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

Should you visit Picton 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 Picton 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: Picton or Khao Sok National Park?

Picton

Picton, New Zealand is located in the picturesque Marlborough Region on the South Island. With beachfront access in a central location and near the Marlborough Sounds, Picton is an ideal place for anyone looking for both adventure and relaxation in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.

The weather in Picton is fairly mild, ranging from the low fifties to high sixties, Fahrenheit, throughout the year. Their summer months are December through March, this is when you'll find temperatures in the high sixties. During the winter, June through August, Picton experiences averages of fifty degree Fahrenheit. This means you can visit any time of the year without having to worry about weather inhibiting any of your outdoor activities!

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 Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Picton and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Picton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Picton is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Picton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Picton 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 Khao Sok National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Sok National Park than you might in Picton.

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

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

Picton 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 Picton or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Picton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Picton 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.

Picton is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Picton averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In January, Picton usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Picton gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Picton during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Picton for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In the autumn, Picton is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Picton in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Picton usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Picton gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Picton and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Picton 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 July, Picton is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Daily temperatures in Picton average around 10°C (49°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Picton gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Picton usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Picton gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

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

Picton is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Picton averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Picton usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Parkin April. Picton gets 93 mm (3.7 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 Picton