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

Should you visit Aqaba or Khao Sok National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Khao Sok National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Aqaba or Khao Sok National Park?

Aqaba

Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.

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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, 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 Aqaba and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba 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 Aqaba Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Aqaba 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 Aqaba or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aqaba and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Aqaba 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 summer. In July, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Aqaba, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Aqaba gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

The heat can be very extreme in Aqaba. In the summer, Aqaba is a little warmer than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Aqaba in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba 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. Aqaba usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aqaba this time of the year. In the autumn, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

In October, Aqaba is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 26°C (79°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

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

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

In January, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aqaba. Aqaba usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Aqaba gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

Aqaba is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Aqaba during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Aqaba 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. Aqaba usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 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 Aqaba. In the spring, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Aqaba gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Aqaba is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Aqaba in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Aqaba