Asia remains the best-value continent on the planet for travellers. These ten destinations deliver maximum experience per taka, whether you are backpacking or taking the family.
1. Kathmandu & Pokhara, Nepal
Guesthouses, momo and mountain panoramas at student prices.
2. Hanoi, Vietnam
Street pho for a dollar and the karst bays of Ha Long a bus ride away.
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Temples, night markets and cooking classes in Thailand's calm north.
4. Luang Prabang, Laos
Waterfalls and monasteries in Southeast Asia's sleepiest gem.
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sunrise at Angkor Wat costs less than a Dhaka dinner buffet.
6. Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Borobudur, volcanoes and batik on a shoestring.
7. Kandy & Ella, Sri Lanka
The hill-country train ride is the best budget experience in South Asia.
8. Ipoh & Penang, Malaysia
Heritage streets and arguably the region's best cheap food.
9. Darjeeling, India
Toy train, tea gardens and Kanchenjunga views right next door.
10. Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
Do not sleep on home — the world's longest beach keeps getting better.
Book flights on Tuesday-Wednesday windows, travel in shoulder season, and your biggest expense becomes deciding where to go next.
