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

Should you visit Eilat or Khao Sok National Park?

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

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

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, 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 Eilat and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

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

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

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

The summer brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Khao Sok National Park. Eilat 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. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 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 Eilat this time of the year. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's very hot in Eilat this time of the year. Eilat is a little warmer than Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat 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. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Eilat is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Eilat in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

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

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

Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 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 Eilat. In the winter, Eilat often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

In January, Eilat is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 14°C (57°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat 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 spring. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Eilat is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Eilat