A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saaremaa vs. Vang Vieng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saaremaa or Vang Vieng?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Vang Vieng, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Saaremaa or Vang Vieng?

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saaremaa and Vang Vieng, we can see that Saaremaa is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saaremaa is in Europe and Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Saaremaa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saaremaa than you might in Vang Vieng.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Vang Vieng?

Vang Vieng has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Vang Vieng, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Saaremaa or Vang Vieng?

Saaremaa has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Vang Vieng in the Summer?

Both Vang Vieng and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Saaremaa is cooler than Vang Vieng in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saaremaa. Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during summer. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?

Both Vang Vieng and Saaremaa during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.

In the autumn, Saaremaa is much colder than Vang Vieng. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Vang Vieng. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Vang Vieng. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Vang Vieng in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Vang Vieng. The winter months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the cuisine. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Saaremaa can be very cold. In January, Saaremaa is generally much colder than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Vang Vieng during winter. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Vang Vieng in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Vang Vieng. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Saaremaa in the spring. Saaremaa is much colder than Vang Vieng in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. In the spring, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Vang Vieng. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. Saaremaa usually gets less rain in April than Vang Vieng. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Saaremaa