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

Should you visit Yakushima or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Yakushima 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: Yakushima or Khao Sok National Park?

Yakushima

Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, The Best Luxury Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

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

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

Yakushima 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 Yakushima or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Yakushima are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Yakushima is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Yakushima in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Yakushima. In July, Yakushima usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Yakushima gets 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Khao Sok National Park and Yakushima during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

In October, Yakushima is generally cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Yakushima average around 22°C (71°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. Yakushima usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Yakushima gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Yakushima and Khao Sok National Park. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Yakushima is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Yakushima averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Yakushima gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Yakushima usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Yakushima gets 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

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

In the spring, Yakushima is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Yakushima in April average around 18°C (64°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. Yakushima usually gets more rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Yakushima gets 207 mm (8.1 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 Yakushima