From the lamps of the Ganga Aarti to a sunrise on the river, Akay Tours & Travels has guided pilgrims and travellers through Varanasi for over three decades.
Akay Tours & Travels grew up alongside Varanasi itself. What began as a small travel desk near Nadesar has, over three decades, become a trusted name for pilgrims arriving for Kashi Vishwanath darshan, families touring the ghats, and visitors crossing into Sarnath, Ayodhya and Prayagraj.
We do the planning that a guidebook cannot: a boatman who reaches the ghat before dawn, a driver who knows which gate to the temple is open, and an itinerary paced for both devotion and rest. Domestic or international, group or family, every journey is arranged with the same care.
“In Kashi, every sunrise is a beginning.”
We arrange each of these as a standalone visit or weave them into a full darshan itinerary.
Darshan at the Jyotirlinga, with help navigating queues, timings and the Vishwanath Corridor.
Reserved viewing for the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, by ghat seat or by boat.
A quiet morning row along the ghats as the city wakes, the most photographed view of Kashi.
A half-day to where the Buddha gave his first sermon, the Dhamek Stupa and museum.
Sample journeys below. Every package is fully customisable for your dates, group size and budget, including hotels, transfers and a guide. Tell us what you have in mind and we will build the itinerary.
Vishwanath darshan, sunrise boat ride, evening Ganga Aarti and the key ghats and temples of the old city.
Request itinerary →Combine the ghats of Varanasi with darshan at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, with comfortable road transfers.
Request itinerary →Varanasi, the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj and the Buddhist heritage of Sarnath in one unhurried journey.
Request itinerary →Also arranging Bodh Gaya, Gaya, Chitrakoot, Vindhyachal and tailor-made domestic & international tours. Ask for a custom plan.
Well-maintained hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs with experienced local drivers, by the day or the trip.
Guided darshan and temple circuits across Kashi and the wider Uttar Pradesh & Bihar pilgrim trail.
Stays to suit every budget, from riverside guesthouses to comfortable star hotels near the ghats.
Day-by-day planning paced for your group, balancing devotion, sightseeing and rest.
Smooth logistics for families, senior pilgrims and large groups, including airport & station transfers.
Beyond Kashi, complete holiday planning across India and overseas destinations.
A Banarasi-run agency with a permanent office in Nadesar, not a faceless booking site. We are here when you arrive and when plans change.
Trains and flights into Varanasi arrive at every hour. Our transfers and helpline run 24 hours so you are never stranded.
Clear quotes with no surprises at the temple gate or the end of the trip. Pay online or offline, whichever suits you.
Patient drivers and arrangements designed with senior travellers and families in mind, the way we would treat our own guests.
Send your dates and what you would like to see. We will reply with a suggested itinerary and a clear quote.
We usually reply the same day.