A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Pyeongchang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Similan Islands or Pyeongchang?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Pyeongchang 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: Similan Islands or Pyeongchang?

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Pyeongchang?

Pyeongchang has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Similan Islands experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pyeongchang in the Summer?

Both Pyeongchang and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year.

In July, Similan Islands is generally a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 28°C (82°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?

Both Pyeongchang and Similan Islands during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Similan Islands is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pyeongchang. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 185 hours of full sun.

Pyeongchang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Pyeongchang. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year. October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pyeongchang in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Pyeongchang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Pyeongchang. In the winter, Similan Islands is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Similan Islands in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 0°C (33°F).

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 190 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Similan Islands usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Pyeongchang in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Pyeongchang. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Similan Islands is generally much warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 29°C (83°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pyeongchang. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 204 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the spring. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in April than Pyeongchang. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Similan Islands