A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hydra vs. Ouarzazate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hydra or Ouarzazate?

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

Should I visit Hydra or Ouarzazate? 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: Hydra or Ouarzazate?

Hydra

The island of Hydra is located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. Named for its natural springs, the island now has most of its freshwater imported from the mainland. The real gem of the place is the absence of motorized vehicles. Car and scooters are nowhere to be seen by the narrow marble-cobbled lanes, rocks, and sea. Such vehicles have been outlawed and so the way to navigate the island is by donkey, water taxi, or on foot.

Ouarzazate

Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Hydra?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hydra is €97, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is €40. 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 Hydra and Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hydra 51
    Ouarzazate 20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hydra 102
    Ouarzazate 40
Compare Hotels in Hydra and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Hydra or Ouarzazate? 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 Hydra


Hotels in Ouarzazate


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: Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hydra 26
    Ouarzazate 3.17

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    1.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
  • Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $309
  • Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187

Is it cheaper to fly into Hydra or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Hydra 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
    Hydra 30
    Ouarzazate 15

Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:


  • Dinner for Two
    10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ouarzazate.

  • Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hydra 11
    Ouarzazate 9.88

Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate

Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
  • Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $22
  • 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
  • Private Quad Experience in the Ouarzazate Desert: $57
  • Marrakech day tour to Ouzoud falls: $73
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
  • From Marrakech : Merzouga 3 day desert tour with camel ride: $103
  • Private One Day Tour AIT BENHADDOU and TELOUET via Ouarzazate: $109
  • From Marrakech: 3 Days Desert Tour To Erg Chebbi Merzouga: $116
  • From marrakech : 3 Days Luxury Desert Tour To Merzouga: $116
  • Private tour Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate. Lunch included.: $119
  • 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hydra 11
    Ouarzazate -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hydra and Ouarzazate, we can see that Hydra is more expensive. And not only is Ouarzazate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hydra is in Europe and Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ouarzazate 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 Hydra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hydra than you might in Ouarzazate.

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


Which is Bigger, Hydra or Ouarzazate?

Ouarzazate has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hydra. When comparing the sizes of Hydra and Ouarzazate, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.