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 a day for the plan, overnight stop, meals and relevant place notes.
Private itinerary proposal: final services, conditions and the overnight plan are confirmed in writing.
DAY1Arrive in VaranasiVaranasi · Overnight stop
Airport pickup and hotel check-in according to your confirmed arrival. Keep the first day light; a late flight should not force a pilgrimage visit.
DAY2Sarnath, then time to reflectVaranasi · Overnight stop
Visit the Sarnath archaeological area and discuss the Buddha’s first teaching. Museum access and weekly closure must be checked for the chosen date. Leave time for personal reflection rather than combining every Varanasi attraction.
DAY3Varanasi to Bodh GayaBodh Gaya · Overnight stop
A dedicated road transfer with breaks. Settle into the hotel; an evening visit is optional only if timing permits.
DAY4Bodh GayaBodh Gaya · Overnight stop
Allow substantial time at the Mahabodhi Temple complex. Visits to international monasteries depend on their access arrangements. Personal practice time is built around site rules, not a promised private ceremony.
DAY5Bodh Gaya to KushinagarKushinagar · Overnight stop
This is a long transfer day. An early departure and limited sightseeing expectations are essential. For guests preferring shorter drives, extend the trip with an additional overnight stop.
DAY6Kushinagar to LumbiniLumbini · Overnight stop
Visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa before travelling towards the Nepal border. Complete entry formalities and continue to Lumbini. Move a visit to the previous day only if feasible.
Place previews help you plan. Only visits expressly stated in your confirmed itinerary are included.
DAY7LumbiniLumbini · Overnight stop
Focus on the Maya Devi Temple area, Ashoka Pillar and Sacred Garden. Plan the monastic zone separately so walking and local transport are manageable.
Place previews help you plan. Only visits expressly stated in your confirmed itinerary are included.
DAY8Return towards GorakhpurTour ends · Departure day
Cross back into India and transfer to Gorakhpur. Prefer a later or following-day onward connection, allowing for border delays. Entry permissions for returning to India must be arranged in advance.
Does this itinerary fit your dates?
Send dates, travellers and room preference. Get a written itinerary and price.
Your stay & the journey between places
Choose the rooming and transport around the people travelling. Photographs below are planning references from our supplied collection; your booking 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
Inclusions are itemised in your individual proposal
Request private transport, hotel nights and an agreed meal plan
Request guide language and pilgrimage support in advance
Extra unless expressly included
International/domestic flights unless separately quoted
Visa and entry permissions unless expressly included
Personal donations, purchases and insurance
Unquoted activities or additional nights
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
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 · arrival, pickup and onward travel
Share flight details and the group’s arrival pattern before fixing the first visiting day. Airport assistance, luggage capacity and the hotel transfer must be listed in the proposal. Do not assume a religious-site visit can be completed between arrival and check-in. International travellers should check permissions for both India and Nepal, including any return into India.
Keep the pickup contact and written meeting instructions accessible. Tell the desk about changes to your arrival. Read the practical planning guide →
About the places you’ll visit
SarnathPlace guide & practical planning+
Sarnath, near Varanasi, is associated with the Buddha's first sermon after enlightenment. Its stupas, archaeological remains and living places of worship make it an essential part of the Buddhist circuit. Plan it as a meaningful visit in its own right, even when the overnight hotel is in Varanasi.
Explore Sarnath →Bodh GayaPlace guide & practical planning+
Bodh Gaya is the centre of a Buddhist pilgrimage built around the Buddha's enlightenment. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is the essential visit, not a brief stop between hotels. International pilgrims often value time for worship and reflection here more than an expanded list of distant attractions.
Explore Bodh Gaya →KushinagarPlace guide & practical planning+
Kushinagar marks the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana and is one of the core Buddhist pilgrimage places. The Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar cremation site have distinct significance; a good visit explains that distinction and leaves space for reflection. Its connection with Gorakhpur makes it a practical starting or finishing stage for an eastern Uttar Pradesh pilgrimage.
Explore Kushinagar →LumbiniPlace guide & practical planning+
Lumbini is a pilgrimage destination with a clear purpose: the birthplace of the Buddha. The Maya Devi sacred area and Ashoka pillar give the visit its historical focus, while the wider monastic landscape invites a slower pace. It can feature in a Nepal holiday or a dedicated India–Nepal Buddhist circuit, but those two visits need different amounts of time.
Explore Lumbini →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.
Booking terms & payment
From enquiry to a confirmed booking
- Send your dates, travellers, room preference and pickup requirements.
- Review the written itinerary, service scope, rooming arrangement and itemised price.
- Accept the applicable payment and cancellation terms before paying.
- Retain the payment acknowledgement and written booking confirmation.
The deposit, payment milestones, balance deadline and supplier conditions are supplied with your private quotation. The fixed group’s 50% payment schedule does not automatically apply to this trip.
An enquiry or prepared WhatsApp message does not reserve a seat, room or vehicle.
Cancellation & refund policy
Private booking cancellation conditions
Your quote must state the cancellation slabs, notice period, charge basis and any non-refundable supplier commitments before you pay. No standard private-tour percentage or processing deadline has been verified for this route, so the fixed Nepal group schedule is not applied here.
Request changes or cancellation in writing and retain acknowledgement. Ask for an itemised explanation of recoverable amounts, amendment charges and refund timing. Flights, trains and separately booked services follow their own supplier conditions.
Terms & conditions
Service scope, route changes and traveller responsibilities
Only services expressly listed in your accepted booking form part of the package. A destination photograph does not confirm a hotel, room view or included experience. Confirm tickets, local shuttles, meal counts and special requests in writing.
Road conditions, weather, queues, site rules and operating restrictions can change the visiting order or overnight plan. Material changes and proposed extra costs should be explained. Carry required original documents, report at the agreed time and tell the desk about practical assistance needs before booking.
Unused services, amendments and complaints are handled under the accepted booking and supplier conditions. Statutory consumer rights remain unaffected. Full booking terms → · Privacy policy
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.
