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

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

Pattaya

Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.

Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Pattaya 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 Pattaya or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Pattaya during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya 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.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pattaya usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Pattaya gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pattaya often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Pattaya gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Pattaya is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pattaya in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

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

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

December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya. Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pattaya gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pattaya usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Pattaya gets 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Pattaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pattaya usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Pattaya gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Pattaya is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Pattaya average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

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

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

Pattaya usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Pattaya gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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 Pattaya this time of the year. In the winter, Pattaya often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Pattaya gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Pattaya is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Pattaya averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

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

The dry season in Pattaya is December to April. The rainy season in Pattaya is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In April, Pattaya usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Pattaya gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pattaya. Pattaya usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during spring. Pattaya gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Pattaya is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pattaya in April average around 30°C (86°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Pattaya