INDIA CAVE TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 10 india cave tours justify the slot, priced and timed, with the stairs, the temperature and the wet bits stated plainly.
Travel from Mumbai to Elephanta Island with an English-speaking guide such as Rajat or Manoj. Expect a ferry ride, a hot climb of roughly 100 to 250 steps, and a close look at Shiva sculptures, Buddhist remains, and living worship in a UNESCO site.
“We really enjoyed visiting the Elephanta caves. Our guide was very informative and we enjoyed learning about the history of the caves.”
Take a ferry from Mumbai to Elephanta Island, then follow an English-speaking guide through three basalt-carved caves. Learn the meaning of Shiva sculptures, see the great three-headed statue, ride the island toy train, and return by ferry. Hotel pickup is optional.
“The Elephanta caves tour was great! Our guide Dave was so knowledgeable and friendly, and took amazing pictures of us. Highly recommend!”
Travel by ferry from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, then climb about 120 steps to sixth- and seventh-century caves. A guide such as Harish, Daivat, David, or Krupesh explains the sculptures, including the famous three-headed Shiva. Ferry tickets and cave entry are included.
“Great tour we were extremely well looked after by our excellent guide Krupesh. He was most informative and catered to our needs wonderfully. Just did not get the opportunity to say goodbye as our ferry left. Really recommend this trip”
Take a ferry from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, then explore its UNESCO-listed rock-cut temples with a local guide. Expect a handoff between guides, a climb to the caves, the huge Trimurti sculpture, optional Cannon Hill views, and help with ferry tickets and transfers.
“Great organisation by Danish dk and Sintu to beat the queues on one of the busiest days of the year, as well as little bits of help all along the way”
Meet near Regal Cinema, take the public ferry from the Gateway of India, and explore Elephanta Island’s Shiva Cave with a private guide. Sameer and other local guides are praised for clear explanations and photography. Allow four hours, plus a one-hour boat ride each way.
“Unfortunately, the tour to the Elephant Cave was cancelled, because the ferry was cancelled due to the visit of the President Modi to Mumbai, but this tour company offered an excellent back-up plan for me. They let me join the Dharavi slum tour, and I enjoyed it a lot.”
Spend 9 to 10 hours with a private guide such as Naina, Subha, or Chetan, combining Elephanta Island’s Shiva carvings with Mumbai highlights. Hotel, airport, and cruise-port pickup, private air-conditioned transport, ferry tickets, and the island toy train are included. Meals and attraction fees cost extra.
“Naina guided us through the wonderful sights and sounds of Mumbai, and the Elephanta caves, giving us an excellent overview with lots of interesting detail. really happy with Naina who was very well informed and knew the answer to any question we asked. spoke English really well. highly recommended.”
Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private English-speaking guide exploring Elephanta Caves and South Mumbai landmarks, from the Gateway of India and CSMT to Marine Drive, Dhobi Ghat, and Mani Bhavan. Pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and fees are included.
“I had an amazing tour in Mumbai and everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. The timing was spot on, the selection of sights was excellent, and I really enjoyed trying typical local snacks along the way. Our stops were very inforRead more”
Travel from Mumbai to Elephanta Island by ferry, then explore its ancient rock-cut temples with an English-speaking guide. Rajat, Sam, Manoj, and other local guides explain the Shiva sculptures, island life, and cave design. Hotel pickup, ferry tickets, entrance, and water are included.
“We enjoyed our trip to the Elephant Caves and temple. Meet downtown, hop on a public ferryboat that our guide Ronit bought tickets for, ride about an hour on the water, then about 90 minutes on the island. Ronit handed us over to another guide, Manuch, who lives on the island and did that part of the tour. There's a lot about Hindu gods, so to make sense of all the statues in the temple, you might want to do a quick review of the Wikipedia page on Hinduism before you go! :-) It's a climb up uneven stone stairs to the top, but not too arduous. Buy a bottle…”
Join Ravi or Kavita at Sanjay Gandhi National Park for a guided visit to Kanheri Caves, an ancient Buddhist settlement with carvings, inscriptions, and paintings. Travel by local park bus, enjoy forest views, and learn how the caves served meditation, shelter, study, and meeting needs.
“The Kanheri caves are so fascinating. I was pleasantly surprised to find this historical marvel in the midst of the lush green National Park, away from the hustle & bustle of the city. The caves have been well preserved & maintained. Our guide Ravi has a wealth of knowledge about the history of the cave complex & explained everthing in intricate detail. He is very well spoken & polite & answered every query with patience. I would definitely recommend this tour as a "must see" activity in Mumbai, especially with Ravi as the guide.”
Spend about nine hours with a private guide and driver, sailing from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island before visiting Mumbai film studios. Expect cave sculptures, a long ferry ride, city sightseeing, and possible live filming. Guides may include Divya, Jaya, Pankaj, or Rahael.
“it was the highlight of our time in mumbai. Rahael was an excellent guide. He bought energy and joy to our trip. His time and humour were fantastic to our experience”
By boat, by ladder, by staircase or on a rope.
