A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mount Kailash vs. Ubud for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Kailash or Ubud?

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

Should I visit Mount Kailash or Ubud? 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 Ubud?

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.

Ubud

Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.

Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.

Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.

Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Ubud 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $95, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $143. 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 Ubud in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Kailash $29
    Ubud $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Kailash $58
    Ubud $240
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Ubud

Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Ubud? 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 Ubud


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: Ubud Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Kailash $33
    Ubud $1.64

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:

  • 1-Day Private Bali Car Transfer With Experienced Driver: $17
  • 2 hours Bali Lulur Massage & Spa Treatment Including Hotel Transfers: $58
  • 4 Hours Pure Romance & Healing Spa Journey - Free Transfer: $115
  • A1 Airport Transfer Service - Ubud/Tanah Lot/Uluwatu/Ungasan Area: $24
  • A1 Airport Transfer Service Kuta/Seminyak Area: $14
  • A1 Airport Transfer Service Nusadua/Sanur/Canggu Area: $19
  • ATV Quad Bike & Ayung River Rafting - Free Transfer: $85
  • Airport Bali Transfers - Bali Airport Taxi: $15
  • Airport Transfer: $40
  • Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
  • Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Tanjung Benoa Area: $9.00
  • Airport Transfer to Nusa Dua: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Ubud?

Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $45
    Ubud $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud

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

  • Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $14
  • Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
  • From Ubud : Ubud Balinese cooking class with Market tour: $20
  • Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
  • Dance Show + Dinner at Lost City - Story of Humanity: $26
  • 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
  • Private Traditional Bali Cooking Class in Sidemen: $28
  • Uluwatu, Kecak Fire Dance & Jimbaran Bay Seafood Dinner: $30
  • Authentic Balinese Cooking Class: $30
  • From Authentic Bali Farm Cooking School & Organic Farm: $30
  • Bali Amazing Cooking Class: $30
  • Be a real Balinese with Traditional Balinese Cooking Class: $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Kailash $17
    Ubud $9.21

Tours and Activities in Ubud

Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Wheel Bali Ticket: $5.38
  • Free Private Bali Tour with Driver: Top Spots for Insta & TikTok: $6.88
  • Mangrove Tour at Nusa Lembongan : Kayak, Paddle and Boat: $8.00
  • One Way Ticket Fast Boat from Sanur Bali and Nusa Penida: $8.34
  • Bali Private Car Charter Tour with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
  • Full-Day Private North Bali Tour with Free WiFi: $9.32
  • Ubud Sunrise: Campuhan Ridge Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
  • Seminyak: Hidden Gems, Beach & Temple Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
  • Sea to Summit Trekking Adventure on Mount Agung: $10
  • 1 Hour Mangrove Tour From Lembongan with Kayak, Paddle, or Boat: $10
  • Batur Natural Hot Spring Admission Ticket: $11
  • Garuda Wisnu Kencana Ticket with Optional Tour and Barong Show: $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Kailash $2.96
    Ubud $6.19


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Ubud, we can see that Ubud is more expensive. And not only is Mount Kailash much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive?.