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

Should you visit Nikko or Khao Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai 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 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 10-Day Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) 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 Nikko and Khao Yai National Park, we can see that Nikko 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 Nikko would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nikko 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 Nikko Expensive? and Is Khao Yai National Park Expensive?.

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

Nikko 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 Nikko or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nikko and Khao Yai National Park. Most visitors come to Nikko for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Nikko is cooler than Khao Yai National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Nikko averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

Nikko usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during summer. Nikko gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nikko gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nikko usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Nikko gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Nikko as well as Khao Yai National Park. The autumn months attract visitors to Nikko because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

In the autumn, Nikko is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nikko in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In the autumn, Nikko often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Nikko gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Nikko receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nikko usually gets less rain in October than Khao Yai National Park. Nikko gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Nikko are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nikko this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Nikko in the winter. In January, Nikko is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Nikko average around 3°C (37°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nikko. Nikko usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during winter. Nikko gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Nikko usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Nikko gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Nikko during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nikko for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

Nikko is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Nikko averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Nikko often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Nikko gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 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 Nikko. Nikko usually gets less rain in April than Khao Yai National Park. Nikko gets 108 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Nikko