A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Tarutao vs. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

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.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.

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

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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in July than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Autumn?

Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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.

In the autumn, Koh Tarutao is a little warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Tarutao in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages at about 19°C (65°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 74 mm (2.9 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Winter?

Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (80°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in January than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round.

Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 170 mm (6.7 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Koh Tarutao