Bali vs Thailand for Backpackers: Which Group Tour to Book

Prices are per person in AUD, from our current listings (October 2026), and can change.

The two countries in one paragraph each

Bali is one Indonesian island with a few small islands off its east coast (the Gilis, Nusa Penida). Everything is close: surf in Canggu in the morning, a rice-terrace walk in the afternoon, a temple at sunset. The culture is Hindu, distinct from the rest of Indonesia and from Thailand: daily offerings on the pavement, temple ceremonies you will stumble into, and a calmer, village feel once you leave the beach strip. It is also a short flight from Australia.

Thailand is a country-sized trip. Bangkok is a megacity, the south has two separate island groups (the Andaman side with Phi Phi and Krabi, the Gulf side with Koh Phangan, Samui and Koh Tao), and the north around Chiang Mai is mountains, hill tribes and elephants. The culture is Buddhist, the food is a national sport, and getting between regions takes a bus, a train or a domestic flight. More to see, more time to see it.

Head to head for first-timers

BaliExplore →vs ThailandExplore →

Islands and beaches

Thailand wins on quantity. The 12-day and 15-day tours visit three or four islands across two coasts, each with its own character. Bali’s beaches are mostly surf beaches with dark or golden sand; the postcard white-sand swimming is on the Gilis, which is why every Bali tour ends there.

Nightlife

Both deliver. Canggu beach clubs are more polished (and pricier); Koh Phangan’s full moon beach is the biggest backpacker party in the region. The 9-day Thailand and Bali trips are both tagged “Party”, so neither will leave you short.

Culture

Thailand gives you more variety in one trip: Bangkok’s temples and canals, a cooking class, hill tribes and an ethical elephant sanctuary in the north. Bali is less about ticking off sights and more about being in it: the 12-day Bali trip includes basket weaving with a local family, the Ubud Monkey Forest and a sunrise summit of an active volcano.

Rough costs on the ground

Rough estimates for spending outside your tour (the tours include accommodation, listed meals and activities). Not our prices; they vary with where you eat and how hard you go.

• Street food meal: roughly $3 to $6 in either country. Both are cheap; Thailand’s street food scene is bigger.
• Local beer: roughly $3 to $6 at a bar; less from a minimart.
• Hostel dorm (if travelling independently after the tour): roughly $10 to $25 a night in both.
• Big-night budget: Canggu’s beach clubs cost noticeably more than a Thai beach bar; budget around $50 to $100 for a big night in Bali, less in Thailand.

Net: Thailand is usually a little cheaper day to day, but the difference is small next to the flight. Visas and travel insurance are not included on any of these tours; check the rules for your own passport before you fly.

The group tours compared

All tours start in Canggu (Bali) or Bangkok (Thailand). The Adventure trips take about 20 travellers aged 18 to 40s with a group leader from airport pickup; the rest are small-group formats.

1. Canggu Surf & Stay, Bali (2 Nights)3 days from from $249→
2. Canggu Surf & Stay, Bali (4 Nights)5 days from from $499→
3. Canggu Surf & Stay, Bali (6 Nights)7 days from from $759→
4. Thailand Adventure, 9 Days Bangkok to Koh Phangan9 days from from $1,399→
5. Bali Adventure, 9 Days Canggu to Gili T9 days from from $1,299→
6. Thailand Highlights (8 Days)8 days from from $1,699→
7. Thailand Adventure, 12 Days Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi12 days from from $1,899→
8. Bali Adventure, 12 Days Canggu to Ubud12 days from from $1,799→
9. Thailand Islands & Bangkok Group Tour, 12 Days12 days from from $2,399→
10. Thailand Island Hopper, Bangkok to Koh Tao (15 Days)15 days from from $1,939→
11. Thailand Adventure, 18 Days Bangkok to Chiang Mai18 days from from $3,089→

The 9-day trips: the real comparison

The Thailand Adventure, 9 Days Bangkok to Koh Phangan (from $1,399) covers Bangkok’s canals, temples and tuk tuks, a Thai cooking class, a night in floating bungalows on the lake in Khao Sok with kayaking and jungle tubing, then Koh Phangan with an island boat trip, snorkelling and a Muay Thai or yoga session plus a Thai massage. Eight nights, seven meals, all transport and a group leader from the airport.

The Bali Adventure, 9 Days Canggu to Gili T (from $1,299) does a surf lesson with local instructors, temples, sunsets and Canggu beach clubs, wild dolphins from a traditional outrigger at Lovina, waterfall swimming and rice paddies, then a boat to Gili T for turtle snorkelling and an island beach party. Eight nights, nine meals, all transport and island boats, group leader from the airport.

Same length, similar price, two more meals on the Bali side. Thailand covers more ground; Bali goes deeper.

The 12-day trips

The Thailand Adventure, 12 Days Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi (from $1,899) adds three days on Koh Phi Phi with an exclusive islands boat trip, Andaman snorkelling and the viewpoint hike. The Bali Adventure, 12 Days Canggu to Ubud (from $1,799) adds Ubud: the Monkey Forest, markets, basket weaving with a local family, a Balinese massage and the sunrise volcano summit. Our Bali 9 vs 12 days guide goes into whether the extra three days are worth it; short version, the volcano and Ubud are the two most photographed things on the island.

Thailand also has a small-group alternative at this length. The Thailand Islands & Bangkok Group Tour, 12 Days (from $2,399, 18 to 35) stays in 8 to 10 bed hostel dorms and includes the domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket, Phi Phi snorkelling, a Hong Island speedboat day, a Khao Sok floating bungalow and an Ang Thong Marine Park day. The shorter Thailand Highlights (8 Days) (from $1,699) is the same format over eight days with seven nights in hostels and a welcome dinner.

Longer

Thailand has the depth here. The Thailand Island Hopper, Bangkok to Koh Tao (15 Days) (from $1,939) crosses both coasts and finishes on Koh Tao’s reefs. The Thailand Adventure, 18 Days Bangkok to Chiang Mai (from $3,089) is the whole country: everything in the 12-day, then the Sticky Waterfalls, an overnight hill tribe trek, bamboo rafting and an ethical elephant sanctuary (no riding), with 19 meals included. If you have a month, the Asia Experience, 27 Days Thailand & Vietnam (from $6,089) runs Thailand and Vietnam back to back with 46 meals and internal flights in.

Bali’s long option is more surf, not more road. The Canggu Surf & Stay, Bali (6 Nights) (from $759) is six nights of shared accommodation, breakfast daily, a guide and a surf lesson every day with boards and gear included. The 2-night (from $249) and 4-night (from $499) versions are the same camp, shorter; see our Canggu surf and stay guide.

So which one?

• First trip, short on days, want it easyBali 9 days. One island, short flight, surf lesson built in.
• First trip, want the classic backpacker circuitThailand 9 or 12 days. Bangkok, jungle, islands.
• Want to learn to surf more than anythingCanggu Surf & Stay, pick your length.
• Have two to three weeksThailand 15 or 18 days. Bali does not need that long unless you are staying to surf.
• Nightlife firstEither. Koh Phangan edges it for scale, Canggu for polish.
• TimingBali’s dry season is roughly April to October; see best time to visit Bali for backpackers. Thailand’s islands split by coast, so there is usually somewhere dry.

Do both eventually. Most people do.

FAQs

Is Bali or Thailand cheaper for backpackers? On the ground, Thailand is usually a little cheaper for food, drinks and hostels, but the gap is small. On the 9-day group tours, Bali ($1,299) is cheaper than Thailand ($1,399).

Which is better for a solo traveller? Both Adventure trips are built for solos: groups of about 20, aged 18 to 40s, with a group leader from airport pickup. You land with a crew either way.

Do I need a visa for Bali or Thailand? Visas are your own responsibility and are not included on any of these tours. Check the current rules for your passport well before you fly.

Which has better islands? Thailand has more and the tours visit several. Bali’s island moment is Gili T: small, car-free, good turtle snorkelling.

Is travel insurance required? Yes, it is compulsory on the Adventure trips and you will show proof to your group leader on arrival.

Can I do both in one trip? Not as one booking, but Bali and Bangkok are a short flight apart. A Thailand tour followed by a Canggu surf camp is a common combination.