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

Should you visit Ayutthaya or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Ayutthaya 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: Ayutthaya or Khao Sok National Park?

Ayutthaya

Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.

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 Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Nightlife Tours in Thailand, and The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Ayutthaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ayutthaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ayutthaya 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 Khao Sok National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Sok National Park than you might in Ayutthaya.

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

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Ayutthaya are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ayutthaya 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. It's quite rainy in Ayutthaya. In July, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya gets 120 mm (4.7 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. Ayutthaya usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Ayutthaya gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Ayutthaya is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Ayutthaya during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ayutthaya 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.

October to April is the dry season in Ayutthaya. May to October is the rainy season in Ayutthaya. Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya gets 180 mm (7.1 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 Ayutthaya. In the autumn, Ayutthaya often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

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

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

In January, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya gets 7 mm (0.3 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 Ayutthaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ayutthaya usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during winter. Ayutthaya gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Ayutthaya is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ayutthaya in January average around 25°C (78°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

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

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

Also, October to April in Ayutthaya is the dry season. May to October in Ayutthaya is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya gets 71 mm (2.8 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 Ayutthaya this time of the year. In the spring, Ayutthaya often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Ayutthaya gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Ayutthaya is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 31°C (88°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Ayutthaya