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

Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Khao Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

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 Yai National Park, we can see that Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park Expensive?.

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

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

The rainy season in Kanchanaburi is July to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In July, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Kanchanaburi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park during summer. Kanchanaburi gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Kanchanaburi is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Kanchanaburi during the autumn 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 Yai National Park year-round.

November to May is the dry season in Kanchanaburi. July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi. Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi usually gets more rain in October than Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kanchanaburi. In the autumn, Kanchanaburi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

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

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

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

In January, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park during winter. Kanchanaburi gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Kanchanaburi is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kanchanaburi in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F).

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

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

Also, November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season. It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in April than Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kanchanaburi this time of the year. In the spring, Kanchanaburi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park. Kanchanaburi gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun.

Kanchanaburi can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Kanchanaburi is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 32°C (89°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Kanchanaburi