VWB Blog If you are thinking about Thailand or Bali, you must be wondering which one will steal your heart for the big trip.
All is fair in love and war and when the battle for where to go pits two tropical heavyweights such as Bali and Thailand against each other there are no losers.
Both these Southeast Asian destinations are filled with pristine beaches, lush verdant jungles, rich history, and spiritual exploration with temples and yoga treats.
Though they appear the same they are different. For starters, it’s worth remembering one is an entire country -Thailand and the other is an island of Indonesia-Bali. Bali is one of the evocative places and a visit here sparks the senses. Surfers come to the fabled swells, hikers can trek up volcanic peaks to misty waterfalls, and cyclists can bike through lush landscapes bristling with rice terraces and dotted with traditional villages.
With the Bali Tour Packages tour the Tegallalang rice fields are located twenty minutes north of Ubud in Bali and are a renowned stop for those visiting Kintamani as they fall on the same road. The famous tourist spot loved by trekkers is Mount Batur as you can witness the gorgeous view of the sun rising and ascending behind magnificent mountains.
Plan your travel with the Thailand Tour Packages as you visit the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya. It is one of the most iconic architectural structures which is made of teak wood. Despite being an incomplete structure, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
Located above the Chao Phraya River is the Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn and is a great location to witness beautiful sunrises or sunsets. If you are looking for an exotic experience then go on a dinner cruise in the Chao Phraya River with family and friends. It offers various entertainment options like live shows and more.
Similan Islands, Phuket
Gradually becoming a favourite with divers visiting Similan Islands with the Thailand Tour Packages.
Similan Islands are located eighty-four km from Phuket. They are a must-visit place for their powdery white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, rich marine life and some of the most stunning scenery in Thailand.
The Similan Islands are the true gem found in the Andaman Sea in the south of Thailand. The Similians do not have the dramatic limestone islands of Krabi or Phang Nga Bay instead one finds low-lying formations that are covered with thick forest.
The most striking feature which catches the eye is the huge boulders that fill the western and southern shores of several of the islands. Some of the most spectacular coral growths in the world can be found here beneath the waves.
The scattered boulders on the shore have turned the waters around the Similan Islands into an adventure playground for divers.
Nusa Dua Beach, Bali
Escape from Bali’s urban buzz with the Bali Tour Packages as you recline on a comfortable sun lounger and a cool drink in hand on Nusa Dua Beach.
Nusa Dua is a resort destination in Bali. It is an inclusive place as the beaches here are extremely clean and the waters are bluer than the sky. Nusa Dua Beach or Pantai Mengiat has clean white sands, and calm waves and is uncrowded.
A five hundred metres long reef barrier protects the seashore from the rough waves of the Indian Ocean.
Most of the beaches here are private because they belong to the resorts. The Water Blow Site in Nusa Dua is a point on the rocky shore where the funnelling of the waves causes the water to shoot thirty m into the air.
It has a purpose-built lookout deck from where one can see the large waves from the Indian Ocean constantly crash against the rugged limestone edges making it a pleasant spot for photography.
White Temple, Chiang Rai
White temple locally known as Wat Rong Khun is a fine example of culture and architectural excellence and is best explored with the Thailand Tour Packages. It is a Buddhist Temple and one of the most recognizable temples in Pa O Don Chai.
As you almost reach Wat Rong Khun it becomes evident how it got it’s English name. It is no ordinary temple and is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a successful Thai businesswoman who opened it to visitors in 1997.
The temple stands out because of the white colour and use of pieces of glass which shimmer in the sun. The white colour signifies the purity of Buddha while the glass symbolises Buddha’s wisdom.
To get to the Ubosot (Ordination Hall) one has to walk over a bridge passing a small pond and hundreds of hands reaching upward and symbolising unrestrained desire. The decor inside switches to fiery golds and reds in a very non-traditional feel. Images of nuclear warfare and terrorists. attacks signify the destructive impact humans have had on Earth. With slightly bizarre items to traditional temple points of interest, one thinks about life differently. Purchase a beaded aluminium wish maker and write your wish on it.
Uluwatu
The next highlight of the Bali Tour Packages is Uluwatu located at the southwestern tip of Bukit in Bali.
Uluwatu lures surfers of all levels from around the world towards its exciting shoreline. Uluwatu lies away from the big busy cities like Seminyak and Kuta. The roads are straight and quiet easy to explore by motorbike.
Balangan Beach is famous for both surfing and sunbathing as this viewpoint on the northern tip provides a panoramic view over the two-hundred-meter-wide beach. Uluwatu Temple is a one-thousand-year-old temple that gave this area its name.
The temple rests on the edge of a massive sea cliff and is one of the popular places to watch sunset in Bali. Bingin Beach is a photogenic beach with exotic boulders and seaweed-covered rocks.it is a beautiful scenic spot with exotic-looking leafy boulders and sunsets amazing for clicking pics as this white sand beach is becoming a beloved surfing spot.
Pemuith Beach is a famed surfing spot with cliffside hotels and a small but nice white sand beach. Padang Padang is a nice-looking little beach which is tucked into cliffs and to get there you have to squeeze through a narrow passage in the rocks and walk down some steps.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National is a heritage site listed on the Thailand Tour Packages. Khao Sok National Park is located in Southern Thailand and is covered by the oldest evergreen rainforests in the world.
It is perfectly situated between Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Samui on the mainland. This nature reserve contains dense virgin jungle, man-made Cheow Lan Lake and towering limestone karst formations.
It is home to rare species like giant parasitic Rafflesia flower, hornbill birds, tigers and gibbons. The park can be explored by hiking trails, elephant-back safari, raft, or kayak via the Sok River. The Cheow Lan Lake was artificially made in 1987 and is located in the centre of the national park.
The lake is surrounded by thick green rainforests, beautiful waterfalls and hidden caves all waiting to be explored. The park covers an area of seven hundred square km. Elephants are considered to be the highlight of the national park as one can interact with the elephants and the mahouts. Visitors can feed the elephants and even scrub, clean and bathe them.
Experience the world of the tropical forest on foot is a different opportunity to explore the national park. It is recommended to take a designated guide with you and follow the norms of the park.
Take a relaxed canoe ride as you head to the Sok River. While canoeing you will encounter kingfishers, snakes, frogs, herons, monitor lizards and wild monkeys. Enjoy boat tours of the Cheow Lan Lake as it is sprawled across 165 square km within the National Park.
Mostly the resorts around the lake offer free and unlimited usage of their kayaks.
Kuta Beach
One of the most happening places to visit with the Bali Tour Packages is Kuta Beach.
Though it is crowded and the beach is stalked by hawkers is a famous stretch of sand located along the neighbouring Legian and Seminyak beaches. It is one of the best places to enjoy Bali’s sunsets.
Kuta Beach is a stretch of cream-coloured sand sprawled across 2.5 km. On the beach, people can enjoy parasailing, swimming and banana boat trips. Before sunset, crowds rush to the beach and wait to watch the setting sun.
As darkness falls Kuta’s nightlife starts to throb with restaurants, loud music from bars and shops open till late at night. Beyond the sun, sand, and waves there are many other thrilling things to do in Kuta Beach.
From exploring local markets to relishing delicious Indonesian cuisine and indulging in spa treatments it has something for everyone. Dream Museum Zone is another place to visit when visiting Kuta. This indoor attraction is filled with interactive 3D paintings.
Some of the paintings are life-size and ideal to pose with. Another attraction is the Kuta Turtle Society as it is home to a thriving turtle hatchery which protects Olive Ridley turtles and releases them back into the wild.
Badung Market is one of the largest and traditional markets which offers a wide variety of fresh produce, local delicacies and spices.
Kuta Night Market is a renowned spot for locals and tourists alike as it offers a wide range of food and local snacks.
Railay Beach
Located on a small peninsula between the city of Krabi and Ak Nang is Railay Beach which features on the checklist of the Thailand Tour Packages.
It is also known as Rai Leh and is accessible only by boat because of its high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access.
Railay is known for its stunning turquoise waters, natural scenery and immaculate shores. With its spectacular cliffs dotting the landscapes, it has become a popular rock-climbing hub for local as well as international visitors looking for a thrilling adventure.
Besides rock climbing other attractions include bat caves and captivating views of Railay. The beach is divided into three parts Beach West which is surrounded by limestone cliffs where it is possible to swim to a certain point and watch the sunset.
Railay Beach East is famous with foreign tourists for rock climbing and Phra Nang Cave Beach as there is a shrine where the sailors pay their respect and worship.