Most Popular 2-Day Guided Tour of Ajanta & Ellora Caves with Car

Ancient India carved its story into stone. This two-day private tour from Aurangabad gives you time to visit Ajanta and Ellora separately, rather than trying to cram both into one exhausting day. I like the door-to-door car service and the choice between a simple driver-led trip or a fully guided visit. I also like the flexible approach: guides and drivers have helped with extra stops, airport transfers, meal breaks, and changes to the schedule.

The main catch is the road time. Ajanta is about two hours from Aurangabad, and parts of the route can be bumpy. The advertised price also needs careful checking, since it is described both as a per-person rate and as a group price for a vehicle carrying up to five people. Confirm exactly what your booking covers before paying.

Key Points Before You Book

• Ajanta gets a full day: Plan roughly eight hours for the round trip and cave visit, with about two hours each way from Aurangabad.
• Ellora pairs well with Bibi Ka Maqbara: The second day lasts about five hours and includes the caves plus Aurangabad’s famous mausoleum.
• Choose your level of help: You can book transport only or add a private guide for the cave complexes.
• Private car for up to five people: Your party travels together, with hotel pickup and return included.
• Carry Indian rupees: Monument tickets are listed as cash payments, and prices differ for SAARC and non-SAARC visitors.
• Strong service record: Drivers such as Anis Khan, Madhav, Suleman, Naser, Samad, and S. S. Patel are praised for punctuality, safe driving, and flexibility.

Why Two Days Makes Sense at Ajanta and Ellora

Ajanta and Ellora are not two versions of the same site. They reward different kinds of attention, and seeing both in one day would leave you counting caves instead of appreciating them.

Ajanta is best known for its Buddhist cave temples, paintings, sculptures, and quiet setting cut into a horseshoe-shaped rock gorge. Ellora covers Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, with grander architectural work and the astonishing Kailasa Temple. The sites are far enough apart that separate days protect your energy and your attention.

I especially like that this is a private tour. You do not have to match the pace of a large group, and the driver can pick you up at your Aurangabad hotel each morning. Several guests have also arranged early station pickups, airport drop-offs, extra sightseeing, or a shorter second day. That flexibility can matter if your train or flight schedule is tight.

The tour is offered with or without a guide. If you choose the car-only option, you get convenience and freedom, but you will need to arrange your own interpretation at the monuments. For most first-time visitors, I think a guide is worthwhile at least for one full day. The artwork and religious symbols can be hard to understand without context, and a good guide can point out details you would otherwise walk past.

Day One: The Long Road to Ajanta Caves

The first day begins with pickup at about 8 a.m. from your selected point in Aurangabad. You meet your driver, or your driver and guide, then settle into a private air-conditioned car for the journey to Ajanta.

The drive takes about two hours, though traffic, road conditions, and animal crossings can stretch the timing. This is not a quick outing. You should expect a full day of around eight hours, with the road forming a large part of the experience.

That long ride is the clear drawback of the Ajanta day. If you suffer from motion discomfort, bring water and plan to use the stops sensibly. The car includes bottled water, and a torch is provided for exploring the darker cave interiors. Comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are sensible choices.

Once you reach Ajanta, the final approach includes a shuttle bus, listed at ₹100 per person. The shuttle charge is separate from the tour price. You should also expect an admission fee, with the supplied information listing ₹600 for non-SAARC visitors and ₹40 for SAARC visitors. Since the details also show different monument rates in another section, confirm the current amount before you go and keep cash in Indian rupees.

Ajanta deserves time rather than a hurried checklist. Set aside about three hours at the site if you want to look carefully at the cave interiors, sculptures, and paintings. Guides including Siraj, Deepak, Nasir, and Gani have been praised for explaining the religious meaning, design, and stories connected with the artwork.

One practical point is worth stressing: guide availability may vary by day or by booking option. One guest found the Ajanta guide rushed because he had another client to attend to. That is unusual in the otherwise very positive feedback, but it is a useful reminder to confirm that your guide is assigned exclusively to your party if that matters to you.

Ajanta can feel visually overwhelming at first. A guide helps you sort the experience into smaller pieces: the layout of the caves, the difference between worship spaces and monastic rooms, and the role of paintings and sculpture. Without a guide, you can still admire the setting and workmanship, but you may miss the meaning behind the details.

The return journey brings you back to Aurangabad, usually after a long day on the road. Do not plan a demanding evening afterward. Ajanta is worth the effort, but your schedule should leave room to rest.

Day Two: Ellora’s Kailasa Temple and Bibi Ka Maqbara

The second morning begins at 8:30 a.m. in your hotel lobby after breakfast. The drive to Ellora is much shorter than the Ajanta run, about one hour for roughly 35 kilometers.

Ellora is the more varied of the two cave sites. Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments appear in the same broad complex, giving you a chance to see different religious traditions side by side. The highlight is Kailasa Temple, a huge structure carved downward from a single mass of rock.

Kailasa is the point where this tour earns its place on a serious India itinerary. The scale is hard to grasp from photographs. The temple was cut from the top down, leaving courtyards, pillars, figures, and architectural forms in the remaining stone. A guide can help you understand how the monument was planned and why its construction is such an extraordinary feat.

The Ellora visit lasts about five hours as part of the second day. That is enough time for a substantial visit, though the exact amount you spend inside the complex will depend on your pace and the addition of Bibi Ka Maqbara. You should tell your guide early if you want a slower visit or if particular caves matter most to you.

Ellora admission is listed as ₹600 per non-SAARC visitor and ₹40 for SAARC visitors. Again, carry rupees and check the current fee when booking. The ticket is not included, and the tour team can help you buy it so you do not have to work out the process alone.

After Ellora, the car travels about 30 kilometers to Bibi Ka Maqbara. Allow about an hour for the monument. Built by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother, it is often compared with the Taj Mahal because of its memorial design and pale appearance.

Bibi Ka Maqbara is not a substitute for the Taj Mahal, but that is not its job. It gives the day a different mood after the rock-cut temples. Instead of standing inside ancient caves, you see a later Mughal-era monument shaped around symmetry, gardens, and a central tomb.

Admission is listed as ₹300 for non-SAARC visitors and ₹30 for SAARC visitors. As with the cave fees, the supplied information gives both standard and reduced rates in different places, so verify the amount and carry cash.

The standard second day is about five hours, but flexibility is one of the better features of the private arrangement. One group shortened the day after seeing Kailasa to catch a late-afternoon flight. The driver returned them to their hotel for luggage and continued to the airport. That kind of adjustment is far easier in a private car than on a fixed group excursion.

The Private Car: The Real Convenience

The car service is not just a way to get from one monument to another. These sites are spread out, and arranging separate taxis, local transfers, and return journeys would add work and uncertainty.

A private air-conditioned vehicle is supplied for your party, with capacity for up to five people. Fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, and service charges are included. The driver also carries mineral water and a torch for the caves.

Punctuality is a repeated strength. Anis Khan, Madhav, Suleman, Naser, Samad, S. S. Patel, and others are praised for arriving on time and handling busy pickup points. One driver met a passenger at a railway station at 4:30 a.m. and managed the crowded platform pickup. Another helped a family with children and adjusted the day around their needs.

Driving standards are not perfectly uniform, so you should still use your seat belt. One passenger described a driver as fast, while other accounts praised careful and safe driving. That is a small but fair caution on long Indian road journeys.

English ability may also vary, especially with a car-only booking. One passenger found the driver’s English limited but still considered the service sufficient. If you want detailed explanations of the caves, book the guide option rather than relying on the driver.

Drivers can still add value without acting as formal guides. They know the roads, the pickup points, and the local rhythm. Some have helped guests avoid unwanted shop stops, suggested convenient meal breaks, and handled last-minute changes. That practical help can make a long sightseeing day feel much easier.

How Much Value Do You Get for the Price?

The listed price is $47.43 per person, but the tour information also describes the cost as a group rate with a vehicle for up to five people. That distinction is important. A small group could find the cost very attractive if the final total is shared among several people, while a solo passenger should check the exact calculation before booking.

The price includes private transportation, an air-conditioned car, a professional driver, fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, and hotel transfers. A private guide is included only if you select the guided option.

You pay separately for:

• Ajanta admission
• Ellora admission
• Bibi Ka Maqbara admission
• The Ajanta shuttle bus
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or hotel accommodation

At the supplied non-SAARC rates, the three monument tickets together total ₹1,500 per person, before the ₹100 shuttle bus. SAARC rates are much lower. Since the information gives two versions of the admission prices, confirm the current charges in advance.

For two people, the value is strongest if you want a private vehicle and do not want to coordinate long-distance transport yourself. For five people, the per-person cost may be especially attractive if the group price is applied. If you are booking alone, compare the total against a shared excursion or a local car hire.

The guide supplement, if applicable, can be money well spent. Ajanta and Ellora are places where interpretation changes what you notice. Still, ask whether you will have the same guide both days. Several guides are used, including Deepak, Siraj, Ashok, Ram, Nasir, Kadir, and Gani, and the quality of the experience depends partly on the individual assigned.

What to Pack and What to Confirm

Wear shoes that are easy to remove. One useful tip is to choose sandals or another simple option because some areas may require footwear removal. You should also bring:

• Sunglasses
• A hat or cap
• Sunscreen
• A refillable water bottle
• Indian rupees for tickets
• Comfortable clothing for a full day of walking

Confirm the guide option, group pricing, pickup address, and current entry charges before departure. Ask how much time you will have at each site if you want a slower visit.

The weekly closing days matter. Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays, while Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays. Plan the two-day visit around those closures rather than assuming either site is open every day.

Most people can take part, but the tour includes long drives, walking, uneven ground, steps, and time on your feet. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator what access is possible at each monument before booking.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Who Should Book This Tour?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Aurangabad and want the two cave complexes handled in a sensible order. It is a strong fit for couples, families, and small groups who value private transport more than the lowest possible price.

It also suits you if your schedule may change. The operator has accommodated early train pickups, airport transfers, extra temple visits, Daulatabad Fort additions, meal breaks, and shortened days. You should request changes early, but the private format gives you room to ask.

The car-only option fits independent visitors who prefer to explore on their own. The guided option is better for first-time visitors, anyone interested in art or religious history, and anyone who wants help spotting important sculptures and paintings.

I would think twice if you have only one day in Aurangabad, dislike long drives, or want every expense included upfront. Ajanta is a substantial road trip, and the ticket costs are separate. You should also avoid packing both cave sites into one day just to save time. The result would be rushed and tiring.

Should You Book the Ajanta and Ellora Two-Day Tour?

Yes, if you want a private, practical way to see two major UNESCO sites without arranging transport yourself. The strongest reasons are the separate days, hotel pickup, small-group setting, and drivers who have shown real flexibility with families, flights, and train schedules.

Book the guide option if you want the art and architecture explained properly. Choose car-only if you already know the sites or prefer to set your own pace. Before you commit, confirm whether the $47.43 is charged per person or per group, check the current monument fees, and make sure your dates avoid the Monday Ajanta and Tuesday Ellora closures.

For most visitors based in Aurangabad, this is a sensible use of two days. The roads take time, but the caves repay patience.

FAQ

How long is the Ajanta day?

The Ajanta portion takes about eight hours, including the drive from Aurangabad and the return journey. The road takes roughly two hours each way, depending on traffic and conditions.

How long is the Ellora and Bibi Ka Maqbara day?

The second day is listed at about five hours. It includes the drive to Ellora, the cave visit, travel to Bibi Ka Maqbara, and time at the monument.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the vehicle can carry up to five people.

Is a guide included?

A guide is included only when you choose the guided booking option. You can also book transportation and sightseeing with a professional driver without guide services.

Are hotel transfers included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup and drop-off from your Aurangabad hotel are included. Station and airport transfers may also be arranged, depending on your booking and schedule.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbara admission fees are paid separately. The Ajanta shuttle bus also costs extra.

Which days are the caves closed?

Ajanta Caves are closed every Monday. Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted and are not refunded.