Your nights, stops & travel days
How to read this route before booking
Read the overnight sequence alongside the day-wise plan. A city appearing in the route may be a visit or transfer stop rather than an additional hotel night. The detailed itinerary explains what is scheduled on each day.
Share your arrival and onward departure times before confirming. Ask which visits remain practical around your connections, where the vehicle drops you and whether local shuttles, guides or activities cost extra.
Package prices by group size
8-day land-only pilgrimage; twin sharing, comfortable standard hotels, breakfast/dinner and private road transport planning allowance; 10 adults for headline. Flights and visas extra.
| Adults | Per adult | Party estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 adults | US$1,295 | US$2,590 |
| 4 adults | US$895 | US$3,580 |
| 6 adults | US$745 | US$4,470 |
| 10 adults | US$595 | US$5,950 |
| 15 adults | US$525 | US$7,875 |
| 20 adults | US$495 | US$9,900 |
What is this estimate based on?
The figures are planning allowances, not a supplier contract or a claim that another operator sells this exact itinerary. Hotel and vehicle choices, travel dates and occupancy can change the final price. Child rates, single rooms, tickets, unlisted meals and extra services are separate unless expressly included.
Research reviewed 13 October 2026: published six-day Nepal entry prices around ₹14,500–₹14,999 provide a broad market reference; eight- and twelve-day Buddhist offers vary substantially by group size and land-service scope. We use an independent provisional budget, not a copied competitor fare.
Get the price for your dates
Send dates, travellers and room preference. Get a written itinerary and price.
Summary itinerary
Your detailed itinerary
Open each day for the plan, stay, meals and places.
Private itinerary: the final visits, meals and service scope are confirmed in your written quote.
DAY1Arrive in VaranasiVaranasi · Overnight stop
Meet your confirmed airport transfer in Varanasi and check into the hotel. Keep the arrival day light.
DAY2Sarnath, then time to reflectVaranasi · Overnight stop
Spend time in Sarnath’s first-sermon landscape. Archaeological-site, museum and monastery access determine the final visiting order.
DAY3Varanasi to Bodh GayaBodh Gaya · Overnight stop
Drive to Bodh Gaya with breaks, then settle into your hotel. No evening pilgrimage visit is required after a late arrival.
DAY4Bodh GayaBodh Gaya · Overnight stop
Allow substantial time at Mahabodhi Temple, with a separate Great Buddha statue visit if wanted. Follow site rules and preserve time for personal practice.
DAY5Bodh Gaya to KushinagarKushinagar · Overnight stop
Leave early for the long transfer to Kushinagar. Keep the day focused on travel and rest.
DAY6Kushinagar to LumbiniLumbini · Overnight stop
Visit Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa, then cross towards Lumbini. Allow time for border formalities and hotel check-in.
DAY7LumbiniLumbini · Overnight stop
Explore Lumbini’s Sacred Garden and selected monastery-zone highlights. Walking, local transport and practice time are arranged around the group.
DAY8Return towards GorakhpurTour ends · Departure day
Cross back into India and continue to Gorakhpur. Allow for border delays before any onward connection.
Does this itinerary fit your dates?
Send dates, travellers and room preference. Get a written itinerary and price.
Your stay & the journey between places
Confirm your rooming, hotel location and vehicle before booking. Your written quotation names the actual arrangements.
Your room & sharing plan
Confirm the property, room category and whether the beds are twin or double. A third adult may use an extra bed or mattress; ask about space and bedding before choosing triple sharing.
- Room occupancy
- Bed arrangement
- Bathroom facilities
Location & hotel facilities
Check the overnight city, access from parking, stairs or lift and meal timings. Tell us about mobility and dietary needs while planning. Any hotel upgrade must be included in your accepted quote.
- Access & walking
- Meal plan
- Upgrade options
Transport matched to your group
Vehicle choice follows your traveller count, luggage and route. Confirm airport or station pickup, daily sightseeing scope and any local vehicle changes.
- People & luggage
- Route & parking
- Local transfers
What to ask about accommodation before payment
Request hotel names or the agreed selection basis, room category, occupancy, meal count and any extra-bed charge. Check whether early check-in, late checkout, heating or air-conditioning, hot water and Wi-Fi are included where you need them. Facilities vary by property and overnight location.
For a family, list adults and child ages with the rooms you require. For friends, choose twin, double or triple arrangements explicitly. A room photograph alone does not establish the allocated category, view or number of beds.
What to ask about the vehicle and access
Confirm passenger seating, luggage space, the pickup and final drop, operating hours and sightseeing scope. A through vehicle may stop at a parking area rather than a temple entrance, old-city lane or hill viewpoint. Ask whether the last section requires walking, a local shuttle or a different vehicle.
Keep optional outings separate from the base programme. A new stop can add waiting, distance, tickets or an overnight change. Request an updated route and total price rather than relying on a verbal addition to the original itinerary.
Inclusions & exclusions
This is a private proposal. Final inclusions and charges must be confirmed in your written quotation.
Scope to confirm
7 planned nights: Varanasi 2 nights; Bodh Gaya 2 nights; Kushinagar 1 night; Lumbini 2 nights. Hotel or lodge names, category and occupancy are itemised in the quote.
Pickup and final drop for this displayed route, with the vehicle type, luggage and transfer scope stated in writing.
The day-wise sightseeing programme, with the exact guiding, entry-ticket and local-transfer coverage itemised.
Breakfast, dinner or other meal counts as individually stated in the accepted quotation.
A complete payable amount, currency, applicable taxes, payment milestones and cancellation conditions before confirmation.
Extra unless expressly included
Travel to the stated starting city and onward travel after the agreed final drop, unless separately added.
Unlisted entry tickets, cable cars, boating, wildlife programmes and other optional activities.
Unlisted meals, drinks, room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout.
Personal expenses, donations, travel insurance and separately booked flights or rail tickets.
Additional nights, route extensions and unquoted services. Any mandatory extra charges must be disclosed in the accepted total.
The accepted booking summary controls the service scope. A place named in the itinerary does not automatically include its ticket or activity charges.
The route, place by place
Varanasi → Sarnath → Bodh Gaya → Kushinagar → Lumbini → Gorakhpur
View the route diagram
Your route through India & Nepal
Follow the stops in travel order. Open a place guide below for practical visiting information.
Illustrative location diagram · Not to scale or for navigation. Lines are tour connections, not road alignments or borders.
About your departure place: Varanasi
Pickup, arrival and your onward connection
This proposal begins at the agreed Varanasi pickup. Send your actual flight, train or local arrival details before fixing the first day. A city name does not include every outlying pickup or an automatic connection from India.
Confirm reporting, luggage, hotel check-in and final drop. Extra nights, onward travel and changes to the joining point need a revised quotation.
Places along this route
SarnathPlace guide & practical planning+
- Dhamek Stupa
- Dharmarajika remains
- Archaeological Museum
- Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
Bodh GayaPlace guide & practical planning+
- Mahabodhi Temple
- Bodhi Tree precinct
- Great Buddha statue
- International monasteries
KushinagarPlace guide & practical planning+
- Mahaparinirvana Temple
- Ramabhar Stupa
- Matha Kuar shrine
- Japanese Temple
LumbiniPlace guide & practical planning+
- Maya Devi Temple
- Ashoka Pillar
- Sacred Pond (Puskarini)
- Royal Thai Monastery
- World Peace Pagoda
These are short destination highlights, not a promise that every stop fits the transfer days. Only visits listed in your accepted itinerary are included.
Explore the destinations in photos
Your route briefing
Know the route before you book
Start with the overnight stops, then check the road days, room-sharing basis and optional activities. Ask the travel desk to explain any part that is unclear.
- Which days are mainly transfers?
- What is included in the displayed price?
- Where can the plan be adjusted for your group?
The written itinerary remains your booking reference.
Tour details & practical planning
01An eight-day journey for the four principal places
This proposal suits guests who want the core India–Nepal pilgrimage without adding every historical site to the same journey.
This proposal suits guests who want the core India–Nepal pilgrimage without adding every historical site to the same journey. The main decision is how much visiting and reflection time to give each place within the arrival and departure windows. The programme should not be compressed simply to fit a late first flight and an early last one.
Before requesting the final quote, state the preferred guiding language, group rooming and whether anyone needs assistance with walking. Confirm the land-border and re-entry requirements for each guest. Rajgir, Nalanda and Shravasti belong to the longer proposal when extra days are available.
02A researched route, confirmed for your group
This is a proposed itinerary for enquiry, not a bookable fixed departure.
This is a proposed itinerary for enquiry, not a bookable fixed departure. The route uses private road transfers, with flights arranged only if requested and quoted. No train travel is assumed. Tell us your nationality, arrival airport, preferred language and the amount of time you want for practice.
04Long drives and accessible visits
Even this route contains long transfers.
Even this route contains long transfers. Ask to add an overnight stop if the group prefers shorter days. Temple precincts and archaeological grounds may involve uneven surfaces, steps and security checks. Discuss mobility and luggage before deciding transport.
05Pricing and confirmation
Request an itemised quotation in INR or USD, with the currency basis and validity stated.
Request an itemised quotation in INR or USD, with the currency basis and validity stated. It will distinguish accommodation, meals, guide services, vehicle use, entry fees, visas, flights and personal expenses. Deposit, amendment and refund terms are supplied before payment.
06Who this focused route is designed for
The eight-day outline is a starting point for a private pilgrimage centred on Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar and Lumbini.
The eight-day outline is a starting point for a private pilgrimage centred on Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar and Lumbini. It suits a group that wants a clear set of principal places rather than adding every related site in a single visit. The arrival point, border sequence and final airport must be confirmed with your actual flights.
Explain whether the group’s purpose is devotional, educational or a mixture of both. Time for personal reflection, historical interpretation and organised group practice should be planned differently. Do not assume a private ceremony, monastery stay or meeting with a teacher is included simply because the tour visits a sacred place.
07Build the day around the purpose of the visit
Some groups want a short orientation followed by independent quiet time.
Some groups want a short orientation followed by independent quiet time. Others prefer a guided explanation before moving to the next place. Agree this with the organiser before arrival so the schedule does not treat every stop as a quick photograph.
Include meal breaks, footwear arrangements, walking needs and regrouping points in the daily briefing. Group leaders should know how many people are travelling, who may need assistance and who will keep track of meeting times. A private programme still needs coordination to preserve the time available at each site.
08International arrivals and border continuity
The route crosses between India and Nepal.
The route crosses between India and Nepal. Each traveller’s nationality and entry permissions must be checked against the actual sequence, including any planned return into India. An itinerary proposal is not a visa approval. Use the relevant official immigration guidance and ask questions before buying non-flexible onward tickets.
Share airline baggage allowances if a flight is included elsewhere in your holiday. Road luggage capacity, arrival assistance and the final airport transfer are separate parts of the service. The written proposal should show who coordinates each handover and whether a through vehicle or transfer change is used.
09What the private quotation should settle
Ask for hotel names or the agreed selection basis, room occupancy, guide language, meal counts, entrance costs, vehicle scope and border-related arrangements.
Ask for hotel names or the agreed selection basis, room occupancy, guide language, meal counts, entrance costs, vehicle scope and border-related arrangements. If priced in USD, confirm the currency of payment and how bank charges or a revised exchange basis would be handled.
The published eight days are a researched route proposal, not a scheduled group with a guaranteed fare. Extra nights, a different arrival airport or particular monastery requests can change it. Accept the itinerary and the supplier-specific payment and cancellation terms together.
10Route decisions that matter on this tour
This eight-day open-ended route starts in Varanasi and finishes at the agreed Gorakhpur drop after Lumbini.
This eight-day open-ended route starts in Varanasi and finishes at the agreed Gorakhpur drop after Lumbini. The seven nights are Varanasi 2, Bodh Gaya 2, Kushinagar 1 and Lumbini 2. Reserve the Varanasi–Bodh Gaya and Bodh Gaya–Kushinagar stages for road travel rather than promising long temple sessions after arrival.
11Make the sightseeing time useful
The four principal pilgrimage places are Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar and Lumbini.
The four principal pilgrimage places are Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar and Lumbini. Keep dedicated time for prayer, interpretation and walking. For international guests, check Nepal entry and the document allowing re-entry to India before crossing the border; a Nepal visit does not automatically preserve an India entry entitlement.
12Route research and current operating checks
Destination and route references reviewed 17 October 2026.
Destination and route references reviewed 17 October 2026. The overnight sequence is a Trishna planning proposal; official destination descriptions do not confirm supplier availability. The local team checks current roads, site access and any trail operating arrangements before accepting your trip.
Booking terms & payment
From enquiry to a confirmed booking
- Share dates, travellers, rooming and pickup needs.
- Review the itinerary, included services and complete price.
- Accept the payment and cancellation terms before paying.
- Keep your receipt and written booking confirmation.
Your accepted quotation states the deposit, payment milestones, balance deadline and supplier conditions. Review these details before paying.
An enquiry does not reserve a seat, hotel room or vehicle.
Cancellation & refund policy
Private booking cancellation conditions
Your written quotation states cancellation charges, notice periods, non-refundable supplier commitments and amendment conditions. Request any cancellation or change in writing and retain the acknowledgement.
Ask for an itemised explanation of recoverable amounts, supplier deductions and refund timing. Flights, trains and separately booked services follow their own supplier terms. Statutory consumer rights remain unaffected.
Terms & conditions
Service scope, route changes and traveller responsibilities
Only the services listed in your accepted booking are included. Confirm rooms, meals, vehicle scope, tickets, local shuttles and special requests in writing.
Road conditions, weather, border delays, queues and site rules may change visit timing or order. Material changes and proposed extra costs should be explained. Carry the required original documents, arrive at the agreed reporting time and tell the desk about practical assistance needs before booking.
Your booking questions, answered
Is this itinerary fixed?
This is an illustrative private route for discussion. Dates, overnight stops, services and price are confirmed only in your written quotation.
How are charges calculated for different group sizes?
The desk prices the actual group, dates, rooms and vehicle. Two travellers do not pay the same per-person vehicle share as a larger group. No current private fare is represented as confirmed here.
Are entry tickets and optional activities included?
Check the inclusions and exclusions on this page and the accepted booking summary. An itinerary mention does not by itself include the ticket, local shuttle or activity charge.
What should I confirm about rooms?
Ask for hotel names or the agreed selection basis, each night, double or twin bedding, extra-bed arrangements and any child or single-room supplement.
How do I request changes or cancel?
Contact the desk in writing and retain acknowledgement. The fixed Nepal departure has the schedule below; private bookings use the cancellation and supplier conditions supplied before payment.
What should I send with my enquiry?
Send dates, departure city, adults and children with ages, room preference and the places that matter most. Mention luggage or practical assistance needs; do not put passport numbers or identity scans in the website form.
Does the eight-day circuit return to Varanasi?
The displayed route ends at Gorakhpur after Lumbini. A return to Varanasi or another airport changes the final transfer and may need an extra night.
Are Rajgir and Nalanda included in this shorter circuit?
No. They are part of the extended twelve-day proposal. Adding them to the eight-day programme reduces time at the four principal places or requires a longer trip.
