Budget guide
Homestays, public transport, and small group tours - yes, you can do many destinations on a budget without resorting to a cheap All-inclusive resort.
Where to go on a budget adventure holiday
Our budget adventure destinations open a window to a life less ordinary. Southeast Asia is a prime example: Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand seem permanently set to an adventure spin cycle. China, India and Nepal are places for epic adventures, but you’ll also find spiritual and cultural discoveries just as thrilling as white-water rafting and jungle trekking. Latin America boasts Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, while budget adventure combinations in Cuba and other Caribbean islands are worth their weight in pirate plunder. Finally, don’t discount Europe: Croatia, Greece and Spain are all worth a mention. Whilst they might save you money, our organised tours won’t skimp on ensuring the money you do spend benefits nature and communities, wherever you choose to go.
Borneo
Whilst it’s not as inexpensive as other parts of Southeast Asia, there’s no reason you can’t experience an adventure in Borneo on a budget. Make judicious use of locally owned ecolodges, meet sun bears and orangutans in special centres dedicated to their care, and take part in a tree planting programme – to ensure that the money you spend on the island goes to the right causes.
Cambodia
Cambodia offers budget adventures away from the tourists. If you look beyond Angkor Wat you’ll find cycle tours around Kompong Cham and village homestays in Chambok: authentic experiences to complement your tour of 'must see' sites. A combination of public and private buses come to your aid if you’re looking for affordable adventures. Save free time for optional activities on the beaches close to Sihanoukville, certain to suit all budgets.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Caribbean and Pacific coastlines – and exciting overland options between the two via the wildlife havens of Monteverde, La Fortuna and Tortuguero – provide budget travellers with one affordable and exotic adventure after the next in a destination that is a pioneer in responsible tourism. Optional activities range from snorkelling in the Caribbean and hiking in Manzanillo, to watching turtles and cooking empanadas; pick your pace and dive right in.
Croatia
Croatia is an affordable pocket of Europe and its abundance of naturally exciting landscapes bring budget adventures to life. Kayaking on the lakes, rivers and coastline of Croatia is one way to get your exploration off on the right foot. Next, try cycling from Skradin to Skradinski Buk waterfall, rock climbing in Paklenica National Park or sightseeing in Split, Trogir or Zagreb.
Moroccan adventure holiday
From Marrakech medinas to the Sahara desert landscape
From
£623 to £995
11 days
ex flights
Central America small group tour
Epic Central American journey from Mexico to Costa Rica.
From
£4050 to £4790
34 days
ex flights
Costa Rica highlights holiday & beach
Experience the jungles, volcanoes and beaches of Costa Rica
From
£2050
13 days
ex flights
East Vietnam budget holiday
Trace Vietnam's mystical eastern coastline
From
£640 to £955
15 days
ex flights
Southern Africa overland camping holiday
Discover southern Africa from Kruger to the Okavango Delta
From
£2032 to £2695
18 days
ex flights
Sarawak wildlife & beach holiday
Encounter orangutans and hike through virgin rainforest
From
£1028 to £1870
10 days
ex flights
Cuba
In comparison to the rest of the Caribbean, Cuba is relatively inexpensive. One of the best ways to embark on a budget adventure is to stay at family homestays and put yourself in the hands of a local tour operator, as our holidays do. What better way to catch a ride on a fishing boat to an uninhabited island or find the best trail in Vinales Valley other than with someone who’s lived in the area their whole life?
Ecuador
Budget adventures in Ecuador open up innumerate Andean and Amazonian doors with village homestays, Devil's Nose train rides and optional activities in Machalilla National Park, such as snorkelling, hiking and seasonal whale watching, all within easy reach. Travelling by public transport increases interaction with local people in readiness for overnight stays in places like San Clemente.
Greece
Sailing amongst the Greek islands doesn't have to be the preserve of the billowing, open shirt brigade, although you can loosen a button or two if you wish. Sign up to become part of a small group on an 11-passenger sailing boat, and travel in style, in a low-impact way. Our trips will take you from Santorini to Mykonos on a budget adventure that sets sail on the simplicity of sun, sea and the Cyclades.
India
Clamber aboard an Indian sleeper train and let your senses click into overdrive as you travel like a local in one of Asia's most absorbing budget adventure capitals. Delhi provides a mind-blowing intro to the intoxicating eccentricity of India. The city is also your gateway to the mountains and agricultural fields of the Punjab and the backwaters and beaches of Kerala – both ideal for budget adventurers who want to interact with local communities as they travel.
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Montenegro
Montenegro is famed for its plunging river gorges, thick pine forests and clear blue lakes, and the landscapes of the national parks of Durmitor and Lake Skadar are absolutely no exception. Outdoor activities such as rafting, hiking and canyoning provide every excuse to make the most of the jaw dropping scenery. Whether you opt for self guided or small group trips, passionate hosts can impart fantastic local knowledge to enhance your trip.
Morocco
Not only do you get excellent value for money in Morocco, but its landscapes make the perfect adventure playground. Think desert dunes explored from the back of a camel at sunset, learning to surf on the breezy Atlantic coast, hiking in the Atlas Mountains, or taking a sleeper train from Tangier to Marrakech. After your adventures, retreat into a hammam: the best place to recover after a day exploring sun and sand.
South Africa
The safari parks, cities and wild coastlines of South Africa equate to some of the most exciting budget adventure destinations imaginable. Take a small group overland tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town and you’ll experience an incredible array of included and optional activities. Game drives in Kruger, hikes in the Drakensberg, camping on the Garden Route and visiting conservation projects along the way; you name it and South Africa’s roaring to go.
Vietnam
Head out of Hanoi and let the coast guide you south to Ho Chi Minh City via limestone karsts, rice paddies and characterful cities packed with cultural heritage. Budget adventures in Vietnam might include the long-distance Reunification Express train and homestays on the Mekong Delta. Pick apart the colourful cultural threads in this affordable and exciting part of Southeast Asia.
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