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

Should you visit Zhangjiajie or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zhangjiajie and Khao Yai National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Zhangjiajie or Khao Yai National Park?

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Yai National Park or Zhangjiajie?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $63, 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 Zhangjiajie and Khao Yai National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zhangjiajie $30
    Khao Yai National Park $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zhangjiajie $60
    Khao Yai National Park $72
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Khao Yai National Park

Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie


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.


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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

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

  • Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105

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

Prices for flights to both Khao Yai National Park and Zhangjiajie 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
    Zhangjiajie $20
    Khao Yai National Park $17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

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

  • Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zhangjiajie $23
    Khao Yai National Park $8.77

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

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

  • Half-Day Self-Guided Fenghuang Night Tour from Zhangjiajie: $200
  • (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
  • 1 Day Dragon Sitting Gorge & Red Stone Forest Geo-park TOUR!: $272
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon(Glass Bridge) & Baofeng Lake Tour: $240
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • 2-Day “Best Of Zhangjiajie”-Avatar World & Tianmen Mountain Tour: $260
  • 2-Day Zhangjiajie Happy Foodie&Sightseeing Tour: $300
  • 2-Day Zhangjiajie Tour Including Yuanjiajie Mountains: $550
  • 2-Full Days Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour : $284

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zhangjiajie $16
    Khao Yai National Park $11


When comparing the travel costs between Zhangjiajie and Khao Yai National Park, we can see that Zhangjiajie is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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



When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie or Khao Yai National Park?

Zhangjiajie has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Yai National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Khao Yai National Park. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Zhangjiajie is generally around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 29°C (85°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (83°F)

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Khao Yai National Park. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

Zhangjiajie is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in October than Khao Yai National Park. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (82°F)

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the winter, Zhangjiajie is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zhangjiajie in January average around 5°C (42°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F).

In January, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 26°C (78°F)

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Zhangjiajie during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

In April, Zhangjiajie is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 17°C (63°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie usually gets more rain in April than Khao Yai National Park. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 30°C (87°F)

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie Khao Yai National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (78°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 30°C (86°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in) 30°C (87°F) 128 mm (5.1 in)
May 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in) 30°C (85°F) 225 mm (8.8 in)
Jun 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 277 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 315 mm (12.4 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 385 mm (15.1 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 360 mm (14.2 in)
Oct 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 173 mm (6.8 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Dec 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)