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

Should you visit Nelson or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nelson and Khao Sok National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

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

Nelson

Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.

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 Luxury Tours to New Zealand, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Nelson?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nelson is $94, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $88. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nelson and Khao Sok National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nelson $41
    Khao Sok National Park $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nelson $82
    Khao Sok National Park $44
Compare Hotels in Nelson and Khao Sok National Park

Looking for a hotel in Nelson or Khao Sok National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Nelson


Hotels in Khao Sok National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nelson Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nelson $28
    Khao Sok National Park $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Nelson or Khao Sok National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park and Nelson change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nelson $27
    Khao Sok National Park $26

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nelson $24
    Khao Sok National Park $28

Tours and Activities in Nelson

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:

  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
  • SKYWIRE Experience: $67
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
  • Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
  • Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
  • Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nelson $13
    Khao Sok National Park $5.65

Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:

  • Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97


When comparing the travel costs between Nelson and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Nelson 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. Even though Nelson is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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