3-Day Aurangabad Tour: Shirdi, Ajanta & Ellora Caves

Shirdi, Ajanta and Ellora in one arc: three days, four UNESCO and heritage sites, one private car.

A 3-day private tour from Aurangabad visits Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, the rock-cut Ajanta and Ellora Caves (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara. The tour includes an air-conditioned car with a professional driver, hotel pickup, mineral water and torch for cave exploration, and the option to add a guide or monument entry tickets at checkout. Monument entry fees and the Sai Baba Temple VIP pass are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Aurangabad to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

• Pick up from Aurangabad
• Drive to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
• Tea or coffee break en route
• Visit Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
• Lunch in Shirdi
• Drive back to Aurangabad

Day 2: Aurangabad to Ajanta Caves

• Breakfast at hotel
• Meet driver at hotel lobby
• Drive to Ajanta Caves
• Tea or coffee break en route
• Visit Ajanta Caves
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Return to Aurangabad hotel

Day 3: Aurangabad to Ellora and Surroundings

• Breakfast at hotel
• Meet driver at hotel lobby
• Drive to Grishneshwar Temple
• Visit Grishneshwar Temple
• Walk to Ellora Caves
• Explore Ellora Caves
• Lunch (optional)
• Drive to Daulatabad Fort
• Explore Daulatabad Fort
• Drive to Bibi Ka Maqbara
• Visit Bibi Ka Maqbara
• Drop off at preferred location in Aurangabad

The experience

Aurangabad sits at the center of three of India's most significant heritage sites, and this tour strings them together over three days without the logistics of renting a car or navigating between them alone. Day one takes you 115 km north to Shirdi, where you spend 1–2 hours at the Sai Baba Temple (you can choose a VIP pass for faster entry or go through the regular queue), then return to Aurangabad with lunch in Shirdi along the way. Day two heads 100 km east to Ajanta, a cluster of 30 rock-cut caves carved into a cliff face between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE, where the murals and carvings show the detail of ancient Buddhist monastic life. The drive takes about two hours each way, with stops for tea or coffee.

Day three packs four stops into one arc: Grishneshwar Temple (a 35 km drive, about an hour), then Ellora Caves half a kilometer away. 34 caves on a UNESCO site, including one of the world's largest monolithic rock excavations. After lunch, you move on to Daulatabad Fort, a 12th-century stronghold that passed through Yadava, Khilji, Tughlaq and Mughal hands, then finish at Bibi Ka Maqbara, the 17th-century Mughal monument sometimes called the Mini Taj Mahal, built by Azam Shah for his mother. The driver drops you at your hotel, railway station or airport to end the tour.

Your driver speaks Hindi and English and handles all driving, tolls, fuel and taxes. Mineral water and a torch for cave exploration are provided. Monument entry tickets (₹600 for non-SAARC visitors at Ajanta and Ellora, ₹300 at Bibi Ka Maqbara) are paid separately at each site. Note that Ajanta closes Mondays and Ellora closes Tuesdays, so plan your dates around those days.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned car and professional driver throughout the three days.
• hotel, airport or railway station pickup.
• all tolls, fuel, taxes and service charges.
• mineral water and torch for cave exploration.
• lunch recommendations and stops for tea or coffee on each day.

Options for this experience

2 options

SUV car with air conditioning, no guideUp to 5 per booking · 08:00Tour by private A/C SUV: Pick this option for a private A/C Innova Crysta SUV with a professional driver (room for 1 to 5 people). Includes pickup.

Sedan car with air conditioning, no guideUp to 2 per booking · 08:00Tour by private sedan: Pick this option for a private A/C Toyota Etios sedan with a professional driver (room for 1 to 2 people). Includes pickup.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 95 years) · Under 16: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 103

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Tour My Choice

Is this one for you?Choose the AC Sedan if you're traveling solo or as a couple. The AC SUV gives more space and luggage room for a family or small group. Both come with the same driver and route. The difference is comfort and capacity. Monument entry tickets and any guide are optional add-ons, so you can keep costs down by exploring on your own or invest in a guide if you want the history explained at each stop.

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Top questions

What is the Ajanta Caves site actually like to walk through?

Ajanta Caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 30 rock-cut caves carved into a cliff between the 2nd century BCE and 5th century CE. The caves feature intricate carvings and murals that show the artistry and spiritual life of ancient Buddhist monasteries. You'll walk through the caves on foot. A torch is provided to help you see the details inside.

Can I add a guide to this tour, or does it come with one?

The tour includes a professional driver but not a guide by default. You can add a guide at checkout if you want someone to explain the history and significance of each site as you visit.

Do I need to buy monument entry tickets in advance, or can I pay at each site?

Monument tickets are not included in the tour price. You pay entry fees at each site: ₹600 per person at Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves (non-SAARC visitors), and ₹300 at Bibi Ka Maqbara. For Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, entry is free, but you can buy a VIP pass for ₹200 per person online or at the temple to skip the regular queue.

How far is Shirdi from Aurangabad, and how long does the drive take?

Shirdi is 115 km from Aurangabad, and the drive takes around 2 hours. You'll have time for a tea or coffee break along the way, and the driver will recommend lunch spots in Shirdi after your temple visit.

What happens if I want to visit on a Monday or Tuesday?

Ajanta Caves close every Monday and Ellora Caves close every Tuesday. Plan your three days to avoid those dates, or you'll miss one of the main sites on the tour.

Where can you pick me up, and where can you drop me off?

Pickup is available from your hotel, the airport, the railway station, or any location in Aurangabad you specify. On day three, the driver will drop you at your hotel, railway station, or airport. Just let the operator know your preferred endpoint when you book.