Aurangabad: 3-day Lonar Crater, Ajanta, & Ellora Caves Tour

Ancient art, a crater lake, and one busy road trip. This three-day private tour gives you a useful sweep of Aurangabad’s major sights, from the Ajanta Caves and their Buddhist paintings to Ellora’s huge Kailasa Temple and the unusual waters of Lonar Crater. I like the private air-conditioned car and the freedom to adjust the schedule. I also like that pickup and drop-off can happen at your hotel, airport, railway station, or another chosen spot.

The main catch is the driving. Ajanta takes about two hours each way, while Lonar is roughly three hours each way, so Day 3 is a long day in the car. At $79 per person, the package can be good value for two or more people, but remember that hotel stays, meals, and entrance tickets are extra.

Five things to know before booking

• Ajanta takes a full day: You get three to four hours at the UNESCO-listed Buddhist caves after a 110-kilometer drive each way.
• Ellora offers the tour’s grandest sight: The monolithic Kailasa Temple gives Day 2 its main visual punch.
• Lonar is the unusual stop: This meteorite-formed crater lake has saline and alkaline water, along with the nearby Daityasudan Temple.
• Private transport keeps the plan flexible: A Toyota Etios serves one or two people, while an Innova Crysta is used for groups of three to five.
• Drivers can make a real difference: Madhav received special praise for his care, while Mr Patel was described as helpful, informative, pleasant, and willing to go the extra mile.

What this Aurangabad tour really covers

This is not a relaxed three-day city break. It is a sightseeing circuit built around three major excursions from Aurangabad. You spend one day at Ajanta, one day at Ellora and Bibi Ka Maqbara, then take the longest road trip to Lonar Crater and Daityasudan Temple.

That structure works well if you want to see the area’s most important sites without arranging separate cars, drivers, and guides. You also avoid the awkward problem of trying to connect Ajanta, Ellora, and Lonar by public transport in a short time.

The tour is private, so only your group rides in the car. That matters when you need a slower pace, an earlier start, or a little more time at a particular cave. The schedule is described as flexible, but I would agree on changes in advance, especially on the long Ajanta and Lonar days.

An English-speaking guide is available with the guide option. The professional driver speaks Hindi and English. Past service has included drivers such as Madhav and Mr Patel, with the strongest praise aimed at their kindness, help, and attention to the route.

Day 1: Ajanta’s paintings after a 110-kilometer drive

Your first day begins with pickup in Aurangabad. The route to Ajanta is about 110 kilometers one way and takes around two hours, with a short tea or coffee break along the way.

The main event is the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO-listed group of 29 Buddhist caves dating from the 2nd century BC. You get about three to four hours to explore. That is enough time for a meaningful visit, though not enough to inspect every detail at a slow pace.

Ajanta is especially valuable for its Buddhist art and cave setting. You are not simply walking through a group of old chambers. You are seeing religious spaces cut into rock, with paintings and sculpture that give the site a strong sense of place. The experience rewards patience, so avoid rushing from cave to cave just to collect photographs.

The tour also includes a stop at Ajanta View Point, which gives you a broader look at the caves. This is useful before or after the main visit because the viewpoint helps you understand how the caves sit within the surrounding rock formation.

You can stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Lunch is not included, so keep cash or another suitable payment method ready. The supplied details do not name a particular restaurant, which means the exact choice may depend on the driver, guide, timing, and your preference.

There is a practical comfort detail here: shoes are covered during entry to Ajanta Caves. That may seem small, but it is useful when you are moving through a major heritage site and want to keep your footwear protected.

After the caves, you return to Aurangabad for the night. The two-hour journey back can feel long after several hours on foot, so Day 1 suits you best if you are comfortable with a full sightseeing day rather than a slow introduction to the city.

Day 2: Ellora’s Kailasa Temple and Bibi Ka Maqbara

Day 2 is easier on the road. Ellora is about 35 kilometers from Aurangabad, with a drive of roughly one hour each way. After breakfast, you spend around three to four hours at the Ellora Caves.

Ellora’s appeal is different from Ajanta’s. The site is known for monolithic rock excavations, including the famous Kailasa Temple. Instead of entering a series of painted Buddhist chambers as the main focus, you encounter large-scale rock-cut architecture that makes the construction method part of the spectacle.

Kailasa Temple is the reason many people look forward to Ellora. It was carved from rock as a single monumental complex, and its scale gives the visit a powerful visual focus. You need comfortable walking shoes and a willingness to take your time, since three hours can pass quickly among the caves and structures.

Lunch near Ellora is optional and not included. A nearby meal keeps the day moving, but if you have specific dietary needs, ask about the plan before setting off. Since the itinerary can be adjusted, you can also discuss how much time you want at Ellora before visiting the afternoon stop.

Bibi Ka Maqbara follows Ellora. This Mughal-era monument is often compared with the Taj Mahal because of its design. It is a much shorter visit, listed at about one hour, but it offers a useful change of mood after the caves.

I like this pairing because the day puts two different kinds of architecture side by side. Ellora is cut directly from the rock, while Bibi Ka Maqbara presents a formal Mughal monument with a Taj-like appearance. You get variety without adding another major long-distance drive.

Entry fees for Ellora and Bibi Ka Maqbara are not included. Daulatabad Fort is also listed as an excluded admission, although it is not part of the stated sightseeing schedule. If you want to add it, confirm the route, timing, and extra ticket cost before the day begins.

You return to Aurangabad for a second overnight stay. Compared with Ajanta and Lonar, Day 2 is the most manageable part of the tour.

Day 3: Lonar Crater and Daityasudan Temple

Day 3 is the tour’s most unusual day and its hardest road day. Lonar Crater lies about 150 kilometers from Aurangabad, with a listed driving time of roughly three hours each way.

The crater was formed by a meteorite impact. Its lake has saline and alkaline water, making it quite different from the cave and Mughal sites visited on the first two days. You get about two to three hours to explore the crater and nearby attractions.

The appeal here is the contrast. Ajanta and Ellora are human-made religious sites, while Lonar is a natural formation created by an impact from space. You get a rare mix of geology and heritage in one tour, but you should be realistic about the time involved. Six hours of driving is a large part of the day, even before the crater visit and lunch.

The itinerary also includes Daityasudan Temple, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The planned visit lasts about one hour. This gives Day 3 a second cultural stop instead of making the long drive only about the lake.

Lunch at a nearby restaurant is optional and comes at your own cost. Since the day involves a long return drive, I would not plan too many extra stops unless you have confirmed them with the driver or guide.

The final drop-off is in Aurangabad, at your preferred airport, railway station, hotel, or other agreed location. This can be very useful if you are leaving the area after the tour, but allow enough time for the return drive before booking a tight train or flight connection.

The car, driver, and private format

The transport is one of the strongest parts of the arrangement. You travel by private air-conditioned car, with fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, and bottled mineral water included.

For one or two people, the vehicle is an air-conditioned Toyota Etios. Groups of three to five use an Innova Crysta. The supplied capacity information also refers to a sedan for up to two people and the SUV for three to five, so larger parties should confirm the exact vehicle before booking.

The private format gives you control that a fixed group bus cannot. You can ask for a break, adjust the pace, or spend more time at a site that interests you. It also avoids waiting for unrelated passengers at each pickup point.

The tradeoff is that your experience depends partly on the driver assigned to your car. The strongest praise has gone to the personal service: Madhav was singled out for making the journey comfortable and easy, while Mr Patel was praised for being helpful, informative, pleasant, and attentive. A manager also met one group on arrival to review the plan and make sure the most important sights were covered.

That kind of human support matters on a route with long drives and several moving parts. Still, an English-speaking guide is an option rather than something to assume in every booking. Check that the guide-inclusive option is selected if explanations at Ajanta, Ellora, and the other sites are important to you.

Is $79 per person good value?

At $79 per person, this tour can offer strong value if you want a private vehicle for three days. The price covers transport and sightseeing services, not the full cost of a holiday.

You still pay separately for:

• Hotel accommodation
• Lunch and dinner
• Ajanta entrance
• Ellora entrance
• Bibi Ka Maqbara entrance
• Daulatabad Fort entrance, if added
• The guide, if your chosen booking option does not include one

The value improves when two or more people share the car. You are paying for private transport across long distances, not only admission to a single attraction. Fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, and bottled water are included, which makes the basic cost easier to understand.

Solo visitors may still appreciate the convenience, but the per-person price represents a larger share of the vehicle cost. If you already have your own transport and are comfortable arranging local visits, this package may not be the cheapest route. If you want one company to connect the major sights and handle the driving, it is easier to justify.

Who should choose this three-day route?

I would recommend it to you if your priority is coverage. In three days, you see the two major cave sites, a Mughal monument, a meteorite crater, and an ancient Vishnu temple.

It also suits you if you prefer private travel, need airport or railway station pickup, or want the ability to adjust the plan. The service has received a 4.3 rating from seven reviews, with the clearest praise focused on the car and driver rather than on a particular guide or meal.

Older visitors may appreciate the private car and the reported care from the driver. One couple specifically found the service kind, respectful, and helpful for two seniors. Families and small groups also benefit from having their own vehicle.

This is less suitable if you dislike long road journeys. Ajanta means about four hours in the car, and Lonar can mean around six. The tour is also not a fully inclusive package, so you need to budget separately for hotels, food, and entrance tickets.

Book with realistic expectations: this is a well-organized sightseeing base, not a slow cultural retreat. The caves and crater are the stars, while the roads are the price you pay to connect them.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to see Ajanta, Ellora, and Lonar in one private itinerary, and if air-conditioned transport is worth more to you than saving every dollar. The flexible schedule, airport and railway station pickup, and strong driver feedback make it a practical choice for a small group.

Before booking, confirm three things: the guide-inclusive option, the exact vehicle for your group, and the timing of your final drop-off. Also budget for tickets, meals, and hotels. If you can accept the long drives, $79 per person is a sensible starting price for a private three-day route through Aurangabad’s major sights.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts three days, with sightseeing at Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Lonar Crater, and Daityasudan Temple.

Where can pickup and drop-off take place?

Pickup and drop-off are available from an airport, railway station, hotel, or another preferred location in Aurangabad.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is a private tour, so only your group participates.

Is an English-speaking guide included?

A private professional guide is included if you book the option that includes a guide. The tour information lists English as the guide language.

What type of vehicle is used?

One or two people travel in an air-conditioned Toyota Etios sedan. Groups of three to five use an air-conditioned Innova Crysta SUV.

Are meals included?

No. Lunch, dinner, and hotel accommodation are not included. Lunch stops are listed as optional at local restaurants.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Admission to Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, and Daulatabad Fort is not included.

Can the itinerary be adjusted?

Yes. The itinerary is described as flexible and can be adjusted to suit your travel needs.