Varanasi Evening Ganga Aarti Tour
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Varanasi, India
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Spend three unforgettable hours in one of India's most ancient cities during this evening Aarti tour in Varanasi. Experience the beauty of this Hindu ritual where light is offered up to deities. Hear religious songs sung out into the night and watch as lamps are offered to the gods. Learn why locals say this city liberates the soul from the human body during this once in a lifetime cultural experience.
- Experience the beauty of an authentic religious ceremony
- Watch as burning lights are offered up to deities
- Perfect for families and small groups
- Private guide for a more personalized experience
What's Included
- Professional English speaking Guide [For Safe & Honourable tourism we provide only licensed Guide]
- Professional guide in other language [French/ German, Spanish/ Italian] on demand and availability
- Private Boat ride
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- A private chair in a private balcony with best view of aarti
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Tips
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Any Hotel Located in the city Limit of Varanasi
Operating hours.5:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Ganges River
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Dasaswamedh Ghat
1 minute • Admission Ticket Free
Manikarnika Ghat (Pass By)
3
Ganga Aarti
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 99 reviews
Haobo_H, Mar 2026
Vinod is a highly professional guide with deep knowledge of the history and traditions of Varanasi. His insights made our experience tonight truly memorable. Highly recommended.
Helen_M, Feb 2026
We were looked after for the whole evening experience. The guide picked us up from our hotel and was very friendly and knowledgable. He gave us so much insight into Varanasi.
Fran_R, Oct 2025
Fabulous tour. It was really eye opening and insightful. It’s a must do in Varanasi. I Would highly recommend! Thank you
SHAILESH_B, Aug 2025
We were very happy with all the arrangements for this tour. Indrajeet Ji provided us all the required support from the time we did the reservation. Vinod Ji was our guide - he was very knowledgeable and always with us throughout the tour making it a very seamless experience. Strongly recommend using their services.
Nikhil_D, Jun 2025
The guide was very knowledgeable and explained the importance all the ghats and the Ganga Aarti very nicely.
Natalia_J, Mar 2025
My evening tour with Vinod was incredible and I felt very comfortable and safe with him in my first day in Varanasi as I was taking the tour by myself as my husband unfortunately got sick that day. He was a gentleman and was always making sure I was comfortable as we toured Varanasi. I highly recommend this evening tour with Vinod! He was fantastic and I had an unforgettable experience - do not hesitate to book!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful words! I’m very happy to know that Vinod made you feel safe, comfortable, and well taken care of on your first day in Varanasi, especially while traveling alone. He is indeed a kind and knowledgeable guide, and your recommendation means a lot to us.
Wishing your husband a speedy recovery, and we hope to welcome you both again for more memorable experiences in the future!
– Indrajeet Kumar
📞/WhatsApp: +91 9415206372
Lini_M, Mar 2025
We met Ashok at Assi Ghat and he was very knowledgeable about the history of the city. We walked along to the tour boat and had the boat entirely to ourselves. We had a great tour on the Ganges at sunset, watching a cremation ceremony and learning about the Hindu reincarnation and funeral passage. We toured up the Ganges past Dashashwamedh Ghat to the new Ghat.
We then took the boat leisurely back to Assi Ghat where we watched the evening ceremony with front row seating. It was a wonderful! Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad to know you had such a meaningful and enriching experience with Ashok. Sunset on the Ganges is truly magical, and witnessing the traditions and rituals up close adds such depth to the journey. We’re happy the private boat, insightful guidance, and front-row view of the Ganga Aarti made your evening special.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in Varanasi!
– Indrajeet Kumar
📞/WhatsApp: +91 9415206372
Robert_F, Feb 2025
Excellent tour guide. He was flexible because of some time constraints. Knowledgeable and fun to be with. Hiighly recommend this tour
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! I’m really glad we could adjust the tour to fit your schedule and still make it enjoyable and informative. It was a pleasure showing you around and I’m happy you had a great time.
Highly appreciate the recommendation!
– Indrajeet Kumar
📞/WhatsApp: +91 9415206372
rakesh_j, Jan 2025
One of the best things I did in Varanasi, our tour guide was a gem of a person. He was wonderful human being and explained us everything and helped us with everything. It was surreal experience to do the boat ride on Ganges and then enjoy the gangs Arti.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely words! I’m truly happy to hear that your experience in Varanasi was so special. It was a pleasure guiding you through the Ganga boat ride and Arti ceremony. I’m glad I could be a part of your unforgettable journey!
– Indrajeet Kumar
📞/WhatsApp: +91 9415206372
ParthaSarathy_G, Dec 2024
The boat ride across the ganga ghats was memorable. The guide Mr Vinod was excellent.His explanation about the ghats and Benaras were very good.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We are so glad to hear that the boat ride across the Ganga ghats was a memorable experience. Mr. Vinod is indeed an excellent guide, and we’re happy that his explanations about the ghats and Varanasi enhanced your experience.
We hope to welcome you again for more unforgettable moments in Varanasi!
– Indrajeet Kumar
📞/WhatsApp: +91 9415206372
Hanif_H, Dec 2024
This is am amazing tour. Vinod bhai was our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the Ganga ghat and all the buildings on its West Bank. We had a private boat take us for a ride and then got great seats in the balcony with unobstructed view of the evening Aarti. This is a must experience tour. I would have gone a second day
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your amazing review! We are so pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience with Vinod as your guide. His deep knowledge of the Ganga ghats and the history of Varanasi truly adds value to the tour. We’re glad you enjoyed the private boat ride and had great seats for the evening Aarti. It’s wonderful to know that it was such a memorable experience for you.
We would love to welcome you again for another unforgettable day in Varanasi!
– Indrajeet Kumar
📞/WhatsApp: +91 9415206372
Chitra_M, Nov 2024
One of the most beautiful experiences of Varanasi is to witness the Ghats and all humdrums of activities from Ganges in a baot ride at evening during Dusk. The magnificent Varanasi ans its larger than life picture is not to be missed. Enjoy the peace and serenity of the Ganges and come to terms with Cycle of Life.
One of the highlights is also the beautiful Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat which you get to witness away from the Crowd from a Balcony with a dedicated chair for you to sit. Me and my mother we thoroughly enjoyed the evening and our Guide Mr Akhilesh Kumar was extremely knowledgable and a wonderful person. He took great care of my mother as she has knee injury. Akhilesh ji was very accomodative and therefore we enjoyed the evening at our pace.
I wish all the best to Akhilesh ji and team.
Jat_L, Nov 2024
Guide was good and the person whole made arrangement to get to the ghat was good.
Everything else was below average.
- Promised a seat in the balcony - bum it got to sit on the stairs
- Paid about 4k per person - but locally there are many options available in less than one-fourth of the price.
- Boat is a small boat in a bad shape with no top - it’s an open boat. Expected better boat quality
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear Jatin Luthra,
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We genuinely appreciate your kind words regarding our guide and the efforts made by our team to arrange your transfer.
We understand your concerns, and we would like to clarify a few points. The change in your hotel and pickup location to a location outside the city at the last moment did indeed cause a significant delay. Despite the new location being much farther than the originally planned spot, we arranged your pickup without any additional charges to ensure your experience was as seamless as possible.
Regarding the boat, we prioritize providing the most authentic and immersive experience of the Ganga Aarti. That’s why we use open boats, which offer the best views of the ceremony, allowing our guests to fully take in the ambiance. Covered boats or motorboats can obstruct the view, which is why they are not used for this experience.
As for the seating, due to the delay of over an hour and a half in your arrival, many prime seats were already occupied. We always strive to secure the best seating arrangements for our guests, but the delay made it challenging to do so.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. We value your feedback and will use it to improve our services. If you have any further suggestions, we are always here to listen.
Warm regards,
Indrajeet Kumar
Mobile: +91 9415206372
Nicole_O, Nov 2024
Expensive but the guide got us the best seats in the house , on a high balcony with front row seats , so it was worth every penny .
The ceremony is not to be missed ! It was an incredible experience!!!
Ankit_G, Jun 2024
Good hospitality, knowledge of guide excellent, pick up and drop facilities, proper arrangements keep it up the great job
Marta_C, Apr 2024
Amazing experience in Varanasi! No to be missed. The tour starts in late afternoon, with a both trip on the river, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. Following the suggestive Ceremony Gaanga Aarti, very special moment. Thanks a million at our guide, Mr Paramananda, for letting us live this beautiful experience, he is very polite and interesting person.
Michael_P, Feb 2024
We cruised on the Ganges prior to the ceremony and viewed the crematorium in full operation. A real humbling experience to view this sacred site. Upon returning to the ghat we had birds eye view. Absolutely mind blowing. Where on earth do you get to view such an amazing spectacle? The energy was overwhelming. Our guide ensured we got the most from this experience. Thoroughly recommended.
Sheena_L, Jan 2024
Vinit Pandey was a lovely guide. Arrived on time, answered questions and explained the significance pointing out some specific features and history. Also took us down to the waters edge to offer flowers and a diya after the prayers. At the end he also advised us on restaurants near our hotel which was really useful
Tamana_R, Nov 2023
We enjoyed this tour of the Ganga Aarti and the boat ride. We had good conversations with the guide, Satish. We also appreciated the hotel pick up and drop off.
Georgina_H, Sep 2023
Our guide Vinod was a professional gentleman. We enjoyed his company and appreciated the effort he went to ensure we had a great experience in Varanasi.
rinxdey, Dec 2022
This trip I rated as 3 because if you have seniors in wheelchair and want to watch the arti from boat this trip is not suited for them and for those seniors who are unable to climb down the ghat steps even though at the time of booking no climbing of steps in assured. So families with seniors keep that in mind.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Dear Ms. Manasi Dey,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us regarding your recent trip. We apologize for any inconvenience caused during the trip and want to assure you that we take all guest feedback seriously.
We appreciate that our team was able to provide a wheelchair, guide, and assistance to ensure that your mother could experience the boat ride to see the Ganga Aarti. However, we understand that the steps at the ghat were a challenge for the senior citizen in the wheelchair, and we apologize for any discomfort this may have caused.
We are committed to providing the best possible experience for all of our guests, and we will review our policies and procedures to ensure that we are providing appropriate accessibility options in the future. Please be assured that we take this feedback seriously and will do everything possible to improve our services.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you and your family in the future.
Sincerely,
Indrajeet Kumar
Basavaraj_B, Jun 2022
Mr.Indrajit is a very good person and guide . He was so polite and helpful throughout the trip. He supported for our requests and covered a very good evening boating and Ganga Aarti. His knowledge also is commendable.
Driver also very helpful and supportive.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Dear Mr. BasawRaj,
Greetings from the holy city Varanasi…!
Thank you for taking your valuable time in sharing your kind feedback.
It is always a pleasure to hear the words of appreciation from guests like you, who spare time out and write about Varanasi & our team.
Say my special regards to you mother.
Hope to meet you again during your next visit.
Thanks & Regards,
Indrajeet Kumar
Mobile: +91 9415206372
Andrew H, Dec 2017
If I could give this tour more than 5 stars I would. Our guide was very knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything to us as well as give us time to absorb and take everything in. He gave us a lot of options and let us choose what we wanted to do. However, as we are not familiar with Hindu customs, he answered all of our questions well. If you are a first time visitor to Varanasi, they will take care of you well on this tour.
Francis R, Oct 2017
Good to see. Guide was informative and got us a great place to view the whole show.
Sonja M, May 2017
What a view! From a boat on the Ganges we experienced this array of colour and sound. It was made special when releasing candles on water.
Richie, Apr 2017
Total waster of money. You can walk to this Aarti and get a better view
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to review your Varanasi Evening Aarti tour.
This tour is designed specifically for tourists staying in Varanasi for one or two nights, allowing them to save both time and money. For those on longer stays, exploring the city independently may be more suitable.
I highly recommend this guided tour for travelers who value expert guidance, especially if you're visiting for the first time. Exploring a new place can feel like solving a puzzle, and once you understand it, the experience becomes clearer. Our tours are tailored for short-term visitors to ensure they make the most of their time.
Exploring Varanasi, particularly its riverfront ghats and Hindu rituals, is not just a tour but a lifetime experience. These experiences are not orchestrated but occur naturally. Furthermore, they are free for all to witness. However, without an expert guide, it can be challenging to comprehend the significance of these activities. This is where our guides play a crucial role, especially for visitors from diverse geographic and cultural backgrounds.
We only employ highly qualified and professional guides, all licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Therefore, a significant portion of the tour cost goes towards ensuring you have the best guidance. Boat rides and hotel pickups incur nominal fees and are secondary expenses.
Thank you for choosing to visit Varanasi, and we hope to welcome you back soon.
Kind Regards,
Indrajeet Kumar
Mobile: +91 94152-6372
Katharine_U, Mar 2026
An incredible experience, very rich and interesting. Our guide was very professional and caring.
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Albert_G, Jul 2025
Visit with a guide who knows the alleys of Varanasi. Unfortunately, it was not possible to go around the boat because the Ganges was too high.
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Javier_P, Aug 2024
Ojo con los posibles cambios debido al nivel del río Ganges que no están indicados durante la reserva. No pudimos realizar el paseo en barco (nos avisaron previamente) y acordamos realizar el tour igualmente porque el guía iba a compensarnos con otras visitas. Finalmente esa "compensacion" se limitó a un paseo de 5 minutos por las calles alrededor del Ghat. Básicamente se limitan a cobrarte el mismo precio aunque no haya paseo en barco.
Además nos llevaron a otra ubicación en un Ghat secundario distinto del anunciado, para la ceremonia Aarti sin avisarnos previamente y con la excusa de que en el Ghat original había mucha gente.
Nos quejamos del tour y nos ofrecieron un reembolso del 100%, pero a la hora de la verdad al reclamar a Viator, sólo quisieron reembolsar el 25%.
No merece la pena el precio que pagas.
Busca otras opciones si quieres disfrutar realmente de Varanasi.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Gracias por compartir sus comentarios. Me gustaría proporcionar un poco de contexto sobre la situación.
Durante la temporada del monzón, es muy común que los niveles de agua del Ganges suban significativamente, especialmente durante las inundaciones en Varanasi. Esto a menudo resulta en la suspensión temporal de los paseos en barco por parte de la administración local por razones de seguridad, ya que todos los escalones que conducen a los ghats están sumergidos bajo el agua. Desafortunadamente, esto también significa que la ceremonia del Ganga Aarti a veces necesita ser reubicada en un sitio diferente, ya que la ubicación habitual es inaccesible debido a las inundaciones.
La hora programada para recogerlo para el tour era a las 5 PM. Le informé a través de WhatsApp sobre la situación actual a la 1 PM, ofreciéndole la opción de cancelar el tour con un reembolso del 100% hasta las 4 PM. A pesar de las circunstancias, decidió continuar con el tour. Para ese momento, ya había incurrido en costos para el automóvil, el conductor y el guía, que se pagaron por adelantado.
Dado esto, el reembolso ofrecido fue del 25% para cubrir estos gastos. Entiendo su decepción y agradezco sus comentarios, los cuales nos ayudarán a mejorar nuestros servicios en el futuro.
English:
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I'd like to provide some context regarding the situation.
During the monsoon season, it's very common for the Ganga's water levels to rise significantly, especially during times of flood in Varanasi. This often results in the temporary halting of boat rides by the local administration for safety reasons, as all the steps leading to the ghats are submerged underwater.
Unfortunately, this also means that the Ganga Aarti ceremony sometimes needs to be relocated to a different site since the usual location is inaccessible due to flooding.
The scheduled tour pickup time was at 5 PM. I informed you via WhatsApp about the current situation at 1 PM, offering the option to cancel the tour with a 100% refund up until 4 PM. Despite the circumstances, you chose to continue with the tour. By that time, I had already incurred costs for the car, driver, and guide, which were paid in advance.
Given this, the refund offered was 25% to cover these expenses. I understand your disappointment, and I appreciate your feedback, which will help us improve our services in the future.
King Regards,
Indrajeet Kumar
Mobile: +91 9415206372
From $48.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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