Elephanta Caves and Mumbai Sightseeing Full Day Tour
About this tour
Mumbai’s two best days out, run as one. A morning sailing to a 1,500 year old cave temple, and an afternoon through the Gothic city, the bazaars and the sea front, with a private car and one guide throughout.
Eight hours, and by the end you will have seen more of Mumbai than most visitors manage in three days.
What you will experience
- Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Palace before the crowds arrive
- Ferry across the harbour to Elephanta Island, roughly an hour each way
- The 1,500 year old rock-cut caves and the six metre Trimurti of Shiva
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO listed Victorian Gothic station
- Marine Drive, the Hanging Gardens and the Dhobi Ghat viewing point
- Crawford Market, Zaveri Bazaar and the older lanes of South Mumbai
- A private air conditioned car and one guide for the whole day
- Entry fees and the return ferry included, so there is nothing to pay on the day
What is included
- Private air conditioned vehicle with driver for eight hours
- Expert English-speaking local guide throughout
- Return ferry tickets to Elephanta Island
- Elephanta Caves entry fee, Rs 600 per person
- Bottled drinking water
- Hotel, apartment or cruise terminal pickup and drop off
- All parking, tolls and fuel
What you will see
What our guests say
5.0 out of 5 · 1,342 reviews across TripAdvisor and Google
Booked at short notice and everything was organised within the hour. Comfortable car, punctual, and a guide who clearly loves the city he lives in.
Our guide had remarkable knowledge of local history and excellent English. The whole day was genuinely exciting rather than the usual run through a checklist of monuments.
This was a wildly interesting tour, one of my favorite experiences in India so far. Balaji was amazing and took great care to explain and show us the books and crannies of the slum. It was safe, informative,…
Meeting point
Common questions
The ferry queue at the Gateway grows through the morning, and the caves are quieter and cooler early. A 4:00am or 5:00am start also lets us show you South Mumbai before the traffic builds. Later starts are available if you prefer.
Yes. The island is closed every Monday. On Mondays we run the same tour with Kanheri Caves instead, at no extra cost. Tell us when booking.
Around 120 steps up to the caves, then flat walking inside. Elsewhere the car takes you between sights. Comfortable shoes matter, but this is not a strenuous day.
No, so you can choose. Your guide will suggest options ranging from a simple thali to a proper sit-down meal, and will eat with you if you would like the company.
Yes. Some guests prefer the city first and the island after lunch. Tell your guide on the morning and they will rearrange it.
Ferries stop in heavy monsoon weather. If that happens we run a full day city tour with Kanheri Caves instead, or reschedule, or refund. You decide.
Yes, though it is a long day. The ferry is usually the part children remember. Tell us their ages and we will pace it accordingly.
Yes. Give us the ship name and arrival time when booking and we will meet you at the terminal.
Often booked together
Booking more than one tour? Contact us and we will build a combined itinerary with a single guide across your day.