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

Should you visit Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi or Khao Sok National Park?

Kanchanaburi

If the hustle and bustle of the big city of Bangkok is just getting to you, there's an easy escape. Kanchanaburi, Thailand is a city located at the meeting of Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, and is ideal for backpackers looking to reflect and relax. With easily accessible waterfalls and national parks, you'll wonder why anyone ever leaves.

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 Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Kanchanaburi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kanchanaburi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi.

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

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

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

July to October in Kanchanaburi is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 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. In the summer, Kanchanaburi often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Kanchanaburi is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kanchanaburi in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

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

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

The dry season in Kanchanaburi is November to May. The rainy season in Kanchanaburi is July to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Kanchanaburi. In October, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 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 Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Kanchanaburi gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kanchanaburi is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

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

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

Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 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 Kanchanaburi. In the winter, Kanchanaburi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Kanchanaburi is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

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

November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season. Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 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 Kanchanaburi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kanchanaburi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during spring. Kanchanaburi gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

The heat can be very extreme in Kanchanaburi. In the spring, Kanchanaburi is a little warmer than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kanchanaburi in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Kanchanaburi