A Travel Price Comparison for China Lhasa vs. Tiger Leaping Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lhasa or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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

Should I visit Lhasa or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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: Lhasa or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Lhasa

Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, and The Best Budget Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Lhasa?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $73, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $43. 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 Lhasa and Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lhasa $40
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lhasa $80
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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 Lhasa


Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lhasa $2.63
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa

Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $260
  • Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
  • [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge and Lhasa 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
    Lhasa $27
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lhasa $17
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15

Tours and Activities in Lhasa

For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tibet 5-day Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour: $65
  • 6 days Classical Tibet Private Tour to Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse.: $84
  • 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $590
  • 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
  • 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
  • Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
  • 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
  • 8 Days Central Tibet and Namtso Small Group Tour: $1,112
  • Tibet Overland Tour - 08 Days: $1,430
  • 8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour: $1,476
  • 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour: $1,548
  • 10 Days Everest Base Camp with Lake Namtso Small Group Tour: $2,033

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lhasa $7.09
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.54


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

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


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