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

Should you visit Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Pha Ngan and Khao Sok National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok National Park?

Koh Pha Ngan

Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.

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 Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok 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 Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Pha Ngan and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan 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 summer. Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Pha Ngan usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Koh Pha Ngan gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In July, Koh Pha Ngan is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Koh Pha Ngan average around 24°C (76°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

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

Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Pha Ngan usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Koh Pha Ngan gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Koh Pha Ngan is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Pha Ngan averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Koh Pha Ngan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. In January, Koh Pha Ngan usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Koh Pha Ngan gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In the winter, Koh Pha Ngan is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Pha Ngan in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Koh Pha Ngan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan 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.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Pha Ngan usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Koh Pha Ngan gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In April, Koh Pha Ngan is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Koh Pha Ngan average around 24°C (76°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Koh Pha Ngan