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

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Wuyuan?

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 Wuyuan. 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 Wuyuan?

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.

Wuyuan

Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!

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 Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tarutao and Wuyuan, we can see that Koh Tarutao is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan.

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 Wuyuan Expensive?.

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

Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan in the Summer?

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

In July, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Wuyuan. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Wuyuan fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).

Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Wuyuan in the Autumn?

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

Koh Tarutao is a little warmer than Wuyuan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Wuyuan fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in October than Wuyuan. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 82 mm (3.2 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.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Wuyuan in the Winter?

Both Wuyuan 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.

In the winter, Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Wuyuan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Tarutao in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Wuyuan averages at about 6°C (43°F).

In January, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Wuyuan. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Wuyuan in the Spring?

Both Wuyuan 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.

In April, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Wuyuan. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 29°C (85°F), and Wuyuan fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Wuyuan 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 less rain in April than Wuyuan. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 238 mm (9.4 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.

Typical Weather for Wuyuan and Koh Tarutao