Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Mount Kailash?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mount Kailash or Halong Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Halong Bay? 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: Mount Kailash or Halong Bay?
Mount Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi.
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Mount Kailash Prices
China PricesHalong Bay Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $95Halong Bay $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $95, while the average daily cost in Halong Bay is $66. 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 Mount Kailash and Halong Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $29Halong Bay $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $58Halong Bay $54
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Halong Bay
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Halong Bay? 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $33Halong Bay $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- 2 Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer: $199
- Alova Premium Cruise to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip by Highway Transfer: $50
- Arcady Premium Cruise Halong Bay Day Tour with Optional Transfer: $60
- Best Seller Halong Full Day Tour All Included Expressway Transfer: $48
- Bus Transfer From Cat Ba Island To Ninh Binh/Ninh binh To Cat Ba: $19
- Classic 2D1N Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi with Bus Transfer: $218
- Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi: $195
- Hai Phong airport transfer to Halong Bay with private car 4 seat from Hai Phong: $87
- Hai Phong airport transfer to Halong Bay with private car 7 seat from Hai Phong: $100
- Halong Bay 06 Hours Dragon King Cruise From Halong with Transfer: $60
- Halong Bay 2D1N 5-Star Cruise–Transfer, Food & Island Adventures: $239
- Halong Bay Full Day Cruise from Hanoi by Transfer Expressway: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Halong Bay?
Prices for flights to both Halong Bay and Mount Kailash 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
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Food Meals for one dayMount Kailash $45Halong Bay $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Sunset and Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour in Lan Ha Bay with Dinner: $37
- Catherine Horizon - Top Luxury - The Best Day & Dinner Cruise: $70
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $79
- Cooking class on floating village: $100
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $17Halong Bay $16
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- LiLy Cruise - Luxury 5 Star Overnight Cruise - 2D1N & 3D2N: $10
- Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay - Viet Hai Village - Kayaking Tours: $13
- Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour - best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, hiking & Lunch: $23
- Đón ở Cát Bà - Tour 3 tiếng ngắm Hoàng Hôn: $23
- Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Lunch, Cave & Kayaking: $25
- Lan Ha Bay Sunset Tour with Scenic Cruise from Cat Ba Island: $26
- Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise: Cave Exploration - Swim and Kayak: $27
- Most favorite full day boat tour with kayaking in Lan Ha bay, Ha Long bay: $27
- From Cat Ba Island: Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore Lan Ha Bay: $27
- Magical Sunset Tour: Kayaking & Swimming in Lan Ha Bay: $27
- Amazing Lan Ha Bay Sunset Boat Tour from Cat Ba Island: $28
- From Cat Ba Island: Amazing Sunset Tour in Lan Ha Bay, Kayaking: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.96Halong Bay $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Halong Bay, we can see that Mount Kailash is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Mount Kailash would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mount Kailash than you might in Halong Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Halong Bay Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.