10 Days Buddhist Circuit Tour India & Nepal – 9 Nights Package from Delhi

Travel Itinerary :

• Day 1: Arrive Delhi. Meet our representative at Delhi Airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest after the journey. Overnight in Delhi.
• Day 2: Delhi sightseeing. Full-day tour of Old and New Delhi: Red Fort (subject to opening days and permission), Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar and India Gate. Overnight in Delhi.
• Day 3: Delhi – Varanasi – Sarnath. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Visit Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon: Dhamek Stupa, the ruins and the Archaeological Museum. Overnight in Varanasi.
• Day 4: Varanasi – Bodh Gaya. Early morning boat ride on the Ganges. After breakfast, drive to Bodh Gaya (about 5–6 hours). Overnight in Bodh Gaya.
• Day 5: Bodh Gaya sightseeing. Full day at the Mahabodhi Temple and the sacred Bodhi Tree, plus the Archaeological Museum and international monasteries. Overnight in Bodh Gaya.
• Day 6: Bodh Gaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Patna. Drive to Rajgir (about 70 km) and visit Vulture's Peak. Continue to the Nalanda Mahavihara ruins, one of the world's oldest centres of learning, then on to Patna. Overnight in Patna.
• Day 7: Patna – Vaishali – Kushinagar. A long driving day (roughly 8–9 hours with stops). Visit Vaishali, where tradition holds the Buddha gave his last sermon, then continue to Kushinagar. If time allows, visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple in the evening. Overnight in Kushinagar.
• Day 8: Kushinagar – Lumbini (Nepal). Morning at the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa, where the Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana and was cremated. Drive to the Sonauli (Sunauli) border, complete border formalities and continue to Lumbini. Overnight in Lumbini.
• Day 9: Lumbini – Sravasti (Balrampur). Early morning at Lumbini's Sacred Garden, the birthplace of the Buddha, and the monastic zone. Drive back into India to Sravasti, where the Buddha spent many rainy-season retreats, and visit the Jetavana Monastery ruins. Overnight in Balrampur.
• Day 10: Balrampur – Lucknow – Delhi. Drive to Lucknow (about 4 hours) and transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Tour ends. Please book an evening flight.

Trip Inclusions :

• Meet and greet and airport transfers in Delhi, Varanasi and Lucknow
• 9 nights accommodation with breakfast and taxes in the listed hotels (or similar)
• Private air-conditioned vehicle between cities, including driver allowance, fuel, parking and interstate taxes
• Sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary (daily driving approx. 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
• Assistance with India–Nepal border formalities at Sonauli
• Rates are for a minimum of 2 persons sharing a room and vehicle

Trip Exclusions :

• International and domestic air/train tickets, including Delhi–Varanasi and Lucknow–Delhi flights (we can book these for you)
• Lunch and dinner
• Monument entry tickets, boat ride charges, camera and video fees
• Guide charges (English/Hindi-speaking guides can be arranged at extra cost)
• Visa fees and Nepal entry or vehicle permit charges, if applicable
• Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and tips
• Anything not mentioned in the inclusions

FAQ :

Which Buddhist sites are covered in this 10 days tour?
The tour covers all four holiest places of Buddhism: Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon) and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana). It also covers Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali and Sravasti, with Delhi at the start and end.

How much does the 10 days Buddhist circuit tour cost?
It starts from ₹[YOUR PRICE] / US$[YOUR PRICE] per person on twin sharing. The final price depends on hotel category, group size and season. Send us your dates for an exact quote.

Do I need a visa or ID to visit Lumbini, Nepal?
Yes, border formalities apply at Sonauli. Indian nationals should carry a valid passport or voter ID card. Foreign nationals need a valid passport and any required Nepal visa, and should check that their Indian visa allows re-entry. Rules change, so please confirm before travel. We assist with the border crossing.

Are flights included?
No. The Delhi–Varanasi and Lucknow–Delhi flights are not included, but we can book them for you.

Is a guide included?
Guide charges are not included. We can arrange an English or Hindi-speaking guide at extra cost.

Is this tour suitable for monks and Buddhist groups?
Yes. The route is planned around the main pilgrimage sites. Tell us about meditation time, meals or special requirements and we will adjust the plan.

What is the best time to take this tour?
October to March has pleasant weather. In December and January, morning fog can delay flights and road travel in northern India, so we plan flexible timings. Summer is very hot and the monsoon (July to September) brings heavy rain.

Can I skip Delhi or start from Patna, Gaya or Varanasi?
Yes. The tour can start from Varanasi, Gaya or Patna. See our Varanasi packages and Nepal packages, or ask us for a custom plan.

What kind of hotels are provided?
Comfortable hotels near the pilgrimage sites. Upgrades are available on request.

For a deeper look at two of the stops, read our guides to Lumbini and Rajgir and Nalanda.