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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Mount Kailash?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Mount Kailash, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Mount Kailash?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Mount Kailash or Koh Samet?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Koh Samet Prices
    Thailand Prices
    Mount Kailash Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Koh Samet $133
    Mount Kailash $90

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Mount Kailash is $90. 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 Koh Samet and Mount Kailash in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $37
    Mount Kailash $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $74
    Mount Kailash $54
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Mount Kailash

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Mount Kailash? 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 Koh Samet


Hotels in Mount Kailash


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: Koh Samet Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Samet $79
    Mount Kailash $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Mount Kailash?

Prices for flights to both Mount Kailash and Koh Samet 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
    Koh Samet $54
    Mount Kailash $43

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Samet $10
    Mount Kailash $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $5.38
    Mount Kailash $2.80


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Mount Kailash, we can see that Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet Expensive? and Is Mount Kailash Expensive?.


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