--- title: "Complete Buddhist Circuit India & Nepal 10 Days Tour" url: https://primevaluetours.com/complete-buddhist-circuit-india-nepal-10-days/ description: "10-day Buddhist pilgrimage: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Sravasti. Veg meals. Group from $839." contact: "+91-9794122849 (WhatsApp) · info@primevaluetours.com · https://primevaluetours.com/plan-your-trip/" ---# Complete Buddhist Circuit India & Nepal – 10 Days / 9 NightsFlagship pilgrimage**In short:** A 10-day, 9-night Buddhist pilgrimage that covers seven of the eight great holy places of the Buddha's life: Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (Enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon), Kushinagar (Parinirvana), Rajgir, Vaishali and Sravasti, plus Nalanda. It starts in Varanasi and ends in Lucknow, with daily time for prayer and meditation, pure-vegetarian meals and a dedicated Buddhist guide.## Tour at a glance| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights | | --- | --- | | Route | Varanasi → Bodh Gaya → Rajgir → Vaishali → Kushinagar → Lumbini, Nepal → Sravasti | | Starts | Varanasi (VNS) | | Ends | Lucknow (LKO) | | Pace | Moderate – four long road days of 5 to 7 hours | | Best season | October to March | | Meals | Pure vegetarian (Jain, vegan and no onion-garlic on request) | | Guide languages | English, Hindi; Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Chinese and others on request | | Group tour price | From US$839 per person | | Private tour price | From US$1,689 per person | | Ideal for | First-time and returning pilgrims, temple groups and families who want the complete circuit in one journey |### Overnight stops1. Varanasi (2 nights) 2. Bodh Gaya (2) 3. Rajgir (1) 4. Vaishali (1) 5. Kushinagar (1) 6. Lumbini, Nepal (1) 7. Sravasti (1)## Day-by-day itinerary### Day 1: Arrive Varanasi – Evening Ganga AartiMeet and greet at Varanasi Airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest after your flight. In the evening, walk to Dashashwamedh Ghat for the Ganga Aarti.#### Varanasi & the Ganges**Why it is sacred:** Varanasi (ancient Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. The Buddha walked here from Bodh Gaya to find his first five disciples, and the city's ghats have drawn seekers of every tradition for over 2,500 years. [Read our Varanasi guide](/varanasi-buddhist-pilgrimage/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges past the 84 ghats - Evening Ganga Aarti (river prayer ceremony) at Dashashwamedh Ghat - Old-city lanes, silk-weaving workshops and Kashi Vishwanath corridor (outside view)**Prayer and meditation time:** Quiet reflection time on the boat at sunrise (about 30 minutes).**Travel:** Varanasi Airport (VNS) → Varanasi hotel, 25 km, 45 min by car **Overnight:** Varanasi – group: 3-star hotel; private: Radisson / Pinnacle / Amaya (or similar) **Meals:** D (vegetarian)### Day 2: Sunrise on the Ganges & Sarnath, site of the First SermonEarly-morning boat ride on the Ganges, return for breakfast, then a full afternoon at Sarnath with chanting at the Dhamek Stupa and the evening puja at Mulagandhakuti Vihara.#### Sarnath**Why it is sacred:** Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, to five ascetics, setting the Wheel of Dharma in motion and founding the Sangha. It is one of the four holy places the Buddha himself named for pilgrimage. [Read our Sarnath guide](/dhamek-stupa-sarnath/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Dhamek Stupa, marking the site of the first sermon - Deer Park and the ruins of the Dharmarajika Stupa and monasteries - Mulagandhakuti Vihara, with murals of the Buddha's life and the evening chanting - Sarnath Archaeological Museum and the original Lion Capital of Ashoka (museum closed on Fridays) - Chaukhandi Stupa, where the Buddha met his five companions**Prayer and meditation time:** About 1.5 hours for chanting and meditation around the Dhamek Stupa and Mulagandhakuti Vihara.**Travel:** Varanasi → Sarnath, 10 km, 30 min by car **Overnight:** Varanasi – group: 3-star hotel; private: Radisson / Pinnacle / Amaya (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 3: Varanasi to Bodh GayaDrive across the Uttar Pradesh–Bihar border on the national highway, with a lunch stop. Check in, then first evening visit to the Mahabodhi Temple for prayers under the Bodhi Tree.#### Bodh Gaya (Mahabodhi Temple)**Why it is sacred:** Bodh Gaya is the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, around 528 BCE. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most sacred place in the Buddhist world. [Read our Mahabodhi Temple guide](/mahabodhi-temple-bodh-gaya/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- The Mahabodhi Temple and the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) - The Bodhi Tree, a descendant of the original tree - The seven sacred weeks spots: Animesh Lochana, Ratnachankramana (Jewel Walk), Muchalinda Lake and others - International monasteries: Thai, Japanese, Bhutanese, Tibetan, Burmese and Vietnamese temples - The 80-ft Great Buddha Statue**Prayer and meditation time:** The longest prayer time on any tour: 2 to 3 hours each day at the Bodhi Tree. The temple is open from about 5:00 am to 9:00 pm, so early-morning and evening sessions are possible.**Travel:** Varanasi → Bodh Gaya, 250 km, 6 to 7 hrs by coach/car **Overnight:** Bodh Gaya – group: 3-star hotel; private: Hyatt / ITC / Ramada (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 4: Bodh Gaya – Full day at the place of EnlightenmentDawn meditation at the Bodhi Tree. Mid-morning visit to Sujata Village. Afternoon tour of the international monasteries and the Great Buddha Statue, then evening chanting and lamp offering at the Mahabodhi Temple.*Returning to Bodh Gaya (Mahabodhi Temple).* The longest prayer time on any tour: 2 to 3 hours each day at the Bodhi Tree. The temple is open from about 5:00 am to 9:00 pm, so early-morning and evening sessions are possible.#### Sujata Village & Dungeshwari Caves**Why it is sacred:** Across the Niranjana (Phalgu) River, the village girl Sujata offered milk-rice to the Buddha, ending his six years of extreme austerity. In the Dungeshwari (Mahakala) Caves he practised those austerities before choosing the Middle Way. [Read our Bodh Gaya guide](/mahabodhi-temple-bodh-gaya/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Sujata Stupa and Sujata Temple - Niranjana riverbank - Dungeshwari cave shrine with the emaciated-Buddha image (about 12 km from Bodh Gaya)**Prayer and meditation time:** About 30 minutes of meditation inside the cave shrine.**Travel:** Bodh Gaya → Sujata Village, 3 km, 15 min by car **Overnight:** Bodh Gaya – group: 3-star hotel; private: Hyatt / ITC / Ramada (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 5: Bodh Gaya to Rajgir & NalandaClimb Vulture's Peak (or take the ropeway towards the Peace Pagoda) for chanting where the Buddha taught. Visit the Bamboo Grove, then the ruins of Nalanda University in the afternoon.#### Rajgir (Rajagaha)**Why it is sacred:** Rajgir was the capital of King Bimbisara of Magadha. The Buddha spent many rainy seasons here and taught key discourses, including the Heart Sutra tradition associated with Vulture's Peak. The First Buddhist Council was held at the Saptaparni Cave after his passing. [Read our Rajgir guide](/rajgir-buddhist-sites/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Vulture's Peak (Gridhakuta), reached by an easy-to-moderate path or ropeway to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa - Venuvana (Bamboo Grove), the first monastery gifted to the Buddha - Jivaka's Mango Grove and Bimbisara's Jail - Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda)**Prayer and meditation time:** About 1 hour of chanting and meditation on Vulture's Peak, ideally at sunrise or sunset.#### Nalanda Mahavihara**Why it is sacred:** Nalanda was the greatest Buddhist university of the ancient world (5th to 12th century CE), where scholars such as Nagarjuna, Shantideva and the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang studied. Its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Buddha and Sariputta also visited the area; Sariputta was born nearby. [Read our Nalanda Mahavihara guide](/nalanda-ruins/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Excavated monasteries, temples and the great Sariputta Stupa - Nalanda Archaeological Museum - Xuanzang Memorial Hall**Prayer and meditation time:** About 30 minutes of quiet reflection at the Sariputta Stupa.**Travel:** Bodh Gaya → Rajgir, 80 km, 2.5 hrs by coach/car; Rajgir → Nalanda, 15 km, 30 min by coach/car **Overnight:** Rajgir – group: 3-star hotel; private: Residency / Ashok (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 6: Rajgir to Vaishali via PatnaCross the Ganges on the long Patna bridge. Afternoon at the Ashoka Pillar, Relic Stupa and the place where women were first ordained into the Sangha.#### Vaishali**Why it is sacred:** Vaishali, capital of the Licchavi republic, is where the Buddha announced his approaching Parinirvana, first admitted women into the Sangha (ordaining Mahapajapati Gotami) and where the Second Buddhist Council was held. [Read our Vaishali guide](/vaishali-buddhist-site/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Ashoka Pillar with its single lion capital at Kolhua - Relic Stupa, where a share of the Buddha's relics was enshrined - Abhishek Pushkarini (coronation tank) and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa**Prayer and meditation time:** About 45 minutes of chanting at the Relic Stupa and Ashoka Pillar.**Travel:** Rajgir → Vaishali (via Patna), 160 km, 4.5 to 5 hrs by coach/car **Overnight:** Vaishali – group: 3-star hotel; private: White Lotus (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 7: Vaishali to Kesariya & KushinagarStop at the great Kesariya Stupa, then continue to Kushinagar. Evening visit to the Mahaparinirvana Temple to offer a robe to the reclining Buddha.#### Kesariya Stupa**Why it is sacred:** At Kesariya the Buddha gave his alms bowl to the people of Vaishali as he travelled towards Kushinagar. Its brick stupa is one of the tallest excavated Buddhist stupas in the world. [Read our Kesariya Stupa guide](/kesaria-stupa-bihar/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- The terraced Kesariya Stupa and its niches of Buddha images**Prayer and meditation time:** A 20-minute stop for chanting and photographs on the way to Kushinagar.#### Kushinagar**Why it is sacred:** Kushinagar is where the Buddha passed into Mahaparinirvana (final passing) at the age of 80, between twin sal trees. It is one of the four holy places the Buddha named for pilgrimage. [Read our Kushinagar guide](/mahaparinirvana-temple-kushinagar/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Mahaparinirvana Temple with the 6-metre reclining Buddha - Ramabhar Stupa, the cremation site - Mathakuar Shrine, where the Buddha gave his last sermon - International temples (Thai, Japanese, Burmese, Chinese)**Prayer and meditation time:** About 2 hours, including the offering of a robe (chivara) to the reclining Buddha, a cherished tradition for many groups.**Travel:** Vaishali → Kesariya, 55 km, 1.5 hrs by coach/car; Kesariya → Kushinagar, 150 km, 3.5 to 4 hrs by coach/car **Overnight:** Kushinagar – group: 3-star hotel; private: Royal Residency (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 8: Kushinagar to Lumbini, NepalMorning at the Ramabhar Stupa and Mathakuar Shrine. Drive to the Sunauli border, complete Nepal immigration (our team assists), and reach Lumbini for an evening walk in the Monastic Zone.*Returning to Kushinagar.* About 2 hours, including the offering of a robe (chivara) to the reclining Buddha, a cherished tradition for many groups.#### Lumbini, Nepal**Why it is sacred:** Lumbini is the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE (traditional date). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the four holy places the Buddha named for pilgrimage. [Read our Maya Devi Temple guide](/maya-devi-temple-lumbini-nepal/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Maya Devi Temple and the Marker Stone of the exact birth spot - Ashoka Pillar of 249 BCE, whose inscription confirms the birthplace - Puskarini (sacred pond) and the Bodhi tree with prayer flags - Monastic Zone with temples built by Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Germany and more - World Peace Pagoda and the Eternal Peace Flame**Prayer and meditation time:** About 2 hours in the Sacred Garden for chanting and meditation.**Travel:** Kushinagar → Lumbini (via Sunauli border), 180 km, 5 to 6 hrs incl. border by coach/car **Overnight:** Lumbini – group: 3-star hotel; private: Hyatt / Vilasa / Landmark (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 9: Lumbini birthplace to SravastiDawn prayers at the Maya Devi Temple and Ashoka Pillar while the Sacred Garden is quiet. After breakfast, cross back into India and drive to Sravasti for an evening at Jetavana Grove.*Returning to Lumbini, Nepal.* About 2 hours in the Sacred Garden for chanting and meditation.#### Sravasti (Jetavana)**Why it is sacred:** The Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons at Sravasti, more than anywhere else, in the Jetavana monastery gifted by the merchant Anathapindika. Here he performed the Twin Miracle and taught many of the suttas recorded in the Pali Canon. [Read our Sravasti guide](/sravasti-jetavana/).**What pilgrims see and do:**- Jetavana Grove with the Gandhakuti (the Buddha's hut) and Anandabodhi tree - Angulimala Stupa and Anathapindika Stupa - Thai, Sri Lankan and Myanmar temples**Prayer and meditation time:** About 1.5 hours of chanting and meditation at the Gandhakuti.**Travel:** Lumbini → Sravasti (via Indian border), 210 km, 6 to 7 hrs incl. border by coach/car **Overnight:** Sravasti – group: 3-star hotel; private: Tulip / Pride / Metta (or similar) **Meals:** B, L, D (vegetarian)### Day 10: Sravasti to Lucknow – DepartureEarly-morning meditation at the Gandhakuti in Jetavana, then drive to Lucknow Airport for your onward flight.*Returning to Sravasti (Jetavana).* About 1.5 hours of chanting and meditation at the Gandhakuti.**Travel:** Sravasti → Lucknow Airport (LKO), 175 km, 4 to 4.5 hrs by coach/car **Overnight:** none (tour ends) **Meals:** B, L (vegetarian)## Travel distances and realistic journey timesTimes are realistic door-to-door estimates for the roads as they are, including a short rest stop, not map-app minimums. Road conditions and border queues can add time.| Day | From | To | Distance | Journey time | Mode | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Varanasi Airport (VNS) | Varanasi hotel | 25 km | 45 min | car | | 2 | Varanasi | Sarnath | 10 km | 30 min | car | | 3 | Varanasi | Bodh Gaya | 250 km | 6 to 7 hrs | coach/car | | 4 | Bodh Gaya | Sujata Village | 3 km | 15 min | car | | 5 | Bodh Gaya | Rajgir | 80 km | 2.5 hrs | coach/car | | 5 | Rajgir | Nalanda | 15 km | 30 min | coach/car | | 6 | Rajgir | Vaishali (via Patna) | 160 km | 4.5 to 5 hrs | coach/car | | 7 | Vaishali | Kesariya | 55 km | 1.5 hrs | coach/car | | 7 | Kesariya | Kushinagar | 150 km | 3.5 to 4 hrs | coach/car | | 8 | Kushinagar | Lumbini (via Sunauli border) | 180 km | 5 to 6 hrs incl. border | coach/car | | 9 | Lumbini | Sravasti (via Indian border) | 210 km | 6 to 7 hrs incl. border | coach/car | | 10 | Sravasti | Lucknow Airport (LKO) | 175 km | 4 to 4.5 hrs | coach/car |Total road distance on this tour: about 1,313 km.## Hotels and vegetarian meals### Hotels we use| Overnight | Group tour | Private tour (or similar) | | --- | --- | --- | | Varanasi | 3-star hotel | Radisson / Pinnacle / Amaya | | Bodh Gaya | 3-star hotel | Hyatt / ITC / Ramada | | Rajgir | 3-star hotel | Residency / Ashok | | Vaishali | 3-star hotel | White Lotus | | Kushinagar | 3-star hotel | Royal Residency | | Lumbini | 3-star hotel | Hyatt / Vilasa / Landmark | | Sravasti | 3-star hotel | Tulip / Pride / Metta |Hotels are confirmed at booking, subject to availability. If a listed hotel is full, we book one of the same standard.### Hotel standards**Group tours:** 3-star superior hotels. **Private tours:** 4-star hotels (best available). Every room has a private bathroom, hot water and air-conditioning, on a twin-sharing basis; single rooms are available at a supplement.Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Delhi, Patna and Kathmandu have a wide choice of good hotels. Smaller pilgrimage towns such as Rajgir, Vaishali, Kushinagar, Sravasti and Lumbini have fewer, simpler hotels; there we use the best available properties, chosen for cleanliness, quiet and reliable vegetarian kitchens.### Vegetarian meal arrangements**All meals are pure vegetarian.** The tour includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner (except where shown on the first and last day), served as buffets or set menus at hotels and trusted restaurants. We can arrange **Jain meals, no onion and garlic, vegan, gluten-free** and meals suited to monastic precepts (main meal before noon) with advance notice. On long road days we provide a packed lunch or stop at a clean vegetarian restaurant. Bottled drinking water is provided in the vehicle every day.## Guide languagesEvery tour is led by a licensed, Buddhist-knowledgeable guide who explains the sutta and Jataka background at each site, not just the history. **Standard languages:** English and Hindi. **On request** (confirmed at booking, subject to availability): Thai, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Sinhala, Burmese, French, Spanish and German. Where a native-language guide is not available, we pair an English-speaking Buddhist guide with an interpreter or tour leader.## Airport arrival and departure- **Arrival:** Varanasi (VNS). Our representative meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board, helps with luggage and escorts you to an air-conditioned vehicle. Arrival transfers are included at any hour, including late-night flights. - **Departure:** Lucknow (LKO). We drop you at the terminal with enough time for check-in (about 3 hours before international flights and 2 hours before domestic flights). - **Delays:** we track your flight number, so a delayed flight does not mean a missed pickup. - **24/7 support:** a dedicated phone and WhatsApp line, +91-9794122849, for the whole journey.## Tour pricesGroup tour **from US$839** per person, twin sharing Shared AC coach, 3-star superior hotels, groups of about 15+Private tour **from US$1,689** per person, twin sharing Your own car and guide, 4-star hotels, based on 2 travellersPrices are per person in US dollars for land arrangements and include GST. The final price depends on group size, travel dates, hotel category and the season. Larger groups, monks and nuns travelling as a group, and early bookings may receive better rates; ask for a quotation.## Inclusions and exclusions### Included- 9 nights' accommodation on a twin-sharing basis as listed - Pure-vegetarian meals as shown in the day-by-day plan (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner) - All transfers and sightseeing by air-conditioned vehicle (coach for groups, private car or van for private tours) - Airport and railway-station arrival and departure transfers - English-speaking Buddhist guide throughout (other languages on request) - Monument entrance fees for the sites in the itinerary - Daily bottled drinking water in the vehicle - Driver allowances, tolls, parking and state taxes - GST (Indian goods and services tax) - Assistance at the India–Nepal border with immigration formalities### Not included- International flights and domestic flights (we can book them for you at actual cost) - India visa fees and the Nepal visa fee (paid on arrival at the border) - Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended) - Camera and video fees at monuments - Robes, flowers, lamps and other offerings, and donations to temples - Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff - Single-room supplement - Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and drinks - Anything not listed under inclusions## Good to know before you travel- **Best time to travel:** October to March, when days are pleasant (15–28°C). April to June is very hot (up to 45°C); July to September is the monsoon. Bodh Gaya is busiest from December to February. - **India visa:** most nationalities can apply online for an Indian e-Tourist Visa. - **Nepal visa:** available on arrival at the Sunauli–Belahiya border, payable in US dollars cash (currently USD 30 for 15 days; please check before travel). Indian citizens do not need a visa. - **Re-entering India:** this tour returns to India from Nepal, so your Indian visa must allow at least two entries. The 30-day e-Tourist Visa is double-entry; please check your visa type when you apply. - **Dress code at temples:** shoulders and knees covered; shoes removed at shrines. White or light clothing is traditional for pilgrims. - **Weekly closures:** Sarnath Museum and Sanchi Museum close on Fridays, the Taj Mahal on Fridays, Ajanta on Mondays, Ellora on Tuesdays and most Indian national museums on Mondays. We arrange dates around them.## Frequently asked questionsHow much does the Complete Buddhist Circuit India & Nepal cost?Group tours start from US$839 per person and private tours from US$1,689 per person, both twin sharing for 10 days and 9 nights with vegetarian meals, transport, guide and entrance fees. The final price depends on group size, hotel category and travel dates.What is the best time of year for this pilgrimage?October to March is the best season, with pleasant temperatures. December and January are the busiest months at Bodh Gaya, so book early for those dates.Is there enough time for prayer and meditation?Yes. Each day includes set time for chanting and meditation at the holy sites, with the longest sessions at the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya and at Lumbini and Kushinagar. Your guide adjusts the schedule if your group wants more time.Are vegetarian meals included?Yes. All meals on the tour are pure vegetarian. Jain, no onion and garlic, vegan and gluten-free meals can be arranged with advance notice.What is the difference between the group and private tour?Group departures use a shared AC coach, 3-star superior hotels and a shared guide, and suit temple and community groups of about 15 or more. Private tours use your own car or van, a personal guide and 4-star hotels, and can start on any date.Does this tour include all eight great Buddhist pilgrimage sites?It includes seven of the eight: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Rajgir, Vaishali and Sravasti. The eighth, Sankisa, is far off this route; we can add it as a one-day extension from Lucknow.## Related pilgrimage tours- [India–Nepal Extended Circuit (12 Days)](/buddhist-pilgrimage-tour-india-nepal-12-days/) - [Buddhist Circuit with Delhi & Taj Mahal (12 Days)](/buddhist-circuit-delhi-taj-mahal-12-days/) - [Buddhist Pilgrimage India (8 Days)](/buddhist-travel-india/) - [Complete Buddhist pilgrimage guide to India and Nepal](/buddhist-pilgrimage-guide-india-nepal/)**Plan this pilgrimage with us.** Tell us your dates, group size and language, and we will send a detailed quotation within 24 hours.[Plan My Pilgrimage](/plan-your-trip/) [WhatsApp +91-9794122849](https://wa.me/919794122849)Prepared by the Prime Value Tours pilgrimage team in Varanasi, Govt. of India approved and an IATO member, organising Buddhist pilgrimages since 1999. Last updated November 2026.