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

Should you visit Vientiane or Khao Sok National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Khao Sok National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Vientiane or Khao Sok National Park?

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

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 Vientiane and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane 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 Vientiane.

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

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

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Vientiane or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane 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 Vientiane. In July, Vientiane usually receives around the same amount of rain as Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Vientiane is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 30°C (85°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Vientiane during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane 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. Vientiane usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

Vientiane is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

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

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

In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Vientiane is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vientiane in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

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

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

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 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 Vientiane this time of the year. In the spring, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

Vientiane can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Vientiane is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 31°C (88°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Vientiane