Dunhuang Private Day Tour Mogao Grottoes, Singing Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring

4.6 (7 reviews) 10 hours Private tour

out of 5

7 reviews

4.6

Mogao Grottoes — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Mogao Grottoes is the jewel of Silk Road located in Dunhuang, China, where access is very challenging. This private day tour take you to Duhuang with a visit to the highlights of Silk Road including Mogao Grottoes. You will also see the wonder of the Singing Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring.

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At a glance

Duration: 10 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: SilkRoadTrips

Ages: Adults (0–80 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off
Included: Local guide
Included: Bottled water
Included: Private tour
Included: Lunch
Included: Transport by private vehicle

Not included

Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Mogao Caves

4 hours Admission included

At 8:00am, your guide will pick you up from the lobby of your Dunhuang hotel and transfer you to Visitors' Center of Mogao Grottoes, an UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, where you will watch two documentaries about the caves and Silk Road. Then, a professional cave guide will lead you to explore about 7 to 9 caves closely. You will be astonished by well-preserved fresco and statues in the caves from the 4th century.

The caves were built by monks with donated funds and elaborately painted to serve as shrines and for meditation and enlightenment. Those paintings are also a teaching tools to inform those illiterate about Buddhist beliefs and stories. The primary caves were sponsored by patrons of important clergies, local ruling elites, foreign dignitaries, and Chinese emperors. Some of the caves might have been funded by merchants, military officers, and local residents.

*Note: Your visit to the Mogao Caves might be changed to the afternoon due to daily availability of the attraction. In this case, you will visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring in the morning.
Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain

one hour Admission included

This afternoon, you will be transferred to see Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring. It is also called whistling sand or barking sand that produces sound which is perhaps caused by wind passing over dunes or by walking on the sand.
Crescent Moon Pool

one hour Admission included

This magical spring is located in the center of sand dunes but it has never been covered by the sand throughout the history. Crescent Moon Spring is a crescent-shaped lake oasis in Gobi Desert that is slowing shrinking due to climate change.
Silk Road Trips

Passing by

tour operator

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Dunhuang Airport
Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel
Dunhuang Hotel

We also pick you up from your centrally located Dunhuang hotel.

Using your ticket

Dress code is smart casual
A current valid passport is required
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Passport name and number is required at time of booking for all participants for Travel Insurance