A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Ao Nang vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park? 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: Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park?

Ao Nang

If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.

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 Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.

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

When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

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

August to October in Ao Nang is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ao Nang usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 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 Ao Nang this time of the year. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

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

The dry season in Ao Nang is December to March. The rainy season in Ao Nang is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In October, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Ao Nang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ao Nang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Ao Nang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang 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.

December to March is the dry season in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the winter, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

In January, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Ao Nang or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

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

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Ao Nang