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

Should you visit Petra or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Khao Sok National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

Petra

Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.

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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, 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 Petra and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Khao Sok National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Sok 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Khao Sok National Park.

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

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

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra 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. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is a little warmer than Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Petra during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra 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. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Petra. In the autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Petra is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

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

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

In January, Petra usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Petra is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

The spring brings many poeple to Petra as well as Khao Sok National Park. Petra 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. Petra usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

Petra is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Petra