A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surat Thani vs. Mount Aspiring National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Surat Thani or Mount Aspiring National Park ?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Mount Aspiring National Park 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: Surat Thani or Mount Aspiring National Park ?

Surat Thani

The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."

Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is located within the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand in the Otago region. The park is named after one of New Zealand's highest peaks, Mt Aspiring, and is one of the best places to hike in the country. It is part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area and one of the many locations of filming for the Lord of the Rings movies. The closest towns to this park are Haast, Makarora, Wanaka, and Glenorchy. One of New Zealand's great walks is located in this park, the Routeburn track, and is very popular among travelers heading to New Zealand for long hikes through the beautiful scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Mount Aspiring National Park or Surat Thani?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $53, while the average daily cost in Mount Aspiring National Park is $109. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Surat Thani and Mount Aspiring National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surat Thani $25
    Mount Aspiring National Park $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surat Thani $50
    Mount Aspiring National Park $118
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Mount Aspiring National Park

Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Mount Aspiring National Park ? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Surat Thani


Hotels in Mount Aspiring National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Mount Aspiring National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surat Thani $24
    Mount Aspiring National Park $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani

Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
  • Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
  • Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
  • Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
  • Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
  • Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196

Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Mount Aspiring National Park ?

Prices for flights to both Mount Aspiring National Park and Surat Thani change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Surat Thani $14
    Mount Aspiring National Park $18
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:


  • Dinner
    $4.09

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani

For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $71

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surat Thani $4.97
    Mount Aspiring National Park $29

Tours and Activities in Surat Thani

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.

  • Pick up and drop off tourists around Koh Samui: $14
  • The one and only Zipline Experience of Lamai Viewpoint: $38
  • Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
  • Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
  • Koh Samui: Unique Iocal Tour & Elephant Sanctuary with lunch: $65
  • Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
  • X Quad Novice Waterfall ATV Tour (1 Driver): $76
  • Koh Samui: Elephant Kingdom Sanctuary Half-Day Tour: $81
  • Samui Dolphins Tour by Catamaran Yacht: $87
  • Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
  • From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
  • Samui X Quad ATV Tour (1 Driver) with lunch: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surat Thani $4.96
    Mount Aspiring National Park $5.09


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

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