How much does it cost to travel to Tiger Leaping Gorge?
You should plan to spend around $42 (¥300) per day on your vacation in Tiger Leaping Gorge. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $16 (¥114) on meals
- $17 (¥121) on local transportation
- $26 (¥191) on hotels
A one week trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge for two people costs, on average, $581 (¥4,205). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Tiger Leaping Gorge has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Tiger Leaping Gorge expensive to visit?
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a very affordable place to visit. Located in China, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Tiger Leaping Gorge in depth.
Within Asia, Tiger Leaping Gorge is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Taipei.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge?
The average Tiger Leaping Gorge trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Tiger Leaping Gorge travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
¥191
($26)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
¥121
($17)
|
|
Food 2
|
¥114
($16)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
¥106
($15)
|
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|
Alcohol 2
|
¥23 -
69
($3 - 10)
|
Accommodation Budget in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $13 (¥95). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $26 (¥191). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Tiger Leaping Gorge? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Tiger Leaping Gorge is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $17 (¥121) per person, per day, on local transportation in Tiger Leaping Gorge.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$17
¥121
How much does it cost to go to Tiger Leaping Gorge? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Tiger Leaping Gorge will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Tiger Leaping Gorge can vary, the average cost of food in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $16 (¥114) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Tiger Leaping Gorge should cost around $6.33 (¥46) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Tiger Leaping Gorge is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$16
¥114
Entertainment Budget in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Tiger Leaping Gorge typically cost an average of $15 (¥106) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$15
¥106
Alcohol Budget in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $6.37 (¥46) on alcoholic beverages in Tiger Leaping Gorge per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$6.37
¥46
Water Budget in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.52 (¥3.75) on bottled water in Tiger Leaping Gorge per day. The public water in Tiger Leaping Gorge is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.52
¥3.75
Tiger Leaping Gorge On a Budget
Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan province, China
One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.
Sights
At Tiger Leaping Gorge, the scenery of the place steals the show. The gorge itself is one of the deepest in the world, measures about 18 kilometers long, and is divided into three segments called Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge, and Lower Gorge. The town of Qiaotou is located at the Upper Gorge and is where most people begin their hikes. The Yangtze River then cuts through the depths of the gorge changing from narrow rapids to twists and turns and wider swirling whirlpools all the way through to the end of the gorge in the town of Daju. In Yunnan, this river is also called the Golden Sands River and is one of the most important in China. Either side of the gorge is shadowed by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the east and Haba Snow Mountain to the west, standing majestically in the distance with lovely snowcapped peaks.
The area is also an ecological hotspot with many rare species of plants and animals that call the gorge home. Due to its environmental richness and sheer natural beauty, Tiger Leaping Gorge was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Neighborhoods
Tiger Leaping Gorge is bookended by a town on either end, Qiaotou at the Upper Gorge and Daju at the Lower Gorge. Both are small towns with some accommodations and dining options, however, if you are looking to spend a day getting lost in the city culture of the area, you may want to find your way to Lijiang about 60 kilometers south of the gorge.
Several small villages can be found in the gorge, and this is where most hikers find food and accommodation along their hike (thus eliminating the need for camping equipment).
Activities
Most people come to Tiger Leaping Gorge with the intention of hiking the High Trail which runs the length of the valley. The hike is not too strenuous if you take your time, spreading the journey out along two days. The recommended route is to hike from Qiaotou to Halfway Guesthouse on the first day, about 17 kilometers taking 6 hours. A good stopping point along the way is to have lunch at the Naxi Family Guesthouse. On day two, you can then hike the rest of the trail from Halfway Guesthouse to Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge, passing waterfalls and canyons, and then taking a ferry across the river to end in the town of Daju. The best times to hike are in October, November, and May. June to September is the most dangerous time to hike as it is the rainy season, while the winter months are very cold.
Food and Dining
Local dishes consist of traditional cuisine of the Naxi people. Jidou Liangfen (a kind of jelly made from chick pea) is one of the favorite snacks of locals, as is Baba, a kind of fried potato cake that is eaten with seasoning. Others such as Bingfenliangxiao (a tasty and refreshing dessert) and butter tea are also popular with visitors. The Naxi people also have a banquet of 39 courses to entertain distinguished guests. A banquet such as this and other traditional fare can be found at Rongpo Restaurant, located in Xinhua Street in the Old Town of Lijiang. Lijiang's Square Street is also an ideal location for sampling the local snacks. There are also dining options in Qiaotou and Daju on either end of the gorge, as well as a few stops on the trail itself like the Naxi Family Guesthouse and the Halfway Guesthouse which also provide beautiful scenic views and overnight accommodations.
Transportation
To reach Tiger Leaping Gorge, the nearest airport is Lijiang Airport which has flights to Kunming, Chengdu, Xishuangbanna, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Xiamen via Chongqing and Guiyang.
From Lijiang, visitors can take a bus to
Qiaotou where most hikes into Tiger Leaping Gorge begin. Bus routes from Lijiang to Shangri-La stop in Qiaotou. There are also buses to and from Dali, running every half hour from 7am to noon.
Before beginning the hike, visitors must stop at the ticket office in Qiaotou (¥65, or cheaper for students with a valid ID).
Related:
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.