A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koyasan vs. Khao Yai National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koyasan or Khao Yai 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 Koyasan and Khao Yai 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: Koyasan or Khao Yai National Park?

Koyasan

Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.

Khao Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koyasan Expensive? and Is Khao Yai National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koyasan or Khao Yai National Park?

Koyasan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Yai National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koyasan as well as Khao Yai National Park. Many visitors come to Koyasan in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

In July, Koyasan is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

In the summer, Koyasan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koyasan usually gets less rain in July than Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Khao Yai National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Koyasan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Koyasan is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koyasan averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during autumn. Koyasan gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. It's quite rainy in Koyasan. In October, Koyasan usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan gets 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Koyasan or Khao Yai National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Koyasan during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the museums and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

In the winter, Koyasan is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koyasan in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F).

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Koyasan often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun.

Koyasan usually gets more rain in January than Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koyasan or Khao Yai National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koyasan and Khao Yai National Park. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Koyasan is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Koyasan average around 15°C (59°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai National Park this time of the year. Koyasan usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during spring. Koyasan gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koyasan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Khao Yai National Park. Koyasan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Koyasan