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

Should you visit Okinawa or Khao Sok 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 Okinawa and Khao Sok 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: Okinawa or Khao Sok National Park?

Okinawa

Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan and includes hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands. The chain of islands is off the southern mainland portion of the country and is made up of 49 inhabited islands and over one hundred uninhabited islands. Naha is Okinawa's capital, which is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.

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 G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

When comparing the travel costs between Okinawa and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park 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 Okinawa Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

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

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

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Okinawa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Okinawa this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Okinawa is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Okinawa averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. Okinawa usually receives more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during summer. Okinawa gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Okinawa. In July, Okinawa usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Okinawa during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Okinawa for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In the autumn, Okinawa is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Okinawa in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In the autumn, Okinawa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Okinawa. Okinawa usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Okinawa and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Okinawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Okinawa is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Okinawa average around 16°C (61°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. Okinawa usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Okinawa gets 96 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

Okinawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Okinawa usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Okinawa as well as Khao Sok National Park. Most visitors come to Okinawa for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

Okinawa is cooler than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Okinawa averages around 22°C (71°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In the spring, Okinawa often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa receives a lot of rain in the spring. Okinawa usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Khao Sok National Park. Okinawa gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Okinawa