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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Nikko?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Nikko, 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 Nikko?

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?

Nikko

Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and 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 10-Day Tours in Japan, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan.

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

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 Nikko Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Nikko?

Nikko 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 Nikko in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Nikko. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Nikko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In the summer, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 136 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nikko. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Nikko. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nikko in the Autumn?

Both Nikko and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Nikko in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Nikko in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Nikko fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nikko during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nikko. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Nikko. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nikko in the Winter?

Both Nikko and Koh Samet during the winter 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, most visitors come to Nikko for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Nikko can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Koh Samet is much warmer than Nikko. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Nikko averages at about 3°C (37°F).

In Nikko, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Nikko. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nikko receives 212 hours of full sun.

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Nikko. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nikko in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Nikko. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Nikko because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Nikko. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Nikko fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Nikko during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Nikko receives 191 hours of full sun in the spring.

Nikko receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Nikko. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Nikko receives 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nikko and Koh Samet