Bali and Bora Bora are two popular destinations for those looking for something special, exotic, and tropical.
However, they are completely different in terms of activities and budget. Depending on your travel style, both can be a great option for your next trip.
Let’s dive into our in-depth honest comparison of the two islands.
Bali At A Glance
Bali is a small Indonesian island in the middle of the Indian Ocean not far from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.
It is home to unique Balinese Hindu culture and myriads of temples, endless rice paddies, kind people, delicious Indonesian food, and surfing. It is a true yogi and digital nomad mecca, while Kuta and Canggu are still go-to places to party hard.
Bali is a much larger island than Bora Bora – roughly 100 times bigger than Bora Bora.
If you’re looking for diverse landscapes, an all-in-one kind of trip with some cultural, and outdoor activities, but also a bit of spa and beach hopping Bali is your awesome
Bora Bora At A Glance
Bora Bora is a French Polynesian island, located somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Bora Bora has a strong Polynesian heritage and a Christian influence.
If you’re looking for a relaxing, quiet experience with stunning beaches and being somewhere remote with your loved one – Bora Bora is right for you.
Bora Bora has much fewer tourists and is less crowded, cleaner and calmer. You will need a serious travel budget to get there.
Bali Vs Bora Bora Head-To-Head Comparison
Even though the two islands are amazing destinations, we want to give an honest deep dive into details so you can make a decision for yourself.
We rank the two destinations in several areas to give you a blow-by-blow understanding of the important factors people consider when they go on vacation.
Climate In Bali vs Bora Bora
Both islands are tropical islands, but Bali is located in the Indian Ocean, and Bora Bora is in the Pacific Ocean which makes the weather slightly different.
Their tropical climate is quite similar: summer year-round with warm temperatures and monsoon seasons.
Bail sees a little more rain than Bora Bora and it is also a little warmer. The average temperature in Bali is 25–33°C (77–91°F), while in Bora Bora it is 22–30°C (72–86°F).
The rainy season in Bali is between November and March (sometimes April) with hotter weather and tropical rains. The wet season in Bora Bora is roughly from November to March.
The dry season in Bali and Bora Bora lasts from April/May to October and comes with wind, sometimes drought, and a bit lower temperatures.
The dry season is the best time to visit Bora Bora and Bali. The top month to visit Bora Bora is September, and the best time to visit Bali is from April to October.
Overall, this is a draw. Both places have very similar climates and the best time to visit each destination is going to be during the dry season when things are cooler, less humid and (as the name suggests) drier.
Beaches & Nature In Bali vs Bora Bora
All the beaches in Bora Bora are pristine white sand beaches while Bali has both white sand and black sand volcanic beaches.
The cleanliness of the water, the turquoise colour and its transparency is much better in Bora Bora. All the pristine beaches there are postcard-worthy spots. Matira Beach and Lagoon are the top beaches in Bora Bora.
Most luxurious resorts have their own private beaches where you can peacefully chill, swim, go on a snorkelling tour, or sunbathe.
Bali has more than water and beaches to offer. Visiting Bali you can enjoy rice paddies, rainforest jungles, mountains, canyons, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls, and many more natural attractions.
The best beaches in Bali are in Uluwatu with limestone cliffs and lush greenery. For the best beachfront experience, you should definitely visit FINNS Beach Club in Canggu – one of the world’s best beach clubs.
Overall, Bora Bora has better beaches than Bali, but Bali gets a strong second place and makes up for it with the diversity of the beach landscapes and nature. Beaches in Bora Bora are better for swimming than those in Bali.
Bali vs Bora Bora For Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
Bora Bora has much calmer waters and more preserved marine life diversity and coral reefs. It has the name the “Pearl of the Pacific” for a very good reason; it is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs.
Here you can also see whales! The peak humpback whale season in Bora Bora is when the whales are mating and breeding from June to November.
At the same time, because of Bali’s size, it has a lot of opportunities to see rare creatures like Mola Mola, huge manta rays, reef sharks, and dozens of tropical fishes. It is also located in the “Coral Triangle”.
In Bali, great diving and snorkelling spots are Amed, North Bali, Blue Lagoon, and Nusa Penida.
So, Bali is the clear winner in this category as it has more water activities to offer and better spots for diving and snorkelling.
Both Bora Bora and Bali are great destinations to swim with turtles and snorkel from the shore or the boat.
Cultural Experiences In Bali vs Bora Bora
Both cultures are some of the oldest and most beautiful, but Bali is home to more than 600 Balinese villages each carrying generations of cooking and ceremonial traditions.
Balinese Culture
Bali’s rich culture is deeply rooted in the Balinese Hindu religion with no less than 20,000 temples spread around the island.
It is a unique island in the world combining the traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam and so many different ceremonies happening all the time.
Rich cultural experiences stretch from the Ogoh-Ogoh mythical statues festival and Balinese Silent Day Nyepi, to beautiful parades for Balinese rituals, special water purifying ceremonies, and dozens of ancient temples and royal gardens.
Hand-crafted goods from textile batik, woodcarving, traditional cut-out puppets, and gold and silver jewellery, to daily offerings every family makes – attention to detail is in everything.
Bora Bora Cultural Experience
Bora Bora’s heritage is deeply rooted in Polynesian culture. Even this tiny island offers you a glimpse into history through ancient archeological sites.
You should absolutely visit the traditional Polynesian temples like Marae.
The island also has a lot of Tahitian and French influence that transpires in food, family traditions, and lifestyle.
Verdict: This is an easy win for Bali. Bali’s culture is renowned throughout the world and the island offers a much wider diversity of cultural experiences than Bora Bora.
Things To Do in Bali VS Things To Do In Bora Bora
At the same time, you won’t be disappointed with a selection of activities on the tiny islands of Bora Bora but it does suit better laid-back travellers.
Bali Bucket List
Snorkeling tour in Amed and visiting nearby temples
Uluwatu Temple and Kecak fire dance performance
Tanah Lot Water Temple
Mother Temple Besakih Temple
Waterfalls day trips (Git Git, Sekumpul, Tegenungan Waterfall, and many more)
Yoga & Healing
Water purification ritual at Tirta Empul Temple
Dolphin Watching in Lovina, North Bali
Sunrise trek to Mt Batur
Scuba diving to see Mola Mola and Manta Rays
UNESCO Heritage water systems Subak and Jatiluwih rice paddies, and so many more!
Things To Do In Bora Bora
Visiting archeological sites
4×4 tour
Hiking Mount Pahia or Mount Otemanu
Mont Mata Pupu hike
Learn about Bora Bora’s history and part in WWII
Visit the Naval Museum in Bora Bora
Sunset cruises
Snorkelling
Humpback whale watching and swimming with them
Sharks feeding
Traditional dance performance ‘Ori Tahiti
Tahitian Ahima’a feast
Polynesian temples
As you can see, Bali is a clear winner in this category and we’ve barely scratched the surface of what this Indonesian island can offer people. To be fair, a lot of this is due to the volume of visitors. The more people who come, the more you can invest in tourist experiences.
Which Island Has The Best Food, Bali Or Bora Bora?
Food is a very important part of why we choose to go on holiday and both Bali and Bora Bora offer plenty of tasty food.
Bali Dining Scene
Bali has traditional Indonesian and Balinese food to offer. The nationally popular dishes are gado gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), rendang (dry slow-cooked beef), babi guling (roasted pig), and nasi goreng (vegetable fried rice). Local spices are amazingly warm and flavorful.
Apart from local cuisine, there are hundreds of coffee shops, cafes and upscale dining experiences in Bali, including phenomenal raw food and vegan-friendly restaurants. European cuisine from Russian to German, as well as other Western foods, are readily available.
Street stalls offer cheap eats, your entire meal can cost under 20,000 IDR (under 2 AUD).
Bora Bora Food
Bora Bora resorts often have amazing dining options. The island catches fresh seafood that just tastes amazing. A lot of French-influenced dishes and European food are served in restaurants too accompanied by Tahitian music.
You must try the island’s signature dish – Poisson Cru made of marinated tuna, lime, and coconut milk and Poke is a traditional Polynesian national dish.
If you want something more familiar, the dining venues have amazing pasta, pastries, meats, and street food from little trucks.
Verdict. Bali is a clear winner for us. We love Balinese and Indonesian cuisine more than Pacific Island cuisine, and Bali has dozens of Michelin-worthy restaurants.
Adventure & Activities In Bali vs Bora Bora
Bali offers more adventurous activities: white water rafting, canyoning, hiking Bali’s mountains, beautiful waterfalls, Asia’s best waterpark, water sports, dolphin watching, island hopping, and so on.
Bali is one of the best yoga destinations in the world for both practising and learning. Ubud is the yoga capital of Bali.
Bora Bora may seem small, but don’t let it fool you. From a 4×4 tour of the island to day trips on traditional Polynesian outrigger boats to extreme water sports like kitesurfing, parasailing and hiking – you can find it all here!
However, there’s no doubt that Bali is the clear winner in this category. There’s so much to do on the island that you will be able to keep the adrenalin thumping through your veins for the whole trip if you want to.
Bali vs Bora Bora For A Romantic Getaway
Bora Bora is popular for pricey romantic getaways and honeymoons and Bali is considered to be a world-class wedding destination. Bali also sees its fair share of honeymooners, mind you.
There’s no doubt that you’d feel pretty special if someone popped the question in a beautiful villa on either island.
Bora Bora has some lovely places to stay that can put you in the mood to get down on one knee.
Bali also has some fantastic resorts, especially in areas like Nusa Dua, or smaller islands like Gili or Nusa Lembongan.
It is one of the top wedding destinations as Bali offers many stunning wedding venues – on the beach, in the jungle, on top of the cliff, and in a church.
Couples spa treatments with a flower bath and traditional Balinese body scrubs are a nice addition to a romantic getaway.
There’s no doubt that for the vast majority of people, Bali is going to be a better option whether you want to propose, get wed or go on a honeymoon. It has more choices of places to visit and an entire industry built around weddings and honeymoons.
Visit Bali vs Bora Bora For A Family Holiday
Bali is more suitable for a family trip than Bora Bora for a few reasons:
more budget-friendly
various activities for kids from daycare centres to water parks and Zoos
more families around to socialize
numerous kids’ playgrounds with group lessons
easier to shop for products, and get fresh vegetables and treats your kid may be craving.
The big issue for most families is that Bora Bora is not just expensive but that the kids can get bored and feel stuck in the resort if the vacation runs for more than a week. Some of the best Bora Bora hotels are for adults only.
Getting Around Bali and Bora Bora
In Bali, there is no public transportation between major tourist areas, but there are taxi apps offering bike and car rides, boat taxis between Canggu and Uluwatu, motorbike rentals, car rentals, and private drivers.
Traffic in Bali is dense and during peak hours, certain areas struggle with traffic jams. Getting between islands is easy with fast boats.
In Bora Bora, boat taxis are available to get between different sand-edged motu (islands). If you are staying on the main island (Vaitape), you can also rent a bicycle.
Bali is a clear winner in this category as there are plenty of ways to get around the island and, indeed, Indonesia as a whole.
Safety In Bali vs Safety In Bora Bora
Bora Bora Safety
Bora Bora is one of the safest travel destinations in the world, yet it can still get some flooding and landslides.
In town, occasional pickpocketing can still happen. Not too much and we have never felt unsafe in Bora Bora.
Bali Safety
Bali is generally safe for solo and group travellers, but you should use common sense.
There are still some petty crimes that happen in tourist areas so keep your expensive jewellery at home, wear the phone in a pouch, and store the rental bike helmets inside the bikes.
Bali traffic is dangerous for inexperienced drivers, and it is absolutely mandatory to have a license and good travel insurance covering motorbikes and sports.
Both destinations are safe, but Bora Bora edges this category. It is a safer destination overall as there are fewer residents, more money coming to the island and a lower general crime level.
Which Destination Is Cheaper Bali or Bora Bora?
Bora Bora is more for luxury travellers with said overwater bungalows costing from 700-3000/night AUD.
The daily budget in Bali is around 90 AUD for a non-luxe lifestyle and cooking at home or eating local to 450 AUD+ for a more premium experience, while in Bora Bora the daily budget should be around 1000-1200 AUD minimum including accommodation.
Bali’s affordability is based on a few factors:
First, many countries have direct flights to Bali and it is easier to get to Bali than it is to get to Bora Bora.
Bali has its own international airport, while Bora Bora only has a small regional airport you first need to fly in the Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti and then you will take a local flight to Bora Bora or hire a private jet.
Accommodation is generally cheaper in Bali. You can still find a few budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses as well as 5-star luxury resorts. And you can also stay in a treehouse, sustainable bamboo houses, or eco-lodges.
Bora Bora has mostly premium accommodation. However, there are a few guesthouses and even a camping ground on the island!
Daily expenses are cheaper in Bali. While both islands are remote, there are more supermarkets and local shops to get all you need in Bali than in Bora Bora. And by shopping at local markets you can get really affordable produce.
Overall Bali is clearly the best destination when it comes to prices. You can save a lot of money when compared to Bora Bora and enjoy a similar level of service and experience.
We suspect that this is going to be a deciding factor for many people planning this kind of holiday.
Bali VS Bora Bora Overall Verdict
So, in our round-up, we found that Bora Bora had the best beaches and was a slightly safer destination because of its size and focus on luxury travelers.
We also found that the two destinations were tied when it comes to climate.
Bali, on the other hand, was better for scuba diving and snorkelling, culture, things to do, food, adventure activities, as a romantic destination, as a family destination, for transport, and for value for money.
That’s a pretty clear win for Bali and while we don’t think you would have a bad time visiting Bora Bora, we think that for the vast majority of travellers, Bali is going to deliver a much better time for much less money.
You can spend a month in Bali, easily, for the same expense as a week in Bora Bora.
Final Thoughts On Bali vs Bora Bora
There are good reasons that millions of people each year choose Bali over Bora Bora as their holiday destination.
It’s not that Bora Bora isn’t a nice place, it is. But it’s super expensive to get to, it’s very expensive to stay there and it’s expensive to do anything. Worse, there’s less to do than in Bali and the food’s not as good.
Bali represents amazing value for money and a varied and exciting holiday for nearly all categories of tourists. It’s a paradise island that people come back to year after year for its charm and endless attractions.
Also read:
Bali Or Lombok: Which Island Is Best For Your Indonesian Holiday?
Bali Vs Maldives: The Tropical Island Heavyweights Go Head-To-Head
