Varanasi Morning Boat Tour: Sunrise Ganges River Experience Highlighting Hindu Culture

Cruising along the Ganges River at dawn is a major draw in Varanasi. Here, one can witness the Hindu lifestyle on the riverbanks of the Ganges (Ghats).

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Banaras Ghats - Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges
What's Included
  • Private rowboat ride for a unique experience.
  • Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
  • Knowledgeable English-speaking guide ensuring safety and respectful tourism.
  • Availability of professional guides in multiple languages upon request.
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Tips
Additional Information
  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
  • A maximum of 10 people per booking
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
  • May be operated by a multilingual guide
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Location
Banaras Ghats
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(74 Ratings)
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L9840qokatarzynak
Dec 20, 2024
Truly recommend! - I fully recommend this trip. Vinod, our tour guide was super kind, helpful, shared many interesting facts about Indian culture and religious activities. He was keen to responding all the questions we had. Everything was well planned and organized. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pratima
Nov 25, 2024
I was in Varanasi years ago, the intensity but charm that this city offers is next level. - This is my second time doing a paddle boat, and I absolutely love the experience. There is calmness, when your boat is just idling on the Ganga. Definitely a once, or twice in a lifetime experience. 🙂
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pioneer11379524832
Nov 19, 2024
Boat trip and the best guide! - The tour is worth it, the guide picks you up at the hotel and teaches you and explains everything, takes you to the most important temples and streets and tells you the story and the why of every thing they do in rituals. The boat ride is essential. Our guide was Vinit Pandey, explains everything very well, does not try to sell you anything like many guides, and is very kind. I definitely recommend it, besides that it speaks very good Spanish.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P666testuartm
Nov 12, 2024
Incredible experience for last minute call - For a last minute call, Indrajeet was incredibly organized and able. His ease, knowledge and delivery were excellent. I could not recommend him and his company enough. Thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Koulis
Nov 11, 2024
Relaxed and beautiful boat tour - Very polite and good English speaking guide. The morning boat tour was beautiful and relaxed. Our guide was very helpful and prompt in his timing
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carla
Nov 1, 2024
Sunrise in Varanasi - Our guide very nicely enjoys the explanation. It gave us tips of the city and gives you time to observe calmly the sunrise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ameeta_roy
Oct 27, 2024
Beautiful sunrise on the Ganges - We were fortunate to have clear skies and fabulous weather to see one of the best ever sunrises on the Ganga river . The boat tour gave us a good view of some of the major ghats. Inderjeet was fantastic and knowledgeable and gave us an overview of the history and mythologies associated with Varanasi . We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and got some amazing photos . This is a must do tour to get a feel of the real Varanasi… both magical and mystical
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Njcnz
Oct 22, 2024
A must-do tour with an expert guide - A morning boat ride on the Ganges is an essential part of any visit to Varanasi, and this morning was a highlight of my travels in India. Mr Kumar was all you could hope for in a guide, with helpful and interesting explanations, and expert navigation. I was lucky enough to join Mr Kumar for the evening boat ride and Aarti ceremony later the same day for an equally special experience. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tourist04823806469
Nov 14, 2024
Pleasant boat ride - Indrajeet was a lovely and very professional host. His english is excellent and we learned a lot about the ghats of Varanasi that we did not know. He ensured that we had water and that the trip to the boat area went smoothly by organising a tuk tuk. Seeing Varanasi from this perspective is a wonderful way to take in the city, especially in the morning when it's less chaotic. A couple of small criticisms - the tour was meant to start at 5 but instead the pickup was scheduled for 5:45 and finished at 8, so was not 3 hours as advertised and did not get to see a sunrise on the water. The boat was advertised as a row boat however it is a motor boat. I will say that the current is very strong so I can understand why that might be impractical, but maybe change the description. Finally, I think it was a bit overpriced.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dean_g
Oct 29, 2024
First bad tour in India - Guide: Vinit This was the first bad tour I’ve had between two trips to India. The guide could not have seemed less interested in giving the tour, often having to be prompted with questions and asked to explain things. He often was on his phone or while speaking to me, more interested at looking at other things going on around us, or at saying hello to his fellow tour guide friends we saw. Probably the thing I didn’t appreciate the most was often while walking the incredibly busy streets of Varanasi, the guide would slip off up front of me through the crowd and have no regard for where I was - often stuck far behind him in a crowd or in traffic, while he just continued walking leaving me behind. I’d recommend finding a different tour that still offers a private boat ride even if it is more expensive. Alternatively, wait until you arrive and have your hotel organise it.
Review provided by Viator
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January 2025
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