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

Ajanta and Ellora are the kind of sights that make you pause, not rush. This tour is interesting because you get door-to-door A/C car service for two UNESCO cave complexes, plus an optional local guide to explain what you are seeing. I like that it’s private for just your party, so you can move at a realistic pace instead of being herded.

Two things I really appreciate: first, the logistics are set up so you are not spending your time figuring out rides, and second, the driving and timing are repeatedly praised, with guides such as Deepak, Siraj, Nasir, and others paired with careful drivers like Tausif Sheikh, Suleman, Anis Khan, and Samad. One possible drawback: tickets and shuttle costs are not included, and the Ajanta and Ellora sites have fixed closing days, so your trip timing matters.

Key things to know before you go

• Private, A/C car from Aurangabad with round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off
• Optional guide service, so you can choose explanation-heavy or low-friction
• Entrance tickets are extra, and you should bring INR cash for site entry
• Torch and mineral water are included, useful inside darker cave spaces
• Ajanta closes Mondays and Ellora closes Tuesdays, so plan your days carefully
• Bibi Ka Maqbara is added on Day 2, making the second day feel more complete

Two UNESCO sights in two days, with real transportation comfort

Ajanta and Ellora are far enough apart that the ride matters. This is built around an A/C private car with a professional driver, so you are traveling in comfort instead of crowding into a bus and guessing schedules. It is a classic Aurangabad two-day layout: Day 1 focuses on Ajanta, Day 2 focuses on Ellora.

The private format is the practical win here. You are not waiting in a group lineup, and you can ask your driver to help you time breaks sensibly, like grabbing tea stops or adjusting when you leave the caves. Many visitors also point out that trying to smash both cave complexes into one day is tiring, so splitting them across two days is a smart way to actually look.

One small detail that helps inside the sites: the tour includes a torch plus bottled water. Caves can feel dim and uneven underfoot, so having a light you did not have to pack yourself is genuinely helpful.

Price and value: where the deal actually comes from

The advertised rate is about $47.43 per person, but the fine print says the price is per group with vehicles for up to five people. That means your real value depends on whether you are traveling as a small group that can fill seats.

Here is how I’d think about it for your planning:

• If you have a group of friends or family, your per-person cost usually feels fair because you are sharing a single private vehicle.
• If you are traveling solo, you might end up paying closer to a full seat, and then the added cost of entrance tickets becomes more noticeable.

Also remember what is and is not included. Transfers, tolls, fuel, taxes, and service charges are included. The cave entrance tickets and monument shuttle bus charges are not included. Meals are also not included, so you should budget for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on your own (breakfast on Day 2 is referenced, but meals are listed as not included overall).

Finally, timing impacts value. Ajanta and Ellora require good energy. A well-paced driver and a planned morning start can save you stress, which is the sort of hidden value that is hard to price but easy to feel once you are there.

Day 1 Ajanta Caves: plan for a long, bumpy-feeling ride

Day 1 is all about Ajanta Caves, with pickup and then a long drive out from Aurangabad. The ride can be around eight hours on the schedule, and people often describe it as lengthy and sometimes bumpy. That is normal for this region, but it is exactly why the A/C car with a careful driver is a bigger deal than you might expect.

Once you get there, the cave experience is about slow looking. Even if you are not hiring a guide, give yourself time to see the different rock-cut halls and the way the artwork is arranged along the cave walls. If you do choose a guide, this is the day that benefits most from context because Ajanta’s stories, styles, and religious themes can be easier to follow when someone explains what you are seeing before you get lost in the details.

One very practical tip from past visitors: footwear matters. Ajanta caves require removing footwear, so sandals are easier than shoes you have to untie. Bring something you can put back on quickly without fighting laces.

Also keep in mind your best day for Ajanta. Ajanta Caves are closed every Monday. So if your dates land on Monday, you will need a different plan for the first day.

What you actually do at the caves

Your schedule will include time to explore Ajanta, but the most important lesson is that you should not try to treat this as a quick photo stop. Caves are not a museum hallway where you can rush through. They reward sitting with the artwork, noticing shapes, and working out the flow from one chamber to the next.

If you booked the option with a guide, you can expect an explanation style that makes the art and architecture easier to connect. Several guides have been named by visitors in the past, including Deepak at Ajanta and Nasir guiding the cave tour. Even if your guide is different, these examples show the kind of service you can look for: someone who can point out what is most worth your attention rather than leaving you with just signs and silence.

Admission is not included, so you will need to pay onsite. The listed entry prices are:

• Ajanta: INR 40 for SAARC countries, INR 600 for non-SAARC countries

Your tour help is set up for smooth buying too. Your guide can help you purchase entrance fees so you are less likely to deal with long lines.

The second day Ellora Caves plus Bibi Ka Maqbara: a fuller arc

Day 2 starts in the morning from your hotel with a meeting time listed as 8:30 a.m. (or morning pickup around the start of the day). You drive about 1 hour, roughly 35 km, to Ellora Caves. Ellora is another UNESCO complex, but the vibe changes. Instead of one major focus, Ellora is more about variety across caves and religious traditions.

After the Ellora caves visit, the tour continues to Bibi Ka Maqbara in the afternoon. This monument is about 30 km from Ellora and takes around an hour. It is built by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother. This stop is not just a bonus, it helps break up the cave day so your brain does not feel like it is stuck inside stone all afternoon.

Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday. So if Tuesday is your only option for Day 2, you should not rely on this itinerary without checking availability.

Bibi Ka Maqbara also has its own entrance fee, listed as:

• Bibi Ka Maqbara: INR 30 for SAARC countries, INR 300 for non-SAARC countries

Entrance tickets, shuttle buses, and the cash reality

This tour includes transfers, but it does not include monument entry tickets. The entry prices are clearly listed and depend on whether you qualify under SAARC country pricing or non-SAARC pricing.

You should also plan on cash. The guidance given is that cards are not accepted for monument entry, so carry Indian Rupees. This is one of those annoyances that can ruin a calm day if you show up expecting card payment.

The tour also mentions Ajanta and Ellora shuttle bus charges of INR 100 per person, which are not included. Depending on how you get to specific cave areas and what you choose to use, you might need this shuttle. When you arrive, follow your driver or guide’s advice and budget for that INR 100 if it comes up for your route.

And since the cave days can be physically demanding, bring the basics your tour recommends: sunglasses, comfortable shoes, a hat or cap, sunscreen, and a water bottle. Even with bottled water included by the tour, you will still want your own comfort supplies.

Guide or no guide: choose based on how you like to travel

You can book this tour either with or without guide services. That choice changes the entire feel of the caves.

If you travel without a guide, you are opting for lower cost and more independence. You still get a driver and timing support, which is the big headache-reducer. But cave sites can become a lot of stone and art unless you have a game plan.

If you add a guide, you are paying for turning what you see into something you understand. In past tours, guides such as Siraj at Ellora and Deepak at Ajanta have been praised for explaining what matters and pointing out art that you might otherwise miss. The practical advantage is that you stop spending mental energy figuring things out, and you start spending it looking.

One honest consideration: with any guided format, sometimes the pace can be imperfect. There was at least one situation where an Ajanta guide felt rushed due to another client. If pacing matters to you, ask for a schedule that gives you time in each cave complex and confirm the approach your guide will take.

Drivers and pacing: why safe, punctual matters more than you think

The driver is your daily anchor. Multiple named drivers have been credited for punctuality and safe driving, including Tausif Sheikh, Madhav, Pathan, Ram, Naser, Suleman, Anis Khan, and Samad. You can think of this as a reliability factor: long drives, uneven roads, and shifting crowds mean you want someone calm behind the wheel.

Pacing shows up in the details too. Several visitors have said the tour avoided unnecessary rushing and allowed a comfortable rhythm inside the caves. That is important because these sites are not quick stops. Even if your official time is fixed, the experience is shaped by whether you are pressured to move on every few minutes or allowed to slow down.

Flexibility is another value point. In at least one case, the route was customized to include Daulatabad Fort, and in another case, the itinerary was adjusted so the visitor could catch a late afternoon flight. That tells me the private car format is not locked into a rigid script. If you have a tight schedule, mention it early and plan how you want your time allocated.

One thing to keep in mind: drivers may communicate local shopping and avoid being tempted by high-pressure sales. One visitor was advised to be aware of store salespeople, which is a reminder to stay confident and say no when you need to.

What to pack and how to avoid avoidable hassles

This kind of tour works best if you travel light and smart.

Bring:

• INR cash for cave tickets and any shuttle charges
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat since you will be outdoors on the drives and between caves
• Comfortable shoes that handle uneven ground
• A water bottle even though bottled water is included
• Sandals if you can, because footwear removal is part of the cave routine

Plan for the ride. Ajanta especially can feel long. If you are prone to motion discomfort, take that into account before you commit. And give yourself a rest buffer on travel days, because your second day is also active and includes two major stops.

If you want a smoother day, decide in advance how you feel about shopping and tea stops. The tour can include small breaks, and having clarity on what you want to do reduces stress.

Who this tour suits best

This is a strong fit for:

• Couples or small groups who want private transportation without the headache of coordinating rides
• Travelers who like UNESCO sites but also want a pace that lets them actually look
• First-timers to Aurangabad who want a two-day plan built around the big cave complexes

It is also a good match if you want the option to choose guide services based on your budget. Some people prefer to use a guide only for one day, others want both.

If you love detailed museum-style explanations, consider booking with a guide. If you prefer self-paced wandering and you are comfortable reading plaques and using your own research, the no-guide option can still work because the driver and timing support are solid.

Should you book this Ajanta and Ellora 2-day car tour?

I think you should book it if you want a clean, low-stress way to see Ajanta and Ellora with private A/C transfers and the option to add a guide for deeper context. It is built for real day-to-day practicality, meaning you spend less time managing logistics and more time absorbing the caves.

I would skip or rethink it if you are traveling on the wrong day for the sites. Remember: Ajanta closes Mondays and Ellora closes Tuesdays. Also, if your budget is tight and you dislike paying extra onsite, account for the entrance fees and the possible shuttle bus charge.

If you are deciding between guided and unguided, choose guided if you want help noticing what matters and connecting the art to meaning. Choose unguided if you are comfortable letting the caves be self-explanatory and you mainly want transportation reliability.

FAQ

What is included in this tour?

The tour includes round-trip transfers from your Aurangabad hotel in a private A/C car with a professional driver. If you choose the option with a guide, that professional guide service is included too. It also includes bottled mineral water and a torch, and covers toll parking, fuel, taxes, and service charges.

Are the entrance tickets included for Ajanta and Ellora?

No. Ajanta and Ellora entrance tickets are not included. Bibi Ka Maqbara entrance is also not included.

What are the ticket prices for the monuments?

Ajanta: INR 40 for SAARC countries or INR 600 for non-SAARC countries. Ellora: INR 40 for SAARC or INR 600 for non-SAARC. Bibi Ka Maqbara: INR 30 for SAARC or INR 300 for non-SAARC.

Do I need cash for monument entry tickets?

Yes. You are advised to carry Indian Rupees (INR) for monument entry tickets because cards are not accepted.

Is there a guide included automatically?

Not always. You can book either with guide services or without guide services. If you book the option including a guide, a private professional guide is included.

What days are the caves closed?

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

How long is the tour?

It is a 2-day tour, approximately.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is listed as 8:00 a.m. Day 2 includes a meeting time of 8:30 a.m. in your hotel lobby.

What about meals during the tour?

Meals are not included. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are listed as not included.

Is the tour private or shared?

It is private. Only your group will participate. The vehicle is available for up to five people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours in advance of the experience’s start time for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.