Ajanta & Ellora Caves tour from Mumbai: Same-day flight included

Two UNESCO cave complexes carved from single rocks, 100 km apart, in a single afternoon

A same-day tour from Mumbai to Ajanta and Ellora Caves near Aurangabad, with round-trip flights, private car and guide included. You fly out in the morning, visit Ellora's 34 rock-cut temples first (including the Kailasa Temple carved from one stone), then drive two hours to Ajanta's 30 Buddhist caves with their 2nd–6th century murals and sculptures. The return flight gets you back to Mumbai by evening. Admission to the caves is optional depending on which package you choose at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ajanta and Ellora Caves

• Fly from Mumbai to Aurangabad
• Pick up from Aurangabad Airport
• Visit Ellora Caves
• Drive to Ajanta Caves
• Visit Ajanta Caves
• Explore Aurangabad market (optional)
• Drop off at Aurangabad Airport
• Fly back to Mumbai

The experience

The flight saves a full night's hotel stay and eight hours of driving each way. You leave Mumbai in the morning and land in Aurangabad by mid-morning, where a driver meets you at the airport. The day runs ten hours total, moving between two sites that sit 100 kilometers apart. A professional English-speaking driver handles the route. A live guide (available in English, Spanish, Italian, French or one other language, depending on your choice) walks you through both cave complexes.

Ellora comes first. The 34 rock-cut temples and monasteries date from the 6th to 10th century and blend Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments on the same hillside. The Kailasa Temple, Cave 16, is the centerpiece: an entire structure carved downward from a single rock face to represent Mount Kailasa, the mythical home of Shiva. The caves hold intricate sculptures and painted walls that survive from the medieval period. After Ellora, the two-hour drive to Ajanta passes through open countryside. Ajanta's 30 caves are older, built between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE as a Buddhist monastery complex. The murals and frescoes depict scenes from Buddha's life and the Jataka tales. The paintings remain vivid enough that you can make out the detail.

Wear sleepers or slip-on shoes. You'll remove them at multiple points inside the caves. Bring an umbrella for sun and rain, a flashlight for the darker passages, sunglasses, and snacks like biscuits, water and dry fruit. The day is long and food is not provided. If time allows, the driver can stop at the Aurangabad market on the return to the airport. The return flight departs in the evening, landing you back in Mumbai by night.

What’s included

• Round-trip flight from Mumbai to Aurangabad.
• private air-conditioned car with English-speaking driver throughout the day.
• professional guide in your chosen language (English, Spanish, Italian, French or another) if you select that option.
• admission to both Ajanta and Ellora Caves if included in your package choice.
• all tolls, parking and fuel.

Options for this experience

3 options

Flight ticket and air-conditioned car.Guide in 5 languages · 06:00 and 06:30Private transport: seating for 1 to 3 people in an air-conditioned Sedan car, Toyota Etios, or 3 to 5 people in an AC SUV car. Round-trip flight tickets between Mumbai and Aurangabad for the same day are included in this option. Pickup is included.

Flight ticket, guide and car.Guide in 5 languages · 06:00 and 06:30English guide: a private, professional local English-speaking guide service is included. Private transport: seating for 1 to 2 people in an air-conditioned Sedan car, Toyota Etios, or 3 to 5 people in an AC SUV car. Flight tickets: round-trip flights between Mumbai and Aurangabad for the same day are included in this option. Pickup is included.

Ticket, guide, car and entry.Guide in 5 languages · 06:00 and 06:30Language guide: a private, professional multilingual guide service is included. Private transport: seating for 1 to 2 people in an air-conditioned Sedan car, Toyota Etios, or 3 to 5 people in an AC SUV car. Flight and entry tickets: round-trip flights between Mumbai and Aurangabad are included, and the entry charge is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDepartures at 06:00 and 06:30

AgesAdult (9 to 80 years) · Under 9: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Jee Tours

Is this one for you?Book the package with flight, car, guide and cave entry if you want everything arranged and no decisions left at the gate. Choose flight, car and guide alone if you prefer to buy cave tickets separately or skip them. The flight-and-car option suits travelers who want to hire a local guide on arrival or explore independently.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

Can I book this tour without paying for cave entry separately?

Yes. One package includes the round-trip flight, car, guide and both cave admissions. Another includes flight, car and guide but lets you skip the entry fees. A third option covers flight and car only, with no guide. Choose at checkout based on what you want included.

What is the Kailasa Temple at Ellora?

The Kailasa Temple, or Cave 16, is an enormous structure carved downward from a single rock face to represent Mount Kailasa, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu tradition. It is the most famous monument at Ellora and dates from the 8th century.

What should I bring for the caves?

Wear slip-on shoes or sleepers because you will remove them at several points inside the caves. Bring an umbrella for sun and rain protection, a flashlight for darker passages, sunglasses, and snacks like biscuits, bottled water and dry fruit. Food and drinks are not provided on the tour.

Is the guide included in every package?

The guide is included in two of the three packages: the one with flight, car, guide and cave entry, and the one with flight, car and guide only. The flight-and-car-only option does not include a guide. Your driver speaks English in all packages.

What are the Ajanta Caves known for?

Ajanta is a series of 30 Buddhist cave temples built between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE. The caves are renowned for their exquisite murals, frescoes and sculptures depicting scenes from Buddha's life and the Jataka tales. The paintings and carvings showcase ancient Indian art and remain a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site.