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

Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Hongcun?

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 Koh Tarutao and Hongcun. 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: Koh Tarutao or Hongcun?

Koh Tarutao

While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.

Hongcun

When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.

The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Hongcun?

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

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Hongcun in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Hongcun. Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Hongcun in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite rainy in Hongcun. Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in July than Hongcun. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Hongcun in the Autumn?

Both Hongcun and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao throughout the year.

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

It's quite rainy in Koh Tarutao. In October, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Tarutao is November to April. The rainy season in Koh Tarutao is May and October.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Hongcun in the Winter?

Both Hongcun and Koh Tarutao during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tarutao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hongcun. In January, Koh Tarutao is generally much warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (80°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in January than Hongcun. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Hongcun in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round.

Koh Tarutao is much warmer than Hongcun in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Tarutao usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. Also, May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao.

Typical Weather for Hongcun and Koh Tarutao