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

Should you visit Shenyang or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Shenyang or Khao Sok 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: Shenyang or Khao Sok National Park?

Shenyang

Shenyang, China is the capital, and largest, city in the Liaoning Province in northwest China which borders North Korea. Shenyang has a long, imperial, history and is the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty. The city has a blend of beautifully preserved architecture and modern buildings, creating a pleasant atmosphere for exploring!

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 in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, 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 Shenyang and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Shenyang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shenyang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shenyang 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 Khao Sok National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Sok National Park than you might in Shenyang.

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

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

Shenyang 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 Shenyang or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Shenyang as well as Khao Sok National Park. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

In the summer, Shenyang is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shenyang in July average around 25°C (77°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. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenyang this time of the year. In the summer, Shenyang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Shenyang gets 214 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. Shenyang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenyang usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Shenyang gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Shenyang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Shenyang is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Shenyang average around 10°C (51°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shenyang. Shenyang usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Shenyang gets 216 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. In October, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Shenyang gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Shenyang during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Shenyang. Shenyang is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Shenyang averages around -11°C (13°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, Shenyang often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Shenyang gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Shenyang usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Shenyang gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenyang and Khao Sok National Park. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Shenyang is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shenyang in April average around 10°C (50°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. In Shenyang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Shenyang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during spring. Shenyang gets 241 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, Shenyang usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Shenyang gets 42 mm (1.7 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 Shenyang