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

Should you visit Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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: Fraser Island or Khao Sok National Park?

Fraser Island

Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.

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 Budget Tours to Australia, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok.

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

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

Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Fraser Island are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Fraser Island 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 the summer, Fraser Island is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Fraser Island in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Fraser Island. In January, Fraser Island usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Fraser Island gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Fraser Island during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Fraser Island for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In April, Fraser Island is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Daily temperatures in Fraser Island average around 22°C (72°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Fraser Island usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Fraser Island gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Fraser Island and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Fraser Island in the winter for the cuisine. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Fraser Island is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Fraser Island averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in January.

In July, Fraser Island usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Fraser Island gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Fraser Island as well as Khao Sok National Park. Most visitors come to Fraser Island for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

In the spring, Fraser Island is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Fraser Island in October average around 21°C (71°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Fraser Island usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Parkin April. Fraser Island gets 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Fraser Island