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

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Pyeongchang?

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 Pyeongchang. 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 Pyeongchang?

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.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

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

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

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 Pyeongchang Expensive?.

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

Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Koh Tarutao is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Tarutao in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In July, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?

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

In October, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

Pyeongchang 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 October than Pyeongchang. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year. November to April is the dry season in Koh Tarutao. May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Pyeongchang in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Pyeongchang in the winter. Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

In January, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Pyeongchang in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Tarutao in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in April than Pyeongchang. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. May and October in Koh Tarutao is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Koh Tarutao