Indonesia vs Thailand: Detailed Travel Comparison
Indonesia vs Thailand – Which Is For You?
Are you torn between exploring the streets of Bangkok or lounging on Bali’s amazing beaches? As someone who’s spent 6 months travelling through Thailand and 2 months exploring Indonesia’s most beautiful places, I understand this choice isn’t easy. So let me share everything you need to know about comparing Indonesia vs Thailand.
With over a year of full-time travel experience across Asia and thousands of monthly readers seeking my advice, I’ll help you choose between these two incredible destinations.
This guide will help you determine which destination better suits your travel style and budget, offering detailed information about safety, cost comparison, and food scenes.
You’ll also learn about the best times to visit, transportation options, and accommodation choices.
Let me say this.
I prefer Thailand over Indonesia.
With that in mind, even if you’re a first-time traveller or a seasoned backpacker, this Indonesia vs Thailand comparison will give you all the information you need to plan your perfect Southeast Asian adventure.
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Basic Overview Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia
Where do I start with Indonesia?
It’s very hard to describe the natural beauty this country has. With almost 18,000 islands making up this one nation, Indonesia is packed with amazing islands, beaches, and fun things to do.
Java, Gili Trawangan, Lombok and Komodo Island are some great options to consider.
My personal favourite spots included Gili Trawangan and Amed in Northern Bali. The waters around the Gili islands are perfect—and I truly mean perfect.
You can swim with turtles or scuba dive with sharks if you’re feeling adventurous.
Some of the famous islands include Komodo Island, Bali (as mentioned before), and the Gili Islands. In my view, Bali is totally worth exploring.
280 million people call Indonesia home. It is a muslim majority nation, but it has a large expat and nomad community found throughout the archipelago.
People flock to Indonesia for breathtaking landscapes like volcanoes, surfing opportunities and even spiritual retreats.
Thailand
Thailand has everything you could want, in my view.
The “Land of Smiles” is accurate—it feels like everyone you meet has a big smile on their face. It makes you feel relaxed and welcomed.
The country has a much smaller population compared to Indonesia, 66 million. The country is long and narrow with tropical beaches, rock climbing opportunities, and underwater activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.
When we visited Thailand, I got to spend time in the north, center, and south of the country.
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north are known for their magical temples. Like something from a movie.
Bangkok is an incredible city full of things going on for what seems like 24 hours a day. More temples, terrific street food, and incredible night markets offer a bright and bustling experience.
Best Place To Visit – Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia
I spent two months in Indonesia, specifically Bali and Gili Trawangan. Below are some of the best places to visit, and I suggest you research them before your trip:
- Uluwatu Temple: found on high cliffs looking out on the ocean, the temple offers super sunset views and the famous Kecak fire dance performances. Very cool! Find out about Uluwatu’s hidden beach cove, Suluban Beach.
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: found in Ubud, this forest and temple complex has dozens, if not hundreds, of monkeys. Very cool temples to be explored as well.
- Tegalalang Rice Terraces: These are honestly epic. We walked through beautiful terraced rice fields and got to take some amazing drone shots. Totally worth visiting.
- Tanah Lot Temple: This beautiful temple sits on a large rock just off the coast, and it looks amazing at sunset.
- Mount Batur: A volcano you can hike up at sunrise for amazing views of the area below. One of the best things to do in Bali.
- Ulun Danu Beratan Temple: This beautiful temple sits on Lake Beratan and looks amazing when its reflection shimmers in the water. The mountain views in the background make it even more special.
- Ubud Art Market: A nice local market filled with handmade crafts, colourful clothes, and local art that gives you a real taste of Balinese culture.
- Amed: A laid-back beach town known for its great snorkelling and diving spots, featuring striking black sand beaches with Mount Agung in the background.
Thailand
Here are some must-visit destinations in Thailand:
- Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten): One of Chiang Rai’s most beautiful temples, with amazing blue walls and detailed artwork inside. Doesn’t feel real!
- White Temple (Wat Rong Khun): A stunning pure-white temple featuring extraordinary architecture and modern artwork throughout—it truly looks unreal!
- Doi Inthanon National Park: Home to Thailand’s highest peak and stunning waterfalls. We had a great day tour here and got some amazing photos while hiking through the jungle.
- Ayutthaya Ancient City: An incredible ancient city with beautiful old temples from when it was Thailand’s capital city.
- Phuket’s Big Buddha: A huge white marble Buddha statue that sits at the top of the island, giving you amazing views in every direction. Loved it!
- Koh Lanta: A peaceful island with beautiful beaches, dense mangrove forests, and some of the best diving around. Some Monkeys can jump into your kayak, so watch out!
- Koh Phi Phi: known for its beautiful islands surrounded by gorgeous beaches and some of the best snorkelling in Thailand.
- Jim Thompson House: A gorgeous home turned museum filled with beautiful Asian art and decorations.
- The Grand Palace: Bangkok’s crown jewel. I was blown away by the incredible detail in the architecture and the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It almost doesn’t seem real when you see it in person!
- Wat Pho: Famous for its huge 46-meter reclining golden Buddha statue and home to a well-known traditional Thai massage school.
- Koh Haa: A beautiful but remote diving spot with five limestone islands and amazing underwater caves. It takes some planning to get there, but the crystal-clear waters make it worthwhile.
Landscape Comparison – Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia
Indonesia has some amazing landscapes to explore.
Bali has tremendous volcanoes, which you can hike up to the peak. There are beautiful waterfalls like Tibumana Waterfall scattered throughout the island.
There is also lush vegetation and temples such as Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Goa Garba and Goa Gaja. You need to prepare yourself for so many options when you arrive in Bali.
Indonesia’s beaches are truly breathtaking.
My favorites include Jimbaran Beach, Kuta Beach, and Padang Padang Beach. My best advice? Grab a coconut and watch the stunning sunset.
The crystal-clear waters around Gili Trawangan, Air, and Meno are simply incredible.
From these islands, Lombok’s towering peaks create a magnificent backdrop on the horizon. Indonesia will rock your mind with its landscapes.
Raw. Powerful. Beautiful.
You won’t regret visiting once you see it all for yourself.
Thailand
Thailand has a diverse landscape which is worth visiting for alone.
When I visited the north, it left me truly impressed. Doi Inthanon National Park features waterfalls, rainforest, and huge rice fields that seem to last forever.
The incredible karst limestone features cover the southern part of the country. Krabi is world-famous for this.
When I visited Khao Sok National Park, Cheow Lan Lake really stood out for this. Krabi is another gem worth visiting at least once.
The Andaman Sea is filled with these limestone feature islands that you can snorkel or arrange an amazing tour.
Koh Haa, Koh Phi Phi and James Bond Island are all places you should look out for. I was lucky enough to visit all of these places when I was in Thailand.
Pih Leh Lagoon is unmissable!
Additionally, on numerous occasions, I swam with clownfish and other beautifully colored tropical fish. Make sure you bring a GoPro to capture the best underwater memories.
Expense Comparison – Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia
While Indonesia has some pretty tasty food, I’m thinking of the seafood in particular, Thailand won this comparison easily.
Most days I found myself eating Nasi Goreng, which was delicious, especially when adding some spicy sambal to the mix.
Another tasty dish was the chicken satay skewers, which caught my attention.
For me, however, the best food I had was in the coastal town of Amed.
The guesthouse would catch fresh fish from the sea every day and add them to the BBQ plate, and it was sublime.
The fish was huge and filling. In Indonesia, I found the chefs don’t skimp on portion sizes, so I never felt hungry afterwards.
Private cars were expensive but necessary as Bali has very poor public transport, if any exists at all. We didn’t bother looking, to be honest.
We also moved around Ubud using Grab bikes or cars.
These were extremely cheap, costing anywhere from €0.50 to a couple of euros. If you use these services wisely, you can save a lot of money, especially if travelling on a budget.
Check out my list of Best Things To Do In Ubud Indonesia.
Thailand
When I first visited Thailand in 2023, I was astounded by the low costs.
Basic meals were incredibly affordable. A pad Thai from a street vendor in Bangkok costs around 60 baht (about €1.60). When I returned in 2024, prices had increased slightly.
You can get a one-hour Thai massage for as little as 200 baht across the country. Trust me, they are amazing!
Travel is very cheap, and you can move between cities in a minivan for as little as 500 baht.
I am talking between Bangkok to Khao Sok, for example, which takes about 12 hours.
Domestic flights within Thailand can be quite affordable.
For example, a flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket costs just a little over €100.00.
We did find hotels to be a little cheaper in Thailand, but then it depends on where you stay, too.
Safety Comparison – Indonesia vs Thailand
After spending a significant amount of time in both Indonesia and Thailand, my experience has shown me that both are very safe.
Sure, things happen. But that goes for just about everywhere.
All I can say is that I never felt unsafe. My girlfriend Guada is of the same opinion.
In Thailand, I noticed many tourist police stations, some staffed and others unmanned. The same goes for Indonesia.
Bali’s most popular areas, like Ubud and Jimbaran, are usually busy all year round with tourists, so it’s easier to blend in.
Thailand is extremely busy from November to February, and during these times, you will also blend in. Again, the major attractions will always have visitors, and sometimes that’s a good thing.
When we visited Koh Lanta in September, for example, we were the only people in our hotel apart from one other group of three people.
That may not mean much, but it does feel safer when more people are around.
Some people say Thailand is slightly safer than Indonesia. While I have covered more of Thailand than Indonesia in six months vs two, I am not sure I noticed much of a difference.
Accommodation Options – Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia
Indonesia had some amazing accommodation options for everyone.
Seriously. We found some brilliant-looking hostel options as well as some 5-star amazing places that would cost an arm and a leg.
Ubud has some incredibly unique places to stay. If you love yoga, there are accommodations dedicated to that. If you prefer basic apartments or hostels, there are plenty of great options.
There are also some amazing luxury choices when you want to splash out and have a truly memorable experience, especially in places like the Gili Islands.
Thailand
Thailand did not disappoint when it came to accommodation.
During our first visit to Bangkok, we stayed in a budget-friendly place that had a fantastic location. Bangkok is filled with these types of affordable hotels and hostels.
When we visited Koh Chang, we stayed at an amazing hotel, Annika Hotel. For just €20.00 a night for two people (yes, you read that right!), we got a buffet breakfast, private balcony, and access to a pool and gym.
It was incredible, especially since we could see elephants freely roaming just meters from our door.
In the south, Koh Lanta really showed us some brilliant places to stay, which raised the bar.
We stayed for several weeks at Nakara Long Beach Resort.
Every night we could watch the sun set over Koh Phi Phi in the Andaman Sea. We were the only people in the hotel for a time, and it felt like we owned the place.
While these places are much more expensive in the high season, we got them at a major reduction when we visited right before October started.
Koh Lipe has some otherworldly places to stay, too. I highly recommend checking it out, as the island offers countless amazing activities.
These are just a few of the places we experienced, and there are many more amazing options to consider when visiting Thailand.
Getting To Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia
Your travel plans and options will depend on your departure location and intended destinations within Indonesia.
When we arrived in Bali, we landed at Denpasar Airport from Phuket.
I paid €29.17 for my visa on arrival. The process was incredibly smooth. The camera quickly took our photos, and when Guada provided her email address, they sent the visa right away. The efficiency was impressive.
I had to join the e-customs WiFi network to complete your declaration, and thankfully, it takes less than 5 minutes.
Our driver was waiting for us with a sign, and he even insisted on taking us to get a SIM card. There are numerous taxi drivers who can take you to your hotel.
I encourage you to book through booking.com and become a Genius member, where you can get massive discounts and free taxi rides like we did in Jaipur.
You can also use the Grab app, which we found very useful. However, don’t tell taxi drivers you’re using it, as they can become quite angry.
On Bali, the best way to get around is via private driver or by renting a motorbike. Both options are easily accessible.
If you’re moving to the other islands, then you will likely need to take a ferry.
Thailand
When I visited Thailand, we arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport. Other times, when transiting through Thailand, we landed at Don Muang airport.
These are the two major airports in the country’s capital, Bangkok.
I recommend you spend at least 4 days in Bangkok to see the major sites and enjoy the city.
Alternatively, you can fly into Phuket International Airport, which can be reached from Europe or North America, as well as Bangkok’s airports—though you’ll likely have a stopover.
You can also consider flying to Chiang Mai International Airport, located in the north, which means quick access to Chiang Rai or Pai.
As an Irish citizen, I got 30 days of free travel in Thailand, which was great. On another occasion, we went to the Krabi immigration office to extend the visa by another 30 days. It’s nice to have this option.
You can check some of the official websites to find out about visa requirements and permitted length of stay for your nationality.
Best Time To Visit? Indonesia vs Thailand
Best Time To Visit Indonesia
June, July and August are the best times to visit Indonesia.
The weather is great, but of course, it’s much busier.
When we traveled to Bali in July, the streets were packed from morning until evening, and it was hard to find space to move through them.
In August, we made our way to Gili Trawangan, and while it was very busy, it felt good.
The weather will be the most consistent between these months, and you can even consider April and September too.
We experienced temperatures of 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit) every day with minimal cloud cover and no rain.
This was the perfect weather to enjoy all that Bali had to offer.
Best Time To Visit Thailand
If you’re visiting Thailand, I recommend going between October and February.
I was in Bangkok and Khao Sok National Park in April, and we experienced some serious downpours with thunder and lightning.
While I loved the experience, it was much more pleasant in October and November.
During this time, we barely saw a cloud, and rain was unthinkable.
We could happily set out each day on our bikes and move freely without worrying about the weather—except for the sun.
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
Final Thoughts on Indonesia vs Thailand – Which Is Better?
As you can see, the debate between visiting Indonesia vs Thailand still rages on. To be honest, it’s a pointless debate. It depends on you, the traveller.
What do you prefer? Temples, brilliant street food and tropical beaches, then maybe consider Thailand.
If you’re craving volcanoes, surfing, and a wonderful digital nomad culture, then Indonesia may be better.
I did see more entrepreneurs/digital nomads in Bali, for example. Whereas I felt more young people travelled in groups to Thailand for fun.
I travelled with my girlfriend and found Thailand to be more suitable for us. Both countries share many similarities, so don’t write off either destination.
I loved Indonesia, but I preferred Thailand.
The wonderful thing is there’s so much to be explored in both.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you check out my Southeast Asia backpacking list for all you need to include for a great trip. It includes all you need to bring ,plus what you can leave at home.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Is It Better To Go To Thailand Or Indonesia?
Indonesia vs Thailand. Which one is better? The debate rages on. For me its simple. Both are stunningly brilliant. While both have similarities like amazing beaches, landscapes, and food, Thailand feels more complete for me. This will differ from person to person. Therefore, the question cannot be answered simply. My suggestion is the visit both and find out for yourself.
Is Thailand Nicer Than Bali?
Thailand is an amazing place to travel, as is Bali. While Bali is an island, Thailand is a much larger country. In my view, there is so much more to do and see in Thailand compared to Bali. That doesn’t mean Bali isn’t worth visiting. Both Thailand and Bali are packed with amazing places to explore. Beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, and day tours are just some of the fun activities you can enjoy in both locations.
Is Thailand Hotter Than Indonesia?
This depends on when you visit. Both countries have opposite climates. For example, I visited Bali in July when temperatures hovered around 30°C (86°F). In Thailand, I experienced both rainy and hot seasons. I also visited Thailand during the peak November-January season, when the weather was similar to Bali. It’s hard to say which can get hotter. Bangkok’s April was scorching hot, where I experienced 38°C (100°F).
Is It Safe To Travel In Thailand And Indonesia?
Both Thailand and Indonesia are generally safe for tourists. My experience has told me so. But make sure to adhere to standard precautions needed, as in any destination. You should always be looking out for petty theft, especially in busy tourist attractions.
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Thank you for this helpful comparison! It’s great to see a detailed breakdown between Indonesia and Thailand. really useful for planning a trip. Appreciate the insights
Fantastic article! I really like it.
Such a great way to put this Detailed Travel Comparison between Indonesia vs Thailand, thank you So Much
Such an in depth article! Thank you so much 🙂