A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Merzouga vs. Olympos for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Merzouga or Olympos?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merzouga or Olympos, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Merzouga or Olympos?

Merzouga

Let's say you want to truly get away. I don't mean putting your ear buds in on some beach with a stronger on the next chair over. I mean really get away, and find yourself deserted. Merzouga, Morocco lets you do just that. This land of sand dune after sand dune is ideal for anyone yearning to ride a camel to the ends of civilization. And you'll find plenty of options to get here with a tour, or even on your own.

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 Budget Tours to Morocco, The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Turkey, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey.


Which place is cheaper, Olympos or Merzouga?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Merzouga is $22, while the average daily cost in Olympos is $76. 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 Merzouga and Olympos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Merzouga $10
    Olympos $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Merzouga $20
    Olympos $56
Compare Hotels in Merzouga and Olympos

Looking for a hotel in Merzouga 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.

Hotels in Merzouga


Hotels in Olympos


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: Merzouga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Merzouga -
    Olympos $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merzouga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Merzouga:

  • Merzouga Luxury Camp & With Transfer included: $74

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: $14
  • Kemer Pirate Boat Trip with transfer from Belek: $17
  • Kemer Mega Star Boat Trip with Lunch Round Transfer: $20
  • Kemer 2 Dives in Crystal Clear Bays with Lunch and Transfer: $20
  • Kemer Luxury Turkish Bath and Spa Experience With Hotel Transfer: $22
  • Antalya / Kemer : Scuba Diving For Beginners w/ Lunch & Transfer: $23
  • ATV Quad Safari Tour with Off-Road & Transfer from Kemer: $27
  • Kemer Scenic Forest Horse Riding Experience with Hotel Transfer: $28
  • Antalya / Belek / Kemer : Suluada Boat Trip w/ Lunch & Transfer: $28
  • Kemer Scuba Diving Tour Incl. Lunch with Opt. Hotel Transfer: $40
  • Kemer GONSTER Deluxe Pirate Boat Trip | Lunch, Drinks & Transfer: $40
  • Turkish Bath & Spa with Thai Massage & Transfer in Kemer: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Merzouga or Olympos?

Prices for flights to both Olympos and Merzouga 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
    Merzouga $10
    Olympos $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merzouga

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

  • Visit The Nomads, Gnawa Music, Rally In Dunes, Berber Pizza: $3.41
  • Authentic Merzouga Desert Camp with Camel Ride, 4x4 & Dinner: $45
  • Exclusive Merzouga Desert Safari: Camel Ride, Sandsurf & Dinner: $50
  • Desert excursion with camel trek into the camp Dinner breakfast: $50
  • Private trip 4x4 in Merzouga Lunch with Berber Pizza: $57
  • Cooking class in Merzouga Make Berber Madfouna in Sand: $57
  • Merzouga Luxury AC/ Heating Camp: Camel Ride, Dinner & breakfast: $62
  • Overnight At Luxury Desert Camp with Camel Ride and Dinner: $68
  • Magical Dinner and Camel Trek with 1 Night In Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: $105
  • Erfoud Desert Tour, Sunset, Dinner, Camel Ride, Visit the Nomads: $148
  • From 2-Nights In Luxury Camp with Camel Trek & Dinner.: $170
  • 2 Nights Private Camp in Merzouga with Dinner and Camel Ride: $200

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: $51
  • Kemer Traditional Turkish Brunch Cooking with Locals: $55
  • Traditional Turkish Cooking Class with a Local Couple in Kemer: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Merzouga -
    Olympos $19

Tours and Activities in Merzouga

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

  • 1 Hour Merzouga Buggy Desert Tour: $114
  • 1 Night Camel Trekking Tour in Merzouga Desert Camp: $3.41
  • 1 hour Quad in the Sahara: Merzouga Off Roading Experience: Nature & Wildlife: $78
  • 2 Hour Merzouga Buggy Adventure in the Sahara Dunes: $199
  • 2 Hour Quad Desert Experience with Sandboarding: $37
  • 2-Days Merzouga tour from Errachidia: $200
  • 2-Hour Quad Desert Tour, Dunes Oasis, Nomads Family & Sandboard: $43
  • 3 Days Marrakech to Sahara Adventure Merzouga Dunes & Camel Trek: $112
  • 3 Days Merzouga Tours From Marrakech & back Group & Private: $159
  • 3-Day Best Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: $284
  • 4×4 Jeep Tour in Merzouga: $34
  • 4x4 tours in Merzouga: $45

Tours and Activities in Olympos

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Olympos.

  • Kemer Traditional Turkish Bath Experience: $17
  • Full Day Rafting Experience From Kemer: $20
  • White Water Rafting Tour from Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Side, Alanya: $20
  • Sea, Sun, and Flavor: Adrasan Boat Tour + Free Lunch Included!: $23
  • Kemer Pirate Boat Tour with Lunch & Free Soft Drinks: $27
  • Kemer River Rafting Tour with Lunch and Hotel Pickup: $27
  • Traditional Turkish Bath (Hamam) Experience in Kemer: $28
  • Antalya FullDay Suluada Island Boat Tour: $28
  • Suluada Boat Tour from Kemer – The Maldives of Turkey: $30
  • Olympos Teleferik Cable Car Antalya Ticket: $36
  • Quad Off Road Safari Tour Kemer: $37
  • Antalya All-Inclusive City Tour from Kemer:Boat Trip & Waterfalls: $38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Merzouga -
    Olympos $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merzouga and Olympos, we can see that Olympos is more expensive. And not only is Merzouga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merzouga is in Africa 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 Merzouga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merzouga 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 Merzouga.

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