Asia on a budget
Our Asia Holidays
Japan tailor made tour on a shoestring
Japan's classic sights on a shoestring
Vietnam holiday, South to North
From bright lights, to beaches and junk boats.
Golden Triangle small group holiday, India
India's 3 most popular destinations, Delhi, Agra & Jaipur
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh holiday in Vietnam
Capture the spirit of Vietnam on this compact adventure
East Vietnam budget holiday
Trace Vietnam's mystical eastern coastline
South India tour, Trivandrum to Goa
Head to the beaches and backwaters of southern India.
North India cultural tour
An adventure to one of the planet's exotic destinations
Beijing to Shanghai tour in China
Discover the delights of China's north
Japan honeymoon tour on a shoestring
Simple hotels, rustic ryokan, unforgettable honeymoon.
Borneo tailor made tour on a shoestring
The Best of Borneo: Wildlife, Adventure, Idyllic Beaches
India small group tour
An express pass through India to see all the best!
Rajasthan desert adventure
Explore India's desert state, tigers and Taj Mahal
Small group tour in Thailand
The best of Thailand in 9, 12 or 18 days.
Cultural immersion holiday in Thailand
The ultimate cultural immersion trip
Vietnam and Cambodia 15 day tour, tailor made
See two wonders of the world in just two weeks
South India & Kerala holiday
Mysore Palace village stay Kerala Backwaters
Best of Thailand adventure holiday
See the best of Thailand in style!
Nepal trek with Chitwan National Park safari
Trek in Kathmandu valley & Chitwan
Indochina holiday, Hanoi to Bangkok via Angkor
Awesome adventure through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand
Bali small group tour, 12 days
The best of Bali in 9 or 12 days.
Kerala budget holiday, tailor made
Budget tailor-made holiday in Kerala
Punjab holiday, mountains & mystics
Mountains remote villages Golden Temple
Bhutan holidays, cultural tours
Discover Bhutan for a once in a lifetime experience
Bali experience holiday
Discover the best of Bali in either 12 or 15 days.
Northeast Thailand holiday, World Heritage sites
Superb landscapes, rich culture & 3,000 years of history
The benefits of a budget holiday in Asia
A budget trip to Asia, we think, should also include opportunities to meet local people who aren't living in backpacker zones or crowded tourist areas. The hosts at a family-run guesthouse or in a village homestay, for instance, or a local guide who is willing to show you around and take you to places that aren't making a living solely from their inclusion in Lonely Planet.
An organised tour, with a responsible travel company, takes surprise costs out of the equation so you can stick to a budget and put aside some money for a Dragon Boat cruise on the Perfume River in Hue, Vietnam, for instance, or an evening of sumo wrestling whilst touring from Tokyo to Kyoto in Japan.
Budgeting shouldn't mean that you miss out on things whilst travelling in Asia, far from it, and it also shouldn't mean that you compromise on safety or security. Sometimes cost cutting can come back to bite travellers, right in the bank balance.
Small group or tailor made?
Small groups in Asia also benefit from a tour leader to help everyone get orientated and to help in the event of something going wrong. Sometimes having your own translator, who knows the lay of the land, can really give first-time travellers, and old hands, a confidence boost when it comes to exploring further and trying things they might not feel comfortable with if travelling on their own.
Tailor made tours can also be surprisingly affordable in comparison to DIY alternatives, especially when you take into account everything that can be included – entrance fees, local guides, accommodation, border crossing assistance and transfers, for example. This type of tour also leaves you with more time to have fun and experience Asia, rather than waiting around in queues all day.
Private and public transport will also be included as part of a tailor made tour. This means you don't have to worry about the costs of travelling between locations and you can also arrive safe in the knowledge that you'll be staying somewhere locally owned so your money goes back into helping the local economy.
Where to stay on a budget in Asia
Our top Asia Holiday
Japan tailor made tour on a shoestring
Japan's classic sights on a shoestring
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
Eating out on a budget in Asia
Choosing a budget itinerary that has all meals included can really help to keep surprise costs down although, on the other hand, tucking into a street food banquet at the night markets of Thailand or China conjures up no end of temptations at a fraction of the cost of a sit-down alternative.