Marigold Boat Tour in Varanasi
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Varanasi, India
- 1 to 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Varanasi is known for its waterways, and one of the best ways to explore the city is from the water. Save yourself the hassle of booking boat tickets and enjoy a seamless Varanasi adventure with this private boat tour. During your ride, enjoy commentary about the area’s history and culture, with a chance to see “ghats” (riverfront steps), and cremation locations.
- Save tired legs and see Varanasi from the water
- Ideal way to check off lots of highlights in a short space of time
- Enjoy refreshments along the way: Masala chai and water are provided
- Benefit from the luxury of a private tour just for your personal party
What's Included
- Coffee and/or TeaWe provide Water , Masala chai , umbrella while rain
- Extra walking tour in the old city is not include
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Shree CafeD.15/2, Observatory, Man mandir, Dashashwamedh, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India
Shree cafe at Dashashwmedh ghat just before the main ghat.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Dashashwamedh Ghat
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- 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
Featured review
Elisa_B
We were doubting if a sunrise boat was worth it but decided to go for it and we are now glad we did! The boat ride offers amazing views of the ghats and the guide offered insightful information. If you don’t mind an early start, highly recommended.
Reviews
4.9
based on 136 reviews
Stephen_D, Jan 2026
Our tour operator guide Sonu was knowledgeable, local, we really enjoyed the tour, highly recommended..
Gregory_C, Dec 2025
An excellent introduction to Ganga Aarti at sunrise. My guide's English skills were very good and he provided lucid and informative explanations. He was also willing to share his perspectives on some issues in contemporary Indian society in which I have a great interest. Thank you!
alex_l, Oct 2025
We had a good tour with our guid but all of a sudden he disappeared without saying anything. I’m sorry if I unintentionally said anything to annoy or offend him
Response from Host, Oct 2025
I think I said goodbye st bost snd you all running to the ghats
Anyway I don't know what happens to u
But thank to share your experiences
And next time I will say nice goodbye
Sonu
Thien_P, May 2025
Nice relaxed sunrise boat tour with narration of the history of Varanasi and its significance in Indian culture, life and mythology.
Lauren_M, Apr 2025
I had a wonderful tour with Sonu who did a great job of sharing Varanasi by sunrise. The row boat offered a peaceful way to explore this magnificent place.
Elisa_B, Mar 2025
We were doubting if a sunrise boat was worth it but decided to go for it and we are now glad we did! The boat ride offers amazing views of the ghats and the guide offered insightful information. If you don’t mind an early start, highly recommended.
Federico_P, Mar 2025
Great experience!
Our guide explained to us serious interesting things about Varanasi, the rituals, the life, the Hinduism.
Marc_G, Dec 2024
On this tour, we used a small motorboat to first go to a cremation site along the river, our guide Sonu told us everything about it and more. Then we went to see the daily Evening Aarti at Mother Ganga that starts at 6:15 and lasts about one hour. There were a lot of boats in front of the ceremony, but we still had good seats on a bigger boat right in front. After the ceremony, Sonu walked us back to our hotel. Overall a great tour!
German_D, Mar 2024
All started at 5.15. We arrived a little bit early but Sonu was already there waiting for us to share a Masala Tea.
Sony is great. He clearly knows a lot about the city, not only he answered all our questions but he also did are more to the list.
About the tour, whether it is your first or last day try to do it. Watching the city come alive (if one can say so) is a memory you will never forget.
Valeria, Feb 2024
My friend and I booked both the sunrise and sunset tour with Marigold. As the great reviews mentioned Sonu in particular as a great guide, we were keen to do the tour with him personally, rather than with his colleagues, so I had asked for this on viator and on whatsapp. In the morning, Sonu introduced us to his colleague, as, due to some misunderstanding, he was meant to take us. However, Sonu eventually accepted to take us personally, which we greatly appreciated, because we felt that his colleague was less enganging than him (though obviously this was based on first impressions, as we didn’t take the tour with his colleague).
As promised by the reviews, Sonu was great! He is passionate about his city, happy to share all his knowledge, friendly, kind and helpful! We had a brilliant time with him on the sunrise and sunset tours and would definitely recommend him to other travellers!!!
Diego_A, Jan 2024
Rojit our guide was the best. Great private boat, great explanations, great viewing point for the Arti.
Lizhen_X, Jan 2024
This tour was a bit disappointing. Sonu didn't do it himself but outsourced to someone else. The boat ride was very short, only from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat; didn't cover all the 40 ghats as advertised. The explanation was minimum and not very informative. It made my Ganges experience a bit let-down. Could have chosen a better tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you very much to share your feedback about my experience
I am really sorry that we were not made you happy
But normally we will show all ghats and with all explanation about culture and history
But I will investigate with my friend about tour and make sure it will not happen again
Sonu
Thanks
Heather_S, Oct 2023
This tour is a must-do. Sonu is a fantastic guide and most importantly a good person. He really enjoys what he does and offers an honest price. It's worth waking up early when the energy/light is magical.
yc7xdzfvnw, Apr 2023
Sonu is an incredibly kind and informative guide. He started our tour with chais and a brief overview about the history of Varanasi, and it’s role in the Hindu religion. Once we got to the boat, the city came alive from the distance of the peaceful water. You could truly feel the magic, and Sonu facilitated that beautifully with information, guidance, grace, and good humor. We stopped at a point along the river for another chai and he gave us time alone to soak the experience in by ourselves for which I was grateful. Overall, watching the sunrise over the Ganges was an experience I’ll never forget, and I’m so glad I did it with Sonu. Not only is it one of the most reasonably priced boat rides, but definitely the best and most honest as well. Sonu really cares about his guests and does an amazing job of making sure they have a great time. I had the good fortune of also staying at his guesthouse, and cannot speak higher about the experience. If you need a place to stay, please don’t hesitate to ask him about that as well. Very grateful for Sonu’s kindness, generosity, and guidance during my time in this incredible city, and I urge you to book with him. You won’t regret it.
Margherita_C, Mar 2025
È stata una bella esperienza. Vedere i ghat all’alba è tutta un’altra cosa ma soprattutto vederli da una barca ha tutto un altro fascino e un’altra immagine. Li vedi come non riusciresti a vederli dalle scalinate. La nostra guida, Sonu, è un abitante di Varanasi e ha passione nello spiegare la cultura e la storia della sua città. Raccomando
Carlos_M, Feb 2025
Un lindo paseo, el guía super profesional, buena onda y me explicó sobre los dioses de la mitología hindú. 100 % recomendable.
Pierre_P, Dec 2023
Guide sérieux, connais très bien son domaine et très beau tour en bateau pour finir devant le spectacle des celebrations du soir au bord des ghats, je recommande fortement!
From $17.86
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Marigold Boat Tour in Varanasi
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