A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aoraki Mount Cook vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aoraki Mount Cook or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Aoraki Mount Cook and Khao Sok National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Aoraki Mount Cook or Khao Sok National Park?

Aoraki Mount Cook

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It was declared a national park in 1953 to protect and preserve the landscape. The park is home to the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. In Maori, Aoraki means, "cloud piercer", and the English name, Mt Cook, refers to the navigator James Cook, who discovered New Zealand in the 18th century. Mt Cook was the training location for Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to summit Everest in 1953. Other peaks in the park include Mount Tasman, Mount Sefton, and Mount Hicks. Not only can you find lush greenery all over the park, but also, glaciers cover 40% of the parks area.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Aoraki Mount Cook?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Aoraki Mount Cook is $112, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $99. 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 Aoraki Mount Cook and Khao Sok National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aoraki Mount Cook $63
    Khao Sok National Park $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aoraki Mount Cook $126
    Khao Sok National Park $50
Compare Hotels in Aoraki Mount Cook and Khao Sok National Park

Looking for a hotel in Aoraki Mount Cook or Khao Sok 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 Aoraki Mount Cook


Hotels in Khao Sok 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.
    Aoraki Mount Cook $29
    Khao Sok National Park $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Aoraki Mount Cook or Khao Sok National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park and Aoraki Mount Cook 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
    Aoraki Mount Cook $28
    Khao Sok National Park $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aoraki Mount Cook $25
    Khao Sok National Park $32

Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.

  • Half-Day Self-Guided Ride and Wine Bike Tour from Arrowtown: $62
  • Queenstown Highlights Tour: $93
  • Mt Cook to Queenstown Small Group Tour (One-Way): $109
  • From Christchurch: Mount Cook One-Way Discovery Tour: $123
  • Mt Cook to Christchurch One-Way Small Group Tour via Lake Tekapo: $124
  • Mt Cook to Lake Tekapo One-Way Small Group Tour: $124
  • Mt Cook Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Optional Activities : $156
  • Mt Cook & Hooker Valley Hike Small Group Tour from Queenstown: $156
  • Mount Cook to Queenstown Day Tour: $169
  • Day Tours from Mount Cook: $171
  • (MT) Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch: $216
  • Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Christchurch, Queenstown or Dunedin: $923

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aoraki Mount Cook $22
    Khao Sok National Park $6.40

Sample the Local Flavors in Aoraki Mount Cook

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Aoraki Mount Cook:

  • Kinross Winery: Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Experience: $28
  • Kinross Winery: Valli Wine Tasting Experience: $28
  • Kinross Winery: Wild Irishman Wine Tasting Experience: $47


When comparing the travel costs between Aoraki Mount Cook and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Aoraki Mount Cook is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Aoraki Mount Cook is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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