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

Should you visit Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park?

Sandakan

Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.

Khao Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.

When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Khao Yai National Park, we can see that Khao Yai 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Khao Yai 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 Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

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

Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets less rain in July than Khao Yai National Park. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun.

In July, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

Should I visit Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park in the Autumn?

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

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai National Park this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sandakan is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park in the Winter?

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

Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Khao Yai National Park. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In the winter, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit Sandakan or Khao Yai National Park in the Spring?

Both Khao Yai National Park and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Sandakan