A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Darjiling vs. Shiretoko National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Darjiling or Shiretoko National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Darjiling or Shiretoko National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Darjiling or Shiretoko National Park?

Darjiling

What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.

Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park, Japan is comprises the entire Shiretoko Penninusla in the northeast island of Hokkaido. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the most remote areas in Japan with very few and very small settlements. This makes Shiretoko the perfect place for a fun hiking and camping adventure.

While the park is open year round, the weather in the area tends to greatly affect the enjoyment of your trip due to harsh winters and heavy rain at the end of summer. There is a short period from May to early July that is considered the best time to visit due to slightly less rain and comfortable temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Shiretoko National Park or Darjiling?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Shiretoko National Park is $74. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Darjiling and Shiretoko National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Darjiling $13
    Shiretoko National Park $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Darjiling $26
    Shiretoko National Park $66
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Shiretoko National Park

Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Shiretoko National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Darjiling


Hotels in Shiretoko National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Shiretoko National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Darjiling $7.48
    Shiretoko National Park $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling

Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
  • Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $98
  • Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197

Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Shiretoko National Park?

Prices for flights to both Shiretoko National Park and Darjiling change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Darjiling $14
    Shiretoko National Park $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Darjiling $12
    Shiretoko National Park $15

Tours and Activities in Darjiling

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.

  • Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $25
  • Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
  • Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
  • Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
  • Mirik Lake Day tour From Darjeeling: $37
  • Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
  • Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $62
  • Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
  • Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Darjiling $8.77
    Shiretoko National Park $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Shiretoko National Park, we can see that Shiretoko National Park is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Shiretoko National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shiretoko National Park than you might in Darjiling.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Shiretoko National Park Expensive?.


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