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

Should you visit Ao Nang or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Khao Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Yai National Park or Ao Nang?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $107, while the average daily cost in Khao Yai National Park is $62. 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 Ao Nang and Khao Yai National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ao Nang $52
    Khao Yai National Park $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ao Nang $104
    Khao Yai National Park $72
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Khao Yai National Park

Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Khao Yai National Park? 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 Ao Nang


Hotels in Khao Yai National Park


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ao Nang $56
    Khao Yai National Park $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang

Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $105
  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
  • Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
  • Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
  • Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
  • Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
  • Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
  • Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
  • Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Khao Yai National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Yai National Park and Ao Nang 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
    Ao Nang $24
    Khao Yai National Park $17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang

For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $39
  • Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $40
  • Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $46
  • Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $50
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $127

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ao Nang $11
    Khao Yai National Park $8.77

Tours and Activities in Ao Nang

For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • ATV adventure 1hour drive: $43
  • ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
  • ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $35
  • ATV adventure and shooting range: $57
  • Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
  • From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $32
  • From Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $46
  • From Private Gondola Cruise with Lunch and Picnic: $59
  • From Krabi: James Bond Island One-Day Tour by Speedboat: $123
  • Half-Day Krabi Four Islands Tour with Amazing long-tail Boat: $88
  • James Bond Island: Sightseeing Tour by Longtail Boat & Kayak: $42
  • Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ao Nang $15
    Khao Yai National Park $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Khao Yai National Park, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Khao Yai National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Khao Yai National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai National Park Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Khao Yai 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 Ao Nang or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

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

The rainy season in Ao Nang is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In July, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during summer. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 28°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ao Nang 28°C (82°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (83°F)

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Ao Nang during the autumn 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 Yai National Park year-round.

December to March is the dry season in Ao Nang. August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang. Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in October than Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Ao Nang often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

In October, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ao Nang 27°C (81°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (82°F)

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

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

December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. In January, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park during winter. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ao Nang 28°C (82°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 26°C (78°F)

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

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

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Ao Nang usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the spring, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 30°C (87°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ao Nang 29°C (84°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 30°C (87°F)

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Ao Nang

Ao Nang Khao Yai National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in) 30°C (86°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 30°C (87°F) 128 mm (5.1 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in) 30°C (85°F) 225 mm (8.8 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in) 29°C (84°F) 277 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 315 mm (12.4 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 385 mm (15.1 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 360 mm (14.2 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in) 28°C (82°F) 173 mm (6.8 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 26°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)


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