Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Koh Tarutao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang?
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 Luang Prabang. 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 Luang Prabang?
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.
Luang Prabang
Southeast Asia is a region full of mystical wonders and cultural charm, but nowhere is as charming as the city of Luang Prabang. As the former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was reopened to tourism in 1989. With that move the city experienced an upswing in revenue and was able to restore and rebuild the beautiful colonial mansions to serve as guesthouses and hotels for the new swarm of tourists.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, and The Best Adventure Tours to Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Tarutao $98Luang Prabang $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tarutao is $98, while the average daily cost in Luang Prabang is $14. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koh Tarutao and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Tarutao $50Luang Prabang $5.72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Tarutao $100Luang Prabang $11
Compare Hotels in Koh Tarutao and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Tarutao $34Luang Prabang $2.11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$2.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tortola island to Tortola Cruise Port: $81
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Koh Tarutao change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKoh Tarutao $28Luang Prabang $5.47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang
For Luang Prabang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $50
- Luang Prabang Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $51
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Laos Cooking Class in Luang Prabang: $55
- Cooking Class: $55
- Luang Prabang Evening food tour by Tuktuk: $56
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $57
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk : $58
- Full Day bamboo experience with cooking class & Kuang si waterfalls: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Tarutao $14Luang Prabang $2.72
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- 1 DAY Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves. Kuang Si Waterfalls . Local Villages: $48
- Bike to Kuangsi Waterfall and Cruise the Mekong River Back - Luang Prabang 1 day: $170
- Biking & Kayaking through Nam Khan River Valley - Luang Prabang full day tour: $73
- Dine and Cruise on Mekong River: $66
- Elephant keeper experience option waterfall day tour: $115
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
- Full Day Kuang Si Warerfalls & Rice Farming Experience in Living Land: $95
- Full Day Private Tour in Luang Prabang: $164
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- Full-Day Luang Prabang Highlights Tour Including Kuangsi Waterfall: $85
- Full-Day Private Guided Pak Ou Caves & Ethnic Village Tour: $159
- Full-Day Private Tour in Luang Prabang with Vintage Jeep: $170
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Tarutao $7.01Luang Prabang $1.82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tarutao and Luang Prabang, we can see that Koh Tarutao is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Luang Prabang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luang Prabang 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 Luang Prabang.
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 Luang Prabang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Luang Prabang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Luang Prabang. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Luang Prabang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Tarutao in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Luang Prabang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Luang Prabang. Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year.
Also, November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. May and October in Koh Tarutao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in October than Luang Prabang. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 126 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Luang Prabang. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Luang Prabang 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang in the Winter?
Both Luang Prabang and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Luang Prabang. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Koh Tarutao is a little warmer than Luang Prabang in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Tarutao 27°C (80°F)Luang Prabang 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Luang Prabang in the Spring?
Both Luang Prabang and Koh Tarutao during the spring 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 Luang Prabang year-round.
November to April is the dry season in Koh Tarutao. May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao. Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tarutao. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in April than Luang Prabang. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Luang Prabang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Tarutao in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Luang Prabang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Tarutao 29°C (85°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Luang Prabang and Koh Tarutao
| Koh Tarutao | Luang Prabang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.