10 affordable alternatives to Bali for surf, rice terraces and wellness
A Quartz article lists 10 destinations that offer similar attractions to Bali—surf breaks, rice terraces, wellness retreats, and low costs—without the overtourism and rising prices. The alternatives span Southeast Asia and India: Siargao (Philippines) for surf-town energy; Lombok (Indonesia) for volcanic landscapes and car-free Gili Islands; Ella (Sri Lanka) for tea plantations and scenic train rides; El Nido (Philippines) for limestone karsts and lagoons; Hoi An (Vietnam) for rice paddies and a UNESCO old town; Kampot (Cambodia) for river towns and pepper farms; Koh Phangan (Thailand) for wellness and yoga; Munnar (India) for tea estates and Ayurveda; Langkawi (Malaysia) for duty-free shopping and geopark; and Labuan Bajo (Indonesia) for Komodo dragons and diving. Each destination provides a genuine substitute for a specific Bali experience at lower cost and with fewer crowds. The article emphasizes that these places can be reached via standard budget travel routes and offer similar conditions—warm water, cheap food, surf and yoga culture, dramatic landscapes—without the traffic and high-season prices that now define Bali.
Key facts
- Siargao in the Philippines offers surf breaks like Cloud Nine at a fraction of Bali's cost.
- Lombok is a two-hour fast boat from Bali and features Mount Rinjani and the car-free Gili Islands.
- Ella in Sri Lanka is known for tea plantations, Nine Arches Bridge, and hikes like Little Adam's Peak.
- El Nido in Palawan, Philippines, has limestone karst cliffs and island-hopping tours to lagoons.
- Hoi An in Vietnam combines rice paddies with a UNESCO World Heritage old town and tailoring industry.
- Kampot in Cambodia is a laid-back river town famous for its pepper farms and French colonial architecture.
- Koh Phangan in Thailand has evolved from Full Moon Party to a wellness and yoga destination.
- Munnar in India features tea plantations, Eravikulam National Park, and Ayurvedic treatments.
- Langkawi in Malaysia offers duty-free shopping, the Sky Bridge, and Kilim Geoforest Park.
- Labuan Bajo in Indonesia is the gateway to Komodo National Park, with dragon treks and diving.
Entities
Institutions
- UNESCO
- Komodo National Park
- Coral Triangle
- Eravikulam National Park
- Kannan Devan Hills tea estates
- Bokor National Park
- Kilim Geoforest Park
- Langkawi Sky Bridge
- Nine Arches Bridge
- Cloud Nine
- Phaeng Waterfall
- Than Sadet
- Diyaluma Falls
- Sendang Gile
- Tiu Kelep
- Sugba Lagoon
- Magpupungko
- Big Lagoon
- Small Lagoon
- Kayangan Lake
- Pink Beach
- Padar Island
- Manta Point
- Karang Makassar
- Haad Rin
- Haad Salad
- Mae Haad
- Bottle Beach
- Pantai Cenang
- An Bang Beach
- Tra Que vegetable village
- Kuta Lombok
- Selong Belanak
- Gili Trawangan
- Gili Meno
- Gili Air
- General Luna
- Naked Island
- Daku Island
- Guyam Island
- Sayak Airport
- Padang Bai
- Puerto Princesa
- Koh Samui
- Surat Thani
- Alleppey
- Kuah
- Koh Lipe
- Denpasar
- Sri Lankan Railways
Locations
- Bali
- Indonesia
- Siargao
- Philippines
- General Luna
- Cloud Nine
- Naked Island
- Daku Island
- Guyam Island
- Sugba Lagoon
- Magpupungko
- Sayak Airport
- Manila
- Cebu
- Lombok
- Lombok Strait
- Padang Bai
- Mount Rinjani
- Segara Anak
- Gili Trawangan
- Gili Meno
- Gili Air
- Kuta Lombok
- Selong Belanak
- Sembalun
- Sendang Gile
- Tiu Kelep
- Senaru
- Ella
- Sri Lanka
- Nine Arches Bridge
- Little Adam's Peak
- Ella Rock
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Diyaluma Falls
- El Nido
- Palawan
- Bacuit Bay
- Big Lagoon
- Small Lagoon
- Coron
- Kayangan Lake
- Puerto Princesa
- Hoi An
- Vietnam
- Thu Bon River
- An Bang Beach
- Tra Que vegetable village
- Kampot
- Cambodia
- Praek Tuek Chhu River
- Bokor National Park
- Kep
- Koh Phangan
- Thailand
- Gulf of Thailand
- Haad Rin
- Phaeng Waterfall
- Than Sadet
- Haad Salad
- Mae Haad
- Bottle Beach
- Koh Samui
- Surat Thani
- Munnar
- India
- Kerala
- Western Ghats
- Kannan Devan Hills
- Eravikulam National Park
- Alleppey
- Langkawi
- Malaysia
- Andaman Sea
- Gunung Mat Cincang
- Langkawi Sky Bridge
- Kilim Geoforest Park
- Pantai Cenang
- Kuah
- Koh Lipe
- Labuan Bajo
- Komodo National Park
- Komodo
- Rinca
- Padar Island
- Pink Beach
- Manta Point
- Karang Makassar
- Denpasar
Sources
- Quartz —