A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Samet vs. Koyasan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Koyasan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Koyasan, 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: Koh Samet or Koyasan?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

Koyasan

Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samet Expensive? and Is Koyasan Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Koyasan?

Koyasan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samet experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koyasan in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Koyasan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, many visitors come to Koyasan in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koyasan in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Koyasan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koyasan during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 183 hours of full sun in the summer.

Koyasan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Koyasan. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koyasan in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Koyasan. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Koyasan for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Koyasan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Koyasan averages at about 19°C (65°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koyasan. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Koyasan. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Koyasan. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koyasan in the Winter?

Both Koyasan and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Koyasan because of the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Koyasan. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Koyasan fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Koyasan during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Koyasan receives 140 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Koyasan. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koyasan in the Spring?

Both Koyasan and Koh Samet during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Koyasan this time of year.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Koyasan in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Koyasan fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Koyasan. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koyasan receives 176 hours of full sun.

Koyasan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Koyasan. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Koyasan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Koyasan and Koh Samet