Moderate
3 to 4 sites per day
Maharashtra Heritage Trail
Historical Wonders
Your Journey
Overview & Highlights
The Maharashtra Heritage Trail is a 7 day private tour covering Mumbai, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves.
Begin with the colonial landmarks and waterfront of Mumbai, followed by a ferry ride to the UNESCO listed Elephanta Caves. Continue to Nashik to visit Trimbakeshwar Temple, Ramkund, Kalaram Temple and Muktidham Temple. Explore the ancient Buddhist chambers of Pandav Leni before travelling to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Visit the UNESCO listed Ajanta Caves, known for Buddhist murals and rock cut architecture, followed by Bibi Ka Maqbara. At Ellora Caves, see Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments, including the Kailasa Temple, before visiting Daulatabad Fort.
The Maharashtra Heritage Trail includes private transport, selected 4 star hotels, daily breakfast and local guides, with the option to customize the itinerary.
Explore Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Discover Mumbai landmarks with a private local guide.
Visit Nashik temples and the ancient Pandav Leni Caves.
Travel privately with selected hotels, local guides and personal support.
Day by Day
Itinerary
Namaste and welcome to India! On the day of arrival at Mumbai Airport, Alkof Holidays representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide for a full day sightseeing tour of Mumbai. Begin at the Gateway of India and take a ferry across Mumbai Harbour to Elephanta Island. Walk uphill and climb several steps to explore the UNESCO listed Elephanta Caves, a collection of rock cut temples created mainly between the 5th and 6th centuries CE and dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva.
Return to Mumbai by ferry and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Later, visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum, which houses archaeological finds, sculptures, decorative arts and exhibits from different periods of Indian history. Continue to Mani Bhavan, the former Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi and now a museum dedicated to his life and work. Overnight stay in Mumbai.
Important: Elephanta Island remains closed every Monday. Ferry services generally remain closed during the monsoon season from May to September and may also be suspended due to rough sea or adverse weather conditions. When the ferry is unavailable, the itinerary will be adjusted with alternative sightseeing in Mumbai.
After breakfast, depart for Nashik, a city known for its deep spiritual and historical roots. Upon arrival, visit Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, revered for its sacred rituals and significance in Hindu traditions. Continue to Ramkund, the revered bathing ghat on the banks of the Godavari River, where pilgrims gather for holy rituals and ceremonies. Later, explore Kalaram Temple, dedicated to Lord Rama, showcasing striking black stone architecture and immense historical importance. Finally, visit Muktidham Temple, a unique site featuring replicas of India’s most sacred shrines, providing a glimpse into the essence of Hindu spirituality. After an enriching day, check in at your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay in Nashik.
After breakfast, begin your day with a visit to Pandav Leni Caves, a remarkable set of ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves dating back to the 3rd century BC, featuring intricate carvings and meditation chambers. Following this, proceed towards Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel for overnight stay in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Ajanta Caves, another UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its ancient Buddhist murals and intricate sculptures. After a morning exploring these beautifully preserved caves, return to Aurangabad to visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, often referred to as the "Baby Taj" for its resemblance to the Taj Mahal. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, proceed for a guided tour of Ellora Caves. The Ellora Caves consist of 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain art dating from the 4th to 9th century A.D. The most remarkable is the Kailash Temple, believed to be a replica of Lord Shiva’s celestial abode and a true marvel of rock-cut architecture and engineering. Next, visit Daulatabad Fort, one of the most impressive and formidable forts in the country.
In the later afternoon, our driver will transfer you to Aurangabad Airport to board a flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai Airport, our local driver will receive you and transfer you to your hotel in Mumbai for an overnight stay.
After breakfast at the hotel or earlier as per your flight timing, our driver will transfer you to Mumbai International Airport to board a flight to your home or onward destination.
Personalize Your Itinerary
Share your preferred dates, hotel level, and travel interests. Our experts will refine your itinerary and create the right plan for your trip.
What is Included in This Tour
Explore what is included and what is not included in this tour.
- Stay for 6 nights in 4 star hotels on twin or double sharing basis.
- Daily breakfast at the hotels.
- Professional, English-speaking local guides will be provided in each city as per the itinerary.
- All airport transfers, sightseeing, and inter-city travel are provided in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced chauffeur.
- For upto three guests traveling together, travel in a spacious private vehicle such as a Toyota Innova Crysta or a similar vehicle.
- For four or more guests, travel in a spacious air-conditioned minivan such as a Tempo Traveller or a large private vehicle.
- Airport pickup and arrival assistance is included.
- One complimentary bottled water per person is provided daily for your comfort.
- All applicable taxes, including 5% GST, are included in the tour cost.
- Any International or domestic flights are not included.
- It is advisable that you buy a comprehensive medical/travel insurance in advance from your country before traveling to India.
- Please Note: Tour guides for specific languages, Italian, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Dutch, are also available on request basis at an additional cost.
- Any VISA fee (if applicable).
- Any monument entrance fee, camera fee.
- Any kind of tips, personal expenses, laundry, or telephone charges.
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
Where You Stay
Accommodation
Hotel Kohinoor Continental, Mumbai
Premium Hotel
Mumbai, India
Hotel Grand Rio Nashik
Premium Hotel
Nashik, India
Lemon Tree Hotel, Aurangabad
Premium Hotel
Aurangabad, IndiaImportant Information
Know Before You Go
Important Information
- If rooms are not available at the mentioned hotels, we will provide alternate hotels of a similar category. Early check-in or late check-out is subject to availability.
- At Trimbakeshwar Temple, only Hindus are allowed inside the inner sanctum. Non-Hindus can visit the temple premises and view the temple from outside, but entry to the main shrine is not permitted.
- Please note: Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday, and Ajanta Caves remain closed every Monday. If you start your tour on a Tuesday, we will adjust the itinerary and visit Ajanta first, followed by Ellora on the next day.
- For easy communication on the go, consider downloading WhatsApp, as it is widely used in India.
- Transportation is provided according to the itinerary only and is not available on a disposal or point-to-point basis.
- Tipping in India is not compulsory, it is optional but appreciated. A small gratuity is expected in some cases; tip generously for exceptional service. The amount can range from $2, $5, $10 per day, or more, depending on satisfaction and the quality of service received.
- Any costs arising from natural calamities such as road blockages, political disturbances (e.g., strikes), etc., are to be borne by the client. We will not be held liable for any refunds or compensation claims resulting from these circumstances.
- India VISA: Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not need a visa to enter India. However, all other foreign nationals must obtain a visa to enter India. For more information, please check https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.
Booking Information
Payment Terms
Payment Terms
A deposit of 10% is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 60 days prior tour starting date. For any bookings within 60 days of departure, the full tour amount will be charged upon booking. This can be paid through bank transfer, credit/debit card, or cash.
Important Information
Cancellation
Cancellation
If you cancel the tour at least 61 days before the scheduled departure date, there will be no cancellation fee. Kindly read complete details at Cancellation Policy.
Traveler Stories
Customer Testimonials
Firsthand accounts from guests who explored India with our local team.
Judith Goodson
Australia
My husband and I have just returned from this amazing private tour with Alkof Holidays. Communication before and during the trip was excellent.My husband and I have just returned from this amazing private tour with Alkof Holidays. Communication before and during the trip was excellent. Having WhatsApp and an eSIM was very helpful, and any questions we had were answered quickly. Internal flights, boarding passes, and transfers were all clearly organized. Our focus was wildlife, but we were also very happy with the accommodation throughout the trip. We stayed at Kavish Gir Lion Resort and Aranyak Resorts near Kanha and Bandhavgarh. The rooms were spacious, the food was excellent, and the staff were always welcoming. Be prepared for some long road journeys and flights, but they are all part of the adventure. We appreciated arriving at the national park gates early each morning, as the cooler hours provided the best wildlife viewing opportunities. The wildlife sightings exceeded all expectations. At Gir National Park, we saw an incredible 26 Asiatic lions, including cubs, along with jackals, mongoose, wild boar, and many beautiful bird species. At Bandhavgarh, we were fortunate to spot six tigers, as well as Indian gaur, owls, hornbills, eagles, and vultures. One of the most memorable moments was watching a magnificent tiger slowly cross the road directly in front of our safari vehicle. Alkof Holidays and India made this trip truly unforgettable. We highly recommend Alkof Holidays to wildlife lovers and would happily travel with them again. A few tips for future travelers: bring binoculars, a good camera, and some extra tissues or toilet paper. We were also advised that mobile phones are not permitted during safaris in India's national parks, which was not an issue for us as keen photographers.