Tour

India: Delhi to Varanasi by Train
from USD 600

Contiki Holidays

Tour Code: YOGA27
Vacation Type: Budget-friendly
Brochure:
Duration: 8 Days
Country: India

Get ready for 8 epic days of sacred rivers, local trains, and sunset ceremonies. Experience India’s spiritual heart, ticking off Rishikesh, Lucknow and Varanasi by local train and road. You’ll roll out a mat in the yoga capital, wander ashrams and markets, ride tuk-tuks through Nawabi-era streets, and of course, witness the Ganges lit by evening Aarti flames.



India: Delhi to Varanasi by Train Trip

Included Experience

  • Rishikesh: Gather at the Ganges for the evening aarti. The priests perform synchronized rituals, brass lamps glow against the dusk, and chants echo along the riverbanks. You'll watch diyas float across the water and feel the energy build as day turns to night. It’s a powerful way to experience Rishikesh after dark.
  • Rishikesh: Ease into the morning with a guided yoga session designed to stretch out travel-tired muscles and reset your mind. All right here, in the home of yoga.
  • Rishikesh: Walk through Rishikesh with a guided orientation past markets and ashrams, then head to the Beatles Ashram to explore old meditation huts, bold graffiti and forest trails overlooking the Ganges. It’s part spiritual retreat, part open-air art gallery (and seriously photogenic).
  • Lucknow: Hop into a tuk-tuk for an orientation spin around Lucknow’s key sights, taking in the city’s grand façades and everyday rhythm from the street. We’ll see the landmarks from the outside, soaking up the vibe as we go.
  • Varanasi: Zip through Varanasi on a guided e-rickshaw tour, weaving between temples and bustling lanes before heading to the Ganges for the evening Ghat Aarti ceremony. Watch the flames rise, hear the chants build, and feel the riverfront come alive after dark.

  • Hotel Pooja Palace (or similar)
  • Akhanda Yoga Ashram (or similar)
  • Hotel Surya International (or similar)
  • Hotel Meadows (or similar)
Day 1 Delhi

Welcome to Delhi -  the buzzing city where centuries-old forts meet full-throttle city life. Meet your crew and Trip Manager tonight, before we head out for dinner at a local restaurant to kick things off properly.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Pooja Palace (or similar)

Day 2 Delhi To Rishikesh Via Haridwar

Bye Delhi. We’ll hop on the local train and roll out towards Haridwar's calmer scenes. We’re stepping into India’s spiritual side here. From Haridwar, we’ll swap the train for local transport and make our way to Rishikesh. Welcome to this charming, calm and cool Ganges riverside town, known as the home of yoga. We’ll check in, explore the laid-back lanes of Tapovan, then gather by the river for an evening Aarti as the ceremony lights up the water.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Akhanda Yoga Ashram (or similar)

Day 3 Rishikesh

We’re ain't leaving this place without rolling out a mat. This morning, we’ll start with a yoga class. Feel free to grab breakfast at a local cafe before heading out on a guided walk past markets and ashrams, finishing at the legendary Beatles Ashram (yup, THE Beatles).

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Akhanda Yoga Ashram (or similar)

Day 4 Rishikesh To Lucknow Via Haridwar

Today, we’ll say goodbye to Rishikesh and start the journey back, hopping into local transport for the drive to Haridwar. (It's a long travel day ahead, have your playlists ready!). Train time again. We’ll board and roll on towards Lucknow, watching the landscapes shift as we head deeper into Uttar Pradesh. Welcome to Lucknow, known for its rich Nawabi heritage and legendary food scene, and our base for the next two nights. Settle in tonight. Tomorrow we'll dive in properly into everything this city has to offer.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Surya International (or similar)

Day 5 Lucknow

Tuk-tuk time! We’ll zip through the city’s landmarks on a guided ride, soaking in views of Lucknow’s grand architecture and everyday buzz from the best seat in the house. The rest of the day is yours. And if you’re hungry, you can opt into a street food tour to taste the flavours this city is so famous for.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Surya International (or similar)

Day 6 Lucknow To Varanasi

Later, Lucknow. We’ll board another train and travel local-style towards one of India’s holiest cities. Welcome to Varanasi — spiritual, intense, and guaranteed to leave an impression. Sacred to Hindus and home to the city’s burning ghats, this is a powerful, unfiltered side of the Ganges (that couldn’t feel more different to laid-back Rishikesh). We’ll take to the streets by e-rickshaw, then end at the river for the Ghat Aarti ceremony as flames light up the waterfront.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Meadows (or similar)

Day 7 Varanasi

You’ve got a full day to dive into this city’s energy. Opt for a sunrise boat ride along the Ganges as the river shifts through golden hour, or head to Sarnath - the place where Buddha first shared his teachings.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Meadows (or similar)

Day 8 Varanasi

And just like that, our India adventure has officially wrapped up. From Delhi streets to holy rivers, we’ve covered some ground. Hug it out, swap details, and say your goodbyes (or maybe just “see you on the next one.”)

Duration: 1 Day

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