7-Day Ajanta Ellora Mumbai Tour: Ancient Caves and Vibrant Mumbai
Our Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour joins India’s greatest cave temples with its most exciting city. Spend three nights in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) for the Buddhist paintings of Ajanta and the giant Kailasa Temple at Ellora, then fly to Mumbai for three nights of the Gateway of India, the Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive and a Bollywood tour. It is a private tour with your own car and driver, and a licensed guide at the cave sites. In one week you see five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private heritage and city tours of India for families, couples and groups.
Tour at a Glance
Here are the key facts of the 7-day Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour.
- Tour name: Ajanta Ellora with Vibrant Mumbai
- Duration: 7 days and 6 nights
- Route: Aurangabad (3 nights), Mumbai (3 nights)
- Starts: Aurangabad. Ends: Mumbai
- Tour type: private tour with car, driver and cave guide; one short flight
- Highlights: Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Kailasa Temple, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Marine Drive and a Bollywood tour
- Best time: October to March
Why Choose This Tour
- Five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ajanta, Ellora, the Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Art Deco buildings of Marine Drive.
- Ancient and modern India: 2,000-year-old caves and India’s film capital in one week.
- No long drives: a one-hour flight joins Aurangabad and Mumbai.
- Great for families: caves, a ferry ride, beaches and Bollywood.
- Private and flexible: the Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour is one of our most popular Ajanta Ellora Caves tour packages.
Ajanta Ellora Mumbai Tour Itinerary
This is the day-by-day plan of the Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour.
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 Buddhist Aurangabad Caves and the old water mill of Panchakki.
Shamrock travel tip: Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays, and the Elephanta Caves are also closed on Mondays. We plan your days around them. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 2: The Ajanta Caves
Drive about 100 km, two and a half to three hours, to Ajanta. Take the shuttle bus 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.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 3: The Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar and Daulatabad
Drive about 30 km to Ellora, stopping at Daulatabad Fort. Explore 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves and the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), a whole temple to Lord Shiva cut from a single rock. Then visit the Grishneshwar temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, next door.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 4: Fly to Mumbai
Today your Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour moves to the city. Fly from Aurangabad to Mumbai, about one hour. Check in to your hotel. In the afternoon, see the Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and the Colaba Causeway market, or the art and history of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Mumbai
Day 5: Bollywood and Mumbai City Tour
Go behind the scenes on a Bollywood tour of a film studio. Then visit the Haji Ali Dargah, on an island in the sea, reached by a causeway at low tide. In the evening, walk along Marine Drive, the Queen’s Necklace, and enjoy street food at Chowpatty Beach.
Shamrock travel tip: visit Haji Ali at low tide, dress modestly and cover your head inside. Read our Shamrock India Travel Tips for more on visiting holy places.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Mumbai
Day 6: Elephanta Caves and Heritage Mumbai
Take the ferry from the Gateway of India, about one hour each way, to the Elephanta Caves, famous for the giant three-headed Shiva. In the afternoon, see Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the grand Victorian Gothic railway station, and end the day at Juhu Beach.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Mumbai
Day 7: Departure from Mumbai
After breakfast and some free time, we take you to Mumbai airport for your onward journey. Your Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour ends here.
Meals: breakfast
What Is Included
Your Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour includes:
- Six nights in hotels of your choice, 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
- The Aurangabad to Mumbai flight, and flights or trains to the start
- Lunch and dinner
- The Elephanta ferry, the Bollywood studio tour and camera fees
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
Best Time for This Tour
October to March is the best time for the Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour, with cool, dry days. June to September brings heavy monsoon rain to Mumbai, and the Elephanta ferry may stop in rough seas. April and May are hot and humid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start the tour in Mumbai instead?
Yes. We can begin in Mumbai and fly or drive to Aurangabad, about six to seven hours by road.
How far are Ajanta and Ellora from Aurangabad?
Ajanta is about 100 km and Ellora about 30 km.
Is the Bollywood tour included?
We arrange it and list the ticket in your quotation, as studio tours change from time to time.
Is the Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour good for families?
Yes. Children enjoy the caves, the ferry to Elephanta, the beaches and the film studio.
Can I add the Taj Mahal?
Yes. Our 8-day Ajanta Ellora with the Taj Mahal tour adds Delhi and Agra instead of Mumbai.
How much does the Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour cost?
The price depends on your hotels, the number of travellers and the season. Tell us your plans and we will send a clear quotation.
More Ajanta Ellora Tours
Many guests change or shorten their Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour.
- 4-Day Ajanta Ellora tour from Aurangabad: the caves and Aurangabad only.
- 8-Day Ajanta Ellora with the Taj Mahal tour: adds Delhi and Agra.
Read our Ajanta Ellora Caves travel guide, see all our Ajanta Ellora Caves tour packages and read about Mumbai. We are one of the best tour operators in India, and we also plan the best North India tours, our Golden Triangle tour and cultural tours of India. Ready to book your Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour? Request your free quote
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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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