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

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Yakushima?

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 Yakushima. 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 Yakushima?

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.

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Koh Tarutao and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima 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 Yakushima Expensive?.

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

Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?

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

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

It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in July than Yakushima. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Yakushima in the Autumn?

Both Yakushima 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.

Koh Tarutao is a little warmer than Yakushima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 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 Yakushima in the Winter?

Both Yakushima 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.

In the winter, Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Tarutao in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Yakushima averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Tarutao usually gets less rain in January than Yakushima. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Yakushima in the Spring?

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

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

Yakushima 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 Yakushima. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 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 Yakushima and Koh Tarutao