Three days and two nights stringing the most worthwhile places into a route with no backtracking and no rushed schedules: a night in the ancient city, Buddhist caves, and a Golden Summit sea of clouds. The day-by-day timeline below works for both independent travel and tours.
Principle: keep city attractions early (Longmen, White Horse Temple, Luoyi Ancient City) and the far-trip Laojun Mountain last, to avoid repeated cross-city backtracking.

Tickets, accommodation, in-city transport and dining; the Laojun Mountain day trip adds round-trip transport and cable car. Amounts vary by season / hotel tier and are subject to real-time quote.

First-time visitors, weekend / short-holiday trips, families with kids and seniors all fit; Laojun Mountain involves climbing, so seniors are advised to take the cable car.

April's Peony Culture Festival is the most memorable; spring and autumn have pleasant weather, ideal for mountain hikes and heritage. See the Peony Tourism page for exact blooming.
Day 1: after arrival, night tour of Luoyi Ancient City and the Old Town Cross Street. Day 2: Longmen Grottoes in the morning, White Horse Temple in the afternoon, Yingtian Gate light show in the evening. Day 3: a full day at Laojun Mountain (Ten-Mile Painting Screen and Golden Summit) before heading back. With more time, add a day for Shaolin Temple.
Mainly four parts: tickets, accommodation, in-city transport and dining; the Laojun Mountain day trip adds transport and cable-car fees. The exact amount varies by season and hotel tier and is subject to real-time quote from customer service. We do not publish fake low prices.
With only two days: Day 1 Longmen Grottoes + White Horse Temple + night tour of Luoyi Ancient City; Day 2 morning at Laojun Mountain or half a day around Yingtian Gate, then head back in the afternoon. Laojun Mountain deserves a full day, so two days one night will feel rushed.
Put it later in the trip (e.g. Day 3), because Laojun Mountain is in Luanchuan, about 2.5–3 hours' drive from the city and needs a full day. Keeping the city sights first flows better.
Longmen, White Horse Temple and Luoyi Ancient City are relaxed and suit seniors and children; Laojun Mountain involves climbing or cable cars, so seniors are advised to take the cable car both ways and slow the pace. Traveling with seniors, a private small group works well.
City attractions are controllable on your own; Laojun Mountain is far with long cable-car queues, so a tour or private small group can outsource transport, tickets and guide for peace of mind. Want freedom but fear the far-trip hassle? Choose semi-independent.
The Yingtian Gate light show / projection is usually open at night; specific sessions and any admission are subject to the day's official announcement. During holidays and the Peony Culture Festival there are more shows.
In April, tourists and accommodation prices rise noticeably; popular gardens get crowded, so book stays and enter gardens early. You can pair peony viewing on the same day's surroundings.
City attractions are reachable by Metro Lines 1/2 plus taxi; Longmen Grottoes is about 20–30 minutes from the city; Laojun Mountain and Shaolin Temple are in the far suburbs / neighboring city and need a chartered car or tour.
Compare Luoyang multi-day group tours / private small groups: independent groups with adjustable itineraries, including booking and transport-with-guide, outsourcing the three-day route in one go. Call 13017648055 (same WeChat number).
Independent groups with adjustable itineraries, including attraction booking, transport and guide, with the Laojun Mountain cable-car plan calculated too — no forced shopping.