Which place is cheaper, Merzouga or Dharamsala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Dharamsala or Merzouga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dharamsala or Merzouga? 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 Merzouga?
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.
Merzouga
Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.
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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Dharamsala Prices
India PricesMerzouga Prices
Morocco Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDharamsala $36Merzouga $22
The average daily cost (per person) in Dharamsala is $36, while the average daily cost in Merzouga is $22. 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 Merzouga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDharamsala $20Merzouga $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDharamsala $40Merzouga $20
Compare Hotels in Dharamsala and Merzouga
Looking for a hotel in Dharamsala or Merzouga? 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 Merzouga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dharamsala $4.51Merzouga -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:
- Merzouga Luxury Camp & With Transfer included: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Dharamsala or Merzouga?
Prices for flights to both Merzouga 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 $13Merzouga $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Merzouga.
- Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza: $3.41
- Authentic Merzouga Desert Camp with Camel Ride, 4x4 & Dinner: $45
- Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $50
- Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast: $50
- Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $57
- Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $57
- Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $62
- Overnight At Luxury Desert Camp with Camel Ride and Dinner: $68
- Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
- Erfoud Desert Tour, Sunset, Dinner, Camel Ride, Visit the Nomads: $148
- From 2-Nights In Luxury Camp with Camel Trek & Dinner.: $170
- 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dharamsala $4.89Merzouga -
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): $14
- Guided Cycling tour in Dharamshala: $26
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $27
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $36
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $36
- Private 6 hrs Mcleodganj & Dharamshala City Tour: $58
- Discover Dharamshala in a Day: Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup: $73
- Dharamshala: Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Lunch: $89
- Private 2-Days McLeodGanj & Dharamshala Guided Tour: $90
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $99
- Dharamshala: 2-Day Guided Tour with Waterfall Hike: $208
Tours and Activities in Merzouga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Merzouga are as follows:
- 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $3.41
- Merzouga Desert Excursion - Sahara 4x4 Adventure: $3.41
- Quad Biking Desert Tour in Erg Chebbi Dunes & Sandboarding: $3.41
- Merzouga Sunset Adventure: Camel, Quad, Buggy or 4WD: $23
- Camel Ride Experience: $28
- Merzouga Quad Biking Experience: $32
- ATV Quad bikes in sahara dunes experience & sandboarding: $33
- Jeep Tour in Sahara Desert Merzouga, Morocco: $34
- Adventure in Merzouga with Quads, Jeep Tours, Camel Ride camping: $34
- 4×4 Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $34
- Desert 4×4 Tour Around Merzouga: $34
- 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDharamsala $4.89Merzouga -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dharamsala and Merzouga, we can see that Dharamsala is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dharamsala is in Asia and Merzouga 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 Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Dharamsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dharamsala than you might in Merzouga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dharamsala Expensive? and Is Merzouga 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.