Skip-the-queue private Ajanta & Ellora 2-Day Tour ticket inc

Ajanta and Ellora are the sort of places that reward patience. This private tour gives you two days, an air-conditioned car, and hotel pickup, so you can spend more time looking at the caves instead of sorting out transport. The option to have entrance tickets ready also helps you get moving at busy sites.

I like the two-day pace, which leaves room for Ajanta on day one and Ellora on day two. I also like the simple human touches: drivers such as Hussain and Mohammed have been praised for being prompt, careful, friendly, and helpful with local advice.

The main catch is that a guide is not included. Your English-speaking driver can explain how to arrange a government guide at both cave sites, but you should choose the ticket-only option if you want to handle guiding yourself, or budget separately for that service.

Key points at a glance

• Two full sightseeing days: Ajanta gets its own day, while Ellora and Bibi-ka-Maqbara fill the second.
• Private car and hotel pickup: You travel at your own pace, with stops for coffee, bathrooms, or a stretch.
• Choose your level of convenience: Add entrance tickets for Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi-ka-Maqbara, plus vegetarian or non-vegetarian Thali lunches.
• Drivers who make the logistics easier: Hussain and Mohammed are among the drivers praised for punctual, thoughtful service.
• Expect walking and stairs: Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and water matter at both cave complexes.
• Good for small groups: Choose a sedan for up to three people or an SUV for up to five.

Why two days makes Ajanta and Ellora easier

The best feature here is not a fancy extra. It is time.

Ajanta and Ellora are often combined into one long outing because they are the headline sights around Aurangabad. That can make for a tiring day, especially when you add road time, ticket queues, walking, and the size of the cave sites. This tour separates them, placing Ajanta on the first day and Ellora on the second.

That arrangement gives you space to look around without treating the caves like items on a checklist. You can take a break when you need one, eat lunch at a suggested local restaurant, and return to Aurangabad rather than trying to squeeze every major stop into one marathon.

The tour is private, so you are not tied to the needs of a large group. The driver can stop if you want to stretch your legs, use a bathroom, or get coffee. That sounds minor, but it matters on a full sightseeing day.

The listed cost is $46 per person, though the final amount depends on the option you choose. At that price, the value is strongest for people who want transport and planning handled without paying for a large escorted group. Entrance tickets and Thali lunches are optional additions, so compare the package carefully before booking.

Day one: the Ajanta viewing point and caves

Your driver picks you up at your Aurangabad hotel in a private, air-conditioned car. The first day is devoted to Ajanta, beginning with a viewing point before you continue to the caves themselves.

That opening viewpoint gives you a chance to get your bearings and see the setting before walking through the site. It also breaks up the day in a sensible way. Instead of arriving and immediately rushing from the car to the cave entrance, you begin with a broad view, then move on to the main visit.

At Ajanta, you have free time to explore. The tour does not include a private guide, but the driver can explain how to get a government guide at the site. If this is your first visit, arranging a guide may help you make more sense of what you are seeing. If you prefer to move quietly at your own speed, the private transport still works well without one.

You should plan for stairs and walking. The tour is suitable for most people who can manage those demands, but it is not a good choice for wheelchair users, people with recent surgeries, or anyone who has been advised to avoid strenuous walking. Wear shoes that you can comfortably use for several hours.

The first day also includes free time in Aurangabad after the Ajanta visit, with about 14 hours between the two main touring days. Accommodation is not included, so you arrange and pay for your own hotel. This overnight break is one of the reasons the schedule feels less rushed than a one-day cave trip.

Day two: four hours at Ellora

The second day begins with transport from Aurangabad to Ellora. The route includes scenic views, and you have roughly four hours at the caves themselves.

Ellora is a large site, so four hours gives you meaningful time without turning the visit into an all-day endurance test. You can walk at a steady pace, pause when needed, and use the driver’s advice about obtaining a government guide if you want more explanation on site.

This is where the private arrangement is especially useful. You are not waiting for a group member who wants to see one more section, and you are not forcing yourself to leave because a shared vehicle has a fixed departure. The driver waits according to the agreed plan and can help with the practical side of the day.

Still, do not mistake private transport for a completely effortless visit. The car gets you to the site, but the cave complex itself involves walking and stairs. Bring water, use sunscreen, and take the breaks you need. Bottled water is included, but carrying what you need during the visit is still sensible.

The tour information says you can take a flight after 4:00 p.m. on the same day as the Ellora visit. That makes this option useful if Aurangabad is one stop in a larger Maharashtra trip. I would still leave a sensible buffer for traffic and delays rather than planning a tight airport connection.

Bibi-ka-Maqbara adds a shorter final stop

After Ellora, the tour continues to Bibi-ka-Maqbara, often called the mini Taj Mahal. You have about an hour here before returning to Aurangabad.

This is a good change of pace after several hours of caves and walking. The visit is shorter, so it does not dominate the day, but it gives you another major sight before the car takes you back to your hotel.

Entrance to Bibi-ka-Maqbara is optional as part of the ticket package, along with Ajanta and Ellora. If you want the simplest day possible, buying the package with all three entrance fees can save you from dealing with separate ticket purchases. If you prefer to control your spending, choose the transport option and pay for entry yourself.

The stop is also practical for anyone who has already seen the caves and wants a final photo-friendly landmark. The tour provides time to visit, rather than treating it as a drive-by stop.

What the private car changes

The vehicle is not just a way to get from one sight to another. It shapes the whole trip.

You get hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transportation, fuel, tolls, taxes, and service charges. That means fewer small decisions during a long sightseeing day. You do not need to find a taxi at each end or work out separate transport between the caves and Aurangabad.

The driver speaks English, Hindi, and Marathi. English communication is especially useful when discussing timing, food, breaks, and the process for finding a government guide. The driver is not a licensed cave guide under the tour arrangement, so keep that distinction clear.

The personal service has received particularly strong praise. Hussain is described as offering useful advice, while Mohammed is described as prompt, thoughtful, and careful. The drivers are also expected to arrive early, which helps when you are working with a full day and a possible flight afterward.

You can ask to stop for a bathroom break, coffee, or a short walk. You can also get suggestions for local restaurants. That flexibility is more valuable than it sounds in western India, where travel days can be long and a comfortable pause can keep the second half of the day enjoyable.

For vehicle size, up to three people should choose the sedan option. Groups of up to five should choose the SUV. That is worth checking before you pay, since a crowded car can take the shine off an otherwise comfortable private tour.

Tickets, Thali lunch, and the real price

The base price is listed at $46 per person. The value depends on what you want included.

At the basic level, you are paying for a private air-conditioned car, hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver, bottled water, fuel, tolls, taxes, and service charges. For a small group, that can be a fair way to cover two major day trips without arranging separate taxis or local transport.

You can also select a package with entrance fees for Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi-ka-Maqbara. This is the more convenient choice if you do not want to deal with ticket counters. The phrase skip-the-queue applies to the option where tickets are arranged in advance, so check that your selected package includes them.

Lunch is also optional. The available choice is a traditional Indian Thali, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian, for both days. A Thali gives you a complete meal rather than leaving you to find food while you are focused on the sights. If food is important to you, it is worth adding. If you prefer to choose your own restaurant, leave it out and use the driver’s local suggestions.

Accommodation is not included. You will need to book your own Aurangabad hotel for the night between the two excursions. A guide is also not included, though the driver will explain how to arrange a government guide at Ajanta and Ellora.

The small gift at the end is a pleasant extra, but it should not drive your booking decision. The real value is the private transport, two-day schedule, and help with the practical details.

What to bring and how to prepare

You should bring your passport or another form of identification. Comfortable shoes are essential because both cave visits involve walking and stairs.

Pack sunscreen, water, and a camera. Bottled water is included, but you should still have water available while walking. Light clothing and sensible sun protection will make the outdoor parts of the day easier.

Give yourself time at the start of each morning. The drivers are reported to arrive early, so being ready at your hotel helps the tour keep its rhythm. If you want lunch included, confirm that you selected the vegetarian or non-vegetarian Thali option when booking.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, people with high blood pressure, people with recent surgeries, wheelchair users, or people over 70 years old. These restrictions relate to the walking and stairs, not to the car journey itself.

The activity is a private group experience, which means the schedule is yours within the agreed plan. That works best when you tell the driver early if you have a flight, a preferred lunch time, or a need for more frequent stops.

Where the tour is strongest, and where it falls short

The strongest point is its calm structure. Ajanta and Ellora can be tiring when forced into a single day, while this plan gives each site room to breathe. The private vehicle also removes much of the hassle from getting around.

The second strength is the driver service. Friendly communication, early arrivals, careful driving, and useful local advice matter greatly on a two-day road-based tour. The names Hussain and Mohammed come up as examples of the kind of personal service you can expect, though the assigned driver may be different.

The main weakness is the lack of an included guide. A driver can help you reach the caves and explain where to find a government guide, but that is not the same as having historical interpretation built into the day. If detailed explanation is your main reason for visiting, add a guide separately or ask about the available government guide before entering.

Another consideration is the separate cost of accommodation and optional tickets and meals. The advertised $46 price is attractive, but your total will rise if you choose all entrance fees and two Thali lunches. Look at the final package rather than judging the base figure alone.

Should you book this Ajanta and Ellora tour?

I would book this tour if you want private transport, a relaxed two-day schedule, and help with the basic planning. It is particularly suitable for couples, families, and small groups of up to five who do not want to negotiate local transport between Aurangabad, Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi-ka-Maqbara.

Choose the ticket and lunch additions if convenience matters more than keeping the initial price low. If you want detailed commentary, plan on arranging a government guide at the cave sites because one is not included.

I would skip it if you need wheelchair access, cannot manage stairs, or want a fully guided historical tour with one guide included from start to finish. For everyone else, the combination of a private car, flexible stops, and two separate sightseeing days makes this a practical way to see three important sights around Aurangabad without racing through them.

FAQ

How long does the Ajanta and Ellora tour last?

The experience is arranged over two days, with about seven hours of sightseeing time shown for the activity schedule. Ajanta is visited on the first day, and Ellora plus Bibi-ka-Maqbara are visited on the second.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. The driver picks you up from your hotel in Aurangabad and returns you there after the tour.

Are entrance tickets included?

They are included only if you choose the package with entrance fees. That option covers Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, and Bibi-ka-Maqbara.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is optional. You can choose a package with a traditional Indian Thali for both days, with a vegetarian or non-vegetarian option.

Is a guide included?

No. A guide is not included, but the English-speaking driver can explain how to arrange a government guide at Ajanta and Ellora.

What size vehicle should I choose?

Groups of up to three people should choose the sedan option. Groups of up to five people should choose the SUV option.