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

Should you visit Nikko 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 Nikko 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: Nikko or Khao Sok National Park?

Nikko

Nikko is a small Japanese city located in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is well-known for the site of Toshogu, a famed Shinto shrine established in 1617, in memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the founding ruler of the Edo Period. The town is situated just outside of Nikko National Park which offers scenic mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys, and hiking trails.

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 10-Day Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in 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 Nikko and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Nikko much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nikko would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nikko 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 Nikko.

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

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

Nikko 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 Nikko or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Nikko during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nikko 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.

In July, Nikko is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Nikko average around 25°C (77°F), 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, Nikko often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Nikko gets 136 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 Nikko. Nikko usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Nikko gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

Nikko is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nikko averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Nikko usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Nikko gets 167 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. Nikko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nikko usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Nikko gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

Nikko can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Nikko is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nikko in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nikko this time of the year. In the winter, Nikko often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Nikko gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Nikko usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Nikko gets 26 mm (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 Nikko or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

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

In April, Nikko is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Nikko average around 13°C (55°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. Nikko usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Nikko gets 191 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 Nikko. In April, Nikko usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Nikko gets 108 mm (4.2 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 Nikko