Two of the world's most popular beach destinations — compared honestly by people who know both.
The Maldives and Bali are two of the world's most requested holiday destinations — and two that are frequently compared by people trying to decide between them. They're both islands in the Indian Ocean region, both have exceptional beaches and accommodation, and both are enormously popular with couples and honeymooners. Beyond that, they're quite different.
Maldives wins on beach quality by most measures — the white sand, the clear turquoise water and the absence of anything to obstruct the view are simply extraordinary. But Bali's beaches are more varied — dramatic black sand volcanic beaches at Amed, surf breaks at Uluwatu, busy resort beaches at Seminyak, quiet coves in the Bukit Peninsula. Bali rewards those who look beyond the obvious.
Bali wins this emphatically. The Maldives is a beach holiday destination — spectacular, serene and very limited in cultural stimulation. Bali has a rich, living Hindu culture expressed in daily offerings, elaborate temple ceremonies, exceptional traditional dance and a craft tradition in woodworking, weaving and silver. There is also world-class yoga, cooking classes, volcano trekking and a growing art and restaurant scene.
Bali is significantly cheaper than the Maldives. A private pool villa with daily breakfast in Seminyak runs $150–300 per night. The equivalent overwater villa in the Maldives runs $600–2,000+ per night. Budget travel is possible in Bali; it barely exists in the Maldives.
Choose the Maldives if: you want complete seclusion, you're celebrating a honeymoon or significant anniversary, you're passionate about snorkelling or diving, or your definition of the ideal holiday is a sunlounger, a book and a view of the Indian Ocean. Choose Bali if: you want a combination of beach and culture, you're on a tighter budget, you'd prefer to be able to leave your resort and explore, or you're travelling as a family.
Yes — and it's one of our most popular combinations. Fly into Colombo or Singapore, do 5 nights in the Maldives, then fly to Bali for a further 5–7 nights. The routing works geographically and gives you the best of both.
Both are outstanding honeymoon destinations but for different reasons. The Maldives offers the most romantic seclusion. Bali offers more variety — you can be on the beach in the day and in a world-class restaurant in the evening. We recommend Bali for couples who want to explore; the Maldives for couples who genuinely want to do nothing but lie on a beach and snorkel.
Bali, clearly. The food scene in Seminyak and Canggu is world-class. The Maldives has excellent resort restaurants but you're limited to eating on your own island — which inevitably restricts variety.