How to Travel from Thailand to Bali? By Air, Land, or Water

Thailand and Bali are far apart, the straight-line distance from Bangkok to Bali is about 1,832.15 miles (2,948.56 kilometers). Therefore, it is important to choose the right way of transportation before you go. There are several options for traveling from Thailand to Bali, such as flight, cruise, train and bus.

Flying is the fastest and most convenient way; cruise is scenic and leisurely, but takes longer; train trips are very interesting but require multiple transfers and are not very convenient; finally, due to the long-time route and the hassle of crossing the border, traveling overland by bus or car is the least recommended.

In this blog, we will explore the different ways to travel from Thailand to Bali to start this unforgettable and seamless journey!

How Far is it from Thailand to Bali? The Location Map

Thailand is situated on the mainland of Southeast Asia and is bordered by Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Bali is in the Indian Ocean and is a part of Indonesia. To get from Thailand to Bali, it is necessary to go through parts of Malaysia, Singapore, and other Indonesian islands - or just fly right over them!

The distance between Thailand and Bali is approximately 1,832.15 miles (2,948.56 km) in a straight line. But the exact distance varies depending on where you’re departing from and where you’re headed. Read more about the main tourist cities of thailand.

If you are flying out of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), it is about 1,928.53 miles (3,103.68 kilometers) to Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS). If you’re in southern Thailand, like Phuket or Koh Samui, your departure point is slightly closer to Bali, with Hat Yai Airport (HDY) around 1,828.12 miles (2,942.67 kilometers) away from Bali’s airport.

The Location Map of Bali and Thailand.

Travel from Thailand to Bali by Flight: Fastest and Most Convenient Way

Flying is the fastest and most convenient way to get from Thailand to Bali. You can choose between direct flights and connecting flights.

Direct Flights

Flights from Thailand to Bali direct take approximately 4 hours, based on which airport you depart from in Thailand. The flights are offered by Thai Airways, Garuda Indonesia and AirAsia and cost from US$200 to US$400 one way.

Depending on the airline you have chosen, you will fly out of either Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Muang International Airport (DMK). Direct flights to Suvarnabhumi from other Thai airports are also available, including (but not limited to) Phuket International Airport (HKT) and Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), but they are infrequent and costly.

The direct flight schedules from Thailand to Bali are always changing on the availability of airlines and demand, but you can typically find several flights per day, especially from Bangkok. Click to know 6 extraordinary things to do in Bangkok.

Here’s a direct flight schedule reference from Bangkok to Bali.

Airline	Departure Airport	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Flight Duration
Thai AirAsia	DMK	6:20	11:30	4h10m
Thai Airways	BKK	9:35	14:55	4h20m
Thai Lion Air	DMK	11:55	17:20	4h25m
Thai Airways	BKK	12:40	18:00	4h20m
Batik Air	DMK	13:50	19:10	4h20m
Indonesia AirAsia	DMK	19:00	00:20(+1)	4h20m

A plane is flying over the sea from Thailand to Bali.

Connecting Flights

Flight connections between Thailand and Bali typically have a stopover in cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta. Such flights cost less than direct flights, but the journey takes longer.

The flight time for connecting flights is between 6 hours 30 minutes and 10 hours 30 minutes, depending on the airline, the stopovers and the waiting time. The connecting flight schedule also differs for flights from Thailand to Bali depending on the airline and the season.

The most common transfer airports for connecting flights are Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in Malaysia, Changi Airport (SIN) in Singapore, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya, Indonesia. The prices range from US$100 to US$200 for AirAsia X, Scoot, Singapore Airlines.

Travel from Thailand to Bali by Cruise: Scenic but Lengthy

Cruising from Thailand to Bali is a way you can do it with a slower pace. During this unique experience, you will have amazing sea views during the trip and also stop at islands and coastal cities.

One option is to take a cruise from Phuket to Krabi and then fly from Krabi to Bali. It takes about 11 hours and costs about $200 per person. But it’s not exactly a cruise trip, since you still have to fly most of the way.

Here’s a cruise schedule reference from Phuket to Krabi.

Operator	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Duration	Sailing Days
Phi Phi Cruiser	8:30	15:30	7 hours	Everyday
Andaman Wave Master	8:45	10:45	2 hours	Everyday

The second is a cruise from Thailand to Bali, which has a lot of scenery to see, and you can enjoy the comfort and fun of the cruise. But it is also longer and more costly.

Viking Cruises, for example, has a 13-day cruise from Bangkok to Bali with stops also in Kuala Lumpur (the capital of Malaysia) and Singapore. It runs around $5,999 a person.

Here’s a Viking cruise schedule reference from Bangkok to Bali.

2025	Direction
Nov 2	Bangkok (Laem Chabang) to Bali (Benoa)
Nov 4	Bangkok (Laem Chabang) to Bali (Benoa)
2026	Direction
Oct 25	Bangkok (Laem Chabang) to Bali (Benoa)
Nov 13	Bangkok (Laem Chabang) to Bali (Benoa)

The third waterway to travel from Thailand to Bali is by the combination of ferry, speedboat, and sailboat. This is the most adventurous and flexible type of boat travel, but also the most challenging and risky.

These cruises typically include lodging, food and entertainment. They tend to stop at many of the sights throughout the region, and can be a more relaxing (and more luxurious) option.

There are also some disadvantages to choosing a cruise, it takes a long time, some days or maybe even weeks. In addition, you’ll have to deal with transit visas in several countries, and sea travel can be impacted by bad weather and unpredictable cruise schedules.

Viking Cruises from Bangkok to Bali 13 days and 12 nights.

Travel from Thailand to Bali by Train: Adventurous but Inconvenient

For those adventurous travelers who wish to explore more of Southeast Asia and enjoy the scenery along the way, taking a train journey from Thailand to Bali is a good choice. But no direct train connects Thailand with Bali, and you have to combine several modes of transportation to complete the trip.

To get started, you’ll take a train from Bangkok to southern Thailand, transit through Malaysia and continue by train to Kuala Lumpur and finally, Singapore.

In Singapore, your train journey comes to an end entirely. Then you can take a flight or ferry onward to Indonesia and eventually reach Bali.

That means you have to cross four other countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. You also have to take ferries, buses, taxis or flights to connect the various train stations.

The total distance by train from Thailand to Bali is about 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles), the travel time is about 5 days, and the whole cost of the train ticket is about 200 US dollars per person, not including other transportation costs. In addition, you have to get visas for each country you pass through, which adds even more time and money to the journey.

Therefore, traveling to Bali by train from Thailand is possible, but not very practical or convenient.

Beautiful spectacular island scenery in Bali with sunny weather.

Travel from Thailand to Bali by Land is the least Recommended

Traveling completely overland from Thailand to Bali is the least recommended option, as there are no direct buses between them.

The overland route requires taking a bus or train from Thailand to Malaysia, passing through Malaysia to Singapore, then taking a ferry from Singapore to the Indonesian islands, taking multiple bus rides through the various Indonesian islands, and finally taking a ferry to Bali.

The total cost of the entire trip is about $400 per person, excluding visa fees and other expenses. You will also need to apply for a visa for each country you enter, which will add more hassles and delays to your journey.

Therefore, traveling overland from Thailand to Bali is not only very time-consuming, but traveling overland for such a long distance can be exhausting. You will also have to deal with different traffic rules, weather conditions in Thailand, and safety issues along the way.

Tourists are having fun on the beautiful beach in Bali.

More Insider Tips for a Smooth Thailand and Bali Tour

Here are some handy insider tips for planning a smooth and fun journey from Thailand to Bali:

Plan Ahead

Plan your trip early can make it smoother, and also buy the flight, train or cruise ahead of time for the best prices.

Pack Smart

Since both Thailand and Bali are tropical, pack light, breathable clothing, and remember the sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, etc.

Visa Information

Thailand offers 30 days of visa-free access from most countries, and those not in the part of Indonesia (Bali) with visa-free countries can also apply for a 30-day e-visa online. But policies can change, so check requirements before you travel.

Consider Travel Services

We understand that getting from Thailand to Bali should not be a burden, so IndochinaTour specializes in suggesting the best flight according to your budget and interests, and also helps you to plan the entire journey at the best price.

Conclusion

After considering all the possible ways of traveling to Bali from Thailand, flying is definitely the option that most travelers should take - it will save you days or even weeks compared to other transport alternatives.

If you’re adventurous and have plenty of time, combining different ways of transportation can make for a lifetime journey through Southeast Asia. No matter which way you take to Bali from Thailand, you’ll be able to get a full experience of Southeast Asia’s culture, food and scenery along the way.

Now you know how to travel from Thailand to Bali, it’s time to start planning the dream vacation - Bali’s sunsets are waiting!