A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lipe vs. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Koh Lipe?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $85, while the average daily cost in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is $57. 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 Koh Lipe and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $44
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $88
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $50
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)? 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 Koh Lipe


Hotels in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)


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: Koh Lipe Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lipe $18
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $9.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:

  • Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain):


  • Shuttle Bus to Tangkou for Two
    $3.59

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Prices for flights to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Koh Lipe 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
    Koh Lipe $26
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $23
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $27

Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe

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

  • 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
  • Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
  • Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are as follows:


  • Two Entrance Tickets
    $63
  • Two Cable Car Passes
    $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $8.18
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $15


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lipe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round.

In July, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Lipe 27°C (81°F) 
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Koh Lipe is a little warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in October than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. May to October in Koh Lipe is the rainy season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Lipe 27°C (81°F) 
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Winter?

Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the winter. In the winter, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages at about 4°C (40°F).

In January, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Lipe 27°C (80°F) 
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Spring?

Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Koh Lipe during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Koh Lipe is generally much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets less rain in April than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Koh Lipe. May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Lipe 29°C (85°F) 
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 17°C (62°F)

Typical Weather for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 50 mm (2 in) 4°C (40°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) 6°C (42°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 51 mm (2 in) 10°C (51°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Apr 29°C (85°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
May 29°C (83°F) 244 mm (9.6 in) 22°C (71°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 224 mm (8.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 235 mm (9.2 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 29°C (85°F) 185 mm (7.3 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 29°C (84°F) 121 mm (4.7 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 355 mm (14 in) 24°C (75°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 281 mm (11.1 in) 19°C (65°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 204 mm (8 in) 13°C (55°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)