From Aurangabad to Ajanta Ellora Taxi – Best 2-Day Cab Tour

Two UNESCO cave sites, handled for you. This 2-day Aurangabad cab tour is interesting because you get hotel pickup plus private transport through the Deccan, so you spend less time negotiating and more time moving between sights. I like the flexibility of an optional guide (I’ve seen strong mentions of guide Suleman) and I like the comfort touches like bottled water and a torch for cave exploring. The one thing to watch is that entry tickets and meals are not included, so the final cost depends on when you go and what ticket category applies.

You also keep the experience manageable. It’s private for your group (up to five people for the private experience), with car options from a sedan to a mini van, and you start at 8:00 am.

A practical heads up before you lock dates: Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. If your travel window hits those days, you’ll want to adjust your plan fast.

Key things that make this tour work well

• 8:00 am start and hotel pickup: you avoid the start-of-day scramble
• Private transport with multiple vehicle sizes: sedan, SUV, or mini van depending on your group
• Optional guidance when you want it: some groups specifically praised guide Suleman for making history and culture easier to follow
• Cave-ready comfort: bottles of mineral water and a torch are included
• Extra stops beyond the caves: Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara add variety to a tight schedule
• Closure days matter: Ajanta closes Mondays, Ellora closes Tuesdays

Aurangabad to Ajanta and Ellora, without transport headaches

This is the kind of trip you book when you want results, not stress. You’re in Aurangabad, and the two big draws are Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. The tour takes care of the biggest friction point for most visitors, transportation and timing, especially when you’re trying to fit a lot into two days.

I like that the day plan stays realistic for a private setup. You’re not hopping between random shared vehicles. Instead, you have a professional driver speaking good Hindi and English, plus options for a sedan, SUV, or mini van based on how many people you’re traveling with. If you’re a small group, that matters, because you keep decisions simple, and the drive stays comfortable.

There’s also a choice built into the experience. You can pick a transport-only approach or add an optional guide. That’s useful because not everyone wants the same pace. If you prefer to just see and absorb, you can. If you want context, you can.

The 2-day rhythm, Ajanta Day 1 then Ellora plus temple and fort on Day 2

The schedule is built around a full Day 1 for Ajanta and a more stacked Day 2 that includes Ellora plus a chain of cultural stops.

Day 1: Aurangabad to Ajanta Caves to Aurangabad

You start with pickup from your selected point and head to Ajanta, about 100 kilometers away. The time block for Ajanta is listed as 8 hours, and tickets are not included. You’ll be out for most of the day, but that’s normal for Ajanta since it’s the major focus of the first day.

Day 2: Ellora first, then Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara

You start early again for Ellora Caves, then move on to Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple. After that, there’s a lunch break, then time for Daulatabad Fort and a final stop at Bibi Ka Maqbara, often referred to as the Taj of the Deccan, built in memory of Aurangzeb’s wife. The listed time for visiting Ellora is 4 hours, while the other stops are shorter blocks, about 1 hour for darshan at Grishneshwar and about 1 to 2 hours for Daulatabad Fort, with about 1 hour for Bibi Ka Maqbara.

This structure is practical because it protects you from spending too much time traveling on Day 2. The tradeoff is that Day 2 feels full, so you’ll want to stay flexible with timing and keep breaks short.

Ajanta Caves on Day 1, a long day that stays organized

Ajanta is the anchor of the trip. The tour’s whole first day revolves around getting you from Aurangabad to the caves and back, with a full 8-hour block allocated. Ajanta is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest heritage experiences in India, so most people expect it to take a good chunk of the day.

Since Ajanta entry tickets are not included, you should budget for them separately. The tour lists Ajanta ticket prices as INR 40 for SAARC countries and INR 600 for non-SAARC countries. Also note the closure rule: Ajanta caves are closed every Monday. If your trip lands on Monday, you’ll have to change your plan, because you can’t “tour your way around it” on that day.

What I like about how this is handled is simple. You’re not planning transport, not chasing the right bus, and not figuring out cave access logistics while you’re already tired from a morning drive. The tour also includes botted mineral water and a torch for exploring the caves. That’s not a glamorous inclusion, but in a cave setting, it’s the kind of small thing that helps you stay comfortable and keep moving.

A small consideration: because this day is long, you’ll want to start your morning calmly. The tour starts at 8:00 am, and that early departure makes sense if you want good time at the caves. If you’re someone who gets grumpy with early starts, build in a little patience the night before.

Ellora plus Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara

Day 2 is where the trip earns its keep. You go beyond “just caves” and add three historically and culturally significant stops.

Ellora Caves

Ellora is another UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s described as famous for its rock-cut caves. The time block for Ellora is listed as 4 hours, so the plan gives you enough time to see the main areas without turning the day into a marathon. Tickets are not included. Ellora’s ticket pricing is listed as INR 40 for SAARC and INR 600 for non-SAARC. Ellora caves are closed every Tuesday, so again, your day matters.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Next comes Grishneshwar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. The listed time needed is about 1 hour for darshan and exploring the temple. This is a useful change of pace after cave time, because you shift from cave exploring to a more straightforward temple visit. Also, the tour says the lunch break is included as a break period, though meals themselves are not included.

Daulatabad Fort

Then you move to Daulatabad Fort, known for its formidable defense architecture and historical significance. The time needed is about 1 to 2 hours. This stop adds a different kind of heritage, more structural and outdoor, so it helps break up the cave focus of the trip.

Bibi Ka Maqbara

The day ends at Bibi Ka Maqbara, often called the Taj of the Deccan, built in memory of Aurangzeb’s wife. The time needed is about 1 hour to appreciate the architecture and gardens. It’s a nice final stop because it’s visually different from the caves and forts, and it offers a calm wrap-up to a long day.

One practical drawback of Day 2 is that it’s compact. You’re moving from Ellora to a temple, then to a fort, then to Bibi Ka Maqbara, all in one run. If you’re the type who likes long, slow stops with lots of photo time, you may feel the schedule a bit. The upside is that a private cab setup keeps the transitions smooth.

Price and value: what $47.75 includes, and what you should budget for

The headline price is $47.75 per person, and the tour is private. That sounds like a transport deal, and that’s exactly what it is: private rides, pickup, and day organization.

Here’s what you get for the base cost:

• Private transportation with a professional driver who speaks good Hindi and English
• Pickup from your selected pickup point
• Toll parking, fuel, taxes, and service charges
• Bottled mineral water and a torch for cave exploring
• Mobile ticket
• Group discounts are mentioned as available
• Optional guide is available, but guidance is not necessarily built into the base price

Not included:

• Entry tickets for Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbara
• Meals and hotel or breakfast, lunch, dinner

So how do you judge value? Add up what you avoid. You avoid arranging two separate day trips, and you avoid the gray-zone planning that often turns heritage trips into logistical chaos. You also get a driver who can handle timing and keep the car transitions efficient. For many people, that saves more time than it saves money, especially when you’re squeezing two major sites into two days.

Ticket budgeting is straightforward from the provided info:

• The tour lists monument ticket prices separately for Ajanta and Ellora (INR 40 SAARC, INR 600 non-SAARC)
• Bibi Ka Maqbara is INR 30 SAARC, INR 300 non-SAARC
• The tour also lists Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbra entry ticket as ₹1,500 per person (so plan on that kind of total for non-SAARC pricing)

Meals are your responsibility. Lunch is described as a break during Day 2, but meals are not included. If you hate hunting for food on the go, plan to eat early or keep water handy.

Guides, drivers, and the small comfort choices that matter

The best praise in the feedback centers on the driver experience. People highlight punctual pickup and comfort, plus flexibility. I’d pay attention to that, because on a two-day heritage run, your driver’s habits shape your whole mood.

Some groups specifically mentioned:

• A driver who was ready to adjust based on requirements, with pickup from accommodation at the scheduled time
• Safety and comfortable driving with good manners and a non-pushy style
• Early morning pickup from the station
• A guide named Suleman described as knowledgeable and professional, making the experience feel hassle-free and efficient
• A driver named Samad, with good pre-trip communication by sharing contact details in advance, which helps if you’re arriving by flight or want to coordinate your exact pickup

Those details matter because this trip is about time. Ajanta and Ellora are both time-sensitive by closure day. A driver who communicates and keeps you on schedule reduces the risk that your day turns into last-minute rushing.

Also note the cave comfort inclusions: torch plus mineral water. You can bring your own, of course, but it’s nice when the basics are handled for you.

One more consideration: this is private, for groups up to five within the private experience. If you’re a larger party, the tour offers mini van options, but your real-world comfort will depend on how the vehicle is set for your group size. If you’re traveling with kids or older relatives, a larger vehicle may feel easier, so think about your group shape.

Who this tour suits best, and who might want a different style

This tour fits best if you want:

• A private cab experience with pickup and drop-off
• Two UNESCO cave destinations without DIY transportation
• A schedule that mixes big sights with a temple, fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara
• The option of adding a guide when you want deeper context

You might want a different style if:

• You dislike full days and prefer long, slow wandering
• You want meals fully handled, because meals and lodging are not included
• Your dates hit Monday for Ajanta or Tuesday for Ellora, since those caves are closed on those days

If you’re traveling solo but want private service, this still works. If you’re traveling as a couple or small family, the sedan or SUV setup can feel like the sweet spot.

Should you book this Aurangabad to Ajanta and Ellora cab tour?

I’d book it if your priority is simple logistics and you’re okay budgeting for entry tickets and meals. The base price looks fair because it covers private rides, a professional driver, and cave-ready essentials like water and a torch. The pacing also makes sense for two days, with Ajanta as the full focus first day and a mix of Ellora, temple, fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara on day two.

Skip this only if your travel dates conflict with closure days or if you want lodging and meals included. Otherwise, this is the kind of tour that keeps your energy for the sights, not for transport problem-solving.

FAQ

What time does the pickup start?

Pickup starts at 8:00 am.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It is a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.

Are entrance tickets included for Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbara?

No. Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbra entry tickets are not included.

How much are the monument tickets?

The tour lists Ajanta and Ellora at INR 40 for SAARC countries and INR 600 for non-SAARC countries. Bibi Ka Maqbara is listed at INR 30 for SAARC countries and INR 300 for non-SAARC countries.

Are meals included?

No. Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are not included.

Is an optional guide included?

An optional guide is available, but the tour can also be taken as transport only.

Which days are Ajanta and Ellora closed?

Ajanta caves are closed every Monday, and Ellora caves are closed every Tuesday.

What vehicle options are available?

A sedan is suitable for 1 to 2 passengers, an SUV for 1 to 5 passengers, and a mini van for 6 to 12 passengers.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.