We want everyone who is truly interested in staying with us to be able to do so, even if their contribution is not monetary. You can contribute your labor, your photo taking skills, or even just your respect and dedication to help pay for your stay. One of the best ways to do a cheaper stay is to combine it with the inexpensive nomad homestay to win a 15% discount on lodge stays.
Option 1: Stay in the dorm and volunteer. If you work 8.5 hours a day, your stay is free. But you are free to pay on a sliding scale and work as much as you like (at least 2 hours a day).
Option 2: One night in the dorm/one night nomad homestay (with self-guided hike). This way you get a 15% discount on the lodge stay. Total cost: $55x.85+$22=$68.75 or CNY 380x.85+160=CNY483.
You are welcome to also volunteer for further dorm discount.
Option 3: Two nights in the dorm/one night nomad homestay (so you can include discounted activities, like horse riding): ($55+$55)x.85+$22+$75(activity package)=$190.5 or (380+380)x.85+160+500=CNY1283. You will have 3 nights and days of all meals included, plus 2 full days of riding if you like (or other activites like workshops or guided temple tours). You can also do volunteering to further cut the cost.
Option 4: If you are two people and prefer to stay in a private room, option 3 above would be ($185+185)x.85+$22×2+$75×2=$508.5 or $254.25 per person for three days with nomad homestay, horse riding, lodge stay, and a full day tour if you like. Any room is fine. In CNY this would be 1280x2x.85+160×2+500×2=CNY 3496 total or CNY 1748 per person.
For cheaper trek options, look here.