Which place is cheaper, Olympos or Dharamsala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dharamsala or Olympos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dharamsala or Olympos? 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 Olympos?
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.
Olympos
Olympos was an ancient city in Lycia, situated in a river valley near the coast. Its ruins are located south of the modern town Cirali in the Kumluca district of Antalya Province, Turkey. An important Lycian city in the 2nd century BC, Olympos is more famous these days for being the beach resort of choice for backpackers. Staying in an Olympos 'tree house' at one of the dozen-or-so camps that line the path to the ruins and beach has long been the stuff of travel legend. The former hippy-trail hot-spot has been considerably renovated in past years and during summer can be pretty overcrowded. Olympos offers good value and an up-for-it party atmosphere in a lovely setting.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Turkey, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDharamsala $35Olympos $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Dharamsala is $35, while the average daily cost in Olympos is $95. 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 Olympos in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDharamsala $23Olympos $43
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDharamsala $46Olympos $86
Compare Hotels in Dharamsala and Olympos
Looking for a hotel in Dharamsala or Olympos? 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 Olympos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dharamsala $5.14Olympos $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dharamsala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dharamsala:
- Chandigarh to Dharamshala Transfer: $85
- Airport to Dharamshala transfer: $50
- Dharamshala Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Olympos
Also for Olympos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kemer Full Day Pirate Boat Trip with Lunch and Optional Transfer: $10
- Kemer Pirate Boat Trip with transfer from Belek: $15
- Kemer Scuba Diving With Lunch and Transfer: $20
- Kemer Suluada Boat Tour (Maldives of Turkey) With Hotel Transfer: $20
- Kemer Pirate Boat Trip With Lunch & Free Hotel Transfer: $20
- Suluada Boat Tour From Antalya (Maldives of Turkey) with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
- Kemer Mega Star Boat Trip With Hotel Transfer and Lunch : $20
- Kemer to Antalya Ariport (AYT) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer with Lunch and Transfer: $22
- Kemer to Antalya Ariport (AYT) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kemer Scuba Diving Experience with BBQ Lunch and Transfer: $33
- Kemer Horse Riding Experience with Transfer: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Dharamsala or Olympos?
Prices for flights to both Olympos 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
-
Food Meals for one dayDharamsala $8.36Olympos $30
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Olympos
For Olympos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Olympos, Cirali, Chimera Night Tour with Dinner at Ulupinar : $33
- Kemer Olympos & Yanartas Sunset Jeep Tour with Dinner: $35
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dharamsala $5.57Olympos $29
Tours and Activities in Dharamsala
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dharamsala are as follows:
- Best of Dharamshala with a local - Full Day Guided Tour: $128
- Best of Dharamshala with a local Half Day Tour by a AC Car: $81
- Cultural tour - Dharamshala & Mcleodganj for full day: $30
- Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour from Amritsar: $299
- Dharamshala Mcleodganj Tour: $48
- Dharamshala Street Food Crawl ( Guided Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Guided Andretta Artists' VIllage Tour: $98
- Guided Kora Circuit & Walking Tour Around McLeod Ganj: $42
- Hiking Day Tour to Triund from Dharamshala: $42
- Historical Tour, Kangra fort &Rock cut temple from Dharmasla: $98
- McLeodGanj Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Mcleodganj Nature Trek (3 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $26
Tours and Activities in Olympos
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Olympos.
- Spa Experience in Kemer with Pickup: $15
- Turkish Bath Experience in Kemer: $20
- Full Day Rafting Experience From Kemer: $20
- Goynuk Canyon Tour with Entrance Ticket: $25
- 2-in-1 Canyoning and White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch From Kemer: $25
- Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer Turkey with Two Dives and Lunch: $26
- Pirate Boat Tour on the Beautiful Bays of Kemer: $27
- Kemer Scuba Diving Experience: $27
- Kemer Scuba Diving Experience: Two Dives with Lunch : $30
- Antalya Full-Day City Tour From Kemer With Cable Car : $30
- Full-day Boat Tour from Kemer with Lunch and Foam Party: $33
- Demre Myra Tour with Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip From Kemer: $36
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDharamsala $5.57Olympos $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dharamsala and Olympos, we can see that Olympos 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 Olympos is in Europe, 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 Olympos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Olympos 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 Olympos 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.