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

Should you visit Nagasaki or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Nagasaki or Khao Sok National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

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

Nagasaki

Set in a natural harbor on the northwest coast of Japan, Nagasaki is a Japanese city synonymous with a key moment during WWII after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in 1945. While the event is memorialized at the city's Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, the city in no way is defined by the event. Today it exists as a culturally and religiously diverse port town with a certain charm amongst the terraces of surrounding hills.

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 comparing the travel costs between Nagasaki and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

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

Nagasaki 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 Nagasaki or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nagasaki as well as Khao Sok National Park. The summer months attract visitors to Nagasaki because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

Nagasaki is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Nagasaki averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In the summer, Nagasaki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nagasaki usually gets more rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki gets 334 mm (13.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Nagasaki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Nagasaki 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.

In the autumn, Nagasaki is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nagasaki in October average around 20°C (67°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Nagasaki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Nagasaki gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Nagasaki. In October, Nagasaki usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Nagasaki during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nagasaki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In January, Nagasaki is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Nagasaki average around 7°C (44°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Nagasaki often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki gets 112 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Nagasaki usually gets more rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagasaki and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Nagasaki in the spring for the activities around the city. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Nagasaki is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Nagasaki averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. Nagasaki usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Nagasaki gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. Nagasaki gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Nagasaki usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Nagasaki gets 175 mm (6.9 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 Nagasaki