Traditional Home Cooking Experience in Varanasi

This was my first visit to Varanasi, and it couldn’t have been more memorable—thanks to Aamir. He put together a meticulously planned and well-balanced itinerary that captured the true spirit of the city. From serene early morning boat rides on the Ganges and guided temple visits to exploring hidden alleys and sampling authentic local cuisine, every element was thoughtfully arranged. His attention to detail ensured that the entire experience was smooth, enriching, and deeply immersive. It was the perfect introduction to the spiritual and cultural richness of Varanasi.

The team at Varanasi Excursion are great to work with and really know how to look after their guests. My tour began with some additional time in Varanasi which they arranged at my request (see separate review for Tour Radar). The seven-day Buddhist Tour that followed was brilliantly organised to include all the major sites in the life of the Buddha, and the guides were all informative, although I struggled to understand some of their English. Special mention must go to T K Roy of Kushinagar, who not only had the clearest English but is a fascinating person who seems to have a high standing in his community, as he was greeted warmly wherever we went. Bablu, the driver for the whole tour, is another great character who navigates the hectic Indian roads with a level of skill that is almost superhuman. Nothing is too much trouble for him and he is great at engaging his guests on a personal level. Again, English communication was a challenge, but we overcame it with the help of translation apps. I didn’t meet Aamir, the tour organiser, in person, but he checked in regularly by phone to ensure that everything was going smoothly and arranged for some of my belongings to be couriered to me when they were accidentally left behind – very helpful. Overall, this was a great tour, and some of the hotels were first-rate, although I was disappointed to spend a few nights without hot water and often struggled to find staff who could converse in English. I was touring in the off-season, but I got the impression that many of the staff were not used to dealing with international guests.

It was a great experience that we would cherish all our life. The team was helpful and very engaging. The stays and food made the trip much more memorable.

There are no words to explain how amazing this trip was because of Aamir and Bablu. They gave me more than I asked for. They have made my dreams a reality. Varanasi is one of those places you have to be to feel that presence of the lord. Bablu was quick with getting us around , through lines faster. He was great at negotiating prices. This trip is definitely a memorable one for me thanks to Aamir and Bablu. I felt extremely safe with them as they are always checking in to make sure everything is going good. Highly recommend them!

Our varanasi trip was something special than others.All the arrangements by Amir & the cooperation & guidance of all the staffs were remarkable specially in the rush of Kumbh time.We had the hassle-free trip .Thanks & lots of good wishes for Amir & his team.

Very well organized and excellent guide, good hotel organised. Spiritual experience, early morning boat ride on the Ganges with sun rise was magical experience. Aamir helped every step of the way!

Me and my wife enjoyed this exclusive 3 days tour very much, Mr Shanu our tour guide is very knowledgeable about the culture in Varansi, we highly recommend this tour guide. Besides the driver Mr Bablu has brought us to eat some local cuisine where we tasted the best chicken Briyani in Varanasi. In short we are both well taken care during this trip and we will definitely engage Varanasi Exclusion again for our next visit.

Good experience and good hospitality. Inspite of the kumbh mela rush, the organisers went the extra mile to create a good experience for us.

Absolutely the best tour ever. Aamir was welcoming from the beginning. He worked with my every need. I created an itinerary and he moved it around and made it work by adding more. Visiting Kashi was a dream of mine. Aamir and Bablu made that dream a reality I will forever treasure. They know the ins and outs of the temples. Bablu is amazing at navigating lines quickly, he is a great bargainer. I felt safe with them. They are consistently checking in to make sure everything is good. I so blessed to have had this opportunity with both of them. Thank you Bablu for teaching me hindi too.

Sunny was an excellent guide — friendly, patient, and very knowledgeable. The tour was well-organized and never rushed. We loved starting with the sunrise on the Ganga, followed by a foodie walk through old Varanasi, a visit to Sarnath and BHU, and ending with front-row seats to the Ganga Aarti. Sunny shared great insights, helped us with photos, and made the day truly memorable. Highly recommend and would definitely book with him again!