A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Abu Dhabi vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Khao Sok National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park?

Abu Dhabi

It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.

Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.

Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Khao Sok National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Sok National Park 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Khao Sok National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

Abu Dhabi can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Abu Dhabi is generally a little warmer than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 35°C (95°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Abu Dhabi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the autumn, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

Abu Dhabi is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Abu Dhabi is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Abu Dhabi in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the spring, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

In April, Abu Dhabi is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Abu Dhabi