4-Day Ajanta Ellora Tour from Aurangabad: The Ancient Marvels

Our Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad gives you a full, unhurried day at each of India’s two greatest cave sites. See the 2,000-year-old Buddhist paintings of the Ajanta Caves, the giant Kailasa Temple at Ellora, cut from a single rock, and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga next door. You also visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Mini Taj, and Daulatabad Fort. It is a private tour with three nights in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), your own car and driver, and a licensed guide at the caves.

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private heritage tours of India for families, couples and groups.

Tour at a Glance

Here are the key facts of the 4-day Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad.

Tour name: Ajanta Ellora, the Ancient Marvels
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights
Route: Aurangabad (3 nights), with day trips to Ajanta and Ellora
Starts and ends: Aurangabad airport or station
Tour type: private tour with car, driver and cave guide
Highlights: Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Kailasa Temple, Grishneshwar temple, Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara
Best time: October to March

Why Choose This Tour

Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ajanta and Ellora, each with its own full day.
No rushing: three nights in one hotel, with no packing and unpacking.
A licensed guide: who brings the paintings and carvings to life.
Temples and forts too: the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Daulatabad Fort and the Mini Taj.
Private and flexible: one of our most popular Ajanta Ellora Caves tour packages.

Ajanta Ellora Tour from Aurangabad: Itinerary

This is the day-by-day plan of the 4-day Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad.

Day 1: Arrive in Aurangabad and City Sightseeing

We meet you at Aurangabad airport or station and take you to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, the white Mughal tomb known as the Mini Taj, the old water mill of Panchakki and the Buddhist Aurangabad Caves on the hill behind the city.

Shamrock travel tip: remember the closed days: Ajanta on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays. We plan your days around them. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Overnight: Aurangabad

Day 2: The Ajanta Caves

After breakfast, drive about 100 km, two and a half to three hours, to Ajanta. Take the shuttle bus from the visitor centre to about 30 Buddhist caves cut into a horseshoe-shaped cliff above the Waghora river. With your guide, see the painting of Padmapani in Cave 1, the Jataka tales in Caves 2, 16 and 17, and the reclining Buddha in Cave 26. Return to Aurangabad in the evening.

Shamrock travel tip: flash photography is not allowed in the painted caves, and some caves are dark, so carry a small torch and wear shoes you can slip off. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Aurangabad

Day 3: The Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar and Daulatabad

Drive about 30 km to Ellora, stopping at Daulatabad Fort on its hill. At Ellora, explore 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, made between about the 6th and 10th centuries, and the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), a whole temple to Lord Shiva cut from the top down out of a single rock. Then visit the Grishneshwar temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, about 1 km away.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Aurangabad

Day 4: Departure

After breakfast, shop for Himroo shawls or Paithani silk, then we take you to Aurangabad airport or station for your onward journey. Your Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Three nights in a hotel of your choice in Aurangabad, with breakfast every day
A private air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
A licensed English-speaking guide at Ajanta and Ellora
Monument entry tickets as per the itinerary
All taxes, tolls, parking and driver costs

What Is Not Included

Flights and trains to Aurangabad
Lunch and dinner
Camera fees, tips and personal expenses
Travel insurance

Best Time for This Tour

October to March is the best time for an Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad, with cool, dry days. July to September brings rain and makes the Ajanta gorge and waterfall green and full. April to June is very hot, so we start early.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far are Ajanta and Ellora from Aurangabad?

Ajanta is about 100 km, two and a half to three hours by road. Ellora is about 30 km, under one hour.

Can I start the tour from Mumbai or Pune?

Yes. Aurangabad is about one hour by air from Mumbai, or six to seven hours by road or train. Pune is about five hours by road. Our 7-day Ajanta Ellora with Mumbai tour adds Mumbai.

Can I do it in fewer days?

Yes. A 2-day or 3-day plan covers Ajanta and Ellora without the city sights.

Is a guide included?

Yes. A licensed guide joins you at both cave sites.

Is this tour good for families and seniors?

Yes. There is a shuttle bus at Ajanta, and the drives are easy.

How much does the Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad cost?

The price depends on your hotel, the number of travellers and the season. Tell us your plans and we will send a clear quotation.

More Ajanta Ellora Tours

Many guests extend their Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad.

7-Day Ajanta Ellora with Mumbai tour: adds three nights in Mumbai and the Elephanta Caves.
8-Day Ajanta Ellora with the Taj Mahal tour: adds Delhi and Agra.

Read our Ajanta Ellora Caves travel guide and see all our Ajanta Ellora Caves tour packages, our Golden Triangle tour and our cultural tours of India. We are one of the best tour operators in India, and we also plan the best North India tours. Ready to book your Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad? Request your free quote

Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.

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Tell us your travel dates and we will send you a personal itinerary. Request your free quote