Which place is cheaper, Ait Ben Haddou or Dharamsala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dharamsala or Ait Ben Haddou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dharamsala or Ait Ben Haddou? 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: Dharamsala or Ait Ben Haddou?
Dharamsala
With a name that literally means "a spiritual dwelling," Dharamsala roughly translates as a shelter or rest house for pilgrims and travelers. Home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala is today a popular destination for foreigners on vacation, backpackers seeking the surrounding mountains, as well as students of Buddhism.
Ait Ben Haddou
Think of a time when you've seen Jerusalem in a movie. Chances are what you're really looking at is the traditional, mud brick city of Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco. This city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and has also been seen in movies like Lawrence of Arabia, Orson Welles' Sodom and Gomorrah, Jesus of Nazareth, the French version of Cleopatra, Bertolucci's Sheltering Sky, Scorsese's Kundun, Gillies MacKannon's Hideous Kinky, Ridley Scott's Gladiator, Oliver Stone's Alexander the Great, and in some scenes from Game of Thrones.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDharamsala $35Ait Ben Haddou $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Dharamsala is $35, while the average daily cost in Ait Ben Haddou is $70. 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 Dharamsala and Ait Ben Haddou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDharamsala $23Ait Ben Haddou $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDharamsala $46Ait Ben Haddou $50
Compare Hotels in Dharamsala and Ait Ben Haddou
Looking for a hotel in Dharamsala or Ait Ben Haddou? 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.
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: Dharamsala Hotel Prices and Ait Ben Haddou Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dharamsala $5.13Ait Ben Haddou $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
- Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Dharamsala or Ait Ben Haddou?
Prices for flights to both Ait Ben Haddou and Dharamsala 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
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Food Meals for one dayDharamsala $8.34Ait Ben Haddou $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dharamsala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dharamsala.
- Flavors of Dharamshala: 2-Hour Guided Street Food Tour: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dharamsala $5.55Ait Ben Haddou $28
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- The Spiritual Trails of Dharamshala(Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Walking the Spiritual Path (Guided 2-Hour Dharamshala Tour): $18
- McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $81
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $96
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDharamsala $5.55Ait Ben Haddou $6.12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dharamsala and Ait Ben Haddou, we can see that Ait Ben Haddou is more expensive. And not only is Dharamsala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dharamsala is in Asia and Ait Ben Haddou is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Dharamsala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dharamsala 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 Ait Ben Haddou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ait Ben Haddou than you might in Dharamsala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dharamsala Expensive? and Is Ait Ben Haddou Expensive?.
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.