Which place is cheaper, Picton or Mount Kailash?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mount Kailash or Picton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Picton? 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 Picton?
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.
Picton
Picton, New Zealand is located in the picturesque Marlborough Region on the South Island. With beachfront access in a central location and near the Marlborough Sounds, Picton is an ideal place for anyone looking for both adventure and relaxation in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.
The weather in Picton is fairly mild, ranging from the low fifties to high sixties, Fahrenheit, throughout the year. Their summer months are December through March, this is when you'll find temperatures in the high sixties. During the winter, June through August, Picton experiences averages of fifty degree Fahrenheit. This means you can visit any time of the year without having to worry about weather inhibiting any of your outdoor activities!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $71Picton $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $71, while the average daily cost in Picton is $87. 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 Picton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $27Picton $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $54Picton $74
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Picton
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Picton? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Picton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $31Picton -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Picton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Picton:
- Private Transfer from Blenheim Airport (BHE) to Picton Port: $46
- Private Transfer from Blenheim city hotels to Picton Cruise Port: $38
- Private Transfer from Picton Cruise Port to Blenheim City Hotels: $38
- Private Transfer from Picton Port to Blenheim Airport (BHE): $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Picton?
Prices for flights to both Picton 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 $24Picton $20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $15Picton $109
Tours and Activities in Picton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Picton are as follows:
- Skip the Line: Dangerous Skies WWII Exhibition - Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre: $15
- Picton Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Hinterland Cycling Tour, Havelock: $25
- Skip the Line:WWI & WWII Combo Exhibitions at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre: $30
- Winery Express Tour: $40
- Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton: $52
- Kayaking Mangrove Adventure at Havelock: $56
- Marlborough Sounds and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton: $57
- Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton: $58
- Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton: $58
- Cruise Ship Day - Marlborough: $61
- Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise from Picton: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.76Picton $35
Sample the Local Flavors in Picton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Picton:
- Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour (full day) in the Marlborough Region.: $37
- Self-Guided Wine Tours by Bike with Steve & Jo in Marlborough : $40
- Marlborough: Hop On Hop Off Wine, Brewery, and Wonders Tour: $53
- Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough: $54
- Marlborough Afternoon Wine Tour with Tastings: $70
- Half-Day Wine Tour from Picton: $88
- Half-Day Wine Tour from Blenheim: $88
- Discover Marlborough Wine - Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour : $91
- Morning Guided with Afternoon Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour: $91
- Marlborough Discovery Sampler Wine Tour - 1/2Day Blenheim: $97
- Taste the Valley Wine Tour in Marlborough with Wine Tasting: $100
- Half-Day Marlborough Wine Tour & Beer Tour : $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Picton, we can see that Picton is more expensive. And not only is Mount Kailash much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mount Kailash is in Asia and Picton is in Pacific, 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 Mount Kailash would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Kailash 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 Picton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Picton than you might in Mount Kailash.
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 Picton 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.