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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Shiretoko National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Shiretoko 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: Koh Samet or Shiretoko National Park?

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?

Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park, Japan is comprises the entire Shiretoko Penninusla in the northeast island of Hokkaido. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the most remote areas in Japan with very few and very small settlements. This makes Shiretoko the perfect place for a fun hiking and camping adventure.

While the park is open year round, the weather in the area tends to greatly affect the enjoyment of your trip due to harsh winters and heavy rain at the end of summer. There is a short period from May to early July that is considered the best time to visit due to slightly less rain and comfortable temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Shiretoko National Park, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Shiretoko National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Shiretoko National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shiretoko 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 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 Shiretoko National Park.

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 Shiretoko National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Shiretoko National Park?

Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park in the Summer?

Both Shiretoko National Park and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Shiretoko National Park this time of year.

In the summer, Koh Samet is much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samet in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Shiretoko National Park averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Shiretoko National Park during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Shiretoko National Park receives 178 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Shiretoko National Park in the Autumn?

Both Shiretoko National Park and Koh Samet during the autumn 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, many travelers come to Shiretoko National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 27°C (81°F), and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shiretoko National Park receives 158 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Shiretoko National Park in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Shiretoko National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round.

Shiretoko National Park can get quite cold in the winter. Koh Samet is much warmer than Shiretoko National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around -6°C (20°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Shiretoko National Park during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Shiretoko National Park receives 108 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Shiretoko National Park in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Shiretoko National Park for the natural beauty during these months.

Shiretoko National Park can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Koh Samet is much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samet in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Shiretoko National Park averages at about 5°C (40°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shiretoko National Park receives 178 hours of full sun.

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in April than Shiretoko National Park. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Shiretoko National Park and Koh Samet