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

Should you visit Mount Kailash or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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

Should I visit Mount Kailash 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: Mount Kailash or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Mount Kailash?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash and Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Kailash $28
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Kailash $56
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash


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.
    Mount Kailash $32
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mount Kailash $25
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Kailash $16
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Kailash $2.84
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.54


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Mount Kailash 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 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge.

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 Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.


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