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

Should you visit Sado or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Sado or Khao Sok National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Sado or Khao Sok National Park?

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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 Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, 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 Sado and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Sado much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sado would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sado 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 Sado.

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

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

Sado 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 Sado or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Sado are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Sado is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Sado average around 23°C (74°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. Sado usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during summer. Sado gets 198 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 Sado. In July, Sado usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Sado gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Sado during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sado this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Sado is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sado averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In the autumn, Sado often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Sado gets 155 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 Sado. Sado usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Sado gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Sado. In the winter, Sado is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sado in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. Sado usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Sado gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sado usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Sado gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Sado as well as Khao Sok National Park. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

In April, Sado is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Sado average around 10°C (51°F), 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, Sado often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Sado gets 194 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. Sado receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sado usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Sado gets 102 mm (4 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 Sado