10 Cheapest Countries to travel from India (under 50k)
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We love heading out of the country for a vacation. It just adds a whole lot of excitement to our already high travel frenzy. However, international travel involves heavy expenditure. The cost of airfare, India’s weak currency and hefty visa expenses quickly increase the total expense of a trip. All of this gives rise to one obvious question – what are the cheapest countries to travel from India? Thankfully, there are plenty.
Below is a list of the cheapest countries to travel from India with a rough estimate of the total expenses involved including airfare. I promise, that you can easily take an end-to-end trip in the budget mentioned below! Therefore, it’s one list that will blow your mind. You will definitely want to save it for quick referencing anytime you are planning a trip abroad!
Cheapest Countries to travel from India
1. Bhutan
How to enter
By Air:
Enter Bhutan by air to Paro. Bhutan’s Druk Air operates flights from Kolkata and Gaya. However, the flights only operate on certain days of the week and only for a few months of the year.
By road:
Take a flight to Bagdogra. (approx. INR 10k return from Mumbai and INR 7k return from New Delhi) and then take a taxi to Phuentsholing (Entry point on Bhutan border) The distance between Bagdogra and Phuentsholing is 150 km and takes about 4 hours. From here, take a bus to Thimpu. The total one-way cost from Bagdogra to Thimpu by this route is approx. INR 3k
Alternatively, take a train to Hasimara from Kolkata and then a rickshaw to Phuentsholing from Hasimara. Train from Kolkata to Hasimara costs about INR 500 and rickshaw from Hasimara to Phuentsholing costs about INR 30. Total one-way cost from Kolkata to Phuentsholing by this route is be approx. INR 800.
Visa
No Visa required.
Currency
Bhutanese Ngultrum whose value is pegged to INR and hence 1 Bhutanese Ngultrum = 1 INR. Do note that Indian rupee is widely accepted all over Bhutan.
Best Time to go
March through May and September through November are peak months.
Accommodation
Approx. INR 500 onwards at Phuentsholing, Thimpu and Paro
Overview of things to do
Thimpu, Paro and Punakha are the key towns that must be explored in Bhutan. They are all connected by buses making sightseeing points easily accessible and affordable. Apart from admiring the breath-taking natural beauty of Bhutan, Bhutan is decorated by some of the most stunning monasteries and dzongs (fortresses turned into administrative buildings.)
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
Ex Kolkata – INR 7k – 8k
Ex Mumbai/Delhi via Bagdogra – INR 20k – 25k
2. Nepal
Airfare
Approx. INR 14k from Mumbai and INR 9k from Delhi to Kathmandu
Visa
No visa required
Currency
Nepalese Rupee ( 1 INR = approx 1.6 Nepalese rupees)
Best time to go
October to December. January and February will be cooler but still quite favourable from a touristic point of view.
Accommodation
INR 350 onwards at hostels. INR 500 onwards at hotels.
Overview of things to do
There are plenty of things to do in Nepal. Kathmandu and Pokhara are the favourites among tourists. Nepal is particularly known as the trekkers’ paradise. Visitors could enthral themselves by viewing the Mount Everest from a helicopter ride or take mini-treks around it. Additionally, the cities feature interesting sanctuaries, national parks and monasteries.
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 25k-30k
3. Indonesia
Return Airfare
INR 15k onwards from Tiruchirapalli, INR 16k onwards from Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi.
Visa
No visa required for up to 30 days.
Currency
Balinese Rupaiya (1 INR = 200 Balinese Rupaiya)
Best Time to go
Jakarta – June to September
Bali – Year-round destination
Accommodation
INR 400 onwards in Bali, INR 600 onwards in Jakarta
Overview of things to do
The capital city Jakarta is a traveller’s delight with great museums, zoos, amusement parks, picturesque old towns and heritage villages. Bali, on the other hand, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Asia, is a stunning blend of beach-life delights and countryside calm.
Plan your trip to Bali with our comprehensive Bali itinerary!
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 25k-30k
4. Sri Lanka
Return Airfare
Mumbai / New Delhi to Colombo – approx. INR 12k
Visa
USD 20 or approx. INR 1,500
Currency
Sri Lankan Rupee (1 INR = approx. 2.5 Sri Lankan Rupees)
Best Time to go
January to March
Accommodation
INR 800 – 1K per night onwards in Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
Overview of things to do
Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are the favourite destinations among tourists. They are all connected by train and by bus, thus offering budget-friendly travel options, provided you plan well in advance. Sri Lanka is known for its lush green landscapes, beautiful coastlines, stunning beaches and temples.
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 30k
5. Malaysia
Return Airfare
INR 13K-14K from New Delhi / Mumbai to Kuala Lumpur
Visa
35$ or approx. INR 2500
Currency
Ringgit (1 Ringgit = INR 17.5)
Best time to go
November to March
Accommodation
INR 500 onwards
Overview of things to do
Kuala Lumpur and Penang are among the popular destinations amongst budget travellers visiting Malaysia for the first time. Kuala Lumpur being the capital of Malaysia is a vast city and is home to many mosques, parks, administrative buildings and monuments. Penang, on the other hand, is the food capital of Asia and the architectural beauty of the old town of Penang impresses its visitors.
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 30k
6. Cambodia
Return Airfare
INR 18k onwards from Mumbai and New Delhi to Siem Reap and 13k onwards from Kolkata and Kochi
Visa
40 USD or approx INR 3k
Currency
Cambodian Riel (1 INR = approx 56 riel)
Best Time to go
November to March
Accommodation
INR 500 onwards in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
Overview of things to do
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are the cities in Cambodia that are flocked by tourists.
Phnom Penh is located on the confluence of Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake. It offers its tourists a fabulous walkable waterfront with a great hang-out vibe. This capital city also possesses some fine French architectural buildings, Pagodas, temples and museums.
Siem Reap is greatly famous as being the seat of the Khmer dynasty and the world-renowned temple of Angkor i.e. Angkor Wat. In fact, Cambodia is such a culturally rich and budget-friendly country that a two week backpacking trip to this country will also not burn a hole in your pocket!
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 30k
7. Vietnam
Return Airfare
INR 20k onwards from Mumbai to Ho Chi Minh and approx 15k onwards from Kolkata and Chennai
Visa
INR 4k
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (1 INR = Vietnamese 325 Dong)
Best Time to go
February to May and August to October
Accommodation
INR 350 onwards in Ho Chi Minh and INR 250 onwards Hanoi
Overview of things to do
Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi are the most popular destinations among tourists visiting Vietnam.
At Ho Chi Minh, you can experience the famous Cu Chi Tunnel, admire the war museum and also enjoy typical touristic pleasures like visiting spas, cafes, shopping at local markets and tasting queer street food.
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and carries on its shoulders a rich heritage of over 1000 years. It has beautiful lakes, some fine museums and an old quarter showcasing some terrific colonial architecture.
Additionally, Halong Bay is a stunning beach destination in Vietnam which is also extremely popular among tourists. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site from where you can visit numerous small islands and explore interesting caves.
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 30k
Read all about the best way to visit Vietnam on a budget here.
8. Thailand
Return Airfare
Mumbai / New Delhi to Bangkok – INR 14k onwards
Visa
INR 2500
Currency
Baht ( 1 Baht = approx 2 INR)
Best time to go
November to March
Accommodation
INR 800 onwards at Bangkok and Pattaya
Overview of things to do
The popular destinations amongst budget travellers to Thailand are Bangkok and Pattaya. Bangkok, being the capital city offers zoos, bird parks, museums, temples and shopping areas while Pattaya is a great beach destination.
If you stretch your budget a bit, you could also visit other destinations in Thailand such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, etc.
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 30k-40k
9. Seychelles
Return Airfare
INR 24k onwards to Mahé from Mumbai
Visa
No Visa for 30 days
Currency
Seychelles Rupee (1 Seychelles Rupee = INR 5) Do note that the euro is also widely accepted here.
Best Time to go
Year-round destination
Accommodation
INR 1k onwards
Overview of things to do
Mahé, the capital and Praslin are the two islands that tourists prefer.
Seychelles has pristine beaches. The sixth best beach in the world is situated in Seychelles. Additionally, Seychelles is home to UNESCO sites. The capital city of Seychelles is the smallest capital city in the world. Plus, Seychelles being a year-round destination exhibits some beautiful tropical flora and fauna making it a perfect destination even for family travel.
Total expenditure including airfare for a week-long holiday
INR 40k-50k
10. UAE
Return Airfare
INR 13k onwards from Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai.
Visa
INR 5690 for 14 days
Currency
Dirham (1 Dirham = approx INR 20 )
Accommodation
INR 2500 per night onwards (Stay here is expensive unlike other countries)
Best time to go
October to April
Overview of things to do
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are one of the most developed cities in the world offering world-class touristic avenues.
Your Dubai itinerary will keep you engaged with a visit to the renowned Burj-Khalifa Burj-Arab, souks, promenades and shopping areas. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, will charm you with its visually spellbinding Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque, visit to the nearby Sir Bani Yas island and overall natural beauty.
Total expenditure for a 5-day holiday including airfare
INR 40k – 50k
The above list should give you a fair idea of the minimum expenditure involved when travelling to any of the above places. While it is true that if you stick to the above-mentioned budget range, you will not be able to spend freely on shopping or live in lavish accommodations; you will, nevertheless, get to experience the beauty of these countries. In fact, my travel experiences from the past, have taught me, that the essence of a place does not lie in living at five-star properties (They are great for comfort & luxury and sometimes, definitely what you must splurge on!) The real essence of a place can be experienced by interacting as much as possible with the locals of that place. And for that, you must eat the food they eat, commute between places the way they do and spend as much time possible being out and about!
So, do you now feel empowered and equipped to head out on a couple of journeys, that too, international ones? Which of the above countries would you like travel to? Also, have you visited any country from India on a small budget that is not included in this list? Do let us know by commenting below!
