2 Days Dunhuang Tour to Mogao Caves & Mingsha Mountain

Tour Overview

Nestled at the crossroads of ancient trade Silk route, Dunhuang is a treasure trove of Silk Road history and natural beauty. This 2-day private Dunhuang tour takes you to the amazing Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Spring, where you can experience much desert fun.

Then, explore the vibrant Shazhou Night Market and immerse in local culture. On day two, marvel at the Mogao Caves’ exquisite Buddhist art and enjoy a digital exhibition offering insights into Dunhuang’s storied past.

Highlights of this tour

Discover interesting desert adventures like sand sliding and camel riding.
Marvel at the crescent-shaped oasis nestled within golden sands.
Immerse yourself in Dunhuang’s vibrant nightlife with local snacks at Shazhou Night Market.
Explore exquisite Buddhist art and murals in Mogao Grottoes.
Gain an insights into Silk Road history through immersive digital films.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Dunhuang

Travel Length: 2 Days and 1 Night

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture lovers, families, seniors

Departure: Any day you want

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Dunhuang
Experience Desert Fun with Various Activities

After arriving in Dunhuang, our local tour guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel in the city center for check-in.

After a brief rest, embark on your Dunhuang tour at the Echoing-Sand Mountain. Here you can experience desert activities such as sand sliding and camel riding here (optional, at your own expense). There is a spring in the scenic area that resembles a crescent moon (so called Crescent Spring) and is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, known as the “first spring in the desert”. At sunset, you can enjoy the magnificent natural wonder of the coexistence of desert and spring.

After the visit, drive you back to the hotel. In the evening, walking around the Shazhou Night Market on your own you will meet many local snacks and other little goods.

Meal: Lunch

Accommodation: in Dunhuang

Dunhuang Camel Ride — Camel Ride in Mingsha Mountain

Day 2 Departure from Dunhuang
Appreciate the Buddhist Grotto Art at Mogao Caves

Today, we will visit the most notable attraction in Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China. The grottoes, also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddha, preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries.

In the Tourist Reception Center, which functions as the Digital Exhibition Center now, tourists can see two 20-minute-long digital movies to have an overall understanding of the ancient Silk Road. Your 2-day Silk Road trip to Dunhuang ends here and then transfer you to the train station or airport to depart Dunhuang.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: N/A

Mogao Grottoes Dunhuang — Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

1 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to/off Dunhuang;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024

Recommended Other Silk Road Tours You May Like

2 Days Classic Turpan Tour from UrumqiTurpan – Urumqi

View Details

5 Days Dunhuang Tour with Desert Hike & HighlightsDunhuang

View Details

8 Days China Silk Road Tour with Chengdu PandaChengdu – Leshan – Emei – Xian – Dunhuang

View Details

Speak to one of our Silk Road travel experts to begin planning a tailor-made trip.

Create Your Journey

Why You'll Love Joy Asia Tour

Unrivalled Expertise

All our specialists travel regularly to source each Silk Road destination.

Hand-pick every activity, accommodation, and experience.

The same travel advisor will assist you at every step of your trip.

Unique to You

We can design a 100% tailor-made journey for you.

We listen to your travel wishes.

It will be a dream trip for families, friends, honeymooners, or senior travelers.

Locally-based Guides

They’ll introduce you to the history, archaeological digs, regional food, and art.

The locals, secret sites, and insider visits will be shown to you.

Immersive, real-life experiences.

Seamless Service

Your travel consultant, guides, and drivers work closely for your entire trip.

Flexibility trip plan change - book with confidence.

Travel with peace of mind with our 24/7 support.

Silk Road Tours

Small Group Tours

Best Silk Road Tours

China Silk Road Tours

Central Silk Road Tours

Luxury Silk Road Tours

Silk Road Rail Tours

Silk Road wine tours

Silk Road Tours for Seniors

Destinations

Lanzhou

Kyrgyzstan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Kazakhstan

Essential Travel Guide

Silk Road Travel Guide

How to Plan a Silk Road Trip

Best Time to Visit

Silk Road Foods

The Silk Road History

Silk Road Travel FAQs

Top Silk Road Travel Tips

Famous Silk Road Cities

Silk Road Tours

About Us

Private Policy

Terms and Conditions

Silk Road Tours Reviews

We are member of

We accept

Fllow us

Thanks to Sophia of Chinasilkroadtours, and her team of superb guides, our family of 3 adults, 2 kids, and 3 seniors had the best Silk Road journey from Beijing to Urumqi!

2 Days Classic Dunhuang Tour

Tour Overview