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

Should you visit Nara or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Nara or Khao Yai 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: Nara or Khao Yai National Park?

Nara

As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural 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 Nara and Khao Yai National Park, we can see that Nara 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara 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 Nara Expensive? and Is Khao Yai National Park Expensive?.

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

Nara 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 Nara or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Nara during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nara for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

In July, Nara is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Nara average around 27°C (80°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

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

Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. Nara usually gets less rain in July than Khao Yai National Park. Nara gets 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nara and Khao Yai National Park. Many visitors come to Nara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Nara is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nara averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai National Park this time of the year. Nara usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during autumn. Nara gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nara usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Nara gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

The winter brings many poeple to Nara as well as Khao Yai National Park. Most visitors come to Nara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

Nara can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Nara is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nara in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In the winter, Nara often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Nara gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun.

Nara usually gets more rain in January than Khao Yai National Park. Nara gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Nara are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Nara because of the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Nara is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Nara average around 14°C (57°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. Nara usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during spring. Nara gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. It's quite rainy in Nara. In April, Nara usually receives around the same amount of rain as Khao Yai National Park. Nara gets 127 mm (5 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 Nara