2-Day Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour from Aurangabad: UNESCO Sites

Walk through centuries of carved rock temples and Buddhist art across UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

A 2-day guided tour of Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Aurangabad with private car and driver, visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites plus Bibi Ka Maqbara. The tour includes transfers, a professional guide in your choice of language (English, Italian, French, German, Spanish or Japanese), mineral water and torch for cave exploration, and monument entry assistance so you don't queue at the gates. Choose a sedan or SUV, with or without a guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ajanta Caves Tours

• Meet driver or guide
• Drive 2 hours to Ajanta Caves
• Take shuttle bus to cave entrance
• Explore Ajanta Caves for 3 hours
• Have local lunch
• Drive back to Aurangabad

Day 2: Ellora Caves and Bibi Ka Maqbara

• Meet driver or guide at hotel
• Drive 1 hour to Ellora Caves
• Explore Ellora Caves including Kailash Temple
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Drive 30 km to Bibi Ka Maqbara
• Visit Bibi Ka Maqbara monument
• Shop for local specialties
• Drop off at hotel, airport, or station

The experience

Day one starts with a 2-hour drive (around 100 km) from Aurangabad to Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO site carved into rock cliffs in the 2nd century BC. A shuttle bus takes you the final stretch from the parking area to the entrance. You'll spend roughly 3 hours inside exploring the ancient Buddhist carvings, paintings and stone sculptures that fill the caves, with your guide explaining the history and art if you've booked one. After lunch at a local restaurant, you return to Aurangabad.

Day two begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 1-hour drive to Ellora Caves, another UNESCO World Heritage Site over 1,000 years old. These caves span Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions, and Cave 16, the Kailash Temple, stands out as a massive structure carved from a single rock and dedicated to Lord Shiva. You'll have time to explore before breaking for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

The afternoon takes you 30 km to Bibi Ka Maqbara, a Mughal monument built by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother and often called the "Taj of the Deccan" for its architectural style. After your visit, you'll have free time to shop for local textiles like Himroo and Paithani sarees before the driver drops you at your hotel, airport or train station. If you have an afternoon flight, drop-off is available between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Your private A/C car comes with a professional driver for all transfers and sightseeing. If you book with a guide, they speak your chosen language and handle buying entrance tickets at each monument, so you walk straight past the queues. Mineral water and a torch for cave exploration are provided. Toll, parking, fuel and taxes are all included. You'll need to carry Indian Rupees for monument entry since cards aren't accepted. Note that Ajanta Caves close on Mondays and Ellora Caves on Tuesdays.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned sedan or SUV with professional driver.
• transfers from your hotel and between all sites.
• optional professional guide in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish or Japanese.
• mineral water and torch for cave exploration.
• guide assistance with monument ticket purchases so you skip queues.
• all tolls, parking, fuel, taxes and service charges.

Options for this experience

4 options

SUV with AC, excluding a guide.Up to 5 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · 08:00Private car: This option provides a private air-conditioned SUV (Innova Crysta) for a comfortable journey. A guide is not included. Pickup is included.

Sedan with AC, no guide included.Up to 2 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · 08:00Private car: This option provides a private air-conditioned sedan (Toyota Etios) for a comfortable journey. A guide is not included. Pickup is included.

Air-conditioned SUV with a guide included.Up to 4 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 08:00Private car and guide: This option pairs a private air-conditioned SUV (Innova Crysta) with a professional guide to make your tour comfortable and easy. Pickup is included.

Air-conditioned sedan, guide included.Up to 2 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 08:00Private car and guide: This option pairs a private air-conditioned sedan (Toyota Etios) with a professional guide to make your tour comfortable and easy. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 46 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 17.30

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Tour My Choice

Is this one for you?Pick the guided option if you want the stories and history of the carvings explained, or go unguided to explore at your own pace. Book the afternoon drop-off if you have an afternoon flight or train from Aurangabad on day two.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

209 verified traveler reviews

5 ★193

4 ★12

3 ★2

2 ★1

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Italian and Japanese.

How long is the drive from Aurangabad to Ajanta Caves?

The drive to Ajanta Caves takes around 2 hours and covers approximately 100 km from Aurangabad. A shuttle bus then takes you the final 4 km from the parking area to the cave entrance.

What's inside Ellora Caves that makes it different from Ajanta?

Ellora Caves span over 1,000 years of history and include Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religious art carved into the rock. Cave 16, the Kailash Temple, is the standout: a massive structure carved from a single rock and dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets myself, or are they included?

If you book the tour with a guide, they handle buying entrance tickets at each monument so you don't wait in queues. You'll need to carry Indian Rupees for the tickets, as cards aren't accepted. Monument prices range from INR 30 to INR 600 depending on the site and your nationality.

What happens on the second day after Bibi Ka Maqbara?

After visiting Bibi Ka Maqbara, you'll have free time to shop for local souvenirs like Himroo and Paithani sarees. Your driver then drops you at your hotel, airport or train station anytime between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., making it possible to catch an afternoon flight.

Can I choose between a sedan and an SUV?

Yes, you can select either an AC sedan or an AC SUV when you book. Both options include a private driver. You can add a guide in your preferred language to either vehicle.

What should I bring for exploring the caves?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a hat or cap, sunscreen and a water bottle. A torch is provided, but bringing your own flashlight is helpful. Wear clothes that allow you to move freely, as cave exploration involves some climbing and walking on uneven surfaces.