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

Should you visit Leh or Ouarzazate?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Leh and Ouarzazate. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Leh or Ouarzazate?

Leh

Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Leh?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $39, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is $42. 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 Leh and Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leh $17
    Ouarzazate $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leh $34
    Ouarzazate $42
Compare Hotels in Leh and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Leh 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 Leh


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: Leh Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leh $7.88
    Ouarzazate $3.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:

  • Leh Airport Transfer: $33

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107
  • Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $310

Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Leh 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
    Leh $14
    Ouarzazate $16

Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate

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


  • Dinner for Two
    $11

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: $66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leh $14
    Ouarzazate $11

Tours and Activities in Leh

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:

  • Leh-Ladakh Sameday Tour/ Capture the Majesty in Just One Day: $53
  • "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $80
  • LADAKH TOUR: $660
  • From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507

Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate

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

  • Royal Private Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou: $22
  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
  • 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
  • Private Quad Experience in the Ouarzazate Desert: $71
  • Marrakech day tour to Ouzoud falls: $73
  • From marrakech : 3 Days Luxury Desert Tour To Merzouga: $100
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
  • From Marrakech : Merzouga 3 day desert tour with camel ride: $103
  • From Marrakech: 3 Days Desert Tour To Erg Chebbi Merzouga: $105
  • Private One Day Tour AIT BENHADDOU and TELOUET via Ouarzazate: $110
  • Private tour Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate. Lunch included.: $120
  • 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $126

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leh $5.59
    Ouarzazate -


When comparing the travel costs between Leh and Ouarzazate, we can see that Ouarzazate is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Leh is in Asia and Ouarzazate is in Africa, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Leh or Ouarzazate?

Ouarzazate has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh 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.