The 8 Best Dunhuang Tours

1.Private Customized the Silk Road Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $179Our pick

Meet guide Steven or another local guide at your Dunhuang hotel at 8:30 am and shape an eight-hour Silk Road day around your interests. Choose Mogao Caves, Mingsha Sand Mountain, Crescent Moon Spring, Han-era ruins, Yulin Grotto, or city sights. Admission fees are extra.

“As the owner of Silk Road Angel Tours, Steven is very professional, knowledgeable and speaks perfect English (he serves as the official interpreter in town as well).”

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2.8-Day Silk Road Trip of Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye with Accommodation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $2,199

Travel west through Gansu with a private guide and air-conditioned vehicle, beginning in Dunhuang and ending in Zhangye. Expect Mogao and Yulin grottoes, Han and Ming Great Wall sites, desert camel riding, Danxia colors, Buddhist temples, seven nights of hotels, and all meals included.

“The trip from Lanzhou to Dunhuang was absolutely rewarding, including views of Yellow River, stunning colorful Zhangye landscapes, good museum of history, multiple UNESCO sites like remains of the Great Wall, and amazing buddhism caves. The trip was well planned by Steven in terms of timing, hotel, meals, sites.”

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3.3-Day Private Silk Road Tour of Dunhuang: Mogao Grottoes, Yulin Grottoes, Crescent Moon Pool

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $799

Spend three days exploring Dunhuang with a private guide and air-conditioned transport. Visit Mogao and Yulin Caves, Yangguan and Yumen Passes, Suoyang City, Crescent Moon Spring, and the Singing-Sand Dunes. Guide Lily is noted for clear explanations and local food tips.

“The trip was awesome, exceeds my expectation. Our tour guide Lily was the best. Very knowledgeable and attentive.”

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4.Dunhuang Private Silk Road Day Tour: Mogao Caves, Crescent Spring

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $93Best value

Spend about 10 hours exploring Dunhuang with a private English-speaking guide, driver, and hotel transfers. Visit the Mogao Caves, Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Moon Pool, and Sazhou Night Market. The pace is flexible, while camel rides, sand skiing, special caves, lunch, and station transfers cost extra depending on your booking option.

“Had a great tour in Dunhuang in November 2025. Visited Mogao Caves and Singing Dunes. Guide was very kind and knowledgeable. Fully recommended.”

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $239

Spend about 10 hours exploring Dunhuang with a private vehicle, local guide, hotel pickup, lunch, and admissions included. Visit the Mogao Caves, watch two introductory films, then walk or climb among the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring. English cave arrangements may require some waiting.

“The Mogao Grottoes are amazing. The dunes for a hike is also great. So much history. The tour can be done by yourself as long as you get tickets ahead of time. For English speakers I had to wait for an hour to gather other ex pats, but the tour was great with only a few people. The guide for the caves was very knowledgeable. I chose the 8 caves option.”

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6.Dunhuang Day Tour: Mogao Grottoes, Singing Sand Dunes and The Silk Road Show

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $359

Start with camel riding and desert views at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, then watch two films before visiting the Mogao Grottoes. Your private guide, possibly Steven, handles transport, meals, tickets, and an evening performance of The Silk Road. Shows do not run from November through March.

“Really enjoyed DunHuang, and having this tour was a huge plus getting to know the city. The tour guide was friendly, the sites were nice, and the logistics were pretty effortless”

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7.Classic The Silk Road Half Day Tour: The World Heritage –Mogao Grottoes

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $209

You’ll watch two films at the Mogao digital center, then ride by air-conditioned minivan to visit up to eight Buddhist caves with a professional guide. Hotel pickup, admission, headsets, and bottled water are included. The small group can reach 15 people, though cave visits may feel rushed.

“The monument is overprotected by the chinese authorities and the guide doesn't show you the most impressive caves.You will manage to see maybe 5-6 from the initial 8 proposed and that with a lot of rush.Theoretically you could hirRead more”

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8.Your Private Gold Medal Tour Guide Service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

Spend up to 10 hours with Steven Kang, a National Gold Medal Tour Guide, planning a private Dunhuang day around Han dynasty sites, Yumen Pass, Yangguan, Buddhist grottoes, and Silk Road history. The $200 rate covers up to 10 people, but transport, meals, hotels, and entrance fees cost extra.

“We enjoyed a perfectly organized 6 days trip from Xining to Qinghai to Dunhuang. With nice weather, nice hotels, a convenient car with a perfect driver. Steven is a highly reliable and very well English speaking guide.”

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