Private journeys across India · Replies within 24 hours
Reviewed by Mirza Shadab Beg, Founder, Travelage India, Agra · Last updated 24 October 2026
Tell us your dates and we will tailor the details to you. No payment is taken now.
Short answer: the sensible route is Prayagraj, then Ayodhya, then Varanasi. Drive about 170 km (105 miles) from Prayagraj to Ayodhya, then about 200 km (125 miles) on to Varanasi, ending with the Ganga aarti, a dawn boat ride and Sarnath. Five days and four nights give each city its time, with a guide who plans around temple hours.
Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Varanasi form one of the great pilgrimage routes of the Gangetic plain: the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, the birthplace of Lord Ram, and the city of Shiva on the Ganges. Travelled together, they give a rare picture of living Hindu devotion.
The route is planned from Prayagraj to Ayodhya to Varanasi, which keeps the longest drives short and ends with the most intense city while you are well-acclimatised. Temples run by their own rules: security checks, queues, closed hours and dress customs. Your guide plans around them and explains what you are seeing.
If you travel for devotion, tell us. We can slow the pace and add time for darshan.
Met at the airport or station and taken to your hotel. In the afternoon, take a boat to the Sangam, where the Ganga and Yamuna meet, and see the fort and its surroundings with your guide.
Drive about 170 km (105 miles) to Ayodhya (three and a half to four hours). Visit the temples with your guide, which may include Hanuman Garhi and the Ram temple, subject to opening hours, queues and security. In the evening, watch the aarti on the Saryu river.
Drive about 200 km (125 miles) to Varanasi (four to five hours). Check in, rest, and in the evening watch the Ganga aarti from a good vantage point.
Take a boat on the Ganges at sunrise, then walk the old lanes with your guide. In the afternoon, drive about 10 km (6 miles) to Sarnath and visit the stupa and museum. The evening is yours.
Transfer to the airport or station for your onward journey.
Pilgrimage cities have their own rhythm. Here is what we arrange so you can follow it.
Temples close for part of the afternoon and queues vary, so each day is planned around them.
Your guide explains the customs and the security rules before you go in, so you can be present and respectful.
A government-approved guide joins you in each city, matched to the language and pace you prefer.
Your guide is chosen for the language you prefer and the things you love. Ask for Japanese or Russian and we will arrange it where we can.
Here is every leg with its distance and likely drive time. Times vary with traffic and stops.
| Leg | Distance | Drive time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prayagraj to Ayodhya | about 170 km (105 miles) | 3.5 to 4 hours | Arrive in time for the evening aarti |
| Ayodhya to Varanasi | about 200 km (125 miles) | 4 to 5 hours | Arrive by evening |
| Varanasi to Sarnath | about 10 km (6 miles) | 30 to 45 minutes | Deer Park, stupa and museum |
A clear overview of what is included, how you are met, and what to expect. Tap a card to open it.
What is included in your journey
What is not included
Where and how your journey begins
Season, timing and what to pack
“We have the highest praise for our guide Bobby during our early morning visit to the Taj Mahal. It was also our 40th wedding anniversary, so this visit was very special to us.”
“We had the absolute pleasure of having Neeraj as our tour guide for the Taj Mahal, and he was phenomenal from start to finish. He explained the history and architecture in such a captivating way and was incredibly patient with all our questions.”
“Bobby was an amazing guide! With great passion and knowledge, he led us through the wonders of the Taj Mahal, explaining its history and hidden meanings in a simple yet captivating way.”
“Shadab is a tireless worker. He has arranged our trip according to our wishes. He has also managed to promptly overcome any inconvenience or mistake during the trip.”
“…He was very responsive and was always available when we had any questions. He also recommended hotels and places to stay. He was very flexible with providing guides only for the requested days.”
“Very awesome experience.. extremely professional and courteous, the chauffeur and the guides were very knowledgeable and knew the way to maneuver the system. They were highly flexible in adapting to any changes in my schedule.”
The right route depends on your time and what you hope to see. The highlighted row is the journey on this page.
| Journey | Time needed | How you travel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Days Varanasi Spiritual Tour | 3 days / 2 nights | Private luxury car and guide | Varanasi and Sarnath, unhurried |
| Varanasi, Prayagraj & Ayodhya | 5 days / 4 nights | Private luxury car and guides | Three holy cities in one journey |
| Golden Triangle with Varanasi | 8 days / 7 nights | Car, plus one flight | Monuments first, then the Ganges |
| Agra Mathura Vrindavan | 2 days / 1 night | Private luxury car | Krishna temples and the Taj Mahal |
Cannot find your answer? Write to us and a specialist will reply personally.
We travel from Prayagraj to Ayodhya to Varanasi. The drives are about 170 km (105 miles) and 200 km (125 miles), each three and a half to five hours, and the trip ends in Varanasi, the most intense city, at the end.
Prayagraj to Ayodhya is about 170 km (105 miles), Ayodhya to Varanasi about 200 km (125 miles) and Varanasi to Sarnath about 10 km (6 miles). Allahabad is the older name of Prayagraj.
The Sangam is the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and, according to tradition, the invisible Saraswati rivers at Prayagraj. Pilgrims bathe there and visitors take a boat out to the meeting point.
Yes, subject to opening hours, queues and security rules, which can change. Phones, cameras and bags are usually not allowed inside, so we plan to travel light.
October to March is the most comfortable. Winter mornings are cold and foggy, April to June is very hot, and July to September is monsoon, when the rivers are high.
Yes. You have your own luxury car, driver and licensed guides. Nothing is shared with other travellers.
Yes. We can reverse the route to start in Varanasi, or begin with our 3 Days Varanasi tour and add the other two cities. Tell us your arrival city.
Yes, with the right pace. There are temple queues, steps and long drives, so tell us about mobility needs and we will plan the timing and stops.
Send your dates through the form on this page. A Travelage specialist will reply with a tailored proposal within 24 hours.
Share when you plan to travel and what matters to you. A Travelage specialist will reply with a tailored proposal.
A Travelage representative meets you at the airport or station in Prayagraj with a name board. Share your arrival details and we confirm everything the day before.
5 days / 4 nights. Starts in Prayagraj and ends in Varanasi, with a private luxury car and licensed local guides.
Temples in Ayodhya and Varanasi have security checks and may not allow phones, cameras or bags inside, so travel light. Dress modestly and remove shoes at temple entrances. Rules and timings change, and your guide confirms them on the day. Dress modestly, remove shoes at temples, and ask before photographing people. Photography is not allowed at the cremation ghats. Your guide explains this on the day, and rules and timings can change.
October to March is the most comfortable. December and January mornings are cold and often foggy on the Ganges, which can delay flights and boats. April to June is very hot, and July to September is monsoon, when the river is high, some ghats are underwater and boat routes may be restricted.
Major festivals, the Kumbh and Magh Mela periods at Prayagraj and Ram Navami and Diwali in Ayodhya draw very large crowds, and hotels fill early. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so tell us your plans and we will advise.
