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Hello everybody! On this publish, I’ll be sharing our itinerary for 16 days in South Asia visiting Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Our preliminary itinerary didn’t embrace Malaysia, as we have been planning to fly on to Sri Lanka from Bangladesh, however on the finish, the flights by way of Kuala Lumpur have been twice cheaper, so we determined to spend 2 days in Malaysia as effectively.
This itinerary could be too busy and tiring for some folks, so when you choose relaxed journeys, I might counsel dropping Bangladesh and Malaysia from this journey and specializing in Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, our itinerary didn’t embrace any trekking in Nepal, when you’re planning to trek, permit at the very least 7 days for the trek and ensure to spend 1-2 days to see Kathmandu!
Earlier than we begin with the itinerary for 16 days in South Asia, I’ll attempt to reply the questions you might need earlier than the journey.
Do you want visas for the counties in South Asia?
Relying in your nationality, you may or won’t be eligible for the visa on arrival. All of the EU nation residents can get a visa on arrival in Nepal and Bangladesh. For Sri Lanka, you must apply to your e-Visa earlier than the journey and for Bhutan, you must purchase a tour package deal, because it’s not attainable to go to Bhutan with no tour.
For Malaysia, EU residents don’t want a visa for as much as 90 days.
The right way to transfer between counties in South Asia?
The best (and quickest) approach can be by aircraft. Nonetheless, when you really feel prefer it’s an excessive amount of flying, you possibly can cut back the variety of international locations visited on this journey. You may examine the costs and availability of the flights right here.
Are these counties secure?
We felt completely secure in Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. As for Bangladesh, we didn’t have any issues both, however some areas of Dhaka is usually a bit tougher than the others. It’s all the time nice to have journey insurance coverage although. If you happen to don’t have any, you possibly can examine the costs right here.
The perfect time to go to South Asia
We travelled in November and stayed in Sri Lanka in the course of the first week in December. It’s a very good time to journey round South Asia, because the climate is mostly good in every single place and never too sizzling.
Nonetheless, in Sri Lanka, we bought very unfortunate with the climate – we solely had 1 day with out rain. As for different counties, Bhutan was fairly chilly in November.
How costly was this 16-day journey to South Asia?
If you happen to’re questioning, how costly was our 16-day journey to South Asia, I’m all the time open to speak about journey prices. The costliest a part of the journey was the tickets and the price of the tour to Bhutan. We flew from London and took a multi-city journey arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal and departing from Colombo, Sri Lanka. We paid £500 for every ticket (return).
Bhutan is pricey as a result of you must pay at the very least $200-250 per day per individual for the tour. That’s why we opted for the shortest and therefore, essentially the most reasonably priced tour. The flights to Bhutan have been additionally costly. In complete, the Bhutan a part of the journey to South Asia value us ca $3000 or £2200. Is Bhutan price that worth? You may learn extra on this publish.
For the remainder of the journey (4 night time in Nepal, 1 night time in Bangladesh, 1 night time in Malaysia, 5 nights in Sri Lanka), we paid roughly £500 for resorts, £350 for inside flights and £400 for meals. We additionally spent £130 on visas (visa to Bangladesh was the costliest one).
In complete, we spent round £4600 on this journey or £2300 per individual, which isn’t that unhealthy in any respect for a 16-day vacation, however positively isn’t low-cost.
A 16-day journey to South Asia: Our Itinerary
4 night time in Nepal -> 4 nights in Bhutan -> interchange in Dhaka, Bangladesh -> 1 night time in Kuala Lumpur -> 5 nights in Sri Lanka
4 nights in Kathmandu, Nepal
An apparent itinerary to South Asia would come with India, nonetheless, as we went to India final 12 months, we didn’t embrace India within the journey this 12 months. Furthermore, it could have made the journey much more tiring.
We wished to journey to Nepal, so we began with Kathmandu. We didn’t need to trek this time, as for trekking, we would wish to enhance our bodily situation first. Furthermore, I don’t really feel nice in excessive altitudes, which makes trekking a bit extra problematic. Anyway, it’s a bucket checklist exercise, that I hope to perform sooner or later!
We have been planning to remain in Kathmandu for two full days, nonetheless, because it turned out, we have been tied to the schedule of the flights to Bhutan and the one obtainable flight was departing on Wednesday. Therefore, we stayed for 4 nights in Nepal and didn’t remorse it.
Once we realised that we are going to be staying 4 nights in Nepal, we itinerary wished to go to one other metropolis, nonetheless, we discovered quite a lot of recommendation on Tripadvisor saying that 4 days wouldn’t be sufficient to see one other inside vacation spot in Nepal.
In Nepal, we spent the primary night time in Bhaktapur – one in all 3 cities of Kathmandu Valley. We stayed on the Inn Sangrahalaya subsequent to Durbar Sq.. The remainder of the journey, we stayed at Kathmandu Suite Residence – a tremendous resort very near all the principle landmarks and eating places.
Kathmandu was a bit overwhelming typically with all of the site visitors and the mud, however the structure was gorgeous, meals was nice and other people have been very welcoming.
I wrote one other weblog publish about our itinerary for 4 days in Kathmandu Valley right here, be sure that to test it out, when you’re !
The highlights of Kathmandu that we visited:
Bhaktapur
Patan
Swayambhunath
Boudha Stupa
Pashupatinath temple
Kathmandu Durbar Sq.
Freak road
Thamel
4 days in Bhutan
Our subsequent vacation spot was Bhutan. As I discussed earlier than, due to authorities coverage, Bhutan may be very costly for non-SAARC international locations.
We might love to remain in Bhutan for every week, however that will be too costly. Nonetheless, because it turned out, 4 days have been good to see the principle highlights of the nation.
You could find my itinerary for Bhutan and extra data on which company we used on this publish about 4 days in Bhutan.
Bhutan was very totally different in comparison with our expectations – it wasn’t higher or worse, simply totally different, that’s it. Nonetheless, many individuals have extremely excessive expectations for Bhutan. Learn my second publish about Bhutan and whether or not it’s price it and the way to not be upset in Bhutan.
As the whole lot was performed and organised for us (as we had to purchase a tour in Bhutan), we couldn’t decide our resorts and I can’t advocate you any.
The highlights of Bhutan that we visited:
Massive Buddha in Thimphu
Chorten Nationwide Memorial in Thimphu
Dochula Go
Punakha Dzong
Paro Dzong
Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest).
1 day in Bangladesh – interchange in Dhaka
Essentially the most handy and reasonably priced flight from Bhutan was to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Nonetheless, whereas we have been nonetheless planning the journey, the flights from Dhaka to Colombo in Sri Lanka bought very costly, so we needed to provide you with a special plan.
We waited for a month and purchased promo tickets to Kuala Lumpur from Dhaka with Malindo Air, and from there, very low-cost flights to Sri Lanka with Air Asia. Due to the late departure time, we had over 12 hours in Dhaka and we determined to exit to the town.
As there isn’t a left baggage or lockers at Dhaka Airport, we needed to guide a really low-cost resort simply to go away the baggage, nonetheless, we ended up spending a little bit of time on the resort, as we bought very drained from the flight.
Our flight to Malaysia bought delayed by 6 hours, so ultimately, we had much more time in Dhaka.
Everyone had warned us that site visitors in Dhaka is loopy! Effectively, it was, however we nonetheless managed to get to the town centre and see a few stunning buildings. General, I need to say that we didn’t see a lot in Dhaka, nonetheless, we managed to get an general impression of the town.
It’s actually not as unhealthy because it’s usually portrayed and we’re blissful that we managed to see it with our personal eyes!
Dhaka can be altering lots and shortly there might be a metro that hopefully will assist to resolve the site visitors drawback at the very least partially.
What we noticed in Dhaka
- Gulshan neighbourhood
- Gulshan 2 Lake Park
- Curzon Corridor of Dhaka College
If you wish to learn extra in regards to the issues you are able to do in Dhaka throughout an extended layover, right here’s a publish I wrote: 8-12 hours transit in Dhaka: what to do.
1.5 days in Kuala Lumpur: one of many highlights of the journey
Despite the fact that our flight from Dhaka with Malindo air was severely delayed (and I like to recommend staying away from Malindo Air as effectively) and we misplaced a little bit of our worthwhile time in Kuala Lumpur, we nonetheless managed to see lots. We landed in Kuala Lumpur round 10:20 am.
In Malaysia, we had a day and a half or roughly about 36 hours. I already revealed a publish about the most effective issues to do throughout an extended transit or a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, you possibly can learn it right here. Simply to summarise, I completely like to Kuala Lumpur and I feel the town deserves far more than two days or maybe even every week, if I had the prospect I might keep there for at the very least a month.
As we have been solely staying for lower than two days in Kuala Lumpur, we determined to guide a pleasant resort and it was additionally as a result of there are even the nicest resorts in Kuala Lumpur is the place not as costly because the are in locations like Tokyo or Hong Kong. We managed to guide a Mandarin Oriental are for simply £140 per night time and that included a marvellous breakfast.
Our resort was situated simply 10 minutes strolling to the well-known and common Bukit Bintang – a buzzing procuring district of Kuala Lumpur.
Bukit Bintang is among the fundamental highlights of Kuala Lumpur and it has nice procuring and eating choices for any style. There’s even a Japanese shopping center. There are such a lot of meals choices in Bukit Bintang – from standalone eating places to the enormous meals courts on the numerous procuring malls.
In case you gained’t discover what you fancy consuming in Bukit Bintang, you possibly can head to the native road meals market, nearly 5-10 minutes from Bukit Bintang.
Another wonderful areas to discover embrace Batu Caves that has not too long ago undergone a superb makeover, China City and the Central Market. On the Central Market, you should buy quite a lot of souvenirs, meals and garments. Additionally, the realm across the Central Market appears very fairly.
For me, Kuala Lumpur was a foodie capital of Asia – there have been so many wonderful locations to eat, from Japanese to Indian and the whole lot was wonderful.
If you happen to nonetheless have time, be sure that to take a look at the Botanic Backyard of Kuala Lumpur – it’s very spectacular; with a lake within the center, it resembled Central Park in NYC.
General, Kuala Lumpur was most likely my favorite cease of all the 16-day journey to South Asia, nonetheless, this publish will not be over but, as I’ve a small half about Sri Lanka as effectively.
5 days in Sri Lanka: driving round Sri Lanka (with no driver)
The final leg of our 16 days in South Asia was Sri Lanka. I had little or no expectations from Sri Lanka, however I fell in love with this island. Meals in Sri Lanka was wonderful, folks have been pleasant and the costs have been very budget-friendly. It’s arduous to imagine that we solely extracted £100 and didn’t spend them throughout 5 days in Sri Lanka – and we ate in some nice locations and even paid for the gasoline.
We employed a automobile in Sri Lanka and determined to drive ourselves, with out hiring a driver. It wasn’t as difficult as we thought. Nonetheless, we would have liked to receive a Sri Lankan driving allow earlier than coming to the nation, so Sixt automobile rental simply made it for us for a charge. The automobile rental most likely ended up being severely overpriced, however our automobile was good and new and introduced us to all of the wonderful locations in Sri Lanka.
I wrote two separate posts about Sri Lanka: a information to driving in Sri Lanka (issues you must know) and whether or not Sri Lanka is price it – first timer’s information to Sri Lanka (spoiler alert – it’s 100% price it).
General, I need to say that 5 days weren’t sufficient to see all of Sri Lanka, because the distances within the nation are big and the roads are slender and stuffed with vehicles. You may find yourself driving 150 km for 4 hours and even longer. Be certain to not repeat our errors and don’t plan an excessive amount of throughout even 1 week in Sri Lanka. In 5 days, I simply advocate you to see Sigiriya and Kandy and perhaps Ella or simply go to the South seashores as a substitute – e.g. Tangalle, Matara and different stunning seashore spots in Sri Lanka.
Abstract of our itinerary for 16 days in South Asia
General, I actually loved this 2-week journey to South Asia and this itinerary for 16 days in South Asia was good. Nonetheless, we returned a bit uninterested in this vacation. Then once more, our itineraries are normally busy and jam-packed and permit us to see a lot of the world whereas working full-time for an organization in London.
If I had an opportunity to look again and alter one thing, I might have spent solely 2-3 days in Nepal (not 4-5) and attempt to get to Sri Lanka instantly from Bhutan (by way of a change in Nepal or India). I feel that Bangladesh in 12 hours wouldn’t be sufficient and Kuala Lumpur actually deserves a separate journey (as there are wonderful locations to go to in Malaysia).
Among the different posts you may like:
12 days in South-East Asia: Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore
Visiting India’s Golden Triangle
Is Bali definitely worth the hype? Visiting Bali in December