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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng 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: Vang Vieng or Khao Sok National Park?

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, 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 Vang Vieng and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng.

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

When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Khao Sok 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 Vang Vieng or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Vang Vieng during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

Vang Vieng is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Vang Vieng is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vang Vieng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

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

The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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 Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

In January, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 24°C (75°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok 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 Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Vang Vieng is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Vang Vieng