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

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

Rotorua

Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.

Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.

Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.

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 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

When comparing the travel costs between Rotorua and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Rotorua is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

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

Rotorua 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 Rotorua or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rotorua as well as Khao Sok National Park. Many travelers come to Rotorua for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

Rotorua is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Rotorua averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Rotorua usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Rotorua gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Rotorua are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rotorua in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Rotorua is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rotorua in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In April, Rotorua usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Rotorua gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Rotorua during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rotorua for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In July, Rotorua is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Parkin January. Daily temperatures in Rotorua average around 26°C (79°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Rotorua usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Rotorua gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotorua and Khao Sok National Park. The spring months attract visitors to Rotorua because of the natural beauty. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Rotorua is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Rotorua averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in April.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Rotorua usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin April. Rotorua gets 35 mm (1.4 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 Rotorua