The Perth Back Door: a money-saving Australia + Southeast Asia backpacking route

Use Australia's west coast as the world's cheapest exit to Asia.

The route, leg by leg

1. ✈️ California → Sydney · ~$450
   Sale fare in; do the east coast first.
2. 🚌 East coast → Melbourne · ~$100
   Buses/rideshares down the coast.
3. ✈️ Melbourne → Perth · ~$120
   Jetstar/Virgin domestic sale. Margaret River side-trip if time allows.
4. ✈️ Perth → Bali · ~$90
   The famous cheap hop — under AUD 99 in sales, 3.5 hours.
5. ✈️ Bali → Kuala Lumpur · ~$50
   AirAsia into the hub.
6. ✈️ Kuala Lumpur → Bangkok + mainland loop · ~$40
   Thailand → Laos → Vietnam overland from here.
7. ✈️ Bangkok → California · ~$480
   Fly home from the region's best-connected hub.

Transport total: about $1,330. Daily budget: $51/day shoestring, $77/day flashpacker.

Why it saves money

💰 Perth–Bali is Australia's cheapest international flight, which turns the expensive 'Australia → Asia' leg into pocket change. You also see the west coast most backpackers skip.

Other classic routes