A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Pai vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pai or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pai and Khao Sok National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

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

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Pai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pai 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 Pai.

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

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

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Pai or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Khao Sok National Park. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

In July, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Pai is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Pai usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Pai is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Pai