Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing varanasiguru.com, contacting us via WhatsApp, phone, or email, or completing a booking, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use our services.

2. Our Services

Varanasi Guru provides Ganga boat rides (including Ganga Aarti and sunrise boats), heritage walks, multi-day tour packages, curated experiences, and merchandise through our online shop. The specific tours, timings, pricing, and availability may change from time to time and will be confirmed at the time of booking.

3. Booking & Payment

• Bookings can be made online via our website, or through WhatsApp and phone with our team.
• Full payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed in writing.
• Online payments are processed securely via Razorpay. We do not store your card or payment details.
• For WhatsApp bookings, payment links or details will be shared directly by our team before your slot is confirmed.
• A booking is only confirmed once payment has been received and acknowledged by our team.

4. Cancellation Policy

Cancellation fees may apply depending on the service booked and how close to the tour date you cancel. Our full cancellation and refund terms - including timelines for full, partial, and no-refund cancellations - are detailed on our Refund & Cancellation Policy page.

5. Conduct During Tours

• You agree to conduct yourself respectfully toward our guides, boat operators, fellow travellers, and the local communities and sacred sites we visit.
• Many of the ghats and temples we visit are active places of worship. We ask all guests to dress and behave appropriately, and to follow guidance from our team regarding photography restrictions at certain sites.
• Disruptive, unsafe, or inappropriate behaviour may result in the termination of your tour or booking without a refund.
• For boat rides, all passengers must follow safety instructions, including the use of life jackets where provided.

6. Photography & Media

During group tours, walks, and boat rides, our team may take photographs or videos for promotional use on our website and social media (including Instagram, under #VaranasiGuru). If you do not wish to be featured in such content, please let our guide know at the start of your tour and we will accommodate your request wherever possible.

7. Intellectual Property

All content on varanasiguru.com - including text, photographs, videos, itineraries, and logos - is owned by or licensed to Varanasi Guru and is protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, distribute, or modify any content from this site without our prior written consent.

8. Liability

• Varanasi Guru is not liable for any damages, losses, illness, or injury arising from your use of our services, except where required by applicable Indian law.
• We are not responsible for delays, cancellations, or changes caused by acts of God, weather conditions, government restrictions, strikes, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control (force majeure).
• Travellers are responsible for ensuring they are medically fit to participate in walking tours and boat rides, and for their own travel insurance.

9. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

10. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our services or for legal and regulatory reasons. Any changes will be effective immediately upon being posted on this page, with the "Last updated" date revised accordingly. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

11. Contact

For any questions or concerns regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at hello@varanasiguru.com or via our contact page.

By using Varanasi Guru's services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.