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

Should you visit Tanah Rata or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Tanah Rata 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: Tanah Rata or Khao Yai National Park?

Tanah Rata

Tanah Rata is one of the main tourist towns in the Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands are in western Malaysia and are a popular retreat for Malaysian residents and international travelers alike. The area's higher elevation offers an often much needed break from the country's oppressive heat. It also has a beautiful setting that is rich in agriculture and has rolling hills that are beautifully covered in tea plantations. Tanah Rata has many of the area's tourist amenities. ATMS, banks, and the area's main hospital are all found in town. For some, the area feels too touristy, but if you linger longer, and explore on your own, you can easily escape the mass tourism and see the area for what it is.

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 The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Yai National Park or Tanah Rata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tanah Rata is $137, while the average daily cost in Khao Yai National Park is $62. 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 Tanah Rata and Khao Yai National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tanah Rata $67
    Khao Yai National Park $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tanah Rata $134
    Khao Yai National Park $72
Compare Hotels in Tanah Rata and Khao Yai National Park

Looking for a hotel in Tanah Rata or Khao Yai 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 Tanah Rata


Hotels in Khao Yai 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: Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tanah Rata $29
    Khao Yai National Park $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:

  • Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
  • Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $118
  • CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
  • Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
  • Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
  • Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153

Is it cheaper to fly into Tanah Rata or Khao Yai National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Yai National Park and Tanah Rata 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
    Tanah Rata $44
    Khao Yai National Park $17
Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:


  • Dinner for Two
    $5.66
  • Dessert
    $0.63
  • Lunch
    $3.98
  • Afternoon tea
    $3.88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tanah Rata $34
    Khao Yai National Park $8.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tanah Rata

Here are a few typical costs in Tanah Rata for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Tea Factory Visit
    $5.66
  • Tour of Orang Asli Village
    $21

Tours and Activities in Tanah Rata

Here are a few actual costs in Tanah Rata for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $33
  • Cameron Highlands City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
  • Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $109
  • Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
  • Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
  • Cameron Highlands: Agro Delight Tour: $61
  • Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tanah Rata $19
    Khao Yai National Park $11


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

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



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

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

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Tanah Rata usually gets less rain in July than Khao Yai National Park. Tanah Rata gets 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tanah Rata in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 28°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (83°F)

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Tanah Rata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata. In October, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Tanah Rata gets 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In October, Tanah Rata is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Tanah Rata average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tanah Rata 27°C (81°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (82°F)

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Tanah Rata during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tanah Rata 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.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Tanah Rata. Tanah Rata usually gets more rain in January than Khao Yai National Park. Tanah Rata gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Tanah Rata averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tanah Rata 27°C (80°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 26°C (78°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tanah Rata and Khao Yai National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tanah Rata 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 spring. Tanah Rata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Tanah Rata usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Tanah Rata gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In the spring, Tanah Rata is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tanah Rata in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 30°C (87°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tanah Rata 28°C (82°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 30°C (87°F)

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Tanah Rata

Tanah Rata Khao Yai National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 113 mm (4.4 in) 30°C (86°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 30°C (87°F) 128 mm (5.1 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 30°C (85°F) 225 mm (8.8 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 277 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 28°C (83°F) 315 mm (12.4 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 126 mm (5 in) 28°C (83°F) 385 mm (15.1 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 173 mm (6.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 360 mm (14.2 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 237 mm (9.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 173 mm (6.8 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 270 mm (10.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)


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