Uttar Pradesh, India · for visitors from abroad
Visiting Uttar Pradesh from abroad: hire a vehicle with a driver
Fly into Varanasi (VNS), Lucknow (LKO) or Delhi (DEL) for Agra, and post your trip once on Yippigo: verified operators quote a car, tempo traveller or Urbania with a driver for your whole stay. Compare itemised quotes and pay the operator you choose directly. Sarnath is 11 km (7 miles) from Varanasi by road.
This site is in English. Prices are in Indian rupees (₹).
- Free to post
- Compare quotes
- 25% advance only after you choose
Photo: Yann; edited by King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- Fly into
- Varanasi or Lucknow
- Varanasi to Sarnath
- 11 km (7 miles)
- 2–6 people
- Car (SUV) or 12-seat tempo traveller with driver
- Best season
- October to March
- Prices
- In Indian rupees (₹); pay the operator directly
How many are travelling?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, with its day fare and the fare from Varanasi to the main sights.
Fits your group
SUV / Innova
6–7 seats
₹4,700–6,300 for a full day (250 km)
Varanasi → Sarnath
₹4,700–6,300
SUV / Innova · 11 km one way · 1 day, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Where to land
- Varanasi (VNS): Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport: the start for the ghats, Sarnath, Prayagraj and the Buddhist circuit.
- Lucknow (LKO): Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport: the start for Lucknow, Ayodhya and Naimisharanya.
- Delhi (DEL): Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the usual arrival for Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan.
- Ayodhya (AYJ) and Kushinagar (KBK): Newer airports with flights from some Indian cities: check the schedules.
From Varanasi by road
One way, by road, from our route catalog. Plan 8–10 hours of driving a day at most.
| To | Distance | Drive, with stops |
|---|---|---|
| Sarnath | 11 km (7 miles) | 1–2 h |
| Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam) | 123 km (76 miles) | 2.5–3.5 h |
| Ayodhya | 209 km (130 miles) | 4–5 h |
| Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh side) | 239 km (149 miles) | 5–6 h |
| Gorakhpur | 202 km (126 miles) | 4–5 h |
| Kushinagar | 253 km (157 miles) | 5–6 h |
How it works
1. Post your trip
Arrival airport and date, the places you want to see, how many people and how much luggage. In English; it takes two minutes and costs nothing.
2. Verified operators quote
Operators near your pickup send itemised quotes: the vehicle, the driver's daily allowance, night halts, tolls and any state entry taxes, each on its own line.
3. Compare and ask
Ask each operator about the vehicle's model and age, whether the driver speaks English, and how they take payment.
4. Book and pay the operator
Accept the quote you prefer and pay the operator's advance directly, by a method you agree with them.
Is it safe to hire a driver?
- An operator sends a quote only with a vehicle whose papers (registration, insurance, permit and fitness certificate) our team has checked and approved.
- Every quote names the operator, so you can ask for the vehicle number and the driver's name and phone before the trip.
- Winter fog on the plains slows early-morning and night drives from December to January: plan long drives for the daytime.
Travelling with a driver: what is usual
- Drivers on multi-day trips stay where you stay or in drivers' rooms; the quote shows the driver allowance and night halts.
- Tipping the driver at the end of a trip is common but optional.
- Most drivers speak Hindi and some English: ask in your request.
Paying
- You pay the operator directly; the quote says how much advance the operator asks.
- Payment methods depend on the operator: many take UPI and bank transfer, which may not work with a foreign card or bank. Agree on payment before you accept the quote.
- Prices on this site are in Indian rupees (₹).
Words you will hear
- Tempo traveller :
- a 12 to 26-seat van with a driver, the usual vehicle for groups of 10 to 25
- Darshan :
- seeing and praying before the deity in a temple
- Ghat :
- stone steps down to a river, for bathing and rites
- Sangam :
- a confluence of rivers; at Prayagraj, the meeting of the Ganga and the Yamuna
- Parikrama :
- walking around a holy place or hill, as at Govardhan and Vrindavan
- Braj :
- the land of Krishna around Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan and Barsana
- Driver allowance (bata) :
- a daily amount for the driver's food, paid on top of the vehicle hire and listed on the quote
Questions groups ask
Can I book a vehicle with a driver from Varanasi airport?
Yes. Post the trip with Varanasi airport (VNS) as the pickup and your arrival date; operators quote the airport pickup and the whole tour.
Do I need an international driving licence?
Not for this: every vehicle comes with a local driver, so you do not drive yourself.
Can visitors from abroad do the Ganga aarti and temple visits?
Yes: the aarti on the ghats is open to everyone, and most temples welcome visitors who dress modestly and follow the rules on shoes, phones and cameras.
How far are the main sights from Varanasi?
Sarnath 11 km (7 miles); Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam) 123 km (76 miles); Ayodhya 209 km (130 miles); Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh side) 239 km (149 miles); Gorakhpur 202 km (126 miles); Kushinagar 253 km (157 miles). Measured by road.
Which vehicle for my group?
2 people: AC Coach 50–56 seater; 4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater.
How much advance do operators ask?
25% of the quote, paid to the operator to confirm. Payment methods depend on the operator; agree them before you accept. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved