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

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Benxi?

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 Koh Tarutao and Benxi. 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: Koh Tarutao or Benxi?

Koh Tarutao

While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When comparing the travel costs between Koh Tarutao and Benxi, we can see that Koh Tarutao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Benxi?

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

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Benxi in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Benxi. Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Benxi. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite rainy in Benxi. Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in July than Benxi. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao throughout the year.

Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Benxi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Tarutao is November to April. The rainy season in Koh Tarutao is May and October.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Benxi in the Winter?

Both Benxi and Koh Tarutao during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tarutao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Benxi. In the winter, Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Tarutao in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Benxi averages at about -10°C (14°F).

Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round.

In April, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 29°C (85°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. Also, May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Koh Tarutao