Private 2 Days Tour: Ajanta Ellora Caves and Aurangabad City

Early mornings, big cave art.

This private 2-day plan is built around the UNESCO draws near Aurangabad, with hotel pickup each morning so you do not waste time bargaining for taxis or figuring out routes. I like the simple private-transfer setup (just your group, in an A/C car) and the fact you can choose to add a guide at the caves if you want more context. One thing to watch is that key cave sites have day-of-week closures, so your schedule has to match the calendar.

The best part for many people is how the days are structured: Ajanta on day one, then Ellora plus nearby Aurangabad highlights on day two. You also get small comfort touches like bottled water and tissues, which sounds minor until you are dealing with long cave visits in warm weather. The main drawback is that the core ticket fees and guide costs are extra, so the price you see is not the full cost once you add entry for each monument.

Finally, the driving experience can make or break a two-day trip, and the reviews show real contrasts. Some drivers are described as punctual and patient, while at least one person reported the driver was unsure on the second day and had to be redirected. It is not a deal breaker, but it is a good idea to confirm the stop order clearly before you roll out.

Key highlights at a glance

• Private A/C transportation for your group, avoiding taxi hassles
• Ajanta on day one with about a 3-hour stop time
• Ellora on day two plus Aurangabad sights like Daulatabad Fort and Bibi ka Maqbara
• Optional cave guides (guide fees are not included by default)
• Mobile ticket and bottled water in the car
• Important closures: Ajanta closed Monday, Ellora closed Tuesday

Private transfers around Aurangabad make the trip feel easier

Ajanta and Ellora are not a quick pop-in kind of stop. The value of this tour is that it turns two big days into a clean routine: pickup, go, see, return, repeat. You do not have to hunt for transport on your own, and you get an air-conditioned vehicle to reset between sites.

The “private” part matters too. Only your group participates, so you can keep things calm instead of waiting around for a bigger group to gather. If you are traveling with someone you already plan to share meals with and timing with, this is often the sweet spot for convenience without jumping to a much bigger budget.

Just note the tour is not a full package in the strict sense. Entry fees, any guide you add, meals, and hotel accommodation are extra. That is common for this kind of itinerary, but it does change how you should think about value.

Day 1 at Ajanta: Buddhist cave monasteries and the 3-hour window

Ajanta is one of those places where you can feel the scale in your bones. The site is a Buddhist monastery complex of twenty-nine rock-cut cave monuments, with paintings and sculpture often praised as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art and universal pictorial art. That means your time is not just for walking and photos, it is for looking slowly.

With this plan, you get about 3 hours at Ajanta. That is a practical length. You are not stuck for a half day with no structure, but you also get enough time to choose the parts you care about most, rather than rushing every cave equally. If you like art and storytelling, Ajanta rewards attention to details like figures and scenes, not just the cave facades.

What to consider at Ajanta

Ajanta has a hard weekly closure: it remains closed on Monday. If your dates fall on a Monday, you will need to shift the tour order or pick another option. Also, entry fees are extra, listed at ₹600 per person, and admission is not included in the base tour price.

Should you add a guide at Ajanta?

The tour lets you hire a guide at the caves if you want. This is one of the easiest add-ons to consider here because Ajanta’s art is dense, and a guide can help you connect paintings and sculptures to the broader Buddhist themes. If you prefer independent pacing, you can still do it on your own, but you will get less background unless you come prepared with questions.

Day 2 at Ellora and Daulatabad Fort: UNESCO caves plus the fort stop

Ellora is different in tone from Ajanta. It is also rock-cut, but the site is treated as a major UNESCO World Heritage stop, and it tends to feel more varied in what you see across the complex. The tour schedules about 2 hours at Ellora, which is a good compromise for most people: enough time to take in the big highlights without turning the day into a stamina test.

On top of Ellora, the plan includes Daulatabad Fort as part of the second day. Even if you do not spend the entire time in the strongest possible details, adding a fort stop keeps the second day from feeling like only caves back to back.

Timing and closures matter a lot on day two

Ellora also has a weekly closure: Ellora remains closed on Tuesday. That is a big deal for planning. If your ideal trip lines up with a Tuesday, you might have to choose a different travel day structure so you do not lose the main cave visit.

Ellora entry fees are extra

Like Ajanta, the Ellora admission is not included. The listed fee is ₹600 per person. The tour also notes that shuttle bus tickets are not included, which matters if you rely on transportation inside the site area.

Bibi ka Maqbara: the Mini Taj Mahal, plus a historical backstory

The stop at Bibi ka Maqbara is shorter, about 1 hour, and it plays well as a change of pace after cave touring. This monument is often described as a replica of the Taj Mahal, and the story behind it is specific: Azam Shah, the son of Aurangzeb, commissioned the structure to honor his mother, Begum Rabia Durani. That family connection gives you a hook to understand why the design echoes the Taj.

In practice, this stop is ideal if you want one “outside” site that is easier to enjoy in one concentrated hour. It is also a good moment to slow down after standing and moving through cave entrances.

Budget for the Mini Taj entrance

The entry fee for Bibi ka Maqbara is listed at ₹300 per person, and admission is not included in the tour price.

Price and what it really covers (and what it does not)

The tour is priced at $92.80 per group (up to 3). That makes it potentially good value when you have two or three people splitting the vehicle cost. If you are going solo, you still might like the private comfort, but you have less sharing to reduce the per-person total.

What you do get in the base:

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
• Complementary bottled water and a tissue box
• A mobile ticket
• Hotel pickup each morning (and private transport during the two days)

What costs extra:

• Monument entrance fees (Ajanta ₹600, Ellora ₹600, Bibi ka Maqbara ₹300 per person)
• Any guide service, if you choose it
• Meals and hotel accommodation
• Airport or station pickup to get you to your hotel is noted as chargeable

A small but useful point: the “near public transportation” note is there, but with a private plan you will still largely depend on the car during your actual cave days.

Drivers, real-world pacing, and how to avoid day-two confusion

Most of the praise in the feedback focuses on driver quality. One driver, Shabaz, is described as friendly but not pushy, punctual, and willing to adjust the schedule. Another report highlights Habeeb as the driver who was patient and punctual, with a clean A/C vehicle, plus good food suggestions around Aurangabad.

Still, there is at least one cautionary story: in one case, the driver was unsure about the second day route and the group had to guide him on where they were meant to be going. That is unsettling, but it does not mean the trip will go wrong. It means you should set yourself up to avoid confusion.

My practical advice before you start day one

• Confirm the stop order in a simple message format (Ajanta day one, Ellora plus other planned stops day two).
• Ask the driver to repeat the plan back to you at pickup.
• If you are adding a cave guide, clarify when that guide joins you, since the base plan says guide fees are not included unless you select the guide option.

On two-day cave itineraries, small misunderstandings can waste time. A quick check at the start is the simplest fix.

Comfort tips for a two-cave, two-day schedule

This tour is compact, and that is part of the appeal. But it also means weather and energy can hit fast. One review flagged that March heat was a struggle, even though the caves were worth it.

So plan like this:

• Hydrate early, not at the end, since bottled water is provided but you still have to pace yourself.
• Use the tissues and small comfort items in the car. In warm weather, the “small stuff” helps.
• Think about your pace at each cave. A two-day itinerary is designed to see major highlights, but you can still linger if you are comfortable and move on quickly if you are not.

Also, because entry fees and shuttle bus tickets are not included, you will want to keep some cash or payment ready for on-site costs.

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

This private Ajanta and Ellora with Aurangabad city stops tour fits best if you want:

• A car plan so you do not handle taxis or route puzzles
• A clear, efficient two-day structure
• The option to add a cave guide when it helps you understand the art

It might not be ideal if:

• Your dates land on Ajanta’s closure day (Monday) or Ellora’s closure day (Tuesday)
• You strongly want a fully all-in-one price with admissions included
• You prefer very loose, unscheduled touring. This plan is structured for major highlights, not open-ended wandering.

If you are short on time, the compact schedule is a real advantage. If you have the flexibility to adjust days based on closures, you get more value from it.

Should you book this private Ajanta Ellora 2-day tour?

I’d book it if you match the core strengths: you want private, A/C transport, you care about both Ajanta and Ellora, and you are okay paying entry fees and possibly adding a guide. The group size up to 3 makes the price feel more reasonable, especially when you split the vehicle cost.

I would hesitate if your travel dates fall on the closure days, because losing Ajanta or Ellora is a major swing. I’d also be a bit cautious if you are the kind of person who hates any uncertainty. The reviews include one situation where a driver was unclear on the second day, so do a quick plan confirmation at pickup.

If you do that one thing, you are set up for the best outcome: two big UNESCO cave experiences plus a meaningful Aurangabad monument, all without spending your day fighting logistics.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, plus complementary bottled water and a tissue box, along with a mobile ticket. Monument entry fees, guide service, meals, and hotel accommodation are not included.

Do I need to pay entry fees for Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi ka Maqbara?

Yes. Entry fees are extra: Ajanta caves ₹600 per person, Ellora caves ₹600 per person, and Bibi ka Maqbara ₹300 per person.

Is a guide included?

No. The guide service is not included by default. You can choose an option with a guide if you want one at the caves.

How long do I spend at each main stop?

The schedule lists about 3 hours at Ajanta, 2 hours at Ellora, and 1 hour at Bibi ka Maqbara. Daulatabad Fort is included in the second-day plan, but no specific time is listed for it.

What are the weekly closures I should know about?

Ajanta caves remain closed on Monday, and Ellora caves remain closed on Tuesday. Plan your dates so you do not run into those closures.

How many people are in a group?

This is a private tour/activity, with only your group participating. The price is per group up to 3.

Where does pickup start from?

Pickup is offered from your hotel in Aurangabad each morning. The meeting point shown is Chikkalthana Airport (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar), and airport or station pickup to your hotel is described as a chargeable service.