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

Should you visit Canberra or Khao Sok National Park?

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

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

Canberra

There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."

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 Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Canberra?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Canberra is $133, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $88. 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 Canberra and Khao Sok National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Canberra $82
    Khao Sok National Park $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Canberra $164
    Khao Sok National Park $44
Compare Hotels in Canberra and Khao Sok National Park

Looking for a hotel in Canberra 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 Canberra


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Canberra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Canberra $24
    Khao Sok National Park $64

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra

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

  • Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $34
  • Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
  • Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
  • Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $82
  • Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $82
  • Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $117

Is it cheaper to fly into Canberra or Khao Sok National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park and Canberra 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
    Canberra $34
    Khao Sok National Park $26
Typical Food Prices in Canberra

For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Canberra $17
    Khao Sok National Park $28

Tours and Activities in Canberra

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

  • Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $13
  • Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $13
  • First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $13
  • Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $14
  • Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $30
  • LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour: $33
  • Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $39
  • Women's History Walking Tour with Local Guide: $40
  • Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $40
  • Best of Wildlife Tour: $88
  • Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $98
  • Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tasting Tour: $111

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Canberra $16
    Khao Sok National Park $5.65
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:


  • Drinks at a Bar
    $9.08

Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra

Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $98
  • Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour: $112
  • Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $121
  • CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $123
  • From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $147
  • Canberra Wine Tour: $158
  • Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $162


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



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

Canberra has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Sok National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

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

The summer brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Khao Sok National Park. The summer months attract visitors to Canberra because of the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

In the summer, Canberra is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Canberra in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Canberra usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Canberra 20°C (68°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 28°C (82°F)

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Canberra this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Canberra is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 17°C (63°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Canberra. In April, Canberra usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Canberra 17°C (63°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 27°C (81°F)

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Canberra during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Canberra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Canberra is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 11°C (52°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in January.

Canberra usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Khao Sok National Parkin January. Canberra gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Canberra 11°C (52°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 27°C (80°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Canberra in the spring for the activities around the city. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Canberra is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Canberra in October average around 15°C (60°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F)in April.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Canberra usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Canberra 15°C (60°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 29°C (83°F)

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Canberra

Canberra Khao Sok National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (68°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 27°C (80°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Mar 19°C (67°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 345 mm (13.6 in)
Jun 12°C (54°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 286 mm (11.3 in)
Jul 11°C (52°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 284 mm (11.2 in)
Aug 12°C (53°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 272 mm (10.7 in)
Sep 14°C (56°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 417 mm (16.4 in)
Oct 15°C (60°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 351 mm (13.8 in)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 188 mm (7.4 in)
Dec 19°C (66°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)


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