Ajanta and Ellora Caves 1.5-day tour from Aurangabad with guide

Two thousand years of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art carved into a single rock face

A 1.5-day guided tour from Aurangabad to Ajanta and Ellora Caves, UNESCO World Heritage sites featuring ancient rock-cut temples and paintings spanning Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions. The tour includes a full day at Ajanta Caves (home to 30 caves with frescoes dating to the 2nd century BC), and a half day at Ellora Caves, where the Kailash Temple stands as the world's largest monolithic structure. Hotel pickup, private transport, entry tickets and an English-speaking guide are included. The tour runs all days except Mondays (Ajanta closed) and Tuesdays (Ellora closed).

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Half day visit to Ellora Caves

• Start tour from Aurangabad
• Visit Ellora Caves with guide
• Explore Kailash Temple
• See Buddhist and Jain Caves

Day 2: Full day tour to Ajanta Caves

• Pick up from hotel
• Transfer to Ajanta Caves
• Take public bus to cave site
• Explore Ajanta Caves with guide
• Return to restaurant
• Transfer back to Aurangabad

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Aurangabad and heads to Ajanta Caves, where you spend a full day exploring 30 rock-cut caves carved into a cliff face over thirteen centuries. Your guide leads you through the key caves (prayer halls and monasteries) pointing out the tempera paintings of Buddha, Bodhisattvas and scenes from the Jatakas, some older than Leonardo da Vinci's work. The caves close on Mondays, so the tour runs every other day of the week. After lunch, you return to Aurangabad.

On the second morning, you visit Ellora Caves, the world's largest rock-cut cave complex with over 100 caves carved into the same volcanic rock. This half-day covers the 34 caves open to tourists, including the Kailash Temple: a single block of stone carved into a three-story structure depicting Hindu mythology. Unlike Ajanta's Buddhist focus, Ellora blends 12 Buddhist caves, 5 Jain caves and 17 Hindu caves, each with its own artistic tradition. The site closes on Tuesdays. You return to Aurangabad by mid-afternoon.

The tour includes private vehicle transport from your hotel, entry tickets to both sites, and a professional English-speaking guide. You'll need moderate fitness to walk the cave paths and climb stairs inside the caves. The terrain is uneven and involves some elevation gain. Typically, five hours covers Ajanta's key caves and three to four hours covers Ellora's highlights, though your pace and interests shape the actual time spent at each site.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aurangabad.
• private vehicle transport to both cave sites.
• entry tickets to Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full tour.
• GST (Goods and Services Tax).

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour with a domestic ticketGuide in English · Available from 10 Jun 2027Domestic ticket tour, includes pickup

Tour with a foreigner ticketGuide in English · Available from 10 Jun 2027Private guided tour, pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 10 Jun 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Infant (under 13): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleNot for heart conditions

Operated by TravelGreed Tourism

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're splitting your time between Ajanta (full day) and Ellora (half day): the fixed schedule packs both sites into 1.5 days, though you'll move through each rather than spend extended time on individual caves.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 13): free.

How many caves will I actually explore at Ajanta and Ellora?

Ajanta has 30 caves total, though your guide focuses on the key ones (the five main prayer halls and the most significant monasteries with the best-preserved paintings), which you can cover in about five hours. Ellora has over 100 caves, but only 34 are open to tourists. The tour highlights these, including the Kailash Temple, and typically takes three to four hours depending on your pace.

What's the difference between the caves at Ajanta and Ellora?

Ajanta Caves showcase Buddhist art and monasteries, with paintings dating back to the 2nd century BC depicting Buddha and scenes from Buddhist texts. Ellora Caves blend three religions (12 Buddhist caves, 5 Jain caves and 17 Hindu caves) carved from the same rock, with the Kailash Temple as the centerpiece, a massive three-story structure carved from a single stone block.

When are the caves closed, and does that affect my booking?

Ajanta Caves close on Mondays and Ellora Caves close on Tuesdays. The tour runs all other days of the week, so you'll need to choose a departure date that avoids these closures. Your hotel pickup and guide will confirm the exact itinerary based on your travel dates.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Aurangabad, private vehicle transport between sites, entry tickets to both Ajanta and Ellora Caves, a professional English-speaking guide, and GST (Goods and Services Tax). Lunch and dinner are not included, so you'll arrange and pay for meals separately.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires moderate fitness to walk uneven cave paths and climb stairs inside the caves. You'll be on your feet for several hours each day, and some caves involve elevation gain. The tour is wheelchair accessible at certain points, though not all caves can be reached by wheelchair. Discuss specific accessibility needs when booking.