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

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Khao Sok National Park?

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 Khao Sok National Park. 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 Khao Sok National Park?

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.

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 comparing the travel costs between Koh Tarutao and Khao Sok National Park, 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 Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Khao Sok National Park?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

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

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Khao Sok National Park. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park 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. 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 Tarutao is November to April. The rainy season in Koh Tarutao is May and October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In the autumn, Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Tarutao in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In January, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (80°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. Also, May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao. Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Koh Tarutao