A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lanta vs. Sado for Couples, Food, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Koh Lanta or Sado?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Sado can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is a quiet, beautiful, and off-the-beaten-path island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and food.

Koh Lanta and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Koh Lanta. Although Koh Lanta and Sado are popular destinations, Koh Lanta has more sights and attractions for tourists. Koh Lanta is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Sado attracts visitors for its museums and shopping. Koh Lanta is famous for it's long and sandy beaches, its idyllic paradise atmosphere, and its beautiful national park. It is also well known for Long Beach. Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Koh Lanta different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sado and Koh Lanta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Sado is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Koh Lanta is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sado. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Koh Lanta. Nature and tranquil beauty are what this island is all about, so you won't find much in the form of museums or temples.

Is the Food Better in Koh Lanta or Sado? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Koh Lanta and Sado both to be excellent destinations.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Koh Lanta. There are local markets that pop up in different places each day of the week. You may even get to sample deep-fried cicadas or dried fish. If you're looking for a more mainstream flavor, there are also curries and seafood dishes that are often locally caught.

Sado has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Koh Lanta is a popular place for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Koh Lanta. This is one of the most chill islands in Thailand, so you won't find the hardcore party scene of some of the more backpacker heavy islands. That doesn't mean you won't find live music or places to hang out any night of the week.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Resorts?

Koh Lanta is notable for its resorts. However, Sado is not a resort destination.

Koh Lanta is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Most of the hotels and resorts are small, family-owned businesses that have a local and welcoming atmosphere.

Sado is not a resort destination.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Lanta is notable for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Sado is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Koh Lanta. There are snorkeling and diving trips that leave from the island daily. It's also possible to snorkel off some of the beaches around the island without organizing a group trip.

Sado is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Beaches?

Koh Lanta is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Sado is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Koh Lanta. For a quiet and tranquil beach holiday, this is your spot. You can enjoy long walks along sandy beaches on the north side of the island, and on the south side you'll find dramatic beauty. The most well known beach is Long Beach, which is also the longest on the island.

Sado is not a beach destination.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Hiking?

Both Koh Lanta and Sado are destinations which offer excellent hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Koh Lanta. You'll find hiking trails in Koh Lanta National Park, which is at the southern tip of the island. You'll wander through the jungle, see wildlife, and take in breathtaking views.

Many visitors go to Sado for the hiking trails. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Is the Shopping Better in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Sado is a island with a few options for its shopping opportunities. However, Koh Lanta is a island with minimal options for its shopping areas.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Shopping in Koh Lanta can be found for those interested. The island doesn't have the huge tourist crowds of many places in Thailand, so you'll find few shops in the towns. If you need to buy clothes or other items, it's better to go to the mainland.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Families?

Koh Lanta is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Koh Lanta is a very family-friendly place to visit. This is among the best island's in Thailand for kids. The waters are calm and the nightlife scene is relaxed. There are hotels that have kiddy pools and some even have kid's clubs. There are also kid-friendly menus at many of the restaurants.

Sado is a family-friendly island. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Couples?

Koh Lanta is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its romantic activities.

Koh Lanta makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The laid back vibe offers a bit of romance for couples. The beaches are beautiful and the island isn't as built up as many islands are in Thailand. And while you'll find places to go in the evening near the backpacker areas, most of the island has a chill and relaxed atmosphere.

Sado makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Lanta and Sado are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Koh Lanta is a good island to visit for backpackers. You'll find backpackers on almost every island in Thailand, but this one is a bit more chill than most. It's not as touristy as most of the country's southern islands, but there are still enough amenities to make it comfortable.

Plenty of backpackers visit Sado. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither Koh Lanta or Sado offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Koh Lanta. There really isn't any public transit on the island. Most visitors hire taxis or rent motorbikes to get around.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Koh Lanta or Sado a more walkable city?

Neither Koh Lanta or Sado are walkable places.

Koh Lanta is not a walkable island. While there are some parts of the island that can be explored on foot, most people get around by motorbike.

Sado is not a very walkable island. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

For even more information, also check out Is Koh Lanta Worth Visiting? and Is Sado Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sado or Koh Lanta?

How long in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Koh Lanta and Sado. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Koh Lanta than in Sado. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Koh Lanta, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sado.

Families should spend more time in Koh Lanta than Sado. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Koh Lanta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Koh Lanta than Sado. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Koh Lanta that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Koh Lanta than Sado if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Koh Lanta.

One day in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife when visiting the destination of Koh Lanta. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and museums around the island of Sado. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Koh Lanta is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and food around the cultural destination of Sado. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Koh Lanta or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the off-the-beaten-path destination of Koh Lanta. This island offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the traditional island of Sado. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Koh Lanta or Sado?

The off-the-beaten-path island of Koh Lanta offers scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Sado is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Sado, we can see that Sado is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lanta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lanta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lanta 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 Sado would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sado than you might in Koh Lanta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lanta Expensive? and Is Sado Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Lanta or Sado?

Sado has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lanta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Sado in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lanta and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lanta year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sado in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Koh Lanta is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 27°C (81°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Koh Lanta, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Lanta usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during summer. Koh Lanta gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun in the summer.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lanta usually receives more rain than Sado. Koh Lanta gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Sado in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Lanta as well as Sado. Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Sado for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

Koh Lanta is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Koh Lanta often gets more sunshine than Sado. Koh Lanta gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Koh Lanta receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in October than Sado. Koh Lanta gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Sado in the Winter?

Both Sado and Koh Lanta are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Sado because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Sado can be very cold. In the winter, Koh Lanta is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lanta in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually receives more sunshine than Sado during winter. Koh Lanta gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In January, Koh Lanta usually receives less rain than Sado. Koh Lanta gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Lanta is January to April.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Sado in the Spring?

Both Sado and Koh Lanta during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Koh Lanta is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 29°C (85°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Lanta. In the spring, Koh Lanta often gets more sunshine than Sado. Koh Lanta gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in April than Sado. Koh Lanta gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year. January to April is the dry season in Koh Lanta. June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta.

Typical Weather for Sado and Koh Lanta