A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tanah Rata vs. Longsheng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng?

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

Should I visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng? 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: Tanah Rata or Longsheng?

Tanah Rata

Tanah Rata is one of the main tourist towns in the Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands are in western Malaysia and are a popular retreat for Malaysian residents and international travelers alike. The area's higher elevation offers an often much needed break from the country's oppressive heat. It also has a beautiful setting that is rich in agriculture and has rolling hills that are beautifully covered in tea plantations. Tanah Rata has many of the area's tourist amenities. ATMS, banks, and the area's main hospital are all found in town. For some, the area feels too touristy, but if you linger longer, and explore on your own, you can easily escape the mass tourism and see the area for what it is.

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Longsheng or Tanah Rata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Longsheng is $78. 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 Tanah Rata and Longsheng in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tanah Rata $67
    Longsheng $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tanah Rata $134
    Longsheng $40
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Longsheng

Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Longsheng? 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 Tanah Rata


Hotels in Longsheng


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: Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tanah Rata $29
    Longsheng $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:

  • Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
  • Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
  • Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $118
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
  • CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
  • Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Longsheng?

Prices for flights to both Longsheng and Tanah Rata 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
    Tanah Rata $44
    Longsheng $35
Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:


  • Dinner for Two
    $5.66
  • Dessert
    $0.63
  • Lunch
    $3.98
  • Afternoon tea
    $3.88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tanah Rata $34
    Longsheng $8.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tanah Rata

Here are a few typical costs in Tanah Rata for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Tea Factory Visit
    $5.66
  • Tour of Orang Asli Village
    $21

Tours and Activities in Tanah Rata

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

  • Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $33
  • Cameron Highlands City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
  • Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $109
  • Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
  • Cameron Highlands: Agro Delight Tour: $61
  • Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tanah Rata $19
    Longsheng $7.89


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tanah Rata and Longsheng, we can see that Tanah Rata is more expensive. And not only is Longsheng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Longsheng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Longsheng 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 Tanah Rata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tanah Rata than you might in Longsheng.

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



When is the best time to visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng?

Longsheng has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tanah Rata experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng in the Summer?

Both Longsheng and Tanah Rata during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Tanah Rata is generally around the same temperature as Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

Longsheng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in July than Longsheng. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F) 
    Longsheng 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Longsheng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata year-round.

Tanah Rata is a little warmer than Longsheng in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Longsheng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Longsheng. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F) 
    Longsheng 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tanah Rata as well as Longsheng. Tanah Rata attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Tanah Rata is much warmer than Longsheng. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tanah Rata in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Longsheng averages at about 10°C (49°F).

Tanah Rata receives a lot of rain in the winter. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Longsheng. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F) 
    Longsheng 10°C (49°F)

Should I visit Tanah Rata or Longsheng in the Spring?

Both Longsheng and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata throughout the year.

In April, Tanah Rata is generally a little warmer than Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 28°C (82°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. It's quite rainy in Tanah Rata. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives less rain than Longsheng. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F) 
    Longsheng 20°C (68°F)

Typical Weather for Longsheng and Tanah Rata

Tanah Rata Longsheng
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 126 mm (5 in) 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 173 mm (6.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 237 mm (9.3 in) 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 270 mm (10.6 in) 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)