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

Should you visit Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park?

Mashiko

Mashiko is a town in Japan famous for its pottery, called "Mashiko yaki." Large noborigama kilns were first brought to the area in 1853 by immigrant potters from a neighboring community in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is also home to the site of Saimyoji temple, one of the oldest temples in Tochigi prefecture, as well as the shrine of the Utsunomiya han.

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Mashiko during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Mashiko in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Mashiko is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Mashiko averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Mashiko often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko gets 130 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mashiko. Mashiko usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mashiko and Khao Sok National Park. Most visitors come to Mashiko for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere during these months. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Mashiko is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mashiko in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Mashiko usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Mashiko gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mashiko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mashiko usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mashiko as well as Khao Sok National Park. The winter months attract visitors to Mashiko because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

The weather in Mashiko can be very cold. In January, Mashiko is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Mashiko average around 3°C (38°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In the winter, Mashiko often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Mashiko usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mashiko or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Mashiko are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The small town charm are the main draw to Mashiko this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Mashiko is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Mashiko averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Mashiko gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Mashiko. In April, Mashiko usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Mashiko gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Mashiko