A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Samet vs. Dewa Sanzan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan?

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

Should I visit Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Koh Samet during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Dewa Sanzan because of the hiking.

Koh Samet is a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 124 hours of full sun.

Dewa Sanzan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in July than Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Dewa Sanzan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, the hiking trails are the main draw to Dewa Sanzan this time of year.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Dewa Sanzan for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dewa Sanzan. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around -1°C (30°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in January than Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?

Both Dewa Sanzan and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Dewa Sanzan. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Koh Samet