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

Should you visit Sendai or Khao Sok National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Khao Sok National Park, 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: Sendai or Khao Sok National Park?

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, 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 Sendai and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Sendai is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

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

Sendai 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 Sendai or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

In the summer, Sendai is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sendai in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In the summer, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Sendai is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 15°C (59°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Sendai during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. Sendai is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 2°C (35°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Sendai usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Khao Sok National Park. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Khao Sok National Park. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Sendai is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sendai in April average around 10°C (51°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Sendai gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Sendai usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 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 Sendai