Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour: UNESCO Sites in One Day

Ancient cave temples, centuries apart, carved by hand into the same rock face

A full-day tour from Aurangabad visiting both Ajanta and Ellora caves in one itinerary, with hotel pickup and a private driver. You spend a couple of hours at Ajanta's 29 Buddhist caves dating to the 2nd century BC, then drive to Ellora to explore 34 caves spanning the 6th to 11th centuries, including the hand-carved Kailasa Temple. The tour returns you to your hotel by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves

• Pickup from Aurangabad hotel early morning
• Travel to Ajanta caves parking area
• Take shuttle bus to Ajanta caves entrance
• Explore Ajanta caves for couple of hours
• Return to Ajanta parking by shuttle bus
• Drive to Ellora caves
• Explore Ellora caves for 2-3 hours
• Return to Aurangabad by 6 PM
• Drop at airport, railway station, or hotel

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Aurangabad hotel at either 6am or 7am and drives two hours to Ajanta. A shuttle bus carries you from the parking area to the cave entrance, where you buy your own tickets and spend a couple of hours walking the 29 Buddhist caves carved into the hillside. The caves date back to between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD, making them among India's oldest rock-cut architecture. You return by the same shuttle to the parking area, then drive another two hours to Ellora.

At Ellora, you have 2 to 3 hours to explore 34 caves spanning the 6th to 11th centuries. Unlike Ajanta, these caves are a mix of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples. The standout is Cave 16, the Kailasa Temple, carved to honor Lord Shiva and his sacred Mount Kailash. The temple covers twice the area of the Pantheon in Athens and stands one and a half times as high. Life-size elephant sculptures carved directly from the rock are a highlight. Every cave here was shaped by hand using only a hammer and chisel. You return to Aurangabad by 6pm, where your driver drops you at your hotel, the railway station or the airport.

A professional driver in a private car handles all transport. You choose at checkout whether to add a live English-speaking guide and entrance fees, or arrange tickets yourself. Bottled water is provided. The tour suits anyone with a flexible schedule staying in Aurangabad hotels. It is not designed for travelers arriving by flight and departing the same day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Aurangabad.
• private car with a professional driver for the full day.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• shuttle bus transport from the Ajanta parking area to the cave entrance and back.

Options for this experience

2 options

Car only, with a chauffeurUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English · 07:00Transport only with a chauffeur-driven car, excluding guide and entry fees; pickup is included

Includes guide and entrance feesUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · 07:00Includes an English-speaking local guide and monument entrance fees; pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 73 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Activities

Is this one for you?Pick the guided option if you want someone explaining the carving techniques and religious differences between the Buddhist caves at Ajanta and the mixed Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain sites at Ellora. Go unguided if you prefer exploring at your own pace and buying tickets when you arrive.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6).

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

Ajanta is about two hours by car from Aurangabad. You depart your hotel at 6am or 7am, so you arrive at the parking area in mid-morning and take a shuttle bus to the cave entrance.

What is the Kailasa Temple, and why is it the main attraction at Ellora?

The Kailasa Temple is Cave 16 at Ellora, carved entirely by hand to honor Lord Shiva and his sacred abode at Mount Kailash. It covers twice the area of the Pantheon in Athens and stands one and a half times as high, making it one of the largest hand-carved structures in the world. Life-size elephant sculptures are carved directly from the rock face.

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

Entrance fees depend on which option you choose at checkout. The "Chauffeur driven Car only" option means you buy your own tickets at each site. The "With Guide & entrance fees" option includes both a live English-speaking guide and all monument entry fees.

What time do I return to Aurangabad, and where does the driver drop me?

You return to Aurangabad by 6pm. The driver will drop you at your hotel, the railway station, or the airport, depending on where you are staying or departing from.

Is this tour suitable if I'm arriving by flight and need to leave the same day?

No. The operator does not recommend this tour for travelers arriving by flight and departing the same day, as the schedule does not allow enough buffer time. The tour is designed for guests staying in Aurangabad hotels.