7 daysPilgrims & Spiritual · India
Buddhist Circuit: Bodhgaya, Rajgir & Varanasi
Starting from£306per person≈ approx. · ₹32,999
Pilgrims & Spiritual · Uttar Pradesh & Bihar
Buddha Footprint Pilgrimage
10 days / 9 nights
Varanasi · Bodhgaya · Rajgir · Kushinagar · Lumbini · Sravasti 2–12 travellers
Starting from£731per person
Walk where the Buddha was born, awakened, taught and passed into parinirvana — eight sacred sites in ten unhurried days.
Walk where the Buddha was born, awakened, taught and passed into parinirvana — eight sacred sites in India and Nepal in ten unhurried days, with time to meditate at every one.
- StartsVaranasi
- EndsLucknow
- Best timeOctober – March
Starting from · per person
£731
Your trip expert Online
Inditour Travel Desk
Tour expert — India & international · Speaks English, Hindi, GujaratiPrices & dates
Tour rate
Starting from
£731
per person · twin sharing
Single room supplement: £204 - Prices are per person on twin sharing, in Indian rupees, including GST.
- Hotels named are “or similar”. Groups of 10+ get special prices — ask us.
Book this tour
Day by day
-
Airport or station pickup; check in and rest. Free time, or a short walk through the old lanes. Evening Ganga aarti on the ghats.
Hotel Hotel or similar Overnight in VaranasiMealsBreakfastLunchDinnerOptionalSunrise boat ride (next morning)Share this day -
Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges. Sarnath: Dhamek Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara and the deer park where the Buddha gave his first sermon. Chanting and meditation at a Sarnath monastery [on request].
Hotel Hotel or similar Overnight in VaranasiMealsBreakfastLunchDinnerOptionalSarnath Museum (closed Fridays)Share this day -
Early start by private car. Lunch on the way; arrive and check in. First visit to the Mahabodhi Temple at dusk.
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Meditation under the Bodhi Tree; the Vajrasana and Animesh Lochan Chaitya. International monasteries: Thai, Japanese, Tibetan and Bhutanese. Evening puja at the Mahabodhi Temple.
Hotel Hotel or similar Overnight in BodhgayaMealsBreakfastLunchDinnerOptionalSujata Stupa and Dungeshwari cavesShare this day -
Ropeway to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa; walk up to Vulture’s Peak. Ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Rajgir for the night.
Hotel Hotel or similar Overnight in RajgirMealsBreakfastLunchDinnerOptionalVenuvana bamboo groveShare this day -
Drive to Vaishali: Ashokan pillar and relic stupa. Long scenic drive north to Kushinagar. Arrive in the evening and rest.
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Mahaparinirvana Temple with the reclining Buddha; Ramabhar Stupa. Cross the Sunauli border into Nepal. Check in at Lumbini.
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Maya Devi Temple, the marker stone and the Ashokan pillar. Monastic zone: monasteries built by many Buddhist countries. World Peace Pagoda at sunset.
Hotel Hotel or similar Overnight in LumbiniMealsBreakfastLunchDinnerOptionalKapilavastu (Tilaurakot)Share this day -
Cross back into India. Jetavana grove, where the Buddha spent many rainy seasons. Angulimala stupa and quiet meditation.
-
Drive to Lucknow. Drop at the airport or station for your onward journey.
Drive times are approximate and depend on road and border conditions.
Highlights
Meditate under the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya (UNESCO)
Sarnath — the deer park and Dhamek Stupa of the first teaching
Lumbini — the Maya Devi Temple and Ashokan pillar, the birthplace
Kushinagar — the great reclining Buddha of the parinirvana
Sunrise boat ride past the ghats of Varanasi
Ruins of Nalanda University and Vulture’s Peak at Rajgir
What’s included
Included
- 9 nights in hotels (category of your choice)
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Private air-conditioned car with driver
- English-speaking local guides at each site
- Monument and temple entry fees
- Sunrise boat ride in Varanasi
- Ropeway at Rajgir
- Planner on WhatsApp throughout
Not included
- Flights and train tickets
- India and Nepal visas
- Lunches and drinks
- Donations and offerings
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
Optional extras
- Sunrise boat ride (next morning) (Day 1)
- Sarnath Museum (closed Fridays) (Day 2)
- Sujata Stupa and Dungeshwari caves (Day 4)
- Venuvana bamboo grove (Day 5)
- Kapilavastu (Tilaurakot) (Day 8)
- Extra night in Lucknow (Day 10)
Prices for extras on request.
Tour preparation
Before-you-go checklist
- Passport valid 6+ months, with 2 blank pages
- Indian visa (double or multiple entry) — or Indian ID
- 4 passport photos and copies of your passport
- Travel insurance with medical cover
- Modest clothes covering shoulders and knees
- Slip-on shoes and warm socks for temples
- Warm layer or shawl (Dec–Jan mornings)
- Personal medicines and a small first-aid kit
- Some cash in rupees (ATMs are few in Kushinagar and Sravasti)
Weather
October to March is best: dry, sunny days. December and January nights can drop to around 5–8°C, with morning fog. April to June is very hot; July to September is the monsoon.
Temple etiquette
- Walk clockwise around stupas and temples.
- Do not point your feet towards Buddha images.
- Ask before photographing monks or rituals.
Need help preparing? Your planner sends a personal checklist for your dates and route after booking. Ask on WhatsApp
Visa & entry rules
This tour crosses from India into Nepal (Day 7) and back into India (Day 9).
Foreign nationals
India: a visa is required. Many nationalities can apply online for an Indian e-Visa. Choose a visa that allows more than one entry.
Nepal: many nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the Sunauli / Bhairahawa land border. Some must apply in advance.
Indian citizens
No visa needed for Nepal. Carry a valid Indian passport or voter ID card.
Visa rules change. Check the official sources before you travel: Indian e-Visa (official) and Nepal Department of Immigration.
India — e-Visa for foreign nationals
Most foreign visitors need a visa; many nationalities can apply for the Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival. Passport valid for 6 months with 2 blank pages. Official e-Visa website.
Visa rules change. Always check official sources before you travel. Indian e-Visa (official)
Terms for this tour
- Prices are per person in INR on twin sharing unless stated, and include GST.
- Hotels named are “or similar”; if unavailable we book one of the same standard.
- The order of visits may change because of weather, traffic, festivals or monument closures.
- Check-in from 2 pm, check-out by 11 am.
- 25% deposit confirms the booking.
- Balance due 30 days before departure; bookings within 30 days pay in full.
- Pay by UPI, cards, net banking (Razorpay) or bank transfer.
| Days before departure | Charge |
|---|---|
| More than 45 days | ₹2,500 handling |
| 45 – 30 days | 25% |
| 29 – 15 days | 50% |
| 14 – 7 days | 75% |
| Less than 7 days / no-show | 100% |
Strongly recommended, covering medical care, evacuation and cancellation. We can arrange a policy on request.
Our policies
Booking policyHow a booking is made, confirmed and changed.Payment termsDeposits, balance, methods and receipts.Cancellation & refund policyWhat happens if you need to cancel.Terms & conditionsThe terms that apply to every booking and to this website.DisclaimerImportant information about this website’s content.Travel insurance & safetyTravel with peace of mind.
Tour map
Total distance1,215 km
Total drive time31 h 30 min
Stops10
Days10
- Day 3 Varanasi → Bodhgaya 250 km · 6 h 30 min
- Day 5 Bodhgaya → Nalanda 90 km · 2 h 30 min
- Day 6 Rajgir → Kushinagar 330 km · 8 h 30 min
- Day 7 Kushinagar → Lumbini (Nepal) 170 km · 4 h 30 min
- Day 9 Lumbini → Sravasti (India) 200 km · 5 h 30 min
- Day 10 Sravasti → Lucknow 175 km · 4 h
Distances and drive times are approximate and depend on road and border conditions.
Tour gallery
1 / 5Photos:
Reviews
★★★★★
“Our Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour with Inditour was exceptionally well organized — every detail thoughtfully arranged for a smooth, meaningful and truly memorable journey.”
Buddhist Pilgrimage, August 2026
★★★★★
“[Add a real review from Google or email — Admin → Testimonials.]”
Golden Triangle, [Month year]
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Kerala Backwaters & Ayurveda, [Month year]
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Ladakh: Leh, Nubra & Pangong, [Month year]
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Questions before you book?
Talk to the expert who plans this tour
Ask about dates, hotels, prices for your group or changes to the route. You get a written quotation — no payment needed.
- Reply within one working day — usually within the hour on WhatsApp
- Free changes until your planner confirms
- Secure payment by UPI, card or net banking
Ask a planner about this tour
Thank you!A planner will reply within one working day — usually much sooner on WhatsApp.
