages

Ladakh

Ladakh

4 tour packages

Char Dham Yatra

Char Dham Yatra

3 tour packages

Goa

Goa

3 tour packages

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh

3 tour packages

Karnataka

Karnataka

3 tour packages

Kashmir

Kashmir

3 tour packages

Kerala

Kerala

3 tour packages

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

3 tour packages

Amritsar

Amritsar

2 tour packages

Leh

Leh

2 tour packages

Maharashtra

Maharashtra

2 tour packages

Mathura & Vrindavan

Mathura & Vrindavan

2 tour packages

Punjab

Punjab

2 tour packages

Ranthambore

Ranthambore

2 tour packages

SikarPhoto: Indrapal Jangid · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Sikar

2 tour packages

Ajanta & Ellora Caves

Ajanta & Ellora Caves

1 tour package

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

1 tour package

Ayodhya

Ayodhya

1 tour package

Bihar

Bihar

1 tour package

Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya

1 tour package

Chettinad

Chettinad

1 tour package

Hampi

Hampi

1 tour package

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer

1 tour package

Jodhpur

Jodhpur

1 tour package

Khajuraho

Khajuraho

1 tour package

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

1 tour package

Manali

Manali

1 tour package

Mumbai

Mumbai

1 tour package

Mysore

Mysore

1 tour package

North Goa

North Goa

1 tour package

Odisha

Odisha

1 tour package

Puri

Puri

1 tour package

Rishikesh

Rishikesh

1 tour package

Spiti Valley

Spiti Valley

1 tour package

Srinagar

Srinagar

1 tour package

Tirupati

Tirupati

1 tour package

Udaipur

Udaipur

1 tour package

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

Tailor-made for you

Price on request

Free cancellation