Varanasi to Kathmandu: Temples, Trails & Himalayan Hikes — Self-Launched
9 days · India & Nepal (Varanasi to Kathmandu)
G Adventures charges £787
No-markup version: ~£585 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 9-day overland journey from the sacred ghats of Varanasi across the India–Nepal border to Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini, a community homestay in Barauli, a jungle safari in Chitwan, and a Himalayan foothills hike in the Annapurnas before finishing in Kathmandu. Built for independent travellers using trains, local buses, shared jeeps and guesthouses instead of a guided small-group package — same route, same highlights, roughly half the cost. All prices are approximate per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive Varanasi — Ghats & Old City
Varanasi, India
Arrive in Varanasi (fly or train in, aiming to land by early afternoon). Check into a guesthouse in the Assi Ghat or Bengali Tola area — quiet but walkable to the main ghats. In the late afternoon take a self-guided orientation walk along the ghats from Assi to Dashashwamedh, dipping into the narrow Old City alleys. Evening: watch the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat (free, arrive ~6pm for a good spot, or pay ~£1 for a boat-side view).
🚌Arrival transfer by tuk-tuk from airport ~£3-4 or station ~£1.50
🛏Guesthouse near Assi Ghat, £10-14/night
- →Ghats orientation walk (self-guided)
- →Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat
- →Old City alley wander
Varanasi — Sunrise & Sunset Ganges Boat Tours
Varanasi, India
Pre-dawn start: hire a shared wooden rowboat for a sunrise Ganges cruise (£2-3 per person when split with other travellers, or book a small-group sunrise tour via GetYourGuide for ~£8-10 including a flower-lamp ceremony). Watch the bathing and cremation rituals at the burning ghats. Midday free to explore temples and silk shops, or tuk-tuk out to Sarnath — where Buddha gave his first sermon — via shared auto (~£2 each way), museum entry ~£1.50. Sunset: second boat trip with a candle-and-flower floating ceremony (~£4).
🚌Walking + shared tuk-tuk to Sarnath ~£2 each way
🛏Guesthouse near Assi Ghat, £10-14/night
- →Sunrise Ganges boat tour
- →Sarnath day trip (Dhamek Stupa & museum)
- →Sunset Ganges boat tour with flower ceremony
Varanasi to Lumbini (via Sunauli Border)
Lumbini, Nepal
Long travel day. Take an early train or overnight bus from Varanasi toward Gorakhpur, then a local bus to the Sunauli border (~£6-8 total). Cross the border on foot at Sunauli–Belahiya (free, straightforward for most nationalities; have your Nepal visa ready — £25 for 15 days on arrival). From the Nepal side take a shared jeep or local bus to Bhairahawa, then a short bus/tuk-tuk to Lumbini (~£1-2). Settle into a guesthouse in the Lumbini monastic zone. This mirrors the original tour's Varanasi–Lumbini transfer day.
🚌Train/bus Varanasi–Sunauli ~£5-7, walk border, shared jeep to Lumbini ~£1.50
🛏Guesthouse in Lumbini, £8-12/night
- →Border crossing at Sunauli–Belahiya
- →Evening stroll in the Lumbini monastic zone
Lumbini — Buddha's Birthplace
Lumbini, Nepal
Explore the UNESCO-listed Maya Devi Temple, marking the exact spot where Buddha is said to have been born, and the sacred Puskarini pond. Rent a bicycle (~£1.50/day) to tour the sprawling monastic zone with its Thai, Chinese, German and Myanmar monasteries — all free to enter. Optional meditation session at one of the monasteries (~£2 donation).
🚌Bicycle rental ~£1.50
🛏Guesthouse in Lumbini, £8-12/night
- →Maya Devi Temple & sacred garden
- →Monastic zone cycle tour
- →Optional meditation session
Lumbini to Barauli Community Homestay
Barauli, Nepal
Travel east by local bus from Bhairahawa toward Barauli via Narayanghat/Chitwan (~£4-5, 5-6 hrs). Barauli is a Tharu community village on the edge of Chitwan National Park. Book a community homestay directly or via a community-tourism association (the kind of experience the original tour lists as an included homestay) — expect ~£12-15/night with home-cooked Tharu dinner and breakfast included. Evening: Tharu cultural dance performance put on by villagers (small fee ~£2).
🚌Local bus Bhairahawa–Barauli ~£4-5
🛏Tharu community homestay, £12-15/night incl. meals
- →Tharu village walk
- →Home-cooked Tharu dinner with host family
- →Tharu cultural dance evening
Barauli & Chitwan Jungle Safari
Chitwan, Nepal
Morning village life and cycling through Tharu farmland. Afternoon jeep safari into Chitwan National Park buffer zone to spot rhinos, deer, monkeys and if lucky a tiger — shared jeep safaris run ~£15-20 per person, or a canoe + guided jungle walk for ~£8-10. Park entry ~£8. Your homestay host can arrange it cheaper than booking in Sauraha. Return for another home-cooked dinner.
🚌Shared safari jeep/canoe ~£10-18
🛏Tharu community homestay, £12-15/night incl. meals
- →Chitwan jeep safari or canoe + jungle walk
- →Chitwan National Park entry
- →Village cycling
Chitwan to Pokhara — Annapurna Foothills
Pokhara, Nepal
Morning bus from Chitwan/Sauraha to Pokhara along the Trishuli river route (~£5-8, 5-6 hrs; tourist buses are comfortable and bookable same-day at the bus park). Arrive Pokhara, check into a Lakeside guesthouse. Evening stroll along Phewa Lake and the Lakeside strip with mountain views on a clear day.
🚌Tourist bus Sauraha–Pokhara ~£5-8
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara, £10-15/night
- →Phewa Lake sunset stroll
- →Lakeside evening market
Pokhara — Annapurna Foothills Hike
Pokhara / Annapurna foothills, Nepal
Self-guided day hike into the Annapurna foothills: taxi to Kande or Phedi (~£5), then walk the Australian Camp / Dhampus ridge for panoramic Annapurna and Machhapuchhre views (4-6 hrs, easy-moderate). No permit needed for this lower section. Alternatively book a guided sunrise hike to Sarangkot via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£10). Return to Pokhara by taxi. Optional splurge: pre-book a Pokhara–Kathmandu flight instead of the bus (~£60-90).
🚌Taxi to trailhead ~£5 each way
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara, £10-15/night
- →Australian Camp / Dhampus ridge hike
- →Annapurna & Machhapuchhre viewpoints
- →Optional Sarangkot sunrise hike
Pokhara to Kathmandu — Swayambhunath Temple
Kathmandu, Nepal
Morning bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu (~£8-12, 6-8 hrs, book the tourist bus the day before) or a 25-min flight (~£60-90). Arrive Kathmandu, check into a Thamel guesthouse. Late afternoon climb the 365 steps to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — entry ~£1.50 — for sunset over the Kathmandu Valley, a fitting end mirroring the original tour's included visit. Celebrate with a momo dinner in Thamel.
🚌Tourist bus Pokhara–Kathmandu ~£8-12, or flight ~£60-90
🛏Thamel guesthouse, Kathmandu, £10-15/night
- →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) visit & sunset
- →Thamel evening
- →Momo dinner
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£585 | £787 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £202 per person (26%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£585
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Varanasi to Kathmandu: Temples, Trails & Himalayan Hikes — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £585 per person for 9 days in India & Nepal (Varanasi to Kathmandu). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £787 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £585 — a saving of roughly £202 (26%) per person.
How long is the India & Nepal (Varanasi to Kathmandu) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through India & Nepal (Varanasi to Kathmandu).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through India & Nepal (Varanasi to Kathmandu), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.