Bodhgaya | Sarnath- Varanasi | Kushinagar | Lumbini
5 Days 4 Nights
10 PAX Private Group
Bangkok
Thailand · India · Nepal
per person | private group of 10 pax
“Walk the same sacred earth the Enlightened One walked.”
Our 5-Day Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour is a focused sacred circuit from Bangkok that covers the four most important sites of Lord Gautama Buddha’s life. Moreover, this 5-day journey is specially designed for Thai pilgrims and working professionals who cannot take 8 or 10 days leave — yet still wish to complete the essential Chaturdhama pilgrimage. Therefore, our 5-Day Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour visits the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the First Sermon at Sarnath-Varanasi, the Parinirvana at Kushinagar, and the Birthplace at Lumbini (Nepal). Additionally, Prime Value Tours has been guiding Thai pilgrim groups through this exact short circuit since 1999, making us India’s most trusted short-circuit Buddhist pilgrimage specialist.
5 Days / 4 Nights
10 Pax (Private Pilgrimage)
Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)
Thailand · India · Nepal
4 Major Buddhist Holy Sites
Private AC Vehicle + Flights
3–4 Star Pilgrim-Friendly Hotels
Daily Breakfast + Dinners (as listed)
Buddhist-Specialist Expert Guide
October to March
All ground transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle. Buddhist-specialist English-speaking guide throughout India & Nepal.
The journey begins at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, where your group of 10 pilgrims is welcomed by the Prime Value Tours coordinator. After a connecting flight to Gaya International Airport, you will arrive in the holiest city of Buddhism — Bodhgaya — the place where Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment beneath the sacred Bodhi Tree over 2,500 years ago.
Meals: Dinner | Accommodation: Bodhgaya Regency / Royal Residency / Maya Bodhgaya
Begin with the most sacred morning ritual of the entire pilgrimage — dawn prayers under the Bodhi Tree — before a comprehensive tour of the Mahabodhi complex. Then drive to Varanasi and proceed directly to Sarnath, the Deer Park where the Buddha set the Wheel of Dharma in motion with his First Sermon, before witnessing the breathtaking Ganga Aarti ceremony on the sacred river.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Accommodation: Hotel Clarks Varanasi / Ramada Plaza Varanasi, Varanasi
The day begins before dawn with a boat ride on the Ganges — witnessing Varanasi waking up in one of the world’s most extraordinary scenes. Then drive to Kushinagar, the deeply moving site where the Buddha breathed his last breath and entered Mahaparinirvana — Final Release — in the Sala grove at the age of eighty. One of the four most sacred sites in all of Buddhism.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Accommodation: Lotus Nikko Hotel / Hotel Lilavatee / Pathik Niwas, Kushinagar
On the final full day of the pilgrimage, the group crosses from India into Nepal to reach Lumbini — the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the man who would become the Buddha. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the sacred garden of Lumbini contains the Maya Devi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar, the sacred Pushkarini pond and the extraordinary international monastic zone with temples from over 20 countries.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Accommodation: Hotel Kasara Lumbini / Buddha Maya Garden Hotel, Lumbini, Nepal
The final morning allows one last sacred visit to Maya Devi Temple at dawn before departing from the birthplace of the Buddha. The pilgrimage comes full circle as the group returns to Bangkok, carrying the merit, peace and spiritual renewal of having walked in the footsteps of the Enlightened One.
Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: — (Departure Day)
| DESTINATION / LOCATION | NIGHTS / DURATION | RECOMMENDED PROPERTY | CATEGORY / STAR RATING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodhgaya, India | 1 (Night 1) | Bodhgaya Regency / Maya Heritage Hotel | 3–4 Star |
| Varanasi, India | 1 (Night 2) | Hotel Pinacle / Hotel Mudra/HWH | 4 Star |
| Kushinagar, India | 1 (Night 3) | Royal Residency / Om Residency | 3–4 Star |
| Lumbini, Nepal | 1 (Night 4) | Hotel Land Mark Lumbini / Redsun Hotel | 4 Star |
| Included in Your Package | Not Included |
|---|---|
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| Dress Code | Wear modest, loose-fitting clothing at all sacred sites — long trousers/skirt, covered shoulders. White or saffron robes are welcomed and respected by local monks. Always remove shoes before entering temples and stupas. Carry a cloth bag for shoes. |
| India Visa | Apply for an Indian e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) online at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4–5 days before departure. Single or double entry available. Cost approx. USD 25–80 depending on nationality. Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond travel. |
| Nepal Visa | Nepal Tourist Visa is available on arrival at Sonauli border for most nationalities — USD 30 for 15 days. Thai passport holders enter Nepal visa-free. Bring 2 passport photos and USD in cash. Prime Value Tours staff assist at the border. |
| Health | Consult a travel doctor 4–6 weeks before travel. Recommended vaccinations: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria. Drink bottled water only throughout the trip. Carry personal medicines, antidiarrheal tablets and basic first-aid kit. |
| Climate | October to March is ideal — pleasant 20–28°C afternoons, cool 8–14°C mornings. Carry a light jacket or shawl for early morning 4:30 AM temple visits in Bodhgaya and Lumbini. April–June is extreme heat (40°C+). Avoid July–September (monsoon). |
| Currency | Use Indian Rupees (INR) throughout India; Nepalese Rupees (NPR) in Nepal (1 INR ≈ 1.6 NPR). Exchange Thai Baht at Gaya Airport on arrival. ATMs available in Varanasi and Bodhgaya — carry cash for Kushinagar (limited ATMs). |
| Sacred Conduct | Clockwise circumambulation (pradakshina) at all stupas and temples. Mobile phones on silent or off at prayer areas. No photography inside main shrine rooms without guide's permission. Leather items (belts, bags) may need to be left outside some temples. Maintain mindful silence at key sacred moments. |
| Merit-Making | Flowers, incense sticks, and butter lamps for offering are available at all major sites for a small donation (INR 20–100). A group merit-making puja ceremony with a resident monk can be pre-arranged by Prime Value Tours at Bodhgaya or Lumbini — a profoundly beautiful addition to the pilgrimage. |
| Booking Steps | Payment & Cancellation |
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FAQ 1: Which sites does the 5-Day Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour cover?
Ans: Four sacred sites: Bodh Gaya (Enlightenment), Sarnath-Varanasi (First Sermon), Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana), and Lumbini, Nepal (Birthplace).
FAQ 3: Is the 5-Day Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour suitable for first-time pilgrims?
Ans: Yes. The 5-day circuit is ideal for first-time pilgrims and working Thai Buddhists who want to complete the essentials without taking long leave.
FAQ 2: Do I need a Nepal visa for Lumbini?
Ans: Thai passport holders enter Nepal visa-free. Other nationalities get Nepal visas on arrival at the Sonauli border for USD 30 (15 days). Prime Value Tours assists with all documentation.
FAQ 4: Can I extend this 5-day tour by adding more sites?
Ans: Yes. You can upgrade to the 8-day full Buddhist circuit, adding Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, and Sravasti. Contact us for custom extension options.